Previous years

The NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days have gone through a extensive development before reaching the size, form and international significance of today. Below,  you can recall the history of this event, past participants and equipment that were on display in previous years. We have attempted  to pick the highlight  events (“milestones”) from each year, which we have paired  with other information such as programmes of the event where  possible. We have also prepared a comprehensive overview of aircraft and participants of all NATO Days in Ostrava editions. 

We wish you a pleasant reading! 

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2024

^*

The 24^th NATO Days in Ostrava & the 15^th Czech Air Force Days have been cancelled. A week before the planned start of the event, the region was hit by extraordinary rainfall, which caused catastrophic floods in the Moravian-Silesian Region. In a situation where the Integrated Rescue System units were busy eliminating the consequences of the floods and the Leoš Janáček Ostrava Airport served as a base for rescue and humanitarian operations, it was not possible, for the first time in its history, to hold the event.

* confirmed international participation, as of the day of the cancellation 

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2023

Beautiful weather accompanied the busy program of the 23^rd NATO Days in Ostrava & the 14^th Czech Air Force Days, which was visited by a total of 185,000 visitors. It was carried out in the spirit of partnership and modern equipment, i.e. by the participation of five 5^th generation F-35 Lightning II aircraft and the spectacular Polish participation.

Also thanks to the new general partner, Lockheed Martin corporation, visitors had the opportunity to experience the premiere of the F-35B Lightning II aircraft, which also demonstrated its ability to hover in the air, and a great show by the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team. The Army of the Czech Republic premiered its newest additions to the helicopter air force in the form of the AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters. Visitors also had the opportunity to see the skills of three acrobatic groups, and an American CH-47 Chinook helicopter arrived at the Mošnov airport for the first time. This year we welcomed representatives of two another NATO member states for the first time, as the Portuguese Air Force with F-16 aircraft visited Mošnov Airport. We also hoisted the flag of Luxembourg for the first time, whose registration was carried by an A400M aircraft from the joint Belgian-Luxembourgish squadron.

This year's special partner country was Poland, which prepared for the visitors a huge presentation of air and ground forces. In addition to the premiere of the Bayraktar TB-2 drone, visitors could also enjoy a static demonstration of the K2 Black Panther main battle tank. Traditionally, Germany also demonstrated a large amount of ground technology. It exhibited its Leopard 2A7V main battle tank or PUMA infantry fighting vehicle on a static display. The largest amount of ground equipment has traditionally been provided by the Army of the Czech Republic and the security forces and rescue services of the Czech Republic, which are an integral part of the entire event.

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2022

After two years affected by the pandemic, the twenty-second edition of NATO Days in Ostrava & Days of the Czech Air Force took place without COVID restrictions, so 110,000 visitors could enjoy the displays at the Mošnov airport even in bad weather. The entire program of the event could traditionally be watched live online, for the first time also in English.

The big attraction of the whole year was the premiere of the 5^th generation F-35 Lightning II in the air. The new JAS-39 Gripen E performed the first dynamic demonstration in Central and Eastern Europe, and the representative of the South American state was seen on the ground for the first time in the form of the C-390 Millenium transport aircraft of the Brazilian company Embraer. The Swiss acrobatic group Patrouille Suisse also provided a great spectacle during their premiere performance. Also, for the first time, the role of special partner was not taken on by one country, but by the North Atlantic Alliance, which resulted in extensive international participation, and NATO was represented by an A-330MRTT tanker in Saturday's opening flight.

There were also displays from the security forces of the Czech Republic, the Army of the Czech Republic also presented its modernization projects in the form of the F-35 aircraft model in Czech colors or the CV90 MkIV infantry fighting vehicle of BAE Systems. The USA and Germany also took care of the presentation of foreign heavy ground equipment, which offered, among other things, M1 Abrams or Leopard 2A7V main battle tanks. The parachute icing on the cake was provided by the Polish special unit AGAT, which performed the so-called HALO jump for the first time at the event.

