Kecskemét Air Show: Spectacular Displays High And Low

The organizers’ expectations are that there will be at least a hundred thousand visitors again to the Kecskemét International Air and Military Show. Two years ago they had the same number of visitors to the air show which has become one of the five biggest air displays in the old continent and the most spectacular air show in Central Europe by today. As it has been reported, last year – owing to the economic crisis – several military events were cancelled, among them the Kecskemét Air Show as well, therefore this year there is great excitement before the monumental air parade.

The two-day international air show to be organized at the HDF 59th ’Dezsõ Szentgyörgyi’ Aviation Base is one of the prominent events of the Ministry of Defence and the fact that we also celebrate the 100th jubilee of Hungarian military aviation and Hungarian aircraft aviation in 2010 makes the occasion even more splendid.

Minister of Defence Dr. Imre Szekeres told at the kick-off press conference in Kecskemét that the August air show will be one of the most exciting displays in Europe, to which organizers have invited the representatives of 28 countries. Twenty invitees have already confirmed attendance. The aerobatics team of the Italian Air Force, the popular Frecce Tricolori formation will be present in Kecskemét and the Turkish Stars will also show the visitors their spectacular program.

If we check the official website of the 2010 Kecskemét International Air and Military Show (www.repulonap.hu) we can also see that there are more than one formations which have confirmed their participation even though they have never flewn in our country before. Such as the Swiss Patrouille Suisse, Croatian Wings of Storm, and the airplanes of the French Breitling Jet Team will also be rushing through the sky above the Kecskemét military airport. At the moment the French team is the only civilian formation in the world to have jet-propelled planes.

It is also interesting that the Szu-27 flighter of the Ukrainian Air Force will come to Kecskemét for the first time and plane lovers will have a chance to take a close look at it. But Eurofighters, Rafales, F-16, F/A-18 and F-15 fighters as well as the gigantic C-17 will also land on the tarmac of the military airport.

There may be even more participants since registration is still open and probably a lot of countries will accept the invitation. It is also worth knowing that beyond military aircraft, the representatives of Hungarian and foreign civilian aviation will also be flying in Kecskemét. In other words, in August the organizers will be awaiting visitors to the military airport with traditional programs satisfying the needs of everyone.

Retired Colonel Károly Vida, the secretary of the organizing committee of the International Air Show told honvedelem.hu that besides aviation programs, at the 11th Kecskemét Air Show there will be other events as well for the visitors. Just like in recent years, the entire Hungarian Defence Forces will introduce themselves at the event. In the framework of the military technology display guests will have the opportunity to see the full range of the ground and air forces’ technical equipment and they can examine the airplanes of foreign participants.

We were also told that there will be impressive demonstrations too, for instance the show of the Hungarian Defence Forces’ guard of honour, military close combat and peacekeeping demonstrations. The MoD Institute and Museum of Military History is preparing for the August event with various military exhibitions.

Károly Vida added: the organizing committee is proud of the fact that they have not had to increase the price of tickets this year either – in Kecskemét entrance fees have not changed since 2003.