The weather looked promising as we left Plovdiv, but as we got closer to Graf the fog returned with a vengeance. Needless to say Graf was unviewable!
Time to get on with the program and head to the main event, Krumovo.
The museum didn't open until 9am, so we drove round to the civil side first.
Plovdiv-Krumovo 27-11-16
LY-MAA LET L-410 UVP 810634
LY-MJR LET L-410 UVP 841318
LY-MMR LET L-410 UVP 810622
LY-MRA LET L-410 UVP 841314
LZ-KTC Cessna 177 B Cardinal 177-02301
LZ-LDM Douglas MD82 53228 Bulgarian Air Charter
LZ-LDN Douglas MD82 53216 Bulgarian Air Charter
LZ-LDW Douglas MD82 49795 Bulgarian Air Charter
We arrived at the Muzej na Aviatsiyata at 8.55am, checked with the base gate that it was open and all was good to go.
Krumovo Museum 27-11-16
01 Antonov A-11 Unknown Bulgarian Air Force
(3) Arado Ar.196 A-3 0219 Bulgarian Air Force
05 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 US 07685143 Bulgarian Air Force
(7) Yakovlev Yak-9 U 3267 Bulgarian Air Force - marked as 27
10 LET L-200 D Morava 171310 Bulgarian Air Force
11 Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin 491028 Bulgarian Air Force
12 Mil Mi-1 M Unknown Bulgarian Air Force
(13) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 SF Unknown Bulgarian Air Force - marked as 882
20 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 PF 760804 Bulgarian Air Force
(20) LET L-200 D Morava 171202 Bulgarian Air Force
021 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 UB A1037621 Bulgarian Air Force
21 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 PF 7137 Bulgarian Air Force
22 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 PF 58210414 Bulgarian Air Force
23 Yakovlev Yak-23 3123133 Bulgarian Air Force
025 Antonov An-2 M 801822 Bulgarian Air Force
27 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 UM 516999266 Bulgarian Air Force
30 Mikoyan-Gurevich LiM-5 R 1C-15-23 Bulgarian Air Force
43 Ilyushin IL-28 R 2504 Bulgarian Air Force
45 Yakovlev Yak-23 3123177 Bulgarian Air Force
50 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 BN 0393215750 Bulgarian Air Force
52 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 MF 969402 Bulgarian Air Force
(52) Mil Mi-4 A 04159 Bulgarian Air Force
(53) Mil Mi-4 A 17165 Bulgarian Air Force
55 Yakovlev Yak-C-11 172419 Bulgarian Air Force
55 Yakovlev Yak-C-11 172419 Bulgarian Air Force
(59) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 S Unknown Bulgarian Air Force - marked as 030
062 LET L-410 UVP 841225 Bulgarian Air Force - marked CCCP-67460
62 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 PFM 940ME10 Bulgarian Air Force
71 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 F 7207 Bulgarian Air Force
79 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 BN 0393208379 Bulgarian Air Force
088 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 bis (SAU) N75094088 Bulgarian Air Force
97 Ilyushin IL-14 T Unknown Bulgarian Air Force
101 Mil Mi-24 D U5065 Bulgarian Air Force
110 Antonov An-14 A 003308 Bulgarian Air Force
150 Mikoyan-Gurevich Lim-5 1C-18-17 Bulgarian Air Force
202 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 UTI 612781 Bulgarian Air Force
206 Sukhoi Su-22 UM-3K N17532372206 Bulgarian Air Force
209 Mil Mi-2 544205065 Bulgarian Air Force
(251) Tupolev Tu-2 T Unknown Bulgarian Air Force - marked as 27
302 Mil Mi-8 T 10302 Bulgarian Air Force
390 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 MLD 0390325390 Bulgarian Air Force
(425) Ilyushin IL-2 m3 308134 Bulgarian Air Force - marked as 4
501 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 F-13 741101 Bulgarian Air Force
506 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 P Unknown Bulgarian Air Force
613 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 M 960613 Bulgarian Air Force
670 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 MF 0390213670 Bulgarian Air Force
812 Mil Mi-14 BT U5008 Bulgarian Air Force
818 Sukhoi Su-22 M-4 27818 Bulgarian Air Force
936 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 PM 65210936 Bulgarian Air Force
63-899/8-899 Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter 683A-1199 Turkish Air Force
800502 Yakovlev Yak-52 800502 Russian Air Force - marked as 02
(CCCP-13381) Lisunov Li-2 33444601
(LZ-001) Popovski H11 B1 Soro Unknown
LZ-130 PZL-Okecie 101 Gawron 119271
LZ-501 Yakovlev Yak-50 791509
LZ-3007 LET Z-37 Cmelak Unknown
(LZ-5017) Mil Mi-1 Unknown
LZ-3007 LET Z-37 Cmelak Unknown
(LZ-5017) Mil Mi-1 Unknown
(LZ-6016) Kamov Ka-26 7203008 - marked LZ-6018
(LZ-711) Zlin Z.526 F Trener Master 1043 marked as LZ-011
LZ-ANE Antonov An-24 B 77303406
LZ-ASF Cessna 150L 150-75078
LZ-ASF Cessna 150L 150-75078
LZ-DOS Yakovlev Yak-40 S2 9231423
Unmarked Aviatechnica SL-90 Leshii A030102
There was no access to the storage area, but all could be seen easily.