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2021

Despite the measures against the spread of COVID-19, visitors were able to return to the venue after a one-year break, and the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days became the largest public event in 2021 in the Czech Republic.

The main attractions in the static demonstrations were the premieres of the 5th generation F-35A aircraft of the Italian Air Force and the US drone MQ-9 Reaper. The giant C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft was also not to be overlooked and was complemented by, among others, the CV-22 Osprey and the A400M Atlas transport aircraft. The latter machine earned a unique "double" when it was introduced in the flight demonstration as well. In addition, Gripen aircraft of all European users or F-16 aircraft of the Greek and Turkish demo teams presented themselves in the air. The new Czech training aircraft L-39NG appeared in the premiere performance, the North Atlantic Alliance was represented in the flight by the tanker aircraft A-330 MRTT, the historical element was brought by the legendary transport aircraft C-47 Dakota from the British Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The specialty of the year was also a significant number of helicopters on static and dynamic demonstrations, such as Super Puma, AW109 or UH-60 Black Hawk.

Sweden, represented by the Swedish Historical Squadron and the JAS-39 Gripen of the Air Force, took on the role of the Special Partner Nation. These were accompanied in a static demonstration by a two-seater Gripen and a self-propelled mortar Mjölner. The specialty of the year was the exhibition dedicated to the modernization of the Army of the Czech Republic, which was conceived as a comparison of replaced and new technology. New equipment such as Toyota Hilux, CASA C-295 MW, UH-1Y Venom and AZ-1H Viper appeared in it. Traditionally, ground dynamic demonstrations of individual units of the Czech Army and other armed security forces formed a key element of the event. The Czech paratroopers also showed up in an extraordinary jump with elite Israeli soldiers, which recalled the long-term mutual cooperation.

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2020

The jubilee twentieth year of NATO Days in Ostrava & ACR Air Force Days took place without visitors due to the coronavirus crisis, but with a great audience response, with over 900,000 people watching live broadcasts on Czech Television and social networks. Nevertheless, the venue at the Leoš Janáček Ostrava Airport did not remain completely empty – each day the programme could be watched by up to a thousand of members of the Integrated Rescue System and other armed or security units, whose awards for the efforts in the fight against the covidu-19 pandemic in the spring months were the starting point of the programme. These units were subsequently presented in various dynamic demonstrations, so the spectators did not miss traditional presentations of the capabilities of the Czech Army, the Czech Police, the Czech Prison Service or the Czech Customs Administration.

The 2020 edition brought three significant anniversaries, which also resonated in the programme. 15 years since the introduction of JAS-39 Gripen aircraft into the ACR Air Force's inventory was recalled by the joint flypast of Czech, Swedish and Hungarian Gripen aircraft, and the icing on the cake was added to this celebration by a joint performance by aerobatic acrobat Martin Šonka on the Extra 300 and Maj. Ivo Kardoš with the JAS-39 Gripen aircraft. The 20th anniversary in the Czech inventory was also celebrated by the L-159 ALCA aircraft, which in a six-member flypast over Leoš Janáček Ostrava Airport. And 75 years since the end of the Second World War was commemorated by the reconstruction of the battle of the Ostrava-Opava operation with the involvement of historical vehicles.

Another highlight of the event was the "Stronger Together" flypast, which underlined the Allied determination and commitments with the participation of the U.S. Air Force’s F-16 or KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft. The spectators could see the A400M cargo plane in the air for the first time in action, which, in addition to a separate demonstration, also presented a simulation of air-to-air refuelling with Czech Gripen aircraft. On the contrary, the Saab 105 aircraft of the Austrian Air Force made its last appearance due to the planned retirement of the type.

