Bulgarian Air Force Roundel

Bulgarian Air Force (Bulgarian: Военновъздушни сили, ВВС) is a branch of the Bulgarian Army, the other two being the Bulgarian Navy and Bulgarian land forces. Its mission is to guard and protect the sovereignity of the Bulgarian airspace, to provide aerial support and to assist the Land Forces in case of war. The Bulgarian Air Force is proud to be one of the oldest air forces in Europe and the world. In recent times it has been actively taking part in numerous NATO missions and exercises in Europe. The current commanding officer of the Bulgarian Air Force is Major General Simeon Simeonov. Image File history File links Bulgarian_Air_Force_roundel. ... Image File history File links Bulgarian_Air_Force_roundel. ... The Bulgarian Army (Bulgarian: Българска армия) represents the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria. ... The Bulgarian Army (Bulgarian: Българска армия) represents the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague. ...

History

Early years

Boris Maslennikov's airplane in flight, Sofia 1910

Louis Bleriot with Bulgarian pilots at his aviation school in France

The history of the Bulgarian Air Force can be traced back to the end of the 19th century, when in 1892 at the Plovdiv International Fair two lieutenants of the Bulgarian Army flew with the ‘La France’ airship of the Frenchman Goddard. Later, being inspired by the flight, they succeeded to convince the General Staff that the Bulgarian Army should build a balloon force. The Imperial Aviation School in St. Petersburg enrolled Lieutenant Vasil Zlatarov as a student, following numerous refusals from military schools around Europe to teach Bulgarian officers to use airships. On 20 April 1906 “Vazduhoplavatelno Otdelenie” (roughly translated as Aviation Department) was created to operate observation balloons for the army. After graduation Lt. Zlatarov was appointed its first commander. The first generation of Bulgarian aviators were trained on a balloon named ‘Sofia-1’, constructed by Zlatarov with materials bought from Russia. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Louis Blériot Louis Blériot (July 1, 1872 in Cambrai - August 2, 1936 in Paris) was a French inventor and engineer, who performed the first flight over a large body of water in a heavier-than-air craft. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... International Fair Plovdiv (Международен панаир Пловдив), held in Plovdiv, is Bulgarias largest and oldest international trade fair. ... The Bulgarian Army (Bulgarian: Българска армия) represents the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria. ... USS Akron (ZRS-4) in flight, November 2, 1931 An airship or dirigible is a buoyant lighter-than-air aircraft that can be steered and propelled through the air. ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and...

In 1910 a Russian aircraft engineer, Boris Maslennikov, was invited to Bulgaria, where he presented his airplane, a modification of the French Farman III. Following his demonstration assisted by Vasil Zlatarov over the hippodrome in Sofia, the Bulgarian Government decided to acquire airplanes for The Aviation Corps. In early 1912 thirteen army officers were sent abroad for training as pilots and orders were placed for five French, British and German airplanes. In June 1912 Lt. Simeon Petrov[[1]], training at the school of Louis Blériot in France, for the first time in the history of aviation succeeded to land an airplane with a stopped engine. The event was praised in the French newspapers and La Poste, and the French mail service acknowledged it by publishing a stamp. The officers sent to France completed their training first and returned to Bulgaria in July 1912. The same year Bulgaria received its first airplane – Bleriot XXI with which on 13 August 1912 Simeon Petrov flew to become the first Bulgarian to pilot an airplane over Bulgaria. Farman Aviation Works was an aeroneutic enterprise founded and run by the brothers Henry and Maurice Farman. ... Position of Sofia in Bulgaria Coordinates: Country Bulgaria Province Sofia-City Government  - Mayor Boyko Borisov Area  - City 1,349 km²  (520. ... Louis Blériot Louis Blériot (July 1, 1872 – August 2, 1936) was a French inventor and engineer, who performed the first flight over a large body of water in a heavier-than-air craft. ... La Poste is the mail service of France, which also operates postal services in the French Overseas Departments of Réunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana, and the territorial collectivities of Saint Pierre and Miquelon and Mayotte. ...

First and Second Balkan Wars

The First Balkan War proved the words of the great French military theorist Ferdinand Foch that aviation is of no military value, to be completely wrong. Following the outbreak of the war, the Bulgarian pilots still abroad hastily procured aircraft to follow them home. Many foreign volunteer pilots, along with military journalist from all over Europe, arrived in Bulgaria. After the front lines had stabilized, an Aeroplane Platoon was established at a new airfield closer to the fighting. // Combatants Ottoman Empire Balkan League: Bulgaria Montenegro Greece Serbia Commanders Nizam Pasha, Zekki Pasha, Esat Pasha, Abdullah Pasha, Ali Rizah Pasha Bulgaria: Vladimir Vazov, Vasil Kutinchev, Nikola Ivanov, Radko Dimitriev Serbia: Radomir Putnik, Petar Bojović, Stepa Stepanović Greece:Crown Prince Constantine, Panagiotis Danglis, Pavlos Kountouriotis Strength 350,000 men Bulgaria... Ferdinand Foch OM GCB (October 2, 1851 – March 20, 1929) was a French soldier, military educator and author credited for possessing the most original and subtle mind in the French Army. ...

Bulgarian pilots preparing for flight

On October 15, 1912 two pilots, Radul Milkov and Prodan Tarakchiev received an order to gather intelligence about the Turkish army strength and dispositions in the Odrin keep. Following the order, on October 16 the two airmen, flying an Albatros biplane flew over the city. During the course of the flight they dropped bombs over the railway station in Kara-Aghatch (considered a military target) - this was the first time in history that an airplane was used for an offensive action (in this case as a bomber).After their successful return from the mission it became clear that the plane had suffered substantial damage from the anti-airship batteries at Odrin. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Turkish Army (Turkish: Türk Kara Kuvvetleri) is a branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. ... Selimiye Mosque, built by Sinan in 1575 Edirne is a city in Thrace, the westernmost part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. ... Look up Albatros on Wiktionary, the free dictionary For the article on the bird, see albatross The name Albatros may refer to— the sailing vessel Albatros which sank on May 3, 1961, due to a white squall and prompted the U.S. Sailing School Vessels Act of 1982. ... The B-17 Flying Fortress is one of the most recognizable and famous bombers of World War II. A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs. ...

