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Saturday's NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days took place in style again
The first day of the 23rd edition of the NATO Days in Ostrava & 14th edition of the Czech Air Force Days was marked by the theme of modernization. Traditionally, the visitors had the opportunity to see the best of the activities and equipment of the Integrated Rescue System units, security forces and army not only of the Czech Republic but also of other eighteen countries. Approximately 100 thousand visitors came to Leoš Janáček Ostrava Airport in late summer weather.
In the presence of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala, the Minister of Defence Jana Černochová, the Minister of the Interior Vít Rakušan, the Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region Jan Krkoška, the Mayor of the Statutory City of Ostrava Jan Dohnal and top representatives of public life, this year's event was opened with a shot from a T-72M4CZ tank.
The event area was quickly filling up and was soon packed with enthusiastic visitors who enjoyed both the static displays and the dynamic ground and aerial displays. In total, there were more than 90 aircraft and over a thousand pieces of ground equipment at the Mošnov airport. It is difficult to highlight a particular display, but quite clearly the F-35A of the US Air Force and later the F-35B of the British Royal Air Force dominated the air. F-35B also showed its unique capability and remained hanging in the air. As in other editions, there was also great interest in aerobatic performances by aerobatic groups, which were represented by the Swiss PC-7 TEAM and the Polish groups Orlik and Żelazny. On the ground, there were alternating displays of the activities of different types of brigades, police forces, the Customs Administration of the Czech Republic or the Prison Service of the Czech Republic.
Poland, which this year has the status of a special partner nation of the event, conceived its participation in a truly spectacular way. The Polish Ground Forces did not lag behind the Air Force, so visitors to the event could see the largest presentation of heavy equipment and special equipment to date, including the premiere performance of the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade.
At this year's NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days, the latest additions to the Czech Air Force's inventory, the AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter and the multi-purpose UH-1Y Venom, were presented to the public for the first time. The A400M Atlas transport aircraft of the German and Luxembourg Air Forces and the C-17 Globemaster of the US Air Force were completely besieged and visitors could see them from the inside. There was virtually no end to the streams of people who walked around the complete area of static displays.
The event continues on Sunday 17th September and the weather forecast promises another sunny day.
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23rd NATO Days in Ostrava & 14th Czech Air Force Days!
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