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Following on my post of static and ground shots, here are some pictures from the flying displays: The Enstom 480 and Bleriot XI replica performed early in the show: Next up was the first Typhoon demo, this was the only somewhat presentable flying shot I managed of it: The Flying Bulls are regulars to this and many other Czech airshows: A bit of the Dakota and Beech 18s: DSA demonstrated their HEMS (helicopter emergency medical services) role: A formation to show different generations of Czech training aircraft. The Let C.11 is in close formation with an Aero L-39C Albatros and they are followed by an Aero L-39NG Skyfox: Possibly the last Czech airshow performance for the L-39C Albatros, the last remaining ones in the CLV fleet will be retired very soon: One of two Stearmans at the show: The Red Bull Lightning and Mustang performing. The Corsair had to land shortly after take off due to a technical problem: A few shots of the wing walkers: As with the first Typhoon display, I only managed one presentable shot from the second demo:

Hello all, May 30 and 31 marked the 2026 edition of the Aviatická pouť airshow. This year, the show was held at Hradec Králové rather than Pardubice where it usually takes place. The change of venue was due to the Czech air force Saab Gripen fleet being temporarily based at Pardubice and the hightened security measures in place because of it. In late 2025, the Czech military decided they wouldn't allow the show at Pardubice and told show organizers to find an alternate location. Happily, the show organizers were able to secure the airport at nearby Hradec Králové as the new location. In the scope of planning an event like an airshow, they were given relatively little time to find a solution. The show this year was quite enjoyable and the organizers should be commended for their perseverence. At that, here's a few pictures from my visit to the show on Saturday (May, 30); DSA is one of the resident companies at Hradec Králové airport. A Cessna Citation Jet2+, Airbus AS-355 helicopter, and a Mil Mi-2 were among the aircraft they had in the static park. They keep the Mi-2 around for instructional purposes, though it has been permanently grounded since 2020: Another resident of the airport is this MiG-15, a reminder of the airport's past as a military base from the late 1950s to the early 1990s: One of the main draws to this year's show was a pair of German air force Eurofighter Typhoons. Both went up at different times of the day to perform: A few shots of the first Typhoon pre and post demo: The second Typhoon heads to the runway later in the day: Red Bull is a regular attendee of the show. This year, they brought their Lightning, Mustang, and Corsair. They were also supposed to bring their newly acquired Bearcat, but it had some technical issue and was absent: Some training aircraft from CLV, a civilian contractor that takes care of the flight training for Czech air force pilots and pilots of several other air arms. Zlín Z-242, Aero L-39NG Skyfox, and Enstrom 480 helicopter: A group of WWI replica fighters: Other replica aircraft included a Bleriot XI and Junkers A-50: This beautifully restored Let C.11 is a common sight at many Czech airshows and events: A couple of shots of a wing walker practicing her routine and then heading out to perform: A Stearman and PT-22 arriving after the show started: A Dakota and a pair of Beech 18s came in from Switzerland for the show: While not part of the show, this Let L-200 Morava is a classic Czech aircraft and worth a few pictures:

I've seen the real machines a bunch of times and I can say you've definitiely captured the look of them well. I was at an airshow this past weekend and the L-39C from the CLV training group made what was likely their last public appearance before they are retired and replaced with the L-39NG Skyfox.

I grew up watching the Snowbirds, and this doesn't bother me one bit. The Tutor is irrelevant to anything but the Snowbirds. My feeling is that whatever an air force team flies should represent something that most people who join the force will encounter and have to work with regardless of where they ultimately end up. Turboprops are where most air forces are going for basic training, so they are relevant. There are quite many teams who are turboprop based these days, including a couple who were jet based in the past.

I suppose the Phantom is in storage somewhere. When I visited first in 2016, the Phantom and Tornado were next to each other in hangar 7. On my recent visit, Hangar 3 and the control tower building were the only indoor exhibit spaces, so the Tornado and MiG-29 had been moved there from hangar 7 at some point between. Quite a few of the outdoor exhibits I saw in 2016 were also not on display during my last visit. The Noratlas, Hind helicopters, and two seat G.91 were visible parked a good distance away in a non-public part of the airport. There were a pair of MiG-17s and a Harrier that were also on display in 2016, but nowhere to be seen on my recent visit.