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2019

The 2019 edition was marked by aerobatic groups, giant aircraft, but also important premieres. For the first time, three acrobatic groups have presented themselves at one year. The legendary French Patrouille de France was complemented by the Finnish Midnight Hawks and the Swiss PC-7 Team, which also performed the joint flight with the F/A-18 Hornet. The imaginary icing on the cake among the flight demonstrations, however, was a joint performance of Martin Šonka at the aerobatic special Extra 300 and Cpt. Ivo Kardos with the JAS-39 Gripen of the Czech Air Force.

In the role of a partner state, Romania presented its rescue units in addition to armoured vehicles and aircraft. Ground forces were represented by vehicles Piranha III, Flakpanzer Gepard and tank TR-85M1, which visitors could see in a joint demonstration with the Army of the Czech Republic. The Air Force demonstrated its capabilities in three dynamic demonstrations of the MiG-21 fighter, the IAR-99 Soim training plane, or the IAR 330 Puma helicopter. All machines were also exhibited at a static demonstration, which was supplemented by the C-27J Spartan.

However, static displays were dominated by flying giants. Traditional American bomber B-52 Statofortress or refuelling aircraft KC-135 were overshadowed by the gigantic C-5M Super Galaxy, which was presented at NATO Days for the first time and which also delivered a pair of US helicopters UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper for their first participation of the event. The L-39NG, the newest Czech aircraft, made its world public premiere at the airport in Mošnov.

 

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2018

In 2018, the Czech Republic reminded the 100 years since the founding of independent Czechoslovakia and its armed forces, and NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days were one of the biggest public events commemorating this anniversary. It reflected in presentation of Czech participants, who focused on history of the units, the equipment and vehicles connected with Czech and Czechoslovak armed forces were on display, but the top of the commemorating activities was the unique flypast of more than 20 aircraft presenting the development of our air force, which ended with a drop of symbolic poppies on the memory of armed conflicts’ victims.

The role of the Special Partner Nation was taken over by the USA, which influenced the history of Czechoslovakia in a very significant way. For the first time, the US Army presented its armoured vehicles at the event – the M1 Abrams tank and M2 Bradley IFV. It showed also its AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, the US Air Force was represented by the B-52 strategic bomber, F-16 fighters, KC-135 tanker, or C-17 transport aircraft, which was used also for delivering the US Marine Corps’ UH-1Y Venom for the show.

So three countries in total presented their armoured vehicles – next to the US also Germany and Poland, we witnessed two premieres of aerobatic groups – Croatian Wings of Storm and Polish Red-White Sparks, and the flying programme of both weekend days was closed by another unique “Nordic flypast” of Danish F-16, Finnish F-18 and three Swedish Air Force Historic Flight’s aircraft - J32 Lansen, AJS37 Viggen and SK 35 Draken. It is worth mentioning that the giant An-124 transport aircraft arrived to the Mosnov aircraft in connection to the show – not for the display, but it brought the Lynx IFV of the Rheinmetall company for presentation.
 

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2017

For the first time in the event's history, three non-European countries (the United States, Canada, and Saudi Arabia) took part in the show at Leoš Janáček Ostrava Airport, and three countries - the Czech Republic excluded - presented their ground forces equipment there (Germany, Poland, Slovakia). The strength of NATO Days also lies in the fact that despite the historically first  cancellation of Sunday's programme of dynamic displays due to bad weather, 25,000 visitors still found their way to the venue. Neither did the poor weather conditions allow the premiere display of Saudi Hawks aerobatic team of the Royal Saudi Air Force whose performance could have only been seen during its practice flight on Monday. Nevertheless, visitors could enjoy dynamic displays of Italian and Austrian Eurofigther Typhoon fighter jets, Slovenian PC-9M Hudournik aircraft, or Italian C-27J Spartan transport aircraft.

U.S. Air Force’s B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress bombers could have been seen again on the static display as well as Canadian CF-18 Hornet fighter jet or Turkish E-7T Peace Eagle AWACS aircraft, both of which had their premiere at NATO Days. Visitors also found a great interest in the ground forces equipment including Czech premiere displays of German Puma and Lynx infantry fighting vehicles, ASCOD armoured vehicle with its SAMSON Mk II remote-controlled weapon system, Slovak CORSAC armoured vehicle, or Polish Oshkosh M-ATV vehicle.