At least another 2 or 3 MiG-15/17's are present in bits!
Unmarked Aviatechnica SL-90 Leshii A030102
There was no access to the storage area, but all could be seen easily.
At least another 2 or 3 MiG-15/17's are present in bits!
Storage
54 Mil Mi-4 A 18165 Bulgarian Air Force
LZ-606 Orlican L-60 Brigadyr 150901
LZ-606 Orlican L-60 Brigadyr 150901
(133) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 Unknown Bulgarian Air Force
(-) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 bis 34204 Bulgarian Air Force
(-) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 bis 130060 Bulgarian Air Force
From the museum a fair amount can be read on the military side of the base.
Krumovo AB 27-11-16
01 Mil Mi-1 Unknown Bulgarian Air Force - Preserved
44 Mil Mi-4 A Unknown Bulgarian Air Force - Preserved
51 Mil Mi-4 A Unknown Bulgarian Air Force - Preserved
133 Mil Mi-24 D 150598 Bulgarian Air Force
134 Mil Mi-24 D 150599 Bulgarian Air Force
135 Mil Mi-24 D 150600 Bulgarian Air Force
136 Mil Mi-24 D 150601 Bulgarian Air Force
137 Mil Mi-24 D 150602 Bulgarian Air Force
140 Mil Mi-24 V 150722 Bulgarian Air Force
141 Mil Mi-24 V 150723 Bulgarian Air Force
142 Mil Mi-24 V 150724 Bulgarian Air Force
144 Mil Mi-24 V 150726 Bulgarian Air Force
146 Mil Mi-24 V 730721 Bulgarian Air Force
203 Mil Mi-2 543006063 Bulgarian Air Force - Preserved
301 Mil Mi-8 T 10301 Bulgarian Air Force - Preserved
431 Mil Mi-17 PP 103M31 Bulgarian Air Force
432 Mil Mi-17 PP 103M32 Bulgarian Air Force
Delighted with our time here we departed towards the old yard at Katunista.
As expected the yard has cleared, but always good to check if your passing!
Next stop was a MiG-23. This MiG was undergoing a re-spray!
Sadovo 27-11-16
(66) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 BN 0393209366 Bulgarian Air Force
From here we headed north into the Balkans.The first stop for a Lim.
Brezovo 27-11-16
113 Mikoyan-Gurevich Lim-5 Unknown Bulgarian Air Force
Onwards towards our next MiG. This looking good on a plinth.
Another 20 minutes driving found yet another Let-29.
Delighted with our time here we departed towards the old yard at Katunista.
As expected the yard has cleared, but always good to check if your passing!
Next stop was a MiG-23. This MiG was undergoing a re-spray!
Sadovo 27-11-16
(66) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 BN 0393209366 Bulgarian Air Force
From here we headed north into the Balkans.The first stop for a Lim.
Brezovo 27-11-16
113 Mikoyan-Gurevich Lim-5 Unknown Bulgarian Air Force
Onwards towards our next MiG. This looking good on a plinth.
