30.08.2014.

Aero Show Vrsac 2014

At the Vrsac 2014 Aero Show organized in the course of marking 60 years of the SMATSA Aviation Academy, 10 aircrafts of the Armed Forces of Serbia participated, which marked the support of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Serbia for the jubilee celebration, with the purpose of a comprehensive improvement of cooperation with the Aviation Academy of the Air Traffic Control, and their significant contribution to the air show attraction.

SAF airmen participated in the static and dynamic parts of the manifestation that attracted several thousand spectators on a nice, summer day.

The Aero Show was also attended by Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic, Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic, Deputy Head of the General Staff, and Major General Ranko Zivak, Air Force and Air Defense Commander. The manifestation was opened by Zorana Mihajlovic, Vice President of the Government of Serbia and Serbian Minister of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection, who stressed the international reputation of the Vrsac Aviation Academy.

- The SMATSA Aviation Academy’s diploma is valued throughout the world. At the Aviation Academy in Vrsac, 2200 pilots have completed their aviation training, and they have flown planes of over 30 countries across the globe. Since 1912, this Academy has given many pilots that have confirmed the reputation and quality of staff educated in Serbia – Zorana Mihajlovic said, greeting the participants of the Aero Show.

Evaluating the participation of members of the SAF at the manifestation that marked 60 years of the Aviation Academy, Bratislav Gasic said that cooperation between the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Serbia and the Aviation Academy represents the need of the times we live in.

- The Ministry of Defence helped organizing this show in order to further improve its cooperation with the SMATSA Aviation Academy. Serbia has no room left for duplicating its capacities. That is why such academies and schools are of great importance for us. Last year, four of our pilots completed their training here. Mutual work on controlling the sky over Serbia, our in the military and the SMATSA’s in the civilian part, is a good example of a cooperation that brings mutual benefits.

During the acrobatic program, the Armed Forces of Serbia presented the Lasta aircraft and Gazela helicopter; four “G-4 Galeb” aircrafts demonstrated air battle, while a group parachute jump was executed from a 26 AN aircraft by members of the Army Special Brigade and the “Wives of Serbian Airmen Association”. At the very beginning of the air show, paratroopers also jumped out of the Gazela helicopter. During the static part of the program, spectators had the opportunity to also see the Vrabac and Pegaz drones.

Aside from the Armed Forces of Serbia, the dynamic, acrobatic part of the program also included airmen of the General Aviation, Aeronautical Union of Serbia, Aviation Academy, and ultralight aircrafts of numerous aero clubs and proprietors, free sky cruising enthusiasts.