Nice weather, Black Hawks attract visitors on Slovak aviation event

Nice weather, vintage aeroplanes and American Blackhawks helicopters attract dozens of thousands visitors on Slovak International Air Fest SIAF 2015 on Sliac in central Slovakia.

No one can imagine SIAF 2015 without historical aircraft. The most admired ones are Czech Avia B-33 and British Spitfire.

"The military aircraft Avia-B33 was license-built after the Soviet aircraft Ilyushin Il-10. Only 3 pieces of this unique aircraft of the Czechoslovak production have been preserved," said Miloslav Caplovic, the director of the Slovak Institute of Military History.

"One of them is placed in the Military Museum in Krakow and another one in the Prague Aviation Museum, Kbely. The aircraft on the aviation show SIAF 2015 is the third one. This aircraft is the unique object and the curiosity because from the three preserved aircraft Ilyushin it is in the best condition," continued Caplovic.

The faithful copy, the replica of the legendary aircraft Spitfire arrives from the Czech Republic.

"The aircraft Supermarine was used by the Royal Air Force during WWII. It was flown by one of the most significant Czechoslovak pilots Otto Smik," added Caplovic.

Lot of visitors, especially children, were attracted by Black Hawk helicopters, eight units of which are to be purchased by the Slovak military. Some 45 children took part on cockpit tour organised by American pilots.

"It was always my dream, to be in military helicopter, I was impressed," said Adam, one of the visitors.

The tour was also attended by Roma children from villages Velka Ida, Rankovce and Stara Lubovna in eastern Slovakia. They were picked for the trip by workers of ETP Slovensko, the organisation involved long-term in work with Roma community.

"The children have been going to community centres for years. We picked them based on a long-term good work at the centres," stressed David Korckovsky of ETP Slovakia.

The SIAF 2015 also opened opportunity for official negotiations.

The Slovak Defence Ministry is planning to sign within a few weeks a contract that will provide the basis for creating a unique training centre for pilots of the Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter. This was confirmed during the airshow by Slovak Defence Minister Martin Glvac.

"We're close to signing contracts that will guarantee participation in industrial cooperation for the Slovak defence industry and creation of a training centre for this type of helicopters," said Glvac.

According to Glvac, the planned contract demonstrates that Slovakia hasn't only bought nine American choppers, but also helicopter skills, apart from establishing industrial cooperation.

"Slovak industry can produce not only excellent cars, but also modern military equipment," added Glvac.