Baltic Bash 2 18th - 21st May 2018 - Days 1 and 2

A couple of months after our first Baltic Bash and we were off again. The same team of Andy, Cat, Colin and John met up after work for an evening flight out to RIX.

HA-LYJ operating the W62504 had the privilege of being our steed.

Luton 18-05-18
G-DYLN Pilatus PC-12
G-EZRT Airbus A320 easyJet
N550NM Gulfstream G550
OE-IZL Airbus A320 easyJet Europe

Riga-Skulte (YL) 18-05-18
EI-FPT Canadair Regional-Jet 900 SAS Scandinavian Airlines
UK-32018 Airbus A320 Uzbekistan Airways
YL-BAH de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Air Baltic
YL-BAY de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Air Baltic
YL-BBI de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Air Baltic
YL-BBQ Boeing 737-522 Air Baltic
YL-BBT de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Air Baltic
YL-BBU de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Air Baltic
YL-BBW de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Air Baltic
YL-BBX de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Air Baltic
YL-CSD Bombardier CS-300 Air Baltic
YL-CSG Bombardier CS-300 Air Baltic
YL-RAB Antonov An-26B RAF Avia

The car rental was off site so after a call to Ernie,the fastest car rental service in the East, we were soon off on the 1 km hop to the Hotel Mara. It was now 2330L and the bar was open so a cheeky couple of pints of the local brew, Mezpils, was in order.

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After a good nights kip it was a circuit of RIX before hopefully doing the museum again...this time from inside.

Riga-Skulte (YL) 19-05-18
IAP
64-14828 Boeing KC-135R United States Air Force - Utah
9H-IDB Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy
9H-LZM Gulfstream G650
EW-275TI Antonov An-12BK Ruby Star
LY-HCW Hawker 800XP
OE-IBM Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy Corporate
OH-ATL Aerospatiale ATR 72 Nordic Regional Airlines
OH-ATO Aerospatiale ATR 72 Nordic Regional Airlines
RA-02857 Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy
RA-04078 Eurocopter EC135
T7-OAM Canadair Regional Jet 850
UR-ELU SAAB 340B
VP-BNO Canadair Regional Jet 100ER Rusline
VP-BNW Hawker 850XP
VP-BNY Canadair Regional Jet 850
VP-BVC Canadair Regional Jet 100ER Rusline
VP-BVK Canadair Regional Jet 100ER Rusline
VP-BZA Boeing 737-8LJ Aeroflot Russian Airlines
VQ-BBS Hawker 750
YL-BBV de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Air Baltic
YL-CSF Bombardier CS-300 Air Baltic
+ another stored Saab 340 - no reg, orange colours on tail

Thankfully the museum, as promised, was open and Anotolis was a very enthusiastic guide. The storage area in the trees was out of bounds due a chemical spill but I think we still saw most of what was there with a bit of effort.

Latvijas Aviacijas Tehnikes Muzejs (€7)
(290421)/22 blue Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin Russian Air Force
(291109)/92 red Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin Russian Air Force
(294966)/38 blue Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin Russian Air Force
(691847)/26 red Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin Russian Air Force
(110547307)/22 yellow Antonov An-2 Russian Air Force
(903007)/01 red Antonov An-14A Russian Air Force
(171511)/72 red LET L-13 Blanik Russian Air Force

(022611)/58 yellow Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI Russian Air Force

(022638)/14 red Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI Russian Air Force

(50023100)/10 yellow Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21SMT Russian Air Force

(50029084)/40 yellow Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21ST Russian Air Force

(50027071)/76 yellow Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21ST Russian Air Force

(02685133)/06 red Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21US Russian Air Force

(516939011)/94 yellow Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21UM Russian Air Force

(0390207525)/74 outline Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23M Russian Air Force
(0390206503)/16 red Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23M Russian Air Force
(220000719)/15 red Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23P Russian Air Force - nose section
(N84027607)/34 red Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25RBS Russian Air Force
(020SM03)/(30 blue) Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25U Russian Air Force - nose section
(3910601)/60 white Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27M Russian Air Force
(952)/52 blue Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29UB Russian Air Force

(505009)/17 white Mil SM-1Wb Russian Air Force

(513219103)/21 red Mil Mi-2 Russian Air Force

(513832104)/22 red Mil Mi-2 Russian Air Force
10680704V/09 red Mil Mi-6A Russian Air Force
(9710615)/17 red Mil Mi-8T Russian Air Force
(2201407)/20 red Mil Mi-24A Russian Air Force

(25710)/27 white Sukhoi Su-7BKL Russian Air Force
(23184)/43 red Sukhoi Su-7UM Russian Air Force
(4219) Sukhoi Su-17M4 Russian Air Force - nose section
(0515318) Sukhoi Su-24 Russian Air Force - nose section
(0915306) Sukhoi Su-24 Russian Air Force - nose section
(-)/303 blue Sukhoi Su-27 Russian Air Force - nose section

(-)/53 red Tupolev Tu-22M0 Russian Air Force
(7960808)/22 red Yakovlev Yak-28R Russian Air Force
CCCP-02660 WSK-PZL An-2R
CCCP-24057 Kamov Ka-26

