Mil Mi-24V (c/n 087358 and c/n 087354, ´7358´ and ´7354´ of the Czech Air Force), flying display at the Czech International Air Fest 2010, Hradec Králové, September 2010.
In August of 1978, the first Mi-24D helicopters were introduced into operational service with the 51st Helicopter Regiment in Prostějov, of the then Czechoslovak Air Force. However, the first public display of the new rotorcraft took place only three years later, during Letecký den s Květy (Aviation Day with Květy popular magazine) air show in September of 1981.
Since then, the Czechoslovak (and then Czech) ´flying tanks´ became an essential participant of the domestic aviation events. In the late 1980s, the flying displays were performed by two helicopters but at the beginning of the next decade – and with arrival of Mi-24V, the latest variant of the rotorcraft – the shows were progressively extended to formation flight of four and then five aircraft.
After the fall of the Iron Curtain, the Czech Mi-24V helicopters began to perform their displays at international air shows. They were, inter alia, showcased in Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Slovakia and the United Kingdom, every time gaining well deserved awe and admiration from the spectators.
Starting from 1996, number of the Czech Mi-24V flying displays decreased, due to restructuration of the air force and limitations on the flying hours. Also, the number of rotorcraft performing the displays was gradually reduced to three, two and finally just one helicopter – finally turning into the Hind Solo Display Team.
The official Mi-24 display team of the Czech Air Force ceased its activity in 2023, with retirement of this type of rotorcraft from active service. Throughout the year, the Hind Solo Display Team performed its final air show tour, for the very last time visiting some main aviation events in the region (more information about the Mi-24 service with the Czechoslovak and Czech Air Force can be found in our previous articles – Farewell to ´flying tank´ – final live-fire training of the Czech Mi-24 helicopters and It´s all over now – a short summary of the Czech Mi-24s retirement).
Our current Photo of the Week was taken during the 2010 edition of the Czech International Air Fest (CIAF) in Hradec Králové, at the time when the Mi-24V were still showcased in duo formation.
Established in 1993, the CIAF was for several years the biggest and the most prestigious aviation event in the Czech Republic. Initially, the show was held at Hradec Králové air base and, thanks to support from the Czech Air Force, every year hosted many civilian and military participants from all over the Europe.
In 2003, the show moved to Brno, due to closing of the military base in Hradec Králové. Over the next few years, the CIAF still maintained its position among the European aviation events. However, organisation of the event was more and more complicated due to increased passenger traffic at Tuřany airport, where the show was held. Therefore, the show returned to Hradec Králové in 2009.
Regrettably, those changes negatively affected the event and, with years passing by, the CIAF was losing its position. At the beginning of the 2010s, the number of participants was usually close to one hundred and they were followed by 50,000 – 60,000 of visitors. However, at the end of the decade, both numbers fell to about twenty and 12,000, respectively.
With the outbreak of coronavirus epidemic, the 2020 and 2021 editions of the show were cancelled. The organizers were then trying to restart the show in 2022 but failed. The CIAF was called off approximately two months before its scheduled date and no further activity on the official page of the event, nor the CIAF social media accounts, were observed since then.
