Estonian Aviation Days - 2018

[Tiger331]

Hi Folks,

 

A very short photo-report on the Estonian Aviation Days weekend which has just culminated here in Tartu. This is a very modest event by most UK standards, but impressive when one considers that it's main organiser is a private individual who also runs the Estonian Aviation Museum Just outside Tartu, which is also privately run (i.e. does not attract funding from public sources).  The show had a 6 hour entertainment programme for visitors, mainly focused on sport aircraft, parachuting, paragliding, microlights and gliders. The highlights of the show for many were, however, guest appearances from the Finnish Air Force Hawk and the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight Saab AJS-37 Viggen, both of which operated out of the nearby Tartu International Airport, since the museum site only has a grass strip. The Army Air Corps participated in the static display with one of their Leonardo Wildcats which are currently deployed to Estonia as part of the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence mission. Some of the individual aerobatic displays were superb - There was at least one International Competition winner among the display participants.

 

The other bonus for visitors is, of course, the museum itself which houses some really interesting exhibits. Former Soviet, Finnish, Polish and Swedish aircraft dominate but this year marked the official 'introduction' to the General Public of a BAe Harrier GR.3 that the museum as acquired and which will be subject to further restoration work in the future. This is the first British aircraft to appear in the museum in British markings (The museum has had a Finnish Air Force Hawk for some time) which is somewhat odd given the long association between the RAF and Estonia which goes back to the War of Independence in 1919.

 

Anyway, I hope you enjoy my attempts to photograph some of the exhibits - We are continuing to enjoy superb sunshine in this part of North East Europe, which is unusual to say the least !.

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polish Air Force Su-22 in its sun shelter. What I really like about this museum is it's policy not to take in exhibits unless they can provide adequate protection from the elements and extremes of weather we 'enjoy' here in Estonia. Many of the donations have previously been exposed to the elements in their home countries but the museum in Tartu does not want to invest time and money in completing a restoration if it faces the same prospect every 4-5 years. 

 

 

The Italian F-104ASA, along with several other exhibits, has been pulled outside temporarily to provide photographers and enthusiasts with a better vantage point over the summer months.

 

 

 

The Mikoyan Mi-23 Flogger that was donated to the museum by Ukraine. Its sports an unusual but genuine colour scheme.

 

 

 

The Swiss Air Force Mirage IIIRS was another exhibit that was out enjoying the early summer sunshine

 

 

Polish Tails - The Polish Air Force MiG-21 has recently undergone a superb restoration - sadly it was not in a particular good position to take photos of the whole airframe during the show......maybe next time

 

 

Finally, for now, one of the targets.....a SAM-2. At one time there were literally hundreds of these all over Estonia, which had a high concentration of Soviet-era air bases and other important military installations.