19.05.2016.
Marking 40 years since the first flight of Utva 75
Ceremony at the 204th Air Force Brigade today marked 40 years since the first official flight of the popular training aircraft "Utva 75". The event was attended by current and former pilots of the Air Force and Air Defence training-school squadron, flight instructors and teachers, representatives of the Pancevo aircraft factory "Utva", but the favourite guest to the host of the 204th Aviation Brigade and 252nd training-school squadron was nevertheless the author and the designer of this propeller-driven aircraft, 85-year-old mechanical engineer Dragoslav Dimic.On behalf of the Command of the Aviation Brigade, the guests were welcomed by the deputy commander Colonel Zeljko Bilic, and on behalf of the training-school squadron in which that plane was most used, its commander Lieutenant Colonel Zoran Erkic. He pointed out that all the present pilots of the Air Force made their first flight steps exactly in this school plane.
- We all got our wings on the plane Utva -75; at first they were weak, to get stronger and stronger. In that plane, we are realising even today
selective and initial flights of the cadets of the Military Academy, while experienced pilots carry out their training flights. This is the plane that still meets our high requirements in the implementation of the initial training of future pilots of the Air Force in all weather and meteorological conditions. This is the plane that still does not surrender. It participated in a number of joint tactical exercises in which the pilots have their roles, Lieutenant Colonel Zoran Erkic said.After the opening remarks of the constructor of "Utva 75" airplane, Dragoslav Dimic, a film about the creation and development of the aircraft in the Pancevo "Utva", produced by "Zastava film", was released and guests had the opportunity to see the flight of one of 12 "Utva 75" plane solemnly lined up at the Batajnica airport.
The first flight of the prototype of "Utva 75" airplane was conducted on 19 May 1976 and the Test Pilot of the Air Test Centre Major Vladislav Slavujevic was at its commands. The plane was introduced into service in 1979. Although the first copies were presented to the Aeronautical Federation of Yugoslavia, it achieved its highest fame as a trainer aircraft in the Air Force. It was used for the selection of candidates, the initial flight training and exercise for pilots in the air clubs and for sports flying and towing of a glider.
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