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The legendary B-52H Stratofortress will fly over NATO Days!

The 25th anniversary NATO Days in Ostrava & the 16th Czech Air Force Days will feature another unique highlight – for the very first time, the legendary strategic bomber B-52H Stratofortress from the 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale will perform an extended flypast.

This flying giant made its first appearance at Leoš Janáček Airport Ostrava in 2010, making it only the third location in the former Eastern Bloc to host it. In the years that followed, it returned regularly and even became an unofficial symbol of the entire event. However, it has only once performed in a flying display – in 2012. A decade later, its flyover was scheduled to be one of the program’s main highlights, but was canceled just hours before the show.

“The American B-52 bomber is a true icon of strategic aviation. Its participation in any public event is a major occasion, and seeing it in flight is absolutely extraordinary,” said Zbyněk Pavlačík, Chairman of Jagello 2000. “While regular visitors know this aircraft from static displays, its sheer size and power are even more impressive in the air. We are therefore delighted that this flypast will take place as part of the NATO Days’ anniversary edition. And it won’t be just a single pass – the bomber will circle the airport several times. However, for operational reasons, it will only take place on Saturday, during the afternoon program.”

The B-52 will thus complement the strong U.S. Air Force presence this year, which also includes another iconic aircraft on static display – the KC-135 Stratotanker from the 155th Air Refueling Wing of the Nebraska Air National Guard.

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range strategic bomber. First flown in 1952, it remains the backbone of the United States’ long-range bomber force. With a wingspan of more than 56 meters, it is powered by eight jet engines and can carry up to 32 tons of ordnance, including conventional and nuclear bombs as well as guided missiles. Thanks to its aerial refueling capability, it has virtually unlimited range. Despite its age, the aircraft undergoes continuous extensive modernization and is expected to remain in active service well beyond 2040.

See you at
NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days!