In 2010, too, the author had the opportunity to visit the 3rd air base of the Bulgarian Air Force at Graf Ignatievo. Actually, a report on the Bulgarian-American exercise Sentry Gold was planned, but due to some communication problems the visit only took place after the USAF F-15s had already left. The regret was limited – after all, the Bulgarian MiG-21s were the goal of the trip. The first one was just returning from the weather reconnaissance flight while the visitors were still waiting at the gate of the base on the morning of June 3 – much too far away for usable photos. So all hopes rested on the one flight still planned for the day shift, a two-seater with the base commander on board. Unfortunately, it fell victim to a visit by the commander of the BVVS, Major General Popov, and afterwards the onset of rain ended all flying. In any case, only this two-seater was on the flightline. So nothing gained but expenses? Fortunately, a night flying shift was still planned, and as preparations were in full swing and four more MiG-21s were towed out, the sun came out again – bright and low, it offered perfect light for exceptional pictures until dusk. Darkness, floodlights and afterburners then created a particularly fascinating atmosphere that kept the visitors on the airfield until midnight. And on the next day there was another – extremely short – MiG-21 weather flight and a lot of MiG-29 action ...
The author's thanks go to all members of the Bulgarian Air Force who made the visit possible, above all Brigadier General Radev, Major Rusev and First Lieutenant Petkov.