If AIRVG24 was all about the passing of the Mikoyan MiG-21 in Croatian Air Force service, then AIRVG25 was all about the acceptance into service of the Dassault Aviation Rafale. The unique presence of the entire fleet of 12 Rafales (ten single-seat and two twin-seat aircraft) in one row in front of the crowd line was really the focal point of the whole event. Chris Lofting was present to record this truly historic event for the Croatian Air Force and its adoring public. Chris also provides his unique insight into the origins and service of Croatia’s Rafale fleet now in service.

This was the second AIRVG to be held on the airport apron as opposed to the nearby ZTC (Zrakoplovno-Tehnicki Centar) overhaul and maintenance facility where the event first originated. With the show being held at the main Zagreb (Franjo Tudman) airport, operations proceed somewhat differently to a normal show as the airport continues to run with the display acts interspersed with the regular scheduled civilian traffic. Despite this, the show suffers very few delays if any. The organisers from the out set have the enthusiasts needs in mind and have a spotter registration which allows you to access the platform 45 minutes earlier than the general public. This provides closer access to the static aircraft and action with a dedicated three-metre wide area made available in front of the crowd line. Around 300 spotter applications were approved with a public attendance of around 30,000 expected. Because of the nature of the event and the fact that the show is held on an active airport ramp, to reduce the possibility of any Foreign Object Debris (FOD) being generated, all vendors, food stalls and beer tents were kept either inside the old terminal building or in the park outside the front. This worked well as it was only a short distance to walk to the apron.

In AIRVG 2024 the show was free to the public but you had to register for a ticket. This year there was a €5 charge for tickets which could be purchased online or from a local outlet. Tickets were transferable so once you had left the event you could pass your ticket onto someone else. This ensured that the show organisers never exceeded the total amount of people they could handle in the allocated area. Arriving by car was relatively easy although free bus transport was encouraged. The platform opened at 1100, or 1015 for spotters, and the flying display started around 1330. Unfortunately for the keen photographer the sun starts to face you from around 1500 so a decision has to be made to leave the show ground and move to the far side of the airport for better conditions. A warning of the potential dangers of being beneath the flying display line was issued but then it was left up to the individuals own discretion if they wanted to be there. Once on the far side, views of the entire length of the runway are available but a small step ladder is useful to clear the top of the fence. On a normal operational day, an enthusiast would have to call security to announce their presence after signing up to the airport spotter scheme, but during the AIRVG event this was not required. 

Participants

The star attraction of the static was undoubtedly the Rafale line but there were some other interesting aircraft on display. Less rare in this part of the world, there is no doubt that a Croatian Air Tractor AT802 Fireboss on floats and a Canadair CL415 would certainly be highlights at most European shows. The Croatian Air Force also had every other type in their inventory on static display apart from a Bell 206 although one did perform in the flying display. Two withdrawn MiG-21s were also on show, a single seat and a twin seat. The MiG-21bisD 133 was available to sit in and drew a massive queue. The red and white MiG-21UMD 165 was also very popular especially with the children who with their parents help were climbing and sitting all over it. Watching an official trying to keep them off and failing miserably was entertaining. There were a couple of drop outs which were expected in the static from Slovenia which were missed, especially the new Alenia C-27J Spartan. That said, considering the size of the show, having Italian, Hungarian and Austrian participation was a great achievement. 

As mentioned, the flying display was intermittent due to the operation of the airport. Again the Rafale was the star of the show but this time from the French Air Force flown by Capitaine Jean Brice Millet known as “Mimouss”, this year’s display pilot. Whilst most in the crowd could not fully appreciate the skill needed for such a dynamic display, it did not stop them enjoying such a spectacle. It certainly held everyone’s full attention with the jets eye catching scheme complimenting the routine perfectly. On landing ‘Mimouss’ taxied and parked on the end of the Rafale line joining the static where he was met with much applause as he exited the cockpit.  Unfortunately the Croatian Rafale pilots; although becoming more capable, are not yet capable of putting the Rafale through its full G routine. It was great that the French Air Force could display the aircraft’s full potential on this occasion. That said, two Croatian Air Force Rafales did take to the air and perform a more fitting roll demo showing the jet more as it is normally flown in service. This display was very impressive and more importantly, loved and appreciated by the audience. Other polished displays included a Hungarian SAAB JAS-39 Gripen, Slovenian Pilatus PC-9 plus a home grown Croatian Sikorsky UH-60M and Bell OH-58D Kiowa role demo of the recovery of a downed pilot. A Croatian Zlin242, Bell 206 and Police EC135 were also put through their paces. Last but not least were the Pilatus PC-9 team ‘Krila Oluja’ which closed the show with their usual tight performance. Once the show had concluded the Air Tractor AT802 and CL415 wasted no time in returning to their home base at Zadar. The Zlin242 and Bell206 had already headed back to Zadar on completion of their displays. The Slovenian PC-9 flew in from Cerklje for its display and returned straight back. The UH-60M, OH-58D and Police EC-135 all flew from nearby Lučko. By 8pm all the remaining aircraft in the static were being towed back to the military ramp leaving the airport to operate as normal with that section of the ramp returned to GA operations. Most visitors then departed from the military ramp back home during the following Monday morning May 12.

