14 DAY TRIAL // Sunday 29 of June, on the military airport Mihail Kogalniceanu took place one of the most important air shows in Eastern Europe.
Thus, ROIAS 2006 (Romanian International Air Show) was an event that gathered more than 100 planes of all types from different countries. This show marked the celebration of 100 years from the first flight of an aircraft to take off under its own power. That important day was 18 March 1906, and the Romanian Traian Vuia showed the world that the self powered flight is possible (the Wright brothers' flight was possible with the help of a catapult).
This year, more than 10.000 people came to see what is new and also to witness the acrobatic display of one of the most powerful aircrafts in use by different air forces. In the early hours of the day, the Romanian Air Force MIG 21 Lancer formation made its appearance on the sky of Kogalniceanu airfield and showed the crowd the brute power of the little fighter aircraft that is still in use after 50 years from the first Soviet first flight.
A sad fate in the Romanian Air Force history was that of the MIG 29 fourth generation aircraft, which after some using was left to rot on the edge of the airfield.
This desolate image was contradicted by the Hungarian MIG 29 fighter that flew from Hungary to make the crowd feel great for coming at this event. One of the most impressive appearances was the mighty nuclear delivery fighter Mirage 2000, a single engine delta airframe fighter with fly by wire controls capable of maneuvers very difficult to perform for the design of the airframe. The most beautiful display of extreme maneuverability was that of the Dutch Demo Team single display F16 Fighting Falcon.
The most complete acrobatic display was that of the Italians Frecce Tricolori, the team that made the spectators happy and once again proved that this particular acrobatic display squad is one of the most famous in the world.
This important air show meant not only the celebrating of 100 years from the first flight of a Romanian, but also a chance to establish new contacts in buying the future aircrafts for the Romanian Air Force.
The competition is going to be held between the Swedish Saab Jas 39 Gripen and the multirole fighter of the European Union, the famous Eurofighter. The Romanian General Catrina, Chief of the Air Force said a few days ago that the aircraft of the future is here and the only aircraft present that is going to compete in the arming of the Romanian Air Force is the Saab Gripen. With an impressive static display and also a flight demonstrator, the Saab appears to be the choice for the Romanian army. It is a small fighter capable of various missions of combat and, also important, an aircraft much cheaper ( approximately 35 million euros) than the Eurofighter (45-50 million euros).
The only problem with this aircraft is the fact that it is situated in a small segment of fighters with only one engine, compared to the Eurofighter - a two engine multirole platform. Another option for the Romanian Air Force that is even more powerful than the Saab is the French built Rafale multi role fighter, an aircraft that a month ago entered the French Air Force. The Dassault Rafale is also capable of operating for the French Navy nuclear aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle. The Rafale is not as expensive as the Eurofighter, but the tactical performances and the weapons that it is capable to carry are complete. The Romanian East European neighbors Hungary and Czech have received the first batch of Saab Gripen for the Air Force, and the Swedish are capable of making the same delivery for the Romanian Air Force.
The Polish Air Force has signed an agreement with the Americans for the multi role fighter F 16. On the exhibition platform, the Israeli Elbit showed the flight simulator of the MIG 21 Lancer that is currently the most advanced fighter of the Romanian Air Force, a fighter that complies with the NATO standard of avionics and weapons. The MIG 21 Lancer was modernized and upgraded by Elbit and the Romanian Aerostar Bacau manufacturer facility. Another big program is the fighter training IAR 99 Soim, an aircraft that is modernized by Elbit and the Craiova factory. One more important program for the Romanian Air Force is the multi role helicopter IAR 330 Puma SOCAT, another example of Israeli and Romanian partnership.
The avionics on the IAR 330 Puma SOCAT are comparable to those found on the American Apache attack helicopter.
The Romanian International Air Show was an event that gathered around ten thousand Romanians, thus being a more successful event than the former ROIAS held in 2001 by the Romanian Air Force.
Other pictures from ROIAS 2006
Photo 13: SAAB