Later that month with the expanding of the nascent Bulgarian Aviation Corps to three Aeroplane Platoons. Foreign volunteers began flying operational sorties alongside Bulgarian pilots, and carried out numerous reconnaissance, leaflet-dropping and bombing missions. During the course of the war at least three aircraft were shot down. Considerable help was received from the Russians in terms of aircraft, maintenance and training. Due to low aircraft serviceability and frequent training accidents, the number of missions actually flown was fairly low – however the Bulgarian pilots were able to gather aerial reconnaissance information, highly valued by the army General Staff. Mixed reconnaissance patrol of the Polish Home Army and the Soviet Red Army during Operation Tempest, 1944 Reconnaissance is the military term for the active gathering of information about an enemy, or other conditions, by physical observation. ...

First World War (1914-1918)

Aviation sign from 1915 to 1918

The Kingdom of Bulgaria enters the First World War at the side of the Central Powers on the 4 October 1915. Out of a total population of about 5.000.000 people it army counts more than 616.680 servicemen after the mobilization. It is the only country (along with Italy to some extend) which has a military aviation experience from the time before the war, when war strategists such as Marshal Foch of France found the airplane a machine compeltely useless for a military use. Image File history File links Cross-Pattee-Heraldry. ... Image File history File links Cross-Pattee-Heraldry. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... European military alliances in 1914. ...

The Aeroplane Section of the Bulgarian Army is deployed to Kumanovo Airfield in suport of the rapidly advancing bulgarian forces, but bad meteorogical conditions make flying virtually impossible upon arrival. To that moment it had completed 11 combat sorties, flown from an airfield in Sofia, at a place where today the central railway station could be found at the exact center of the city. With the advance of the frontline the unit re-deployed to airfields near Belitsa and Xanthi (currently in Greece, at the time of the war an area with bulgarian ethnic population). The newly acquired german LVG aircraft are hastily pressed into action. Two more airfields are constructed near Udovo and Levunovo. At the Southern Balkan Front the Allies start executing reconnaissance and bomber sorties against the forward bulgarian ground units. Trough the entire period of fighting in World War I the bulgarian military aviation experiences a steady boost in both numbers and quality of the types of aircraft in its inventory, but still they are inferior to those, flown by the Allies and foremost by the british and frenchmen. The First Aeroplane Section (the country's only aircraft unit) is attached to the Second Bulgarian Army and fights against four squadrons of the Entente. As for sorties it flies 255 in respect to the sum of 397 flown by them. The Section flew: City motto : Coordinates Municipality : Kumanovo municipality Elevation 340 m Population 105 484 Time zone  - Standard  - Summer (DST) CET (UTC+1) CEST (UTC+2) Founded Area code +389 031 Postal code 1300 Car plates KU Official Website www. ... Xanthi (Greek: Ξάνθη) is a city in northern Greece, in the East Macedonia and Thrace periphery. ... Combatants Austria-Hungary German Empire Bulgaria Triple Entente Serbia Greece Italy Commanders Oskar Potiorek Radomir Putnik Maurice Sarrail Adolphe Guillaumat Franchet dEsperey George Milne Panagiotis Danglis Conquest of Serbia, 1915 Both the Allies and the Central Powers tried to get Bulgaria to pick a side in the Great War. ... Map of the World showing the participants in World War I. Those fighting on the Allies side (at one point or another) are depicted in green, the Central Powers in orange, and neutral countries in gray. ...

• LVG B.II - 12 units, recon planes, also used as fighters by the bulgarians as they needed top air cover until dedicated fighters were acquired, the first group of six in November 1915
• Otto C.I - 13 units, bomber planes, first of machines in May 1916
• Albatros C.III - 18 units, recon planes, also used as trainers, first in August 1916
• DFW C.V - 12 units, recon planes, first in August 1917
• Roland D.II - 6 units, fighter planes, first in July 1917
• Roland D.III - 6 units, fighter planes, first at the end of 1917
• Fokker E.III - 3 units, fighter planes, first in the spring of 1916
• Fokker D.VII - 8 units, fighter planes, Bulgaria's finest, first in September 1918, weren't pressed into action, 7 of the scrapped acording to the peace treaty
• Albatros C.I - 2 units, ordered by the Ottoman Empire, land by a navigational mistake in Bulgaria before it entered the war, requisitioned, 1915
• Friedrichshafen FF-33 - 8 units, seaplane bombers for the Navy, first in 1916
• Rumpler 6B-1 - 2 units, seaplane fighters for the Navy, first in 1916

It should also be noted that there were bulgarian pilots, who have flown with german air units at the Western Front and even greater number, who have flown with the german units, based at Xanthi, in planes such as Albatros D.III, Halberstadt etc. The enemy air units on the other hand flew types such as Bristol, Nieuport, SPAD VII and SPAD XIII. The Albatros C.III was a German two-seat general-purpose biplane of the First World War, built by Albatros Flugzeugwerke. ... Captured E.III 210/16 in flight at Upavon, Wiltshire in 1916. ... Fokker D.VII Fokker D.VII Fokker D.VII preserved in the Deutsches Museum The Fokker D.VII was a late World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz at the Fokker company. ... The Albatros C.I was the first of the successful C-series of two-seat general-purpose biplanes built by Albatros Flugzeugwerke during the First World War. ... Combatants Belgium British Empire Australia[1] Canada[2] India[3] Newfoundland[4] New Zealand[5] South Africa[6] United Kingdom France and French Overseas Empire Portugal[7] United States Germany Commanders No unified command until 1918, then Maréchal Ferdinand Foch Moltke --> Falkenhayn --> Hindenburg and Ludendorff --> Hindenburg and Groener Casualties... The SPAD S.VII was the first of a series of highly successful biplane fighter aircraft produced by Société Pour LAviation et ses Dérivés during the First World War. ...

On the 30 September 1916 a sole french Farman 40 entered bulgarian aerospace with the intention to bomb the capital Sofia. At Bozhurishte Airfield a pair of bulgarian Fokker E.III was scrambled on intercept, flown by the german flight instructor at the bulgarian Aviation School Feldwebel Wagner and the bulgarian Lieutenant Marco Parvanov as his wingman. After a rapid climb they gain altitude of 3000 meters and enter battle station over the southern vicinities of the city over the village of Vladaya (today a part of Sofia), awaiting the intruder. At the same time a flight of 3 armed Albatros C.III twin-seater trainers are dispatched over the exact center of the capital as a second line of defence. At the instance the hostile aircraft (a plane of the Escadrille 384, flown by Sergeant Maurice Rauable and commanded by Branco Naumovich, a serbian, serving in the french army) closes on the city it is engaged by heavy anti-aircraft ground fire. The plane drops its bombload right away (with no casualties caused) and Rauable tries to loose the bulgarian fighters. Wagner fires at the target, but misses. Then Lieutenant Parvanov engages the french aircraft and damages it. The machine makes an emergency landing with a dead engine and th eaircrew is captured. Another Allies' aircraft, captured by our troops is a british Armstrong Mk.3 Withworth. The bulgarian pilots force it by intimidation to land and it and its pilots are taken into custody unharmed. The bomber receives bulgarian insignias and is pressed into action in "special operations". It bombs the enemy's positions mostly by night, when by the sound of its engine is mistakenly recognised as friendly in the dark. Those tasks are very successfull and 42 such sorties are flown, before at the end intensive AAA fire damages it. The pilot Captain Ivan Uzunov (who became a legendary airman, a national hero and a key person in bulgarian aviation activities) was able to land it in the almost complete darkness and sets the machine on fire. Together with his navigator Lieutenant Popatanasov they made a three-days-long march behind enemy lines, until they made it to the advancing bulgarian infantry units unharmed. Another war trophies are two Nieuport fighters. The bulgarian fighter pilot Lieutenant Vladimir Balan (who until that time flew with a german JaSta at the Western Front against the Allies and was awarded with the German Iron Cross for his excellent servise) shot down the squadron leader of the british XVII.Squadron Captain O'Dwyer. The bulgarian airmen also fall in battle as casualties, but in instances when they are forced to enter a dogfight onboard recon planes against dedicated state-of-the-art fighters. Vladaya (Bulgarian: ) is a village located in the Vitosha municipality in the southern parts of the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia. ... Position of Sofia in Bulgaria Coordinates: Country Bulgaria Province Sofia-City Government  - Mayor Boyko Borisov Area  - City 1,349 km²  (520. ...

Another source of pride are the naval aviators. In 1912 Petty-Officers Lyapchev and Mikhailov are sent, along with other officers and seamen to the german naval aviation forming facilities for training. Another group of naval personnel leaves for Germany in the begining of the First World War for the same reason. The cources they attend are at List, Nordenhai and Kiel. In November 1915 A seaplane station under german control with 4 Friedrichshafen FF-33 bombers and 1 Rumpler 6B-1 fighter is established near Varna. Later at the coast of the Varna Lake a second seaplane station (this one under bulgarian control) is formed, operating the same inventory. Near Sozopol a forward fuel and ammunition replenishment base is established for support of patrol flights over the southern bulgarian coastline. At the end of 1917 the german station is also transfered to the Bulgarian Navy. So at the time the armistice comes into effect the bulgarian fleet air arm comprises two seaplane stations, a forward replenishment base, three hangars, three workshops, ammunition warehouses and 10 seaplanes. After the cease-fire the machines are used for mine-fields reconnaissance in suport of nime-sweeping sctivities. At the end of 1919 they are transported by train to Bozhurishte Airfield to be scrapped along the army aviation inventory. The Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral in Varna The Stoyan Bachvarov Dramatic Theatre Varna (Bulgarian: ) is the largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, and 79th-largest in the European Union, with a population of 357,752 ([1]). Commonly referred to... Sozopol (Bulgarian: Созопол, Greek: Σωζοπολης) is a small, ancient town located 30 km south of Burgas, Bulgaria. ... Bozhurishte (Bulgarian Божурище) is a town in Western Bulgaria. ...

The bulgarian baloon observers also take part in the war, mostly at the Dobrudzha Front, where aircraft activities are scarce and are mostly those of a german bomber squadron, flying missions against Bucharest and Constanţa in "Gota" bombers. Near the central bulgarian city of Yambol an airship hangar is constructed to house a german station of the Kaiserliche Luftflotte. An airship of the "Schütte-Lanz" type (the exact unit is unknown). Acording to the documents it was assigned to the Bulgarian Army, but in reality it was under complete german control. Shortly after arrival it was lost during a flight over the Black Sea. In due time L.59 replaced it. That airship flew a series of remarkable missions, such as bombing british positions 2000 km into Africa and Naples. During a combat flight against the british naval base in Malta a lightning set it on fire over the Mediterranean Sea and caused a complete destruction. All crewmembers were lost.^[1] Map of Romania with Northern Dobruja highlighted in orange and Bulgaria with Southern Dobruja highlighted in yellow. ... Status Capital of Romania Mayor Adriean Videanu, since 2005 Area 238 km² Population (2005) 1,924,959[1] Density 8,088 inh/km² Geographical coordinates Web site http://www. ... County ConstanÅ£a Mayor Radu Åžtefan Mazăre Area 124. ... Yambol (Bulgarian: Ямбол, also transliterated as Jambol) is the principal town in Yambol Province, Bulgaria, located on the Tunzha River. ... NASA satellite image of the Black Sea Map of the Black Sea The Black Sea is an inland sea between southeastern Europe and Anatolia that is actually a distant arm of the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Mediterranean Sea. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... “Napoli” redirects here. ... Composite satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea. ...

Hardness under the Peace treaty (1919-1936)

On the 4 October 1918 the bulgarian Czar issued a Royal act of demobilization, according to which the military aviation went in lines with peace-time structure, thus concentrating in

• Aeroplane group, based in Bozhourishte with
  • two aeroplane companies
  • aeroplane school
  • aeroplane atelliér
  • aeroplane depot

Also under the Naval Headquarters there was a Naval Seaplane station at Varna - Chaika.

On the 27 November 1919 the Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine was signed. Under it The Kingdom of Bulgaria was prohibited to perform any military aviation activities for 20 years. For that reason all Bulgarian aircraft, balloons, aviation equipment, weaponry and ammunition were to be destroyed. Under the terms of the treaty any aircraft, procured for civilian purposes, were to be bought from the countries on the winning side. The combined engine power for any airplane (including multiengined ones) was not to exceed 180 hp. In addition, the Bulgarian airspace was to be controlled and used in the victorious countries' interests. The Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine, dealing with Bulgaria for its role as one of the Central Powers in World War I, was signed on the November 27, 1919 at Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. ...

In accordance with the treaty during 1920 no less than 70 airplanes, 110 aviation engines, 3 air balloons, 76 aviation machine guns, photographic cameras and as well as other aviation equipment were destroyed at the military airfield of Bozhourishte. Soon the seaplanes of the Bulgarian Navy were brought by train to the same airfield and scrapped. Thanks to the devotion of the Air Troops personnel and the help of the population of the villages, surrounding the capital Sofia several aircraft were hidden. Among others seven DFW C.V, Albatros C.III and a single Fokker D.VII evaded Allied inspection and following destruction. At least ten aviation engines Benz-IV and Mercedes-III were also saved.

The Bulgarian government tried to get around the ban for military flight activity by establishing a Gendarmery Aeroplane Section in 1919. Since the Gendarmery was at that time a service under the Ministry of War, the creation of the unit was met by fierce opposition by the Allied commission. This almost resulted in the destruction of the whole Vrazhdebna Airfield, but the disbandment of the unit prevented this from happening.

In 1920 was the creation of an Aeroflight Section under the Ministry of Railways, Postal Service and Telegraph. Bulgarian aviation personnel assembled two airplanes from parts, salvaged from the destroyed military airplanes. The two aircraft, known as "the mixed planes", recorded about 1000 flight hours altogether. The sole remaining Bulgarian Fokker D.VII was disguised as a two seater, thus being classified as a trainer and returning to active service. On 5 July 1923 Bulgaria ratified the International Civil Aviation Treaty. From that moment on its air vehicles would carry a registration in the form B-B??? (the latter three signs being a combination of capital letters). In 1923 the first group of cadets, called "student-flyers" entered the Flying school at Vrazhdebna AF.

The following year (1924) the first new airplanes were acquired. Those were machines of the Potez VIII, Caudron C-59, Henriot XD.14, Bristol 29 "Traveller" types; Avro 522 seaplanes were also procured. During the same year the Bulgarian airplane construction specialist Atanas Grigorov (who obtained his qualification at the "Albatroswerke - Berlin") assembled his superb seaplane, called "Grigorov-1". The aircraft made several test-flights, proving its outstanding characteristics, but was damaged beyond repair by a storm in the hangar where it was stationed. Also in 1924 the Aeroplane Section was expanded to a Aeroflight Directorate still under the Ministry of Railways, Postal Service and Telegraph.

The following 1925 saw the Potez XVII, Bristol Lucifer and the Macchi 2000/18 flying boats boosting the country's aircraft inventory. A group of German aircraft engineers, headed by the constructor Herr Hermann Winter came to Bulgaria on an invitation by the government. The purpose of the group was the establishment of an aviation factory, named The State's Aeroconstruction Atelliér (more popular as DAR-Bozhourishte). Its first manager was the first Bulgarian pilot to achieve an air victory - Mr. Marco Parvanov. The first aircraft types, produced by the plant were the "Uzounov-1" (an indigenous variant of the wartime German DFW C.V) and the DAR-2 (indigenous variant of the German Albatross C.III of the same era). Both types well-known and loved by the personnel of the former Air Troops and with Bulgarian combat service experience. A new type - the DAR-1 was also in a phase of development.

The year of 1926 saw the Airplane School moving to the geographical center of the country, in the town of Kazanlak, away from the Allied Control Commission. The Czechoslovak "AERO-Praha" company has also built an aircraft factory near that city, but its models were not up to the requirements of the Bulgarian authorities. After unsuccessful switch to automotive production the plant was finally sold to the Italian Caproni company. The factory became popular as "Balgarski Kaproni" or "Caproni-Bulgaria". During 1926 the first series of the very successful DAR-1 were produced and entered service with the Aeroflight Directorate.

The year 1927 saw the Directorate in lines with the following structure:

• A fighter yato^[2], flying the DAR-1s
• A bomber yato, flying the DAR-"Uzounov-1" and DAR-2
• A recon yato, flying the Potez XVIIs
• A seaplane yato, flying the Avro 522 floatplanes and the Macchi 2000/18 flying boats
• An aeroplane school, flying the Caudron C-59, the Henriot XD.14 and the Šmolnik Š.18

In the following 1928 the Ministry of War has started the demanding 10-year for development of the military aviation (still banned by the peace treaty). It comprised:

• 4 army fighter orlyaks, each made of two yatos, or overall 8 yatos flying 96 fighter planes
• 4 army recon orlyaks, each made of two yatos, or overall 8 yatos flying 96 recon planes
• 18 divisionary recon yatos, basicly air support aviation, each flying 12 planes or 216 planes alltogether
• Strike Aviation Brigade with:
  • Fighter Orlyak of 48 machines
  • Bomber Orlyak of 36 machines
  • Recon Orlyak of 2 machines
  • Maritime Orlyak of:
    • 2 seaplane fighter yatos, flying 24 fighters
    • 2 seaplane bomber yatos, flying 18 bombers

In the year of 1931 Bulgaria signed the Warsaw Treaty, concerning international civil air activities and the country was assigned the new civil registration - LZ-??? (the latter three signs being a combination of capital letters). In 1933 the Bulgarian Council of Ministers approved the following wartime order of battle of the aviation:

• a mixed orlyak of:
  • fighter yato
  • bomber yato
  • recon yato
  • liaison and photographic survey yato
• maritime yato
• training orlyak
• Pilots School at Kazanlak airfield
• a baloon company (which was left a paper unit as the baloon was already fully obsolete for military purposes).

This era saw Bulgaria orientated at acquiring german, czechoslovak and polish constructions.

The traditional Military Parade of Saint George (patron of the bulgarian armed forces, the day is also commemorated as the National Day of Bravery) in the year 1937 saw again after so many years aircraft as an official part ot the Bulgarian Army. Those were the Royal Present of 12 Arado Ar.65 fighter planes, and 12 Do.11 bomber planes, donated to the Air Troops personally by the bulgarian czar. A month later he presented the bulgarian air regiments with their new standards (combat flags) at an official ceremony at Vrazhdebna Airfield himself.^[1]

Years of Rebirth (1937-1939)

Aviation sign from 1937 to 1941, also The Bulgarian Medal of Bravery

Image File history File links Bulgarian_Air_Force_roundel_1938. ... Image File history File links Bulgarian_Air_Force_roundel_1938. ...

Second World War (1939-1945)

Aviation sign from 1941 to 1944

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Reestablishment under the Socialist government

Aviation sign from 1945 to 1948

Image File history File links Bulgarian_Air_Force_roundel_1944. ... Image File history File links Bulgarian_Air_Force_roundel_1944. ...

The Era of Major Achievements (The Sixties and Seventies)

Aviation sign from 1949 to 1992

Image File history File links Bulgarian_Air_Force_roundel_1948. ... Image File history File links Bulgarian_Air_Force_roundel_1948. ...

A Potent Air Power (The Eighties)

The downfall (1989-2004)

After the end of the Cold war Bulgaria's air force is limited to 226 aircraft. A large number of early MiG-21 variants were withdrawn from service and were cut for scrap. And the armament from the trainers for the MiG-21 and MiG-23 was removed. In 1998 four air bases were closed down: Gabrovnitsa, Balchick, Uzundzhovo and Shtraklevo. Then in 2000 the Stara Zagora (operating Mi-24s) air force base was closed. Then in 2001 three more base were closed down: Dobrich, Ravnets and Cheshnegirovo. In 2003 Dobroslavtsi was closed down and the MiG-23s were withdrawn from service. The motive being that it is more expensive to run than the MiG-21. In February 2004 the Su-22s, which were stationed first in Dobrich then in Bezmer, were withdrawn. [[2]] For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ...

Modern times

Bulgarian MiG-29.

Eurocopter Cougar arriving at Krumovo Air Base

Bulgarian Su25

In the past decade Bulgaria has been trying actively to restructure its army as a whole and a lot of attention has been placed on keeping the aging Russian aircraft operational. Currently the attack and defence branches of the Bulgarian air force are comprised mainly of MIG-21s, MIG-29s and Su-25s. There are also several Su-22s, used primary for surveillance purposes. About 16 MiG-29 fighters are being modernized in order to meet NATO standarts and until now everything is going according to plan (7 jets will be ready until september 2007). In about 2 years time the government intends to purchase 16 modern jet fighters but due to the lack of funding the procedure of choosing the best alternative could prolong itself. The main competitors are expected to be Eurofighter, Dassault Rafale, JAS 39 Gripen, F-16 and F/A-18 Super Hornet. In 2006 the Bulgarian government signed a contract with Alenia Aeronautica for the delivery of five C-27J Spartan transport aircraft in order to replace the old soviet made An-24 and An-26. The first Spartan is expected to arrive in year 2007 and the remaining four until 2011. Image File history File links MIG-29-BG.jpg‎ A friend of mine made this picture ! File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links MIG-29-BG.jpg‎ A friend of mine made this picture ! File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Bulgarian_Air_Force_roundel. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Krumovo (Bulgarian: Крумово) is a village in the Plovdiv Province, southern Bulgaria. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. ... The Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum) is a Russian fighter aircraft used in the air superiority role. ... Su-25 of the Russian Air Force The Su-25 (NATO reporting name Frogfoot) is a battlefield attack, close air support, and anti-tank aircraft designed by the Soviet Union. ... Two aircraft share the designation Su-17. ... The Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum) is a Russian fighter aircraft used in the air superiority role. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague. ... The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine multi-role canard-delta fighter aircraft, very similar to the US-German Rockwell-MBB X-31 prototype and designed and built by a consortium of European nations formed in 1983. ... Formerly named Societé des Avions Marcel Bloch or MB, the Dassault Aviation is a French aircraft manufacturer of military, regional and business jets. ... The Rafale is a French twin-engine delta-wing multirole fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. ... The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (Griffin or Gryphon) is a fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. ... The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern multi-role jet fighter aircraft built in the United States and used by dozens of countries all over the world. ... Four F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets assigned to the Black Aces of Strike Fighter Squadron Forty One (VFA-41) fly over the Western Pacific Ocean in a stack formation. ... Alenia Aeronautica (formerly Aeritalia) is an aerospace engineering corporation in Italy, a subisidary of Finmeccanica. ... The Alenia G.222 (Alenia originally Aeritalia) is a medium-sized STOL military transport aircraft. ... The Antonov An-24 is a 44-seat twin turboprop transport manufactured in Russia by The Antonov Design bureau. ... The Antonov An-26 (NATO reporting name: Curl) is a 2-engined light prop transport aircraft and is a development of the An-24. ...

Modern EU-made transport helicopters were purchased in 2005 and until now 3 have arrived. In 2-3 years the Bulgarian Air Force will have 12 Eurocopter Cougar helicopters (8 transport and 4 CSAR), and the Navy - 6 Eurocopter Panther. Until then the Bulgarian Air force would have to rely on the Mi-24s and Mi-17s. Recently, the Ministry of Defense terminated the contract with Elbit Systems for modernizing 12 Mi-24 and 6 Mi-17 helicopters. AS 532 Cougar The Eurocopter Cougar is a twin-engined, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter. ... The Panther helicopter of the Cassard frigate transferring a light load to the Meuse Maneuvering of a Panther helicopter on the Cassard frigate The Eurocopter Panther is the military version of the Eurocopter Dauphin medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine helicopter and is manufactured by Eurocopter (originally by Aérospatiale). ... The Mil Mi-24 is a large combat helicopter gunship and low-capacity troop transport operated from 1976 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and over thirty other nations. ... The Mil Mi-17 (Also known as the Mi-8MT, NATO reporting name Hip-H) was a Soviet cargo helicopter. ... Elbit Systems Ltd. ... The Mil Mi-24 is a large combat helicopter gunship and low-capacity troop transport operated from 1976 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and over thirty other nations. ... The Mil Mi-17 (Also known as the Mi-8MT, NATO reporting name Hip-H) was a Soviet cargo helicopter. ...

Branches of the airforce include: fighter aviation, assault aviation, intelligence aviation and transportation aviation, aid defense troops, radio-technical troops, communications troops, radio-technical support troops, logistics and medical troops.

Future Plans

Aircraft inventory

With the exception of the Navy's small helicopter fleet, the Air Forces are responsible for all military aircraft in Bulgaria. The Air Forces' inventory numbers 124 aircraft, including 46 combat jets and 42 helicopters. Aircraft of western origin have only begun to enter the fleet, numbering 13 of the total in service.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[3]	Notes
Aero L-39	Czechoslovakia	advanced trainer		12
Antonov An-24	Soviet Union	transport		2
Antonov An-26	Soviet Union	transport		3
Antonov An-30	Soviet Union	aerial survey		1
Bell 206	United States	utility helicopter		6
Eurocopter Cougar	France	transport helicopter	AS532	5	7 more under delivery
Let L-410	Czechoslovakia	transport	L-410UVP-E	7
Mikoyan MiG-21	Soviet Union	fighter lead-in trainer	MiG-21bis MiG-21U	18 3
Mikoyan MiG-29	Soviet Union	fighter lead-in trainer	MiG-29 MiG-29UB	16 4
Mil Mi-14	Soviet Union	naval helicopter	Mil Mi-14PL	12
Mil Mi-17	Soviet Union	transport helicopter		18
Mil Mi-24	Soviet Union	attack helicopter	Mi-24D Mi-24V	12 6
Pilatus PC-9	Switzerland	trainer/light attack	PC-9M	12
Pilatus PC-12	Switzerland	utility transport		1
Sukhoi Su-25	Soviet Union	close support lead-in trainer	Su-25 Su-25UB	35 4

L-39C Albatros Slovak L-39 ZA at Radom Air Show 2005 The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance, jet trainer aircraft developed in Czechoslovakia during the 1960s to replace the L-29 Delfín. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Czechoslovakia. ... The Antonov An-24 is a 44-seat twin turboprop transport manufactured in USSR (now Ukraine) by the Antonov Design Bureau. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... Romanian Air Force Antonov An-26 The Antonov An-26 (NATO reporting name: Curl) is a 2-engined light prop transport aircraft and is a development of the An-24 passenger aircraft, with particular attention made to the potential military use. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Antonov An-30 ( NATO Clank), is a development of the An-24 equipped for aerial cartography. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Bell Helicopter Model 206 JetRanger is a two-bladed main rotor, turbine powered helicopter with a conventional, two-bladed tail rotor. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... AS 532 Cougar The Eurocopter Cougar is a twin-engined, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The LET L 410 Turbolet is a high-wing twin-turboprop unpressurised 19-passenger aircraft manufactured by Let Kunovice in Kunovice in the current Czech Republic. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Czechoslovakia. ... Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name Fishbed) is a fighter aircraft, originally built by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Mikoyan MiG-29 (Russian: ) (NATO reporting name Fulcrum) is a fighter aircraft designed for the air superiority role in the Soviet Union. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Mil Mi-14 (NATO reporting name Haze) was a Soviet military transport helicopter, derived from the earlier Mi-8. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... Mil Mi-17 The Mil Mi-17 (Also known as the Mi-8MT, NATO reporting name Hip-H) is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Mil Mi-24 is a large combat helicopter gunship and low-capacity troop transport operated from 1976 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and over thirty other nations. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Pilatus PC-9 is a single-engine, low-wing tandem-seat turboprop training aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... PC-12 of the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop passenger and cargo aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Switzerland. ... The Su-25 (NATO reporting name Frogfoot) is a battlefield attack, close air support, and anti-tank aircraft designed by the Soviet Union. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ...

Notable facilities

• 1st Fighter Air Base - Dobroslavtsi Air Base
  • The base used to house a fighter squadron (flying MiG-23s) of the 18th Fighter Air Regiment - an integral part of the 1st Air Defence Division. Later, as 1st Fighter Air Base it was put under the newly established Air Defence Corps and its squadron was named "Knights of the Sky". Dobroslavtsi has been the main air defence asset of the capital Sofia right until its deactivation.
• 2nd Fighter Air Base - Gabrovnitsa
  • The base used to house a fighter squadron (flying MiG-23s) of the 18th Fighter Air Regiment - an integral part of the 1st Air Defence Division. Later, as 2nd Fighter Air Base it was put under the newly established Air Defence Corps and its squadron was named "Wild Cat". Gabrovnitsa has been the main air defence asset of the sole bulgarian nuclear power plant right until its deactivation.
• 3rd Fighter Air Base - Graf Ignatievo
  • The base used to house the 19th Fighter Air Regiment (flying MiG-21s) of the 10th Combined Air Corps. Later the corps was transformed into Tactical Air Command and the 19th FAR was transferred to Air Defence Corps as 3rd Fighter Air Base. Today it is the sole active Fighter Air Base of the BAF with two squadrons, one of which is the MiG-29 "Sharks" squadron of the deactivated 5th FAB - Ravnets.
• 4th Fighter Air Base - Uzundzhovo (later 21st Fighter-Bomber Air Base)
  • The base used to house a fighter air regiment and after its disbandment became a squadron of the 19th Fighter Air Regiment (HQ at Graf Ignatievo). When the 19th FAR was transformed into 3rd FAB and shifted to ADC Uzundzhovo went along as an independent unit: the 4th Fighter Air Base. Shortly afterwards it changed tasks and hats transferring to the Tactical Air Command as 21st Fighter-Bomber Air Base and finally disbanded.
• 5th Fighter Air Base - Ravnets
  • The base housed a squadron (flying MiG-21s, later MiG-29s) of the 17th Fighter Air Regiment - an integral part of the 2st Air Defence Division. Later, as 5th Fighter Air Base it was put under the newly established Air Defence Corps and its squadron was named "Sharks"(although unofficially, but still because of its patch and its geographical location close to the sea this is how it used to be called). The base was considered elite because of its proximity to the turkish border and its task to protect the oil refinery near Burgas, which is deemed of strategical importance to the country. That is the reason for the squadron to be the first (and only) transiting to the MiG-29. As the base deactivated the air unit was moved to Graf Ignatievo, where it is currently residing as 2nd Squadron of the 3rd Fighter Air Base.
• 6th Fighter Air Base - Balchik
  • The base housed a squadron (flying MiG-21s) of the 17th Fighter Air Regiment - an integral part of the 2st Air Defence Division. Later, as 6th Fighter Air Base it was put under the newly established Air Defence Corps. As the base de-activated its MiG-21bis/ UM fighters were transferred to the 26th Reconnaissance Air Base. Today the base is rarely used for para-training and sea survival courses. Currently 6th Aviation Material Preservation Base.
• 11th Training Air Base - Shtraklevo
  • The base housed between two and four training squadrons, flying L-29s as 1st Training Air Regiment of the Higher Military Aviation School. Later the regiment was transformed into 11th Training Air Base and de-activated. Currently 11th Aviation Material Preservation Base.
• 12th Training Air Base - Kamenets (now transferred to Dolna Mitropoliya)
  • The base housed the 2nd Training Air Regiment of the Higher Military Aviation School, flying Mig-21s, L-29s and L-39s. Later it was transformed into 12th Training Air Base and became part of Tactical Air Command. Today it has just been moved to its former location of Dolna Mitropolija and it flies a squadron of Pilatus PC-9Ms and a squadron of L-39s.
• 16th Transport Air Base - Vrazhdebna (military area of Sofia Airport)
  • The base housed the 16th Transport Air Regiment, which transformed into 16th Transport Air Base (but popularily the base is still called "trap" - the acronym of the regiment). It houses the 1st Air Transport Squadron, flying An-26s, L-410s, and a sole Pilatus PC-12. The An-26s are flown to important assignments in support of bulgarian units, contributing to missions in Bosnia-Hercegovina, Kosovo, Iraq and recently to Afghanistan. The squadron is to acquire the first of the ordered C-27J Spartans in a couple of months.
• 21st Fighter-Bomber Air Base - Uzundzhovo (formerly 3rd FAB)
  • The base used to house a fighter air regiment and after its disbandment became a squadron of the 19th Fighter Air Regiment (HQ at Graf Ignatievo). When the 19th FAR was transformed into 3rd FAB and shifted to ADC Uzundzhovo went along as an independent unit: the 4th Fighter Air Base. Shortly afterwards it changed tasks and hats transferring to the Tactical Air Command as 21st Fighter-Bomber Air Base and finally disbanded.
• 22nd Ground Attack Air Base - Bezmer (becoming a joint bulgarian-american training facility)
  • The base housed the 22nd Ground Attack Air Regiment (flying Su-25s), which was part of the 10th Combined Air Corps. When the corps transformed into Tactical Air Command the 22nd Ground Attack Air Base transitioned to the new structure. After 26th RAB - Dobrich was de-activated its squadron, flying the dedicated recon planes - the Su-22M-4/UM-3K was transferred to Bezmer where it very briefly operated as an Air Reconnaissance Flight before it disbanded a little more than a year later. Today the 22nd GAAB has two squadrons: 1st Squadron (called "Rattlesnake" or as its patch says "Crotale") and 2nd Squadron (called unofficially "The Khans", because of the traditional bulgarian insignias of its ancient rulers it has in its patch). The base took intensively part in every joint exercise at home and abroad, held until the time of its establishment.
• 23rd Attack Helicopters Air Base - Stara Zagora
  • The base used to house the 13th Attack Helicopters Air Regiment (flying 44 Mi-24s, of which 6 were of the "V" version and the remainder of the "D") of the 10th Combined Air Corps. As The corps transformed into Tactical Air Command, so did the regiment, becoming an air base. In the late nineties it disbanded, sending one squadron to the 24th Helicopter Air Base and disestablishing the other one.
• 24th Helicopter Air Base - Krumovo (military area of Plovdiv Airport)
  • The base used to house the 44th Helicopter Air Regiment (flying Mi-17s, Mi-8s and Mi-2s) of the 10th Combined Air Corps. According to the major restructuring plans it became an air base and when 23rd AHAB disbanded one of its squadrons became 2nd Attack Helicopter Squadron of the 24th HAB. The 1st Helicopter Squadron flies the Mi-17s and the recently acquired AS.532AL Cougars. The Bell 206B-3s that were acquired at the end of the nineties form an Independent Helicopter Training Flight. 24th Helicopter Air Base is also the unit of the armed forces in constant readiness to react upon natural or industrial disasters, providing evacuation and/ or providing emergency responce units with air mobility. CSAR activities are also being developed. For that reason a specialised unit is based at Krumovo, coprised of PARA-SAR/CSAR operators, who are exclusively former servicemen of the 68th Special Forces Brigade, based nearby. Emphasys in their training is put on parachute jumps, alpine skills and MEDEVAC knowledge. A major boost in that kind of operations will occure when the last 4 AS.532AL arrive. Those will be dedicated CSAR machines, equipped with top-notch sensors and gear.
• 25th Fighter-Bomber Air Base - Cheshnegirovo/Sadovo
  • The base used to house the 25th Fighter-Bomber Air Regiment (flying MiG-23BN/UBs) of the 10th Combined Air Corps. According to the major restructuring plans it became the first regiment to convert to an air base structure. Briefly it housed the entire bulgarian MiG-23 fleet after which it disbanded.
• 26th Reconnaissance Air Base - Dobrich
  • The base used to house the 26th Reconnaissance Air Regiment (flying MiG-21Rs/ PFM-Rs/ bis, Su-22M-4/ UM-3Ks and for some time the awesome MiG-25RB/ U) of the 10th Combined Air Corps. Later it became an air base with two squadrons. When Balchik AB de-activated its MiG-21bis/ UMs were transferred to the 26th RAB. After it also seazed to operate its Su-22s were sent to the 22nd GAAB at Bezmer.
• Bozhurishte
  • For a long time Bozhurishte Airfield has been the most important asset and a symbol of the bulgarian aviation, housing military and civil flying activity, as well as aircraft production. A very inspiring sign stood over the entrance of the airfield during the twenties and thirties saying: "At that field we learn how to sacrifice ourselves for King and Motherland!" During the Second World War it has been the major Bulgarian Air Troops base and housed a number of air combat units in addition to the Air Troops Headquarters. At a time the greater number of air force units and aircraft were concentrated at Bozhurishte. After the introduction of jet combat aircraft the airfield became a major command and maintenance base for the missile air defence and early warning and control units of the country, the most important resident units being the 1st Missile Air Defence Brigade and the 1st Radio-Technical Brigade of the 1st AD Division. It is no longer a significant military facility and the future plans for it are not known. In sharp contrast with the legendary past of the airfield today it is a reason for a huge scandal, which is rapidly gaining momentum. According to a deal struck by the Ministry of Defence the airfield will most probably be destroyed to give space for a business center.
• Plovdiv
  • The city of Plovdiv used to house the headquarters of the Tactical Aviation Command and is still a place of significance as it houses a number of logistical and operational support units of the Bulgarian Air Force. The 2nd Missile Air Defence Brigade is also based in the vicinities of the city and is responsible for the air defence of the central part of the country.
• Bourgas
  • The city of Bourgas is the place around which the 3rd Missile Air Defence Brigade of the Bulgarian Air Force is deployed, providing counter air protection of the country's eastern area, the navy and the Bourgas Oil Refinery.

• Also to be noted is the 63rd Independent Maritime Helicopter Air Base at Varna - Chaika, which houses the Independent Maritime Helicopter Squadron - the bulgarian Fleet Air Arm. Currently it flyes Mi-14s and is awaiting the ordered AS.565MBs to arrive.

Position of Sofia in Bulgaria Coordinates: Country Bulgaria Province Sofia-City Government  - Mayor Boyko Borisov Area  - City 1,349 km²  (520. ... Burgas (also transliterated as Bourgas; Bulgarian: ) is the second-largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. ... Balchik (Bulgarian Балчик, Romanian Balcic) is a Black Sea coastal town in the Southern Dobruja area of northeastern Bulgaria. ... Dolna Mitropoliya is a town and municipality in Pleven Province of northern Bulgaria. ... Sofia Airport (IATA: SOF, ICAO: LBSF) (Bulgarian: , Letishte Sofiya), also known as Vrazhdebna (Враждебна) (after the village located to the north) is the main airport in Sofia, Bulgaria. ... Joint US-Bulgarian military bases The Bezmer Air Base is situated in the eastern part of the Upper Thracian Lowland, in Yambol Oblast (Region), 10 km west of the city of Yambol and 30 km southeast of the city of Sliven, between the villages of Bezmer and Bolyarsko, and near... Stara Zagora (Bulgarian: ) is a city in the cental part of Southern Bulgaria, and represents an important economic center. ... Plovdiv International Airport (Bulgarian: Международно Летище Пловдив) (IATA: VAR, ICAO: LBWN) is the airport of the second largest city in Bulgaria, Plovdiv. ... Sadovo (Bulgarian: Садово) is a small town in the Plovdiv Province, central Bulgaria. ... Dobrich (Bulgarian: Добрич) is a town in northeastern Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Dobrich Province. ... Bozhurishte (Bulgarian Божурище) is a town in Western Bulgaria. ... Plovdiv (Bulgarian: ) is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia, with a population of 341,873([1]). It is the administrative centre of Plovdiv Province in southern Bulgaria, as well as the largest and most important city of the historical region of Upper (or Northern) Thrace, famous for its... Burgas (or Bourgas, Bulgarian: Бургас) is the second largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. ... The Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral in Varna The Stoyan Bachvarov Dramatic Theatre Varna (Bulgarian: ) is the largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, and 79th-largest in the European Union, with a population of 357,752 ([1]). Commonly referred to...

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Rumen Kirilov, Ivan Borislavov, "The Bulgarian Aviation In the Chains of the Neuilly Peace Treaty", in: "Klub Krile Magazine", special, Vol. 11, 1999, "Air Group 2000" Publishing, Sofia, Bulgaria
2. ^ The Bulgarian word "yato" means a "flock of birds" and was the Bulgarian equivalent of an air force squadron at the time
3. ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.

Aviation Week & Space Technology (often abbreviated as Aviation Week or AW&ST) is a weekly magazine which reports upon the state of the aerospace industry. ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

See also

Bulgaria

Military of Bulgaria The Bulgarian Army (Bulgarian: Българска армия) represents the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria. ...

The Bulgarian Cosmonauts Bulgaria is the only country from the signatories of the Interkosmos programme to send two cosmonauts into space. ...

List of joint US-Bulgarian military bases Joint US-Bulgarian military bases Joint US-Bulgarian military bases established according to the 2006 Defense Cooperation Agreement between the United States and Bulgaria: Bezmer Air Base, Yambol Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Plovdiv Novo Selo Range, Sliven Aytos Logistics Center, Aytos US-Bulgarian Defense Cooperation Agreement Bulgarian air bases The...

External links

• Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria
• Air Group 2000 - Bulgaria's leading publishing enterprise on defence issues