Centenaries of air forces are being celebrated everywhere these days. But only a few of the flying services can point to a combat mission as their founding event. The Bulgarian Air Force, one of the oldest in the world, can claim such a history. During the First Balkan War against the former Ottoman occupying power, the Bulgarian crew of an Albatros biplane flew a reconnaissance mission over the fortress of Edirne on October 16, 1912, dropping two hand grenades. The Bulgarski Voennovazdushni Sili (BVVS) marked the centenary of this event with the unveiling of a monument in Sofia exactly one hundred years to the day after the memorable flight and with an open day at the most important base of the Bulgarian air arm at Graf Ignatievo ten days earlier. Almost 10,000 visitors saw both the presentation of almost all Bulgarian aircraft and helicopter types on the ground and a three-hour flying programme.
The highlight of the flying displays was undoubtedly the solo display of a MiG-29UB, which for the anniversary had been given appropriate markings including all Bulgarian national insignia of the last 100 years. Side by side on the tail are the insignia of the Royal Air Force of the First World War, of the air arm re-established in 1937, of the air force in the Second World War, of the post-war period, of the Warsaw Pact forces and finally of today's BVVS. However, the author watched this display from outside the airfield, as an early flight home forced him to leave the very successful event early.
In recent years Bulgaria has pushed ahead with the modernisation of its air force despite limited funds and has procured Western equipment with PC-9 and C-27 aircraft as well as Cougar, Panther and Bell 206 helicopters. For combat aircraft such a step is still pending, especially as the existing MiG-29s were upgraded with Russian support some time ago. The former commander of the BVVS and current Chief of the General Staff, General Simeon Simeonov, at least used the occasion of the event to announce that the Bulgarian Air Force will introduce a new multi-role combat aircraft in the near future. However, no exact date was given for this any more than for the retirement of the MiG-21, last announced for 2011 but repeatedly postponed. According to the pilots who flew the display at the open day, continued operation until 2013 is currently planned. If this is confirmed, the BVVS could celebrate a double anniversary in September 2013: 50 years of Bulgarian MiG-21s and 50 years of MiG-21s at Graf Ignatievo.
