On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Slovenian independence, an airshow took place at Maribor airport on June 3, 2011, to which pilots and aircraft from the neighbouring countries had been invited. Everyone came, only the announced Croatian MiG-21 was conspicuous by its absence despite intervention at the highest level (according to the organisers). Nevertheless, the "20 flights for 20 years of independence" – the official motto – were quite nice to watch.
Rehearsal on the day before: the Slovenian Air Force was represented by its only "combat aircraft", the PC-9M.
A Gripen flew in from Hungary.
The star guests of the event were the Red Arrows, who made a stopover on their way to Izmir.
Photo shoot with the Red Arrows ...
... and local beauties.
The flying programme featured solo and team displays of the PC-9M, ...
... an EC-135 of the Slovenian police, ...
... the prototype of the M-346 from Italy ...
... and of course the Red Arrows.
The U.S. Air Force sent a C-130 from Ramstein.
After heavy rain had severely affected the event, the Hungarian Gripen took off in moderate light for a successful display.
Less spectacular was the display of the Austrian Eurofighter, which flew in from Zeltweg.