With a hangar party taking place over the weekend, all the stored MiG-21s were removed and pushed to the far end of the military ramp completely hidden from the show ground. In my opinion this was a golden opportunity missed by the Air Force and organisers as the availability of 12 MiG-21s in a line up as well as the line of 12 Rafales would have been an incredible sight and appreciated greatly especially as all the Air Force MiGs have been very well kept since their withdrawal and still look very presentable. 

The full line up of AIRVG 2025 can be seen below:

AIRVG25 Static

Croatia

Rafales 150-159 170-171

PC-9s 055, 059, 061, 062, 068, 069 Krila Oluja

Zlin242 401

AT802 Fireboss 895

CL415 877

MiG-21bisD 133

MiG-21UMD 165

Mi-171sh 227

UH-60M 231

OH-58D 328

Italy

Typhoon MM55096 4-30

Typhoon MM55097 4-28

Hungary 

JAS39 40

H145 11

Austria

AB212 5D-HW 

AIRVG25 Flying Displays: 

Croatia 

UH-60M 230 

OH-58D 322

Bell206B 604

Zlin242 405

Rafales 151/157 from the static 

Krila Oluja from static

Croatian Police 

EC135 9A-HBA

 France

Rafale 116 4-IU

Hungary

JAS39 31

Slovenia 

PC-9 L9-62

Military Ramp

Stored MiGs

MIG-21R 26112

MiG-21BisDs 116 25 years tail, 117, 118 30 years tail, 131?, 132?, 134?, 135?

MiG-21UMDs 166?, 167

Question marks are the only candidates but unconfirmed. 

French Rafale 352 spare jet

Rafale Operations

The first six Rafales were delivered on the April 24, 2024 from the Dassault factory in Bordeaux, France. The remaining six followed towards the end of the year and into the beginning of 2025 with the 12th number 159 being delivered on the April 24, 2025 exactly one year on from the first six. Deliveries were initially made from Bordeaux but subsequent deliveries came from both Mont de Marsan and St Dizier. New facilities were especially built at Zagreb which include a maintenance hangar plus nine open barns. With the original QRA shed containing three bays, all 12 jets can easily be accommodated. Since the first deliveries, the Rafale squadron 191 ELA has been undertaking training sorties everyday of the week and in all weathers unlike MiG ops when they never normally flew on a Monday or in bad weather.  Dassault pilots are still involved with pilot training and are often flying on training sorties. Now Mondays and Tuesdays are reserved for late or night flying, and Wednesday to Friday day time flying. During the summer months, late flying starts at 1700 for the first wave, and 2100 for the second wave. During the winter months, late day time flying commences earlier around 1430. Day time sorties commence around 0930/1000 with the second wave around 1330/1400. Missions generally last around one hour and comprise various combinations including a pair, a trio, two pairs or a pair and a singleton. Most of the time they return to Zagreb with an overhead break and stream to land, but occasionally they complete a pairs approach. If the weather is bad, pilots will complete an ILS approach.

The first wave will start as KNIGHT11 formation with wingman KNIGHT12 and maybe KNIGHT13 for a trio. The second wave will use KNIGHT21 formation and the third wave KNIGHT31 formation. To date, the Rafale has not yet taken up the QRA role, but when they do, it is assumed they will use KNIGHT01/02 as the QRA MiGs used to use. Although the Rafales were delivered with both centreline and a pair of under wing external fuel tanks, thus far they virtually always fly with just the centreline tank or in clean fit ie no tanks. So far, the only weapon carried has been the occasional MBDA MICA IR practice round. During the recent French led exercise PEGASE25 which involved three French Air Force Rafales, an Airbus A400M and A330MRTT which operated out of Zagreb during April 29-30, 2025, Croatian Air Force Rafale number 157 achieved a much heralded ‘Croatian first’ when it performed some air to air refuelling hooking up with the French Air Force Airbus A330MRTT over the Adriatic. Towards the end of the MiG-21 operations, both MiGs and Rafales flew a few mixed QRA missions returning back to base in formation. On the last two MiG flights which took place on the December 19, 2024, both flights recovered in formation with the Rafales as a parting tribute. 

Rafale deliveries in landing order

Del date/serial/call sign/French serial/build date

25/04/24 150 HRZ02 124 2010

25/04/24 171 HRZ03 315 2005

25/04/24 151 HRZ04 131 2011

25/04/24 153 HRZ05 144 2013

25/04/24 152 HRZ06 141 2013

25/04/24 170 HRZ01 318 2006

all from Bordeaux

21/11/24 154 HRZ(01) 130 2011

11/12/24 155 HRZ01 125 2011

from St Dizier

23/01/25 156 HRZ(01) 138 2012

20/02/25 157 HRZ(01) 113 2009

20/03/25 158 HRZ01 127 2011

25/04/25 159 HRZ01 132 2011

from Mont de Marsan

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