The Airpower airshow at Zeltweg, Austria is one of the more interesting shows to visit, not only because of the operation Drakens, but also because of the beautiful Styrian Alps backdrops. The show is a joined venture between Defence and Red Bull, what makes this show extra interesting with the presence of all Flying Bulls.
Static
The static is always a pain at Zeltweg. The aircraft parked on a taxi way in the middle of the crowds are tightly fenced off or not fenced at all, which makes photographing challenging. Static highlight included the Italian 2nd Eurofighter prototype (DA-7), which is a potential replacement for the aging Austrian Draken fleet. This was probably the reason why a Canadian F/A-18, designated CF-188 was also present. Other highlights included a Polish W-3, Slovak Mi-24 and Mi-17.
188912, CF-188
37447 / 35, JA37
29+25, MiG-29
91-0352 / SP, F-16
86-0156 / LN, F-15
86-0175 / LN, F-15
ZE693 / 714, Sea Harrier
43+55, Tornado
MMX603 / 345, EF2000
MMX603 / 345, EF2000
MMX603 / 345, EF2000
0620, W-3
0620, W-3
Q-21, AH-64
0832, Mi-24
0832, Mi-24
0821, Mi-17
0821, Mi-17
H2-36 / 36, Bell 412
A-301, SE3160
OE-XEL, EC135
OE-BXW, AS355
3C-JJ, AB206
5D-HJ, AB212
6M-BC, S-70
5S-TB, SC.7
3G-EL, PC-6
3H-FG, PC-7
12-13187, C-130
G-CVIX, Sea Fixen
G-CVIX, Sea Fixen
G-CVIX, Sea Fixen
MMX603 / 345, EF2000
-, C-101
-, C-101
-, C-101
-, C-101
-, C-101
E.25-25 / 79-25, C-101
E.25-25 / 79-25, C-101
-, C-101
-, C-101
E.25-14 / 79-14, C-101
E.58-08 / 79-08, C-101
MM62189 / 46-55, C-130
OE-AKA, S-14
OE-AKA, S-14
3G-EH, PC-6
RA-44453, Su-29
N1318N, PT-13
N6123C, B-25
N6123C, B-25
N6123C, B-25
N6123C, B-25
N6123C, B-25
N6123C, B-25
N6123C, B-25
14, J35
09, J35
11, J35
06, J35
23, J35
18, J35
L-13, PC-7
L-13, PC-7
L9-62, PC-9
-, J35
-, J35
-, J35
-, J35
-, J35
18, J35
09, J35
23, J35
06, J35
18, J35
09, J35
11, J35
F-GSTD, A300
F-GSTD, A300
F-GSTD, A300
F-GSTD, A300
F-GSTD, A300
F-GSTD, A300
D-IADM, Alpha Jet
D-IBDM, Alpha Jet
D-IBDM, Alpha Jet
D-IBDM, Alpha Jet
T-339, AS532
T-339, AS532
84003 / 843, Tp84
84003 / 843, Tp84
84003 / 843, Tp84
84003 / 843, Tp84
84003 / 843, Tp84
84003 / 843, Tp84
69-4005, NF-5
70-3016, NF-5
70-3016, NF-5
70-3016, NF-5
70-3036, NF-5
-, NF-5
-, NF-5
-, NF-5
70-3042, NF-5
70-3042, NF-5
-, NF-5
70-3042, NF-5
70-3042, NF-5
70-3042, NF-5
69-4005, NF-5
70-3036, NF-5
D-EFTJ, Fokker Dr.1
NL7TF, P-51
NL7TF, P-51
NL7TF, P-51
OE_EAS, F4U
HB-RVA, DH-112
HB-RVA, DH-112
HB-RVA, DH-112
37411 / 11, JA37
373411 / 11, JA37
373411 / 11, JA37
373411 / 11, JA37
373411 / 11, JA37
373411 / 11, JA37
373411 / 11, JA37
373411 / 11, JA37
373411 / 11, JA37
373411 / 11, JA37
-, Extra 300
-, Extra 300
J-063, F-16
J-063, F-16
J-063, F-16
J-3086, F-5
J-3087, F-5
-, F-5
-, F-5
J-3085, F-5
J-3086, F-5
08, J35
08, J35
08, J35
08, J35
08, J35
MMX603 / 345, EF2000
MMX603 / 345, EF2000
MMX603 / 345, EF2000
MMX603 / 345, EF2000
MM55078 / RS-29, MB-339
MM62144 / RS-44, G-222
MM62144 / RS-44, G-222
MM55078 / RS-29, MB-339
MM62144 / RS-44, G-222
MM62144 / RS-44, G-222
45+36, Tornado
45+36, Tornado
45+36, Tornado
44+31, Tornado
44+31, Tornado
44+31, Tornado
GF-16, Saab 105
45+36, Tornado
44+47, Tornado
Air show
The airshow showed a nice mix of militray and civil action. As Red Bull is partly organizing this show all Flying Bull assets were present and flying demonstrations. Great to see Airbus with the A300ST, Super Transporter, which is not a common guest at air shows. Also one of the highlight was the takeoff, formation and landing of 6 J35 Drakens of the Austrian Air Force.
Italy took a big part in the show, demonstrating the new Eurofighter (EF2000), MB-339, G-222 and C-130J. Also Sweden was taking part, probably because of the Saab heratige, with an impressive JA37 Viggen and Tp84 (C-130) demo.
5 demo team participated at this edition of Airpower. Team Aguila, Breitling Eagles, The Flying Bulls (Team Alpha Jet), Turk Yildizlari (Turkish Stars) and Patrouille Suisse, of neighbour Swiss, also flying the F-5 like the Turks.
Very unique, at least i didn't see it at any airshow before (or after this one) was the demo of the German Tornado IDS, which showed the buddy tanker configuration.