Slovakia accepted the role of this year's Special Partner Nation and apart from its wide presentation of both air force and ground forces equipment, it also presented its police and customs units. Visitors could have seen its new UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter or Fokker 100 transport aircraft, and enjoy the dynamic display of MiG-29 fighter jet. The last public performance of the Tu-154 transport aircraft from the Slovak Government Flying Service represented the peak of the Slovak participation. The decision, what kind of display (static/dynamic) it would be, made the public itself and thus saw the last fly-by of this aircraft alongside with Airbus A319 transport aircraft from the same service on Sunday.

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2016

The richest programme of flying displays and widest spectrum of ground displays, both spiced by a number of exclusive premieres, or so-far the largest presentation of the Special Partner Nation provided by Germany – those were the main attributes of the 15^th anniversary of the event that was, despite the weather, really successful. Thus visitors could admire group aerobatics of Italian Frecce Tricolori, skill of the French pilot of Rafale aircraft, Swiss F/A-18, Romanian MiG-21 or Eurofighter Typhoons of five countries, which met for the first time at one event and three of whose closed the programme with a joint flypast.

Two U.S. strategic bombers dominated over static displays – “traditional” B-52 Stratofortress and first-timer B-1 Lancer. But they had a remarkable companions in two anti-submarine P-3C Orion aircraft (of German and Norwegian Air Force), NATO’s E-3A AWACS and in its Central European premiere also German transport plane A-400m Atlas. Meeting of twenty helicopters was unique as well, when premieres of the US Apache, German Tiger and NH-90, or Lithuanian AS365 were accompanied by farewell of German Army’s Bo-105. The US CV-22B Osprey, tilt-rotor aircraft, then made its third appearance in a row.

Regarding the ground displays, there were also, with the exception of traditional Czech participants, best seen German units, which joined some of the dynamic displays. So for the first time in the event’s history, the Czech Army showed its international cooperation, thanks to including German Leopard 2 battle tank and Bergepanzer recovery vehicle in joint Czech Army’s display. But Poland shouldn’t be omitted either – it showcased its air force, civilian security units and for the first time also Agat, one of its five special forces unit.

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2015

The 2015 edition was marked by the gathering of true giants, in an unprecedented display feast in the Czech Republic to date. Leading the way was the Royal Netherlands Air Force KDC-10 flying tanker. Another welcome mammoth was the US Air Force’s B-52H, returning to the show after the three years’ absence. A rare appearance was the C-17 of the multinational Strategic Airlift Capability programme, deployed by Sweden that became the Special Partner Country of 2015. This already remarkable static presentation was further complemented by the top star from 2014 – the CV-22B Osprey and by the public premiere of the new Aero L-39NG demonstrator.

Already mentioned Sweden wrote history of the show since it was for the first time when an exhibiting country used a means of strategic airlift to bring along some of its heavy ground equipment. A treat to remember was also the final break of the 4 historic Swedish aircraft (Tunnan, Saab 105, Draken, Viggen) with the Czech Air Force Gripen. 

On the ground, in what was the premiere participation of an Arab country, Jordan presented its female strike Army unit. The Jordanian warriors worked together with the Czech Army elite unit from Prostějov. We have hosted some very distinguished international guests, too. They were, most notably, Swedish Defence minister Peter Hultqvist and the new NATO Military Committee Chairman, Czech Gen. Petr Pavel as the historically highest NATO representative to attend the show in what was his first-time appearance in his new function in the Czech Republic.

