What particularly pleases the author of these lines is the fact that there are more and more articles and reports of this kind covering events from Croatia. In that spirit, we attended this year’s edition of AIRVG. The bar was set high last year, but the organizers managed to raise it even higher—almost effortlessly, one might say.
To begin with, let’s focus on the statistics: In preparation for the event, 15,000 invitations were distributed, an additional 6,300 tickets were sold, 280 spotters were accredited, and over 20 media crews were present. On the day of the event, 20,000 visitors passed through the eastern apron of Franjo Tuđman Airport’s old terminal, making this the largest aviation event in Croatia. As for exhibitors and aircraft, the static display featured 32 aircraft, including an Austrian Agusta Bell AB212, a Hungarian H145M and Gripen, two Italian Eurofighters, and a French demonstration Rafale. The host, the Croatian Air Force, gave its all to showcase its full strength, displaying for the first time all 12 of its new Rafales, along with six Pilatus PC-9Ms, an Air Tractor, a Canadair CL-415, a Mi-171Sh, a Black Hawk, a Zlin, the Orbiter III unmanned system, and two decommissioned MiG-21s.
The flying program was even more thrilling: It opened with a Pilot Rescue exercise, where members of the Croatian Air Force demonstrated how they extract pilots from enemy territory. After that, the skies were split by the French demonstration Rafale. It’s incredible what this aircraft can do, and the audience watched in awe and excitement every move of Captain Jean-Brice Mille, aka “Mimouss.” The only thing that could rival the roar of this magnificent jet was the applause and cheers that followed as the captain parked the aircraft and bowed to the crowd. Next came flyovers by the Bell 206R and Bell 212 helicopters of the Croatian Police and Air Force, and the aerobatics performed by the Croatian Air Force’s Zlin 242L did not disappoint either.
From Slovenia arrived the Pilatus PC-9M Hundournik, which performed solo aerobatics. Everyone eagerly awaited 5:00 PM, when two Croatian Rafales taxied onto Runway 04 of Zagreb Airport, ready for takeoff. Their performance was immeasurably better and more refined compared to their debut at last year’s AIRVG, and the audience watched with pride and enthusiasm as these aircraft—the backbone and pride of the Croatian Air Force—took to the skies. Subjectively, we can say that the subsequent flight of the Hungarian Gripen drew slightly less interest from the crowd, though it was still exceptionally engaging and equally impressive. The flying program was closed by Krila Oluje (Wings of the Storm), who presented their new, revised aerial display on this occasion. It was particularly interesting to follow the regular civilian air traffic that continued uninterrupted throughout the event, just beyond the fence and under the curious gazes of visitors.
As mentioned, organizing an event like this while coordinating all the services of an active airport that did not halt operations for the duration is immensely demanding. For this reason, we cannot hold it against them, from our perspective, that there were minor schedule adjustments or aircraft that canceled their appearance. After all, their primary duty is military, while events like these serve as supplementary exercises.
AIRVG did not fail to amaze and provide spectators with a rare experience. Seeing all 12 Croatian Rafales parked alongside other Croatian Air Force aircraft was awe-inspiring in itself, and the flying program only added a special emphasis to the overall spectacle. Aviation enthusiasts looking for souvenirs also had their moment, as the Croatian and Austrian air forces held special sales. It was a day that brought people together, offering great food and side attractions alongside the indispensable aerial show. Even the weather smiled upon the event, despite initially poor forecasts; the sun shone practically cloudless, contributing to this unforgettable occasion.
Of course, there will always be those who find faults among the crowd, but for an event like this, they are truly negligible—dare we say, trivial. Croatia’s aviation scene is seriously working on its promotion, and events like this showcase it in the best possible light.
Photo © AvioRadar
