FighterControl

Conveniently, I managed to book my holiday in Hungary with my girlfriend at the time when this was going on. She was so pleased to hear that one of our days together that we'd go all the way to Szolnok for 2 helicopters!

A little bit of a personal back story, I have wanted to go to this for a few years now, I absolutely love the Mi-8 and Mi-17 and they are my favorite helicopters - I've never seen one up in the air before let alone photographed one, so this was the event for me!

I found out thanks to the help of FC member Levente that there would be training days on the 17th, 18th and a reserve day on the 19th. With this in mind we planned our trip on the 18th as the weather was looking good then, we turned up on time to see things starting to get ready. A quick walk up along the bank of the Tisza and I decided that with my kit, and the angles on offer I would go to the bridge and shoot from above.
We waited there in the sun getting gently sunburnt from the heat for quite a while, as things were looking like they were about to happen (I even actually saw one in the distance and got a bit excited) my Hungarian friend asked the guys what was happening, as it turns out there was an explosive left over from times gone by found underwater which meant that it had to be deactivated, no flying for the day. Cue lots of swearing about me getting up early and coming all that way for nothing. Thankfully the people who we stayed with and gave us a lift there offered the same again the next day.

The next morning, we repeated the same routine and things were looking much the same as before with the sun shining nicely on the river. I assumed my position on the bridge, dragging my long suffering girlfriend in tow again

After a short wait, I suddenly saw 2 hips at ~50ft over the river behind the bridge, it was really happening! They passed right overhead, a moment I'll never forget -
Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

The Mi-8 gained some altitude and dropped the paras to land on the south bank of the river where, on the actual day they had a target to land on.
Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

And, the reason I'd come all this way - Russian Helicopter, water spray, rainbow, fast roping - check!
Mi-17 Hungarian Air Force - Szolnok 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Fast Roping, don't mind if I do...
Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Then the waterborne assault took place, with special forces taking on a hostile boat with air support - very happy to find I'd got one with the gun firing
Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

I ran down to the riverbank to get more close up shots of the ground troops coming back onto the Mi-17
Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

Szolnok Air Parade Practice - 19/8/16 by O.C.Photo, on Flickr

And that's all - thanks for looking!

Absolutely SUPERB set Oli.
Thanks for sharing..
Pune

Wow absolutely incredible set of pictures!

Some cracking shots in that selection, well worth the effort you put in to be there.

Thanks all! Makes it all worth while!

Glad you enjoyed it and the photos look stunning.

Thanks a lot!

Still not got round to visiting.

Looks like you done it justice!
Great photos

Thanks Rich, I'd thoroughly recommend it!

Great set there Olicat.
Szolnok is always worth a visit (although I've never been lucky enough to catch flying ) Good museum too.
Now you need to get up to Presov in Slovakia to catch their's before they get replaced with Blackhawks

Richard

Immense set! One of the reasons I need to get to Kechkemet!

Thanks guys, I've caught the bug now, more Eastern European trips soon I think! Need to catch me some MiG-21s! Unfortunately the Museum in Szolnok is now closed I believe, otherwise I would have popped by and had a look, looked really good. Kecskemet looks like a good one yeah, maybe next year if it's on!

I didn't know that the Szolnok museum had closed,that's a real shame.
I was there 2 years ago and the guide lets us sit in a Mig-21,Mi-24 and Mi-4.
I couldn't get in to Kecskemet to see their historic collection when I visited last month but there is a track all the way round the base which gave good views,especially of the stored Mig-29s.
It appears though that they know I'm coming and stop flying.
Budapest airport has a museum enclosure next to it. All airliners (bar a Mi-2) but a few are open. I got in the Li-2,An-2 and Il-14.

Richard

I did look at the stuff at the Budapest museum when we went past, looked good but I had a plane to catch at the time! haha

LM47 wrote:I didn't know that the Szolnok museum had closed,that's a real shame.
I was there 2 years ago and the guide lets us sit in a Mig-21,Mi-24 and Mi-4.
I couldn't get in to Kecskemet to see their historic collection when I visited last month but there is a track all the way round the base which gave good views,especially of the stored Mig-29s.
It appears though that they know I'm coming and stop flying.
Budapest airport has a museum enclosure next to it. All airliners (bar a Mi-2) but a few are open. I got in the Li-2,An-2 and Il-14.

Richard

The museum at the old place was closed last march...it will re-open tomorrow. I had a chance to visit at the new place, but sadly lot of stuff is still missing, will be transferd in the following months. The big planes will be left at the old place no news when, or if the will be open to the public. My blog entry: http://kameraaltal.blog.hu/2016/08/31/reptar_szolnok

The historic collection is inside the base and no chance to visit, you need permission from the MoD.

Cracking set, thanks for sharing.

Some lovely captures there,very nice.

Thanks a lot!

So it cost you a new handbag or shoes ,yes great shots love them with the troops