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2014

The 15^th anniversary of the Czech Republic's accession to North Atlantic Alliance was commemorated at the Ostrava Airport by the record-tying number of visitors, who could enjoy many premiere displays. The first European presentation of the U.S. Special Forces' CV-22B Osprey tilt rotor aircraft, unique participation of the Turkish RF-4E Phantoms or joint fly-by of the three generations of Swedish SAAB aircraft - Draken, Viggen and Gripen - stood out. Three F-16 Demo Teams - Dutch, Danish and Greek - also "fought" for spectators' favour, together with the first-timer Finnish F-18. Fire fighters playgroup Lion Cobs from Klimkovice was among the most interesting, and certainly most unusual, displays on the ground. Supreme commander of the Czech Army, President Miloš Zeman, also attended the show for the first time.

Concept of Special Partner Nation was introduced in 2014. It offers one country an opportunity to present itself in an unmatched extent at an exclusive area. Historically first partner nation was Poland, so visitors could see the whole spectrum of its aircraft, all types of supersonics among others, army ground vehicles with Leopard battle tank, and others. Traditional participant of NATO Days, Polish border Guard, was awarded the ribbon of the Euro-Atlantic Council as an appreciation of long-term cooperation.

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2013

Year 2013 served to remember the 20th anniversary of the independent Czech Republic and its armed forces. We remembered it by anniversary logo of the event and by a unique joint fly-by of the Czech and Slovak air forces. There were unique displays too that presented capabilities of NATO and its partners – in-flight refuelling of Czech Gripens by a Swedish KC-130 tanker and strategic transport presented by the giant An-124 Ruslan transport aircraft from the NATO SALIS programme.

Other attractive displays were especially show of aerobatic teams Turkish Stars, which came back to Mošnov after two years, and Patrulla ASPA, which introduced itself to the Czech visitors for the first time, or Swedish Viggen and Saab 105 historical aircrafts.

International action-filled displays of interventions were visitor-magnets. There were displays of elite Czech and Polish policemen and special forces of Czech and Slovak prison services and customs administrations. Besides modern vehicles also the only surviving Czechoslovak interwar tank LT vz. 35 roamed around the Mošnov Airport.

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2012

This year also belonged to the especially good ones. For the first time there were 20 flags waving over the Mošnov Airfielf; the Czech Gripen pilots have presented an air-refueling display with a French C-135FR tanker also for the first time. Also for the first time we had two American B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers, one of which did an flying display (the only such display in the whole Europe that year). After six year the British Red Arrows aerobics team showed their mastery and the French Ramex Delta team with two Mirage 2000N's made their first show outside of France.

The flying display have somewhat shadowed the ground displays; however fans of green camo and police and other units were not deprived at all. The joint display of police rapid intervention unit from Ostrava and Polish SPAP rapid intervention unit from Katowice was indeed a pull for the visitors. The units have freed the building of the organizational staff from the hands of terrorists and they used a Polish police Mi-8 helicopter in doing so.

The underlying theme of this year was rememberance of the 10^th anniversary of NATO Summit in Prague, which decided to enlarge the Alliance with seven Central and Eastern European countries.

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2011

The main pulls in 2011 were definitely the Turkish Stars aerobatics team flying the NF-5 supersonics. Also the British Red Arrows were supposed to perform, but they had to cancel their arrival, so “only” two aerobatics team met at the event – besides the Turkish Stars there were also Baltic Bees from Latvia with their L-39 aircraft.

A highly valued participant was the Israeli Air Force, which presented two of its F-15D Baz fighters and a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. Incidentally, there were as many as 4 Hercules aircraft from 3 different air forces at the event. There also were Eurofighter Typhoon airplanes from three different air forces – the  German and Italian ones at static display and an Austrian one at flying display.

Morevore, the non-military ground units were not lagging behind. The Czech and Polish police intervention units presented  a display of freeing the hostages from hijacked aircraft. In a  joint display by  the Czech special forces unit of customs administration with the German ZUZ customs special intervention unit, the ZUZ presented itself only for the second time in public and for the very first time outside Germany.

Thanks to these and great  participants, this year’s number of visitors for both days of the Weekend show surpassed the magical number of 200,000, totalling as many as 225,000 visitors enjoying the show.

