Galileo SAR Meet Prague-Kbely (Czech Republic) 2025
Helicopter flight operations are nothing unusual for the residents around Kbely airfield on the outskirts of the Czech capital Prague, after all an operator of Mi-8PS, Mi-17 and W-3A rotorcraft is based at the airfield in the 243. vrtulníková letka (helicopter squadron – vrl).
On the morning of August 4, 2025, however, it was not just individual helicopters circling over the base. Instead, the air was filled with the roar of an entire helicopter formation. And anyone listening carefully could make out very different engine sounds. The unusually extensive activities marked the start of the flying programme of the Galileo SAR (Search and Rescue) Meet, held in the Czech Republic for the first time.
The static display of the event featured the types based at Prague-Kbely and a guest aircraft from Náměšť nad Oslavou. The last active Czech Mi-8s belong to the VIP variant Mi-8S, recognisable by the square windows.
According to the inscription on the cargo door, the Czech W-3As will already be able to look back on 30 years of service next year. The Czech Republic received the helicopters from Poland in exchange for its MiG-29s and thus made a much better deal than Germany, which practically gave away its MiG-29G fleet.
The Mi-171Sh delivered in 2005 are the youngest Russian-built aircraft in the inventory. Thanks to domestic maintenance capacities at LOM PRAHA, these helicopters could fly for some time yet, unless political reasons prevent it.
The armament of the Czech Mil helicopters consists of both current Western and "traditional" Eastern systems: an M134 Minigun in the left ...
... and a PK machine gun in the right door of a Mi-171Sh.
Lining up for the formation flight. The white and red W-3A in the background led the formation; the Mi-17, still on the ground here, formed the Czech group with another aircraft of this type and a Mi-171.
Lithuania was represented by an AS365N3+ of the helicopter squadron from Šiauliai, home of the Baltic Air Policing.
The crew of the Belgian NH-90 shows the flag.
Among the participants with the longest journey was the AW101 from Stavanger-Sola. Only the Spanish NH-90 had a greater distance to cover.
The formation on its way to Plzeň-Líně
It not only led the formation but also opened the Flying Challenge: W-3A 0714 of the local 243rd vrl.
Numerous Mi-17s are still active in the Czech Republic. The current maintenance contract runs until 2031, so operation for another 10 years is conceivable.
The "civil" Mi-17s of the Centrum leteckého výcviku (CLV) from Pardubice differ externally from their military sisters by the yellow markings and the Czech flag instead of the low-viz national insignia.
The round thing must go into the round thing. In helicopter basketball, the size of the players is irrelevant.
The later overall winners on their way to the competition.
And now up with it! The H145M crew from Niederstetten has successfully hooked the ring.
The author thanks Captain Kristýna Kosatíková and all members of the Czech Air Force who made this visit possible.
