Bucharest/Baneasa-Aurel Vlaicu (Romania)

BIAS 2018

27-28 July 2018

This years’ Bucharest International Air Show was held on Saturday 28 July, with rehearsals and arrivals mainly on the preceding Friday. Unlike in previous years, registration in advance as either a spotter or member of the press was required to be admitted to the field on Friday. Those enjoying this privilege were asked to leave again around 4.30pm but rehearsals went on for another two hours or so, with some movements even later.

The main attraction for ‘westerners’ are obviously the aircraft of the Fortele Aeriene ale Romaniei or Romanian Air Force. Two crashes of jets flying out of Borcea shortly before BIAS, among which the tragic crash of a MiG-21 LanceR during the open house, meant there were no flying Lancers and no IAR99s at Baneasa this year.

The static show is basically fenced off but with most fences too close to the aircraft to allow photography by standards we like to use. Obviously, rehearsal and arrival day is the best day to get decent shots of these planes. The flying display can be photographed reasonably well, with a long crowd line along the taxiway and a special enclosure for the more serious photographer (again, registration required).

Traditionally, the Aeroclub of Romania plays a prominent role as a breeding ground for aviators, and therefore also in BIAS. The majority of light aircraft in the flying display are operated by this organisation but only when “Aeroclubul Romaniei” titles are actually carried they are mentioned here.

Luckily, at least there were two Lancers present in different smart colour schemes. The Austrian Saab still has a ‘tiger tail’ and ditto stylized code. There were some more light aircraft on static display that Scramble does not cover.

Antonov 2 YR-PMW was all white on Friday and appeared with a Romanian colour-cheat line and a large ‘Skydiving’ badge on Saturday. The three aeroclub Antonovs were carrying parachutists.

The Czech CASA visited on Friday for support. The helicopters were seen flying to their spots on the northern perimeter of the field. There are a number of retired airliners stored on the field, including a row of MD-82s and a 727 that were visible from the static. Of the MDs, I-DAWW, YR-MDR and YR-MDS could be easily read off. On Friday it was possible to reach a few overgrown, derelict fighters as well.

The indication of days in the last column should be selfexplanatory. Where no day is mentioned the aircraft flew on both days. The B737 performed in formation with four of the Extra 300s mentioned above. An unidentified RAF Typhoon made a single high pass on Friday.

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