On 1st May 2024, after an eight-year gap, the doors of Náměšt´military airfield again opened for general public, on the occasion of the Open Day event organised by 22. základna vrtulníkového letectva (22nd Helicopter Air Force Base). Approximately 38,000 visitors seized the opportunity and arrived there to see one of the newest Czech military acquisitions, the helicopters of H-1 system.
The Open Day at Náměšt´ airfield was the first public presentation of the Czech Air Force AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom rotorcraft, organized at their home base. Acquirement of the new generation of the Czech combat helicopters was done on basis of an agreement signed in 2019 and covering the delivery of twelve rotorcraft (four AH-1Z and eight UH-1Y).
In July of 2023, deliveries of the H-1 rotorcraft system for the Czech Air Force began and majority of the helicopters were already received until the date of the Open Day. Only the last two UH-1Ys were delivered shortly after, in June of 2024. The first public presentation of the new aircraft – although to a lesser extent – took place during the NATO Days show, held at Ostrava-Mošnov airfield in September of 2023.
In the Czech Air Force, the newly acquired Venoms and Vipers succeeded Mil Mi-24V (NATO reporting name Hind, also known as Mi-35) helicopters. The official retirement event of the Russian-made rotorcraft took place on 15th October 2023 and at the end of March 2024, the last airworthy Czech Mi-24V of 221. vrtulníková letka (the 221st Helicopter Squadron) were transferred to Ukraine. According to the official statement of the Czech Ministry of Defence, a total number of eight Hind rotorcraft was donated to the Ukrainian armed forces, therefore concluding the forty-five years of operational service of those rotorcraft in Czechoslovakia, and then the Czech Republic (more information about the Mi-24V withdrawal can be found in our article It´s all over now – a short summary of the Czech Mi-24s retirement, issued in April of 2024).
An interesting fact is that, in return for donating the Hinds to Ukraine, the Czech Air Force is soon going to receive eight more helicopters of the H-1 system. That batch of six Vipers and two Venoms will be received from the US Marine Corps surplus storage and their cost will be paid by the US government. The Czech Republic is going to cover transportation expenses and cost of modernisation to the current standard of the H-1 helicopter system. Delivery of those rotorcraft is scheduled within next two years.
Without any doubts, the Open Day at Náměšt´ airfield offered the perfect opportunity to get familiar with the new Czech rotorcraft. Both the AH-1Z and the UH-1Y were showcased at the static display all the time being surrounded by crowd of curious visitors. The helicopters were presented by personnel of the 221st Helicopter Squadron which, during the whole day, was relentlessly answering all kinds of questions.
In addition, the helicopters of the H-1 system performed an interesting, and very dynamic, flying display, enhanced with pyrotechnic effects.
During the flying displays the AH-1Z and the UH-1Y rotorcraft were, interestingly, flown by mixed Czech and American crews. It was due to still ongoing training process of the Czech personnel, which was expected to be concluded in summer of 2024.
The Mobile Training Team (MTT) arrived to Náměšt´ from the USA in the middle of last year. In September of 2023, the American instructors began with training of the Czech Venom and Viper crews. The intensive initial course will be finalised with type certification and then followed by live-fire training, scheduled for the second part of 2024.
Therefore, the Open Day at Náměšt´ airfield was one of only few opportunities to see the new Czech helicopters of the H-1 system during public events. Due to the high demand on completing the training as scheduled, participation of the Venom and Viper rotorcraft in aviation events was reduced to minimum.
However, during this year the H-1 rotorcraft took part in a few commemoration flypasts in the country. In addition, in September of 2024, they will be showcased at the 2024 edition of the NATO Days.
At the Open Day static display, next to the Venom and Viper helicopters, the visitors to the Náměšt´ airfield could also see an example of Mil Mi-171Sh – another combat rotorcraft from the current Czech Air Force inventory – as well as one of already retired Mi-24Vs. According to some unofficial information, the Hind exhibited during the Open Day was intended for exhibition purposes and after the show was planned to be transferred to one of aviation museums. A special highlight of that rotorcraft was the air intake cover, originating from the helicopter ´3366´, commonly known as the ´Alien Tiger´.
That air intake cover was, for every aviation enthusiast, a sentimental reminder of the Mi-24 active service at Náměšt´. Regrettably, the one-of-a-kind ´Alien Tiger´ livery was not preserved. After the ´3366´ withdrawal from active service, the helicopter received standard camouflage pattern and then became one of the last two Mi-24s delivered to Ukraine. Therefore, the aforementioned air intake cover became the only tangible survivor of that special ´tiger livery´ (more information about the ´Alien Tiger´ can be found in our article Mil Mi-24V (Mi-35) / Mi-2Sz from the Photo of the Week series, issued in December of 2019).
The list of helicopters showcased at the static display in Náměšt´ included also an example of Mil Mi-2, exhibited by Technické muzeum Studenec (Technical Museum in Studenec), Bell OH-58B Kiowa of the Austrian Air Force (more information about that helicopter here) and Enstrom 480B used by Centrum Leteckého Výcviku (Flight Training Centre – CLV) in Pardubice.
Apart from the aforementioned helicopters, the static display at Náměšt´ airfield included also a LET L-410UVP of the CLV, CASA C-295M and Aero L-159 ALCA of the Czech Air Force. There was also an interesting exhibition of airport maintenance vehicles, as well as a broad presentation of the Czech Armed Forces equipment – Iveco, Pandur II, Dingo and Caiman personnel carrier vehicles, and also a Leopard tank.
The programme of the Open Day 2024 included also presentation of different branches of the armed forces, military academies and law enforcement agencies.
The flying displays in Náměšt´ were an opportunity for the Czech Air Force to showcase most of its combat aircraft. In addition to the already mentioned flying displays of the H-1 system helicopters, the dynamic performances of JAS-39 Gripen solo display, the Mi-171Sh, W-3A Sokół and Enstrom 480B helicopters, as well as Martin Šonka´s aerobatic display – although this time performed in a Zlín Z-142 of the CLV – could also be seen.
The flying display programme included also a flypast of KC-135 aerial tanker (USAF), solo performance of Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk (Slovak Air Force) and Bell 412 (Czech Police) helicopters, as well as shows performed by civilian aerobatic and historical aircraft, such as Extra 330LT, AH-1S Cobra and L-29 Delfín. The Open Day flying displays were concluded with the Great War dogfight show, presented by the Pterodactyl Flight team and its replicas of the early combat aeroplanes.
Regrettably, the windy weather which prevailed the whole day, forced cancellation of helicopter sightseeing flights that had to be provided by the HeliCzech company and its rotorcraft (MD 500E, Bell 206B and Robinson R44).
The next edition of the Czech Air Force open doors day is planned to take place next year, at 21. základna taktického letectva (the 21st Tactical Air Force Base) in Čáslav. The gates of the Náměšt´ airfield should be opened for visitors again in 2026.
More images from the Náměšt´ Open Day 2024:
