Global Aviation Magazine – Issue 19: August / September 2013

After a somewhat lengthier hiatus than we’d perhaps hoped for, Global Aviation Magazine is back, and, what’s more, IT’S FREE to access and download!!

Here’s a look at what’s inside Issue 19:

SLOVAKIA’s MODERN DAY AIR FORCE:

2013 sees Slovakia celebrate 20 years of independence following the end of communist rule and the eventual break-up of Czechoslovakia on 1 January 1993. Davide Daverio visits Fighter Wing Sliac and Helicopter Wing Presov, examines the changes that have taken place within the Slovak Air Force since its formation and considers what the future may hold.

OPA-LOCKA EXECUTIVE AIRPORT

Opa-locka Executive Airport, situated to the north of Miami, is one of the oldest and most historic airfields in the United States. Paul Dunn profiles this famous airfield and talks to the Airport Manager, Nelson Mejias, about the ambitious future plans for the site.

ALA 15 – ZARAGOZA’s TIGERS

Located some 80 miles south of the border with France and 170 miles west of Barcelona, Zaragoza Airport mixes military aviation with commercial.  Karl Drage and Steve Comber visited Ala 15, the 15th Wing of the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force) to find out all about this F/A-18 Hornet operator.

JG 71 “Richthofen” & the McDonnell Douglas F-4F “Phantom II”

The Luftwaffe’s  Jagdgeschwader  71 “Richthofen” (JG 71 “R”) or Fighter Wing 71 “R”, based at Wittmundhafen Air Base in Northern Germany, was until recently the last German Fighter Wing to operate the legendary Phantom.  Kevin Wills looks back at the unit’s association with a type that evokes far more emotion than most.

THE POLISH AVIATION MUSEUM – KRAKOW

The Polish Aviation Museum is located at the former airfield of Rakowice-Czyzyny, on the outskirts of Krakow. It houses some 200 airframes, including examples of Poland’s prolific output as a manufacturer of mainly Soviet types in the years following WWII.  Mike Shreeve reports for GAM.

BOEING C-17 GLOBEMASTER III

The Boeing C-17A Globemaster III is currently the world’s most advanced strategic airlifter, and has proved a real success story since its introduction into service. GAM flew with the 21st Airlift Squadron at Travis AFB and sat down with the Commanding Officer to learn more about this remarkable aircraft.

TASK FORCE CRIMEA: BELBEK

Situated 5.6 miles to the North of the city of Sevastopol in the south-western corner of the Autonomous Republic Crimea, the Ukrainian air force base at Belbek plays an important role in the air defence of Ukraine.  Nick Cross reports for GAM.  Images as credited.