Hungary's big airshow at Kecskemét has obviously established itself permanently as the most interesting military aviation event in Europe and has even overtaken the RIAT at Fairford in terms of interesting participants. The 2010 edition, the last with the participation of the Hungarian MiG-29s, was no exception.
After the Croats cancelled, the Romanian LanceR B was the only MiG-21 in the flying programme ...
... and on Sunday, the only day the author was present, gave only a limited display due to the weather.
A LanceR C, like the two-seater from Câmpia Turzii, could again be seen in the static display.
On the occasion of the event, the Hungarians had again given a Mi-24 a special colour scheme.
The aircraft made plenty of use of infrared flares during its display.
Slovakia sent MiG-29s in "digital" camouflage to Kecskemét.
The two Israeli F-16Is, which came to Hungary accompanied by a C-130, probably had the longest journey.
The C-17 of the NATO Heavy Airlift Wing from Pápa impressed with its sheer size in a low flypast.
Rarely seen: Ukraine was represented by an An-26.
As in 2008, several historic MiG-21s recalled the aircraft's service with the Hungarian Air Force.
In the extremely varied flying programme, besides the most important European combat aircraft types, here a Rafale, ...
... all current Hungarian types could be seen. Mi-8, Mi-24 (pictured) ...
... as well as MiG-29 and Gripen impressively demonstrated various operational tactics at the end of the event.
With so many interesting guests, the departure day was of course again almost as interesting as the show itself. Here a USAF F-15E sets off back to Lakenheath.
The MiG-21 LanceR C ...
... and B had only a few minutes' flying time to Câmpia Turzii. No one could have guessed at that time that the farewell to Laurenţiu Chiriţă, who sat in the back seat of this aircraft, would be final.
