Unfortunately the situation in 2021 has not changed compared with the previous year, and corona panic continues to rule the world. When in mid-June the borders seem reasonably passable and contacts on site report regular flight operations, the author sets off for another visit to Zagreb-Pleso. As before, there is no official permission, so again only a look over the fence is possible. And the available time is again limited to two days. But this time the hope for two days of flying was not to be disappointed.
On the very afternoon of arrival there is a MiG-21 to see – not flying, but all the more beautifully restored. The aircraft in the colours of the first Croatian MiG-21 stands on the premises of ZTZ Velika Gorica, where the Yugoslav MiGs used to be maintained.
The announcements for the next day sound promising: two waves of four aircraft each. That is half the active MiG-21 fleet! And indeed, one after the other ...
... two MiG-21UMD each and ...
... two bisD of the QRA pair with missiles take off.
But no visit to Pleso is complete without a screw-up. After moving to the other side of the runway, the author waits in vain for the landing aircraft. They touch down where they took off.
The wait for the next wave is shortened by civil traffic, ...
... including this L-410UVP
In the second wave it gets even more confusing. The two UMDs first come onto the airfield on the west side but then taxi eastwards. The author, already positioned on the east side for the take-off, is kept running ...
... to catch the aircraft taxiing past right in front of him ...
... just in time.
While the two aircraft take off westwards as expected, ...
... the two bisD taxi onto the runway in the west ...
... and take off ...
... in the opposite direction.
As the traffic in the meantime keeps to the east-west direction, it can be assumed that the MiGs will come back from the east.
And indeed: shortly after the two two-seaters 164 ...
... and 167 ...
... the two QRA aircraft 117 ...
... and 116 also land. The latter carries the special marking for the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Croatian Air Force on its fin. Thus the first day at the airfield ends with a pleasing photo record: eight take-offs, four landings. We have had worse :-).
And as it is still early in the day, there is time for an excursion to Velika Buna, where this MiG-21 is displayed (albeit with a fictitious number).
The next morning ...
... starts again with civil flight operations, ...
... which pleasingly have increased somewhat again compared with the previous year.
Today only two aircraft are announced ...
... and so only the two two-seaters taxi ...
... for a pair take-off.
One or two regular movements later ...
... the two UMDs are already back and, after a flypast, ...
... come in singly ...
... to land.
The "interval programme" is provided by a PC-9 making a short test flight ...
... as well as regular traffic again.
Shortly before noon the two two-seaters then take off for the next (and, for the author, last) round.
After the L-410, which made numerous take-offs and landings on both days, ...
... the two MiG-21UMDs are already back from their half-hour flight ...
... and it is time for the author to set off on the long journey home.
Zagreb-Pleso Airport (Croatia) October 2021
After the successful visit to Zagreb in June and for lack of alternatives, the author decides on another trip to Croatia in mid-October 2021. Fine autumn weather and announced flight operations give hope for a second success.
As it had proved a good omen on previous trips to Zagreb to drop by a displayed MiG-21 before visiting the airport, this time a visit to Gornja Stubica is on the programme. The plinth-mounted aircraft there ...
... commemorates Rudolf Perešin, who was shot down and killed in his MiG-21 shortly before the end of the War of Independence.
Three test flights are announced for the day of the visit, the first of which is to take off at 10 a.m. The morning fog is also forecast to clear by then. Reality, however, looks like this, and so it was to remain for another hour.
After aircraft could long only be heard but not seen, the picture changes almost abruptly at around 11 a.m. The fog disappears, the sun comes out and the aircraft that could only be heard so far also become visible – like this L-410. Only the MiG-21s keep us waiting ...
... until shortly before noon MiG engines can be heard and – surprise – the QRA pair, consisting of MiG-21bisD 116 (pictured) and 133, takes off, ...
... closely followed by a British Hawk, which had served as a target for a joint interception exercise the day before and is now heading home again.
As civil traffic continues to land in the east-west direction, it can be assumed that the same applies to the MiGs – ...
... and indeed: after the usual good half hour, first 133 lands and shortly afterwards ...
... 116.
It takes until the early afternoon for another aircraft, 118, to finally appear for the announced test flight. Unfortunately – unlike similar flights recently – no drop-tanks are fitted under the wings. These would have been a welcome change, after all the author has never photographed a Croatian MiG-21 with more than one drop-tank.
After what feels like several minutes of engine testing on the runway ...
... the aircraft finally takes off.
A short time and a few civil landings later ...
... it is already back, but does not land; instead it goes around.
Only at the second attempt ...
... and a few nice photo opportunities later ...
... does it finally touch down.
While waiting for a possible further test flight, a Slovenian Cougar makes a flypast.
A few civil landings later ...
... it is clear that the flying programme for the day is over, and the author sets off home satisfied.
The author thanks Chris and the staff of Zagreb airport.