CCCP-31449 Mil Mi-4A
CCCP-32418 WSK-PZL An-2
CCCP-38342 Yakovlev Yak-18T

CCCP-46400 Antonov An-24B - carries YL-LCD under wing

CCCP-42388 Tupolev Tu-104A - nose section
CCCP-45052 Tupolev Tu-124V - nose section
(CCCP-46800) Antonov An-24B - nose section
CCCP-65698 Tupolev Tu-134B - nose section

D-EMEH Cessna 150A

ES-1022 LET L-13 Blanik

(OK-WJU) LET Z-37 Cmelak
OK-ZKC LET Z-37A Cmelak

RA-65717 Tupolev Tu-134A-3
Unmarked Mil Mi-8T - nose section


Over at Riga's GA drome we had access airside after borrowing a hi-viz vest from one of the local pilots.

Riga-Spilve (YL)19-05-18
58 WSK-PZL An-2R Lithuanian Air Force 24-TC Air Creation Tanarg D-FICA Pilatus PC-6 F-GHVH Fairchild-Hiller PC-6
G-BVBR Avid Speedwing LN-HON Cessna U.206G LY-BBR Tecnam P.92 Echo
LY-CBL Yakovlev Yak-18T N678PS Eclipse Aviation 500 PH-CCP Mooney M.20J UP-LA245 Diamond DA42NG - cn checked 42.N173 YL-A07 Aeros Microlight Stranger YL-AKI Aeroprakt A.22 Foxbat

YL-ARV SG Aviation Storm Century YL-ASA Synairgie Skyranger YL-B07 Aeros Microlight Stranger YL-BAB Bowers Fly Baby 1-B YL-CAA Reims-Cessna F.172N YL-CCE Cessna 182H

YL-CCF WSK-PZL AN-2TP YL-ESB Cessna 172S YL-I11 Aeros Microlight Profi 14 YL-JKV Piper PA-28 YL-MBL Cessna 172S YL-SEX Cessna 182K YL-T07 Air Creation Tanarg
YL-TAS Van's RV-7

YL-TBC Pitts S-12 Monster YL-VAA Diamond DA42 YL-WPW Corivi Aviation Vulcan YL-YAK Cessna 172R
+ Unmarked PZL-104 Wilga


Rumbala was fenced off and padlocked. One open hangar had a Blanik in but as we
couldn't get near enough it went begging.

Rumbala (YL) 19-05-18
CCCP-56509 WSK-PZL An-2R
+ Unmarked and Unknown Type - looks like a Blanik mated with something!


Jelgava was guarded by a noisy dog, no not that one, but it calmed down once we
were given the ok to take a few snaps.

Jelgava (YL) 19-05-18
OK-0118 Aerotechnik L-13SE Vivat - Czech reg visible, cn 900416 checked

YL-AGA Aerotechnik L-13SDM Vivat

(YL-DBJ) L-13 Blanik-S - faded reg or code may be 22
YL-NIC Aerotechnik L-13SW Vivat


Time for some refreshments and no better place than a cafe with planes.

Ciemupe-Dakota Kafejnica (YL) 19-05-18
(43) PZL-Okecie 104 Wilga  - marked 22

(252) WSK-PZL An-2R - marked 07

(YL-CBM)/N22 American Aviation AA-5A - old reg N9736U just visible

(YL-LCA) Antonov An-24B - nose section


Over at the Airbase we were met with a polite No at our request to photograph the three preserved at the gate. Four US Army Blackhawks were on the far end of the ramp. No chance of reading those!

Lielvarde AB (YL) 19-05-18
(150) Mil Mi-2 Latvian Air Force - Dumped

(155) Mil Mi-2S Latvian Air Force - Gate Guard
(246) Antonov AN-2R Latvian Air Force - Stored on field
(250) WSK-PZL An-2R Latvian Air Force - Gate Guard
(253) Antonov AN-2R Latvian Air Force - Stored on field
(N94210725)/07 red Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21PFS Russian Air Force - Gate Guard
+ 4 UH-60s United States Army

I didn't realise until we got back home that there was a Let-410 (145) on the other gate. Luckily it had been at a past RIAT in the early noughties. I know I went, not sure about the others...

We were not expecting much at M Sola so were pleasantly surprised by what was here. A pity most of it was unmarked. Judging on the colours of the Mi-8 we reckon there is a strong possibility that the Mi-24 may be the one that was at Krauja. Avid readers will have noted this had been replaced when we visited in March by an unmarked Mi-8

M Sola (YL) 19-05-18
YL-HMN Mil Mi-8T

Unmarked AN-2 - in shelter
Unamrked AN-2 - in shelter
Unmarked Mil Mi-24 - in shelter
Unmarked AN-28


The last stop of the day was Rezekne. This looked rather official and was gated. The AN-2 is on the far side and visible but not graphable.

Rezekne (YL) 19-05-18
YL-RNL WSK-PZL An-2R

We nightstopped in Rezekne at the Hotel Lagtale. A very short walk into town found a sports bar open so we popped in for a liquid dinner. Little did we know it was a 24 hour bar. Oh dear... we called it a night at about 0230. Sleep will not be an issue tonight.