Air Force Museum - Prague / CZECH REP. (Part II - Piston Era)

Aero Vodochody is one of the main aircraft manufacturers in Czeck rep., was active since 1919 (same manufacturer of the famous L-29, 39, 59 and 159).

In the photo above one of the earliest models of Aero the A.11 which was a light bomber with carriage of 200kgs !!!! of course this payload was considerable for an aircraft of pre WW in 1925.

Another fighter is the Aero A.18 produced in early 1920s.

 The civil utility Aero Ae.45 produced between 1951 till 1963.

Another big aircraft manufacturers in Czechoslovakia was Avia which was also founded in 1919 (not active these days), above is the remarkable fighter B-534 which saw the light in mid of 1930s.

During WWII Avia produced the aircrafts for German Luftwaffe, one of its production was the great BF-109 which Avia continued producing more than 550 units after WWII under the designation of S-199 (shown above), IAF obtained 25 aircrafts in 1948.

 CS-199 is the training variant of the S-199.

Ilyushin Il-10 was also one of Avia's productions after WWII under the designation of B-33, about 600 units were built.

The needless-definition Harvard MKIIb.

The Soviet fighter Lavochkin La-7 belongs to the Cz. AF although it's red-starred.

Red-starred Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik, about 35 units served for Cz. AF between 1944 and 1949.

Ilyushin Il-14 operated by Cz. AF, more than 50 units was in service till late 1970s.

In the museum few reconnaissance unmanned aircrafts are shown.

K-65 Cap "Baret" was the Czech built version of the German Fiesler Storch by Benes-Mraz, a general utility airplane of early 1940s.

More photos can be found at panoramio (ia661125)

Air Force Museum - Prague / CZECH REP. (Part I - Jet Era)

Posting again after few days of staying in China where they block the BLOGGER websites, and again an attractive air force museum in Prague located in Kbely AFB.

Starting with what it's Czech made, the Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin, which was the first jet trainer aircraft completely designed and produced in Czechoslovakia which later on became the adopted trainer in Warsaw Pact countries after being evaluated over the Polish made TS-11 Iskra and the Soviet Yak-30.

It was produced from 1963 till 1974 and was used widely in middle eastern air forces.

The mature and full grown sister of the L-29 is the L-39 Albatros which was produced since early 1970's and still in use in many air forces in the role of advance trainer and light attack aircraft.

In front the flying towed target Letov KT-04.

Mig-17PF equipped with radar (green bubbles) and capable to carry the AA-1 Alkali air to air missiles.

The twin-engined Mig-19PM in front, and Avia S-105 backwards which was the Mig-19 version produced in  Czechoslovakia.

Mig-23UB, note that after splitting from Slovakia in mid 1990's Mig-23's played the role of readiness squadron in Czech Air Force after the very uneven exchange of 10 Mig-29's with 11 Polish light helicopters due to the too high cost of maintenance of those Fulcrums !!!

The ugly Su-7 was also operated but Cz. AF, I realy hate this aircraft which is almost double the size of Mig-21 for example and carries fuel much more than it carries bombs and finally it might not be able to defend itself against same range fighter-bombers like F-4 II.

In SyAAF they used to name it the "Flying Cistern" !!

Czech Air Force inherited around 30 Su-22M4 in 1993 after splitting, all were retired by 2002.

Around 24 Su-25K's left for Cz. AF after splitting, were retired by 2000.

Only one Yak-17 was tested by Czechoslovakian AF in 1950's shown here.

Czechoslovakian AF operated around 20 Yak-23 in 1949 with license to produce locally, but production never started in favour of the Mig-15.

An Il-28U displayed which was operated in huge numbers by Czechoslovakian AF (around 120 os single & twin seats variants) in addition to locally built ones, in 1956 70 locally built Il-28's delivered to Egyptian AF shortly before the Suez war.

Tu-104 Camel was operated by Czechoslovakia Airlines preserved in this museum.

The locally built Avia S-92 (variant of the ME-262) was the first jet fighter in Czechoslovakian AF after WW-II, totally 12 units produced including the two-seater CS-92 from 1947 till 1951.

Mil Mi-1 the first serial production Soviet helicopter also served for the Czechoslovakian AF.

The Mil Mi-4 as well (here equipped with unguided rocket launchers and under-nose chamber for machine-gun operator).

Mil Mi-8.

And finally the Mil Mi-24.

Thanks to Monox for his permission to use his great photos.

Eye-Catching AFB: OLOVYANNAYA & LIPETSK (Russia)

More AFB's from Russia, concentrating here on air bases in which hundreds of aircrafts are stored, above is Olovyannaya AFB organized in the Siberia military district located at the northern borders of Mongolia.

Huge parking place for Mig-23's & Su-17's of various variants; Since 2007 or little earlier the store is emptied.

Another attractive AFB is the famous Lipetsk in Moscow MD, huge numbers of Mig-23's, by time more Mig-29's and Mig-31's joined in.

Image shows endless lines of Mig-23's in this AFB.

Eye-Catching AFB: ORENBURG (Russia)

Orenburg AFB, organized under Volga-Ural military district, about 650kms to the east of Engle AFB (home of Tu-160's).

This AFB seems to be the cemetery or storage of hundreds of Su-17 & Su-24 of all variants; In the aerial image above (dated 2005) we can clearly recognize few Mig-23's which are not visible in these photos (most of them dated 2008).

Being in such place at a dark night is like being in a real human cemetery...these aircrafts should belong to the "Ghosts Air Force" especially in the severe nights of Russian winter..!!!!!

Here...scrapped Su-17's of different variants: UM (Fitter-G), M3 (Fitter-H), M4 (Fitter-K), in the background few operational Su-24's.

Lines of more than hundred Su-24 Fencer C, these aircrafts should be just stored since the airbase doesn't include a real overhaul facility; An-12 in the middle between those sleeping wolves.

 Catering...

Just one hanger exists for regular services, note the huge Radar, the many-part probe of Su-24 Fencer C.

The same Su-24 (registration 36) lined in the operation platz, few other photos showed weak air traffic for these Su-24's in this base.

Wreck of Mig-27. 

Stripping Su-24's of electronic equipments, avionics, engines and other components preparing them for complete destruction, I realy felt so sorry for these amazing silver birds, even I don't want to show how they demolish them...why don't they sell them to middle eastern / north african air forces?!?!

Rarely humans can be seen here...

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Su-24M's Fencer D, also found their way to this AFB.

The heavy transportation Heli. Mil Mi-6 also scrapped here. 

Pilot from "Ghost Air Force" in civil clothes.

More photos can be found at panoramio (badger-16) & (timon2155)

Overhaul Facility: LVIV (Ukraine)

L'viv..a city in the west of Ukraine where the Sknilov (LWO) airbase which is very famous with the tragedy of Su-27 crash during the airshow that caused the death of 77 people and more than 500 injured; That was in July 2002.

Above is the courtyard of the overhaul facility which is specialized in handling Mig-21, 23, 27 and 29, image was taken in 2009.

The same courtyard in 2005, it was more busy...

Line of Mig-27D, note that this facility handles the Mig-27 to upgrade it to D variant.

Row of Mig-23UM seems to be all landed permanently.

Skeleton of Ukrainian Mig-29's, might be M or M2.

Ukrainian Mig-29 9-13 armed with rocket launcher, I realy wonder how a multi-role fighter of the 4th generation still carry such extinct weapons in the western aircrafts...!!! rarely we may find an image of an F-16 equipped with this armament for example...

Mig-21UM's and wreckage of Su-22, no sources so far showed photos of middle eastern air forces aircrafts in this facility.

Photos are used from "Schumacher" panoramio