Zelenikovo 27-11-16
509 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 bis N75012409 Bulgarian Air Force
A rare Sukhoi next up, after a series of winding roads to get here.
A rare Sukhoi next up, after a series of winding roads to get here.
Banya 27-11-16
501 Sukhoi Su-22 M-4 23501 Bulgarian Air Force
Finally back on the main roads towards Anevo to look for a Mil Mi in a shed.
Finally back on the main roads towards Anevo to look for a Mil Mi in a shed.
Anevo 27-11-16
(37) Mil Mi-4 Unknown Bulgarian Air Force
Directions from Patrick Dirksen's logs helped out here. Thanks Patrick.
Another brace of L-29's beckoned, with some stunning scenery on route.
Directions from Patrick Dirksen's logs helped out here. Thanks Patrick.
Another brace of L-29's beckoned, with some stunning scenery on route.
Shipkovo 27-11-16
25 Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin Unknown Bulgarian Air Force - marked as 30
Ribaritsa 27-11-16
55 Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin 892878 Bulgarian Air Force
We asked permission to view and photograph the Let here, the receptionist was more than happy to let us go through. On return we had a quick chat with her. She told us a MiG-21 is due to join the Let within the next few months. However she did not know where it was coming from.
A little way up the road was another MiG-15.
We asked permission to view and photograph the Let here, the receptionist was more than happy to let us go through. On return we had a quick chat with her. She told us a MiG-21 is due to join the Let within the next few months. However she did not know where it was coming from.
A little way up the road was another MiG-15.
Golyam Izvor 27-11-16
(134) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 UTI Unknown Bulgarian Air Force
Another 20 minutes driving found yet another Let-29.
Malak Izvor 27-11-16
57 Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin 892880 Bulgarian Air Force
With the darkness closing in we headed back to Sofia, stopping off for the last MiG of the trip.
With the darkness closing in we headed back to Sofia, stopping off for the last MiG of the trip.
Zlatitsa 27-11-16
(857) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 S 0815357 Bulgarian Air Force
An hour later we were back at Sofia dropping off the car. We checked in and grabbed some food and drink whilst looking back over the trip.
An hour later we were back at Sofia dropping off the car. We checked in and grabbed some food and drink whilst looking back over the trip.
Sofia 27-11-16
A7-AHD Airbus A320 232 4436 Qatar Airways
D-AIUQ Airbus A320 214(SL) 6947 Lufthansa
G-EZPL Airbus A320 214(SL) 7183 EasyJet
LZ-FBC Airbus A320 214 2540 Bulgaria Air
LZ-FBE Airbus A320 214 3780 Bulgaria Air
LZ-SOF Embraer Emb-190 100IGW 19000492 Bulgaria Air
TC-JVO Boeing 737 8F2 60031 THY Turkish Airlines
It was gone midnight by the time EI-DPK on the FR9968 got us back to Stansted. Nothing of interest was logged here.
Still another hour until we got back to Luton, but with three days away from the local it's always worth a quick circuit!
Luton 28-11-16
EI-FTF Boeing 737 8AS 44756 Ryanair
N347BD Dassault Falcon 7X 248 Corporate
N348RS Gulfstream G450 4030 Corporate
N650ER Gulfstream G650 6210 Gulfstream Aerospace
A nice G650 frame for our return, perfect ending to a quality trip. Great aircraft and great company, non stop spotting and banter made for an excellent three days.
Cheers fellas, see you all next time no doubt...
It was gone midnight by the time EI-DPK on the FR9968 got us back to Stansted. Nothing of interest was logged here.
Still another hour until we got back to Luton, but with three days away from the local it's always worth a quick circuit!
Luton 28-11-16
EI-FTF Boeing 737 8AS 44756 Ryanair
N347BD Dassault Falcon 7X 248 Corporate
N348RS Gulfstream G450 4030 Corporate
N650ER Gulfstream G650 6210 Gulfstream Aerospace
A nice G650 frame for our return, perfect ending to a quality trip. Great aircraft and great company, non stop spotting and banter made for an excellent three days.
Cheers fellas, see you all next time no doubt...
