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The Hungarian Air Force will display both Gripen and Hind in the air
Even at this year's NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days there will be a dynamic dispay of the JAS-39 Gripen aircraft of the Hungarian Air Force. On the other hand, the Mi-24 battle helicopter will be seen in the air for the first time.
Hungary is a traditional participant at the NATO Days, its Gripens have been participating in the event every year since 2010. Maté Majerik won the Mayor's Award twice for his performance with this machine. Now he was replaced as a display pilot by Capt. David Szentendrei, who received the Paul Bowen award for best solo jet at this year's Air Tattoo. The Mi-24 helicopter in Hungarian colours could also be seen at the Mošnov airport, but so far only on a static display. This year it will take off to the air for the first time.
"David Szentendrei's award at the Air Tattoo in his first season as a display pilot promises an excellent performance. We hope that at the NATO Days he will get the most out of himself and the Gripen, and will try hard for another Mayor's Award for the Hungarian Air Force," comments Zbyněk Pavlačík, chairman of Jagello 2000. "We are also curious about the demonstration of the Mi-24, whose flight capabilities have been displayed at the NATO Days only by the Czech pilots."
JAS-39 Gripen aircraft have been protecting the Hungarian airspace since 2006. Like the Czech Republic, Hungary operates 12 single-seat and two two-seat aircraft of this type, which it has leased from Sweden. Sweden developed Gripens at the end of the Cold War primarily for its air force. Therefore, the aircraft's specialties include the ability to use selected roads as take-off and landing areas as required by Swedish mobilization plans. Gripens are now operated in the Czech Republic, Thailand, and South Africa, in addition to Hungary and Sweden, and Brazil is also introducing this machine in the most modern E version.
In contrast, the Mi-24 battle helicopter, also known under the code name "Hind", took off for the first time in 1969 at the Milové factory in the then Soviet Union. In total, more than 2,500 of them were produced and they are still in service in many countries of the world, including the air forces of some NATO members. Hungarian helicopters have recently been modernized and will remain in service for several more years. Mi-24s play a significant role in the current war in Ukraine, being in service with both the Ukrainian and Russian air forces.
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