In about a month, the 33rd edition of Aviatická pouť (Aviation Fair), the biggest civilian air show event in the Czech Republic, will take place at Pardubice airfield. This year the show will be marked by several interesting premieres to appear on both static and dynamic displays, along with the Aviation Fair regular participants.
A few weeks ago, we have already informed about the interesting formation of classic aircraft from Switzerland, including a Douglas C-47 Skytrain and three Beechcraft Model 18 Twin Beech aeroplanes. The Classic Formation, as the group is commonly known, will participate in the Aviation Fair show for the first time, bringing the spectators an amazing opportunity to enjoy a unique flying display of four legendary twin-engine aircraft.
Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe was one of the announced highlights of the previous edition of Aviatická pouť. Regrettably, the aircraft did not make it to Pardubice due to severe weather conditions that grounded the iconic jet in Germany.
The good news is that Schwalbe is going to appear at the show this year and be showcased on both static and flying displays.
The aeroplane already was exhibited in Pardubice back in 2016. That iconic jet from the World War II era is owned by Messerschmitt Stiftung in Manching, Germany. In fact, is a replica of Me-262A-1C and the fourth Schwalbe built in the 2000s within the Me 262 Project – an idea to build airworthy replicas of the first combat fighter jet (more information about the project and the aircraft itself can be found in one of our previous articles – Messerschmitt Me-262A-1C ´Schwalbe´).
The Me 262 will not be the sole aircraft from Manching, as the Aviation Fair organizers recently confirmed participation of Panavia Tornado IDS from Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 61, the Bundeswehr Technical and Airworthiness Centre for Aircraft. Regrettably, the legendary jet aircraft from the Cold War years will be showcased only on the static display but, to sweeten any possible sour feelings of not seeing the Tornado in the air, it will be the aircraft wearing a special livery to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the type.
Aircraft from the Flying Bulls collection are among the Aviation Fair regular participants and this year is not going to be an exception. The Red Bull Hangar 7 in Salzburg, Austria, will deploy to Pardubice a strong team including F4U-4 Corsair naval fighter, twin-tailed P-38L Lighting, legendary P-51D Mustang, B-25 Mitchell bomber and T-28 Trojan training aircraft. They will be accompanied by domestic aerobatic group, the Flying Bulls Aerobatics Team.
As usual, a part of the Aviation Fair flying display programme will be performed by pilots from Centrum Leteckého Výcviku (Flight Training Centre – CLV) in Pardubice. The Czech military pilots´ school is a long-term partner and participant of Aviatická pouť.
This year, the CLV flying display block will include Let C-11 (Czechoslovak-built Yak-11) and Zlín Z-381, two vintage training aircraft operated by the flying school in Pardubice, Zlín Z-142CAF with Martin Šonka at its controls, Enstrom 480B-G helicopter and premiere performance of the newest addition to its fleet, Aero L-39NG Skyfox. The latter display will be related to, most probably, the final display of Aero L-39C Albatros which is going to retire from active service in the CLV. In addition, the Flight Training Centre aircraft will be also showcased at the static display.
Petr Kopfstein, the former participant of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship series, will again present his aerobatics skills over Pardubice with his all-silver Edge 540V3 aeroplane.
Numerous displays performed by classic aircraft are already a trademark of the Aviation Fair and this tradition will be observed this year as well. The list of already confirmed participants includes PT-22 Ryan, T-34 Mentor, two CASA 1.131E biplanes (belonging to Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann family), PT-17 Kaydet, DH.82 Tiger Moth and Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister.
The Czech Air Force will traditionally open the show with flypast of JAS-39 Gripen fighter aircraft and parachute jump from CASA 295 airlifter. The Gripen will also be showcased during a solo performance, flew by the new Czech Air Force display pilot, Captain Jan Ratz. He will be supported by another traditional, and beloved by many spectators, dynamic search-and-rescue show of W-3A Sokół helicopter.
Another military participant of the 33rd Aviation Fair will arrive from Slovenia. The Pilatus PC-9M Hudournik of Zračna komponenta Slovenska vojska (Air component of the Slovenian Armed Forces) made its debut performance in Pardubice last year, capturing the spectators´ hearts from the very first note.
Last but not least, the Great War display should be mentioned. As usual, the show will be performed by airworthy replicas of the aeroplanes from the era, such as Morane-Saulnier MS-139 Avionnette, Nieuport 12, Fokker D.VIII and Pfalz E.I., belonging to the Aviation Fair Squadron and Letecké Muzeum Metoděje Vlacha (Metoděj Vlach Aviation Museum) in Mladá Boleslav.
The 33rd edition of the Aviation Fair will take place on 7th and 8th June 2025, at Pardubice airfield. Tickets for the event are already available here.
More information about the show can be also found in our reports from previous editions of Aviatická pouť: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2019.