Hello all, On April 7 of 2026 I paid a visit to the Military History Museum's aviation branch at Berlin-Gatow in Germany. I visited once before, in 2016, and I can say that a lot has changed. Right now, the indoor exhibits are limited to one hangar and the control tower building and the rest is outdoors. The focus is primarily Cold War, with the two World Wars not given as much space as they were in 2016. According to the museum's brochure, they are in the midst of a multi-year renovation and upgrading program. Hopefully, that means the period prior to the Cold War will get its proper share of the display spoace again in the future. Here's what was on view during my visit, starting with the outdoor exhibits: Just inside the entry gate was a line of Cold War fast jets arranged according to role: Former East German air force Sukhoi Su-20: Former French air force Mirage III: Some trainers at the end of the line: Sukhoi Su-22: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23ML: Dassault Super Mystere: North American F-86K Sabre: Republic RF-84F Thunderflash: Hawker Hunter: Aside of the fast jet line, other outdoor exhibits included: English Electric Canberra: English Electric Lightning: Breguet Atlantic: Douglas Dakota: Mil Mi-8 and Ilyushin Il-28: Fiat G.91 and North American OV-10 Bronco: Vickers Varsity: Gloster Meteor NF.11: Lockheed F-104 ZELL: Antonov An-26: Percival Pembroke: C-160 Transall: The indoor exhibits started with this Halberstadt CL.IV representing Germany in WWI and the interwar period: Ther Second World War was represented by this MEsserschmitt Me-163 Komet: The WWII display also included the Casa 2.111B standing in for a Heinkel He-111 bomber: The early Cold War was represented by a Canadair Sabre Mk.5 and a MiG-15: The Mid-Cold War was represented by this Fairey Gannet: Later Cold War was represented by a Panavia Tornado and MiG-29 Fulcrum:

Chuck Norris once punched a Nokia 3310. It called an ambulance for him.

Terribly sorry to hear of your loss, I know the pain myself.

Hobbycraft had some nasty boxart back in the 1980s and early 1990s. This Stuka and Do-17 are beyond help: Here's a couple of examples of a style they were playing with back then, I'm glad they didn't continue with it: They also got on the Gulf War bandwagon:

Agreed totally. KP have cut corners and dropped the ball too often for me to give them more of my money.

The promotional images and previews were enough to put me off of it. The "90210" feel that Mike mentioned really rubbed me the wrong way. I have to say that Strange New Worlds has been the only one of the "New Trek" series that I've managed to stay somewhat invested it. There's a few things that don't sit right with me, but not enough to make me give up on it.

It doesn't look like a real advance over the old Heller kit, which isn't too difficult to get and still reasonably priced when I see one. I find it a bit worrying that they made the wing as a solid piece, I'd think that's begging for sink marks or other deformations. I'd really want to be able to open the box and inspect the wing before buying kit.

Hello all, Since September there has been an exhibition of plastic models at the technical museum here in Brno, Czech Republic. I got out to see it about a week ago and then was promptly laid flat by flu for a week. Happily, my energy is coming back enough that I can share some of the pictures with you. It's quite a varied exhibition in subject range and scale. I took many more pictures, but everything is behind glass and reflections made some shots of subjects impossible or unpresentable. The exhibition will run until late March of 2026. A couple of 1/32 Hawker Tempests. One in real world markings and the other in a "What If" Czechoslovak military police scheme: Some "What If" air racers: A bit of 1/48 sport aviation: Some First and Second World War aircraft: Some Cold War and modern aircraft: A couple of submersibles: Joan of Arc and some angry mushrooms from the figure display: A bit of motorsport: A bit of Star Wars to round things out:

You're off to a good start. I built that kit years ago and still have nightmares about the sinkholes in some of the parts. If I had it to do again, I'd probably end up scratchbuilding a good portion of it.

It's nice to see a kit of the L-23, but I wish they would put some dates for their decal options just for some timeframe context. The option they have for OK-0235 gates to the 2009-2012 period and the aircraft's scheme has been altered since then. I snapped it in 2016: