Zagreb Aeromeeting 2005.

This year’s aeromeeting was better than the last year’s. Great opening with group flight from Austrian guest group of four old Saabs followed by the two attractive acrobatic demonstrations by Slovenian guest pilots. Those were great–looking at them doing all those difficult turns, makes you start wondering how the heck they know where they are when they finish some complicated loop.

Traditionally, military crafts came at the very end. First Pilatus and than MiG-21. The guy in Pilatus didn’t seem to be at his best, as he did just a few regular tricks. His ‘bell’ was poorly executed, totally opposite from the last year’s execellent performance. The only really impressive trick was reverse low flight with negative pull-up. G-force in that figure is negative–it doesn’t push you to a seat, it pulls you off and up, which could be very uncomfortable.

The MiG pilot really done his part well. From what they demonstrated last year, I expected just a few straight overflights with a forssage for the sake of making thunder for the crowd. Surprisingly, this pilot really stepped on it and did some amazing stuff with that aged aircraft. Almost like the plane came straight from a repair shop and he wanted to be the first one to try it out.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to see Eurofighter, F-16 and Tornado in Varaždin at 3rd of July.