NATO Days in Ostrava & Czech Air Force Days 2010

The tenth year of NATO Days in Ostrava became the first year of Czech Air Force Days thanks to General Jiří Verner and his decision. This connection helped raise the international prestige and significance of the event. This year saw the Central European premiere of the American B-52H Stratofortress strategic bomber.

On the other hand, the event was  a last performance venue for two British RAF aircraft. In its last performance  the Tornado F.3 fighter presented an attractive display with WW2 veteran Hurricane Mk.I aircraft. An  unplanned last performance for the Czech public was carried by the  Harrier GR.9, which became victim of budget cuts in the British defence budget.

NATO Days in Ostrava 2009

The ninth year was characterized by huge organizational changes. Firstly, the exhibition area was moved to a different part of the airport and secondly, the programme was extended to the whole weekend. This year’s  highlights were performances of British Typhoon Display Team, for the first time in Central Europe, or the dynamic display of Polish Rosomak armoured transport vehicle  on the ground together with joint simulated intervention of Czech and Slovak customs administrations special forces. .

The 2009 Central European premiere for the public was the largest serially produced aircraft in the world – C-5 Galaxy from the US Air Force. This year, the event saw  the highest number of premiere participating countries, which was exceeded only in 2011.

Thanks to the lengthening of the programme to the whole weekend, the one-hundred-thousand visitors mark was also exceeded for the  show with as many as 135,000 visitors present during the weekend.

NATO Days in Ostrava 2008

In 2008, we experienced for the first  time, what it meant to cope with bad weather. Especially flying display actors had to face very difficult flying conditions: low temperature, rain and low cloud cover. And in spite the menacing morning forecast that said even helicopters couldn’t fly, around 11 o’clock the clouds miraculously opened and the flying programme could start, including performances of the Spanish Patrulla Águila aerobatics team, the first performance of the Dutch F-16 Demo Team at our event (who would have thought that we will see this team in following years again) and of the RAF Hawk Demo team. At the static display, the visitors could compare two versions of AWACS aircraft – NATO’s E-3A and British E-3D for the first time in the Czech Republic.

But the main pull of the eight year was a renewed public premiere of the An-124 Ruslan heavy transport aircraft, which  was presented to the general public at Mošnov airport after 20 long years.

NATO Day in Ostrava 2007

The seventh year served as a meeting place for the three most modern airplanes in Europe – British Typhoon F2, Czech Jas-39 Gripen and Polish F-16C Block 52+. In case of the British Typhoon F2 it was its first landing in Central and Eastern Europe. General Zdeněk Škarvada, direct participant of aerial combat in the WW2, personally welcomed the Typhoon at Mošnov airfield.

The visitors  applauded loudly especially to the US Viper East Demo TeamF-16CJ Fighting Falcon and the  Spanish F-18 Hornet presentations. There was also an unforgettable display of great piloting skills of a C-17 Globemaster III, which was presented  at a static display, too. It was with the Globemaster III aircraft that the era of “large static displays” started, which has continued until today.

Another worldwide unique display was presented by the Military Historical Institute Prague, which introduced the Israeli Merkava Mk. I main battle tank – the only one outside Israel. The first public premiere of special intervention units from Ostrava and Katowice took place at the event with display of saving hostages from an airplane.

NATO Day in Ostrava 2006

The sixth year was memorable with the largest participation of the British Royal Air Force in the Czech history. The RAF sent to the Mošnov airfield as many as 21 of their aircraft of many types. There goes  a legend of a supposed Whitehall RAF command meeting , London  question: : “In which foreign destinations  are our aircraft this week?” The answer was: “In Afghanistan, in Iraq and in Ostrava.”

A performance of the world-renowned aerobatics Red Arrows team reaped the largest applause together with a flying display of the British version of E-3D AWACS aircraft.

For the first time, the U. S. Air Force took part in the event, with two F-15C Eagle and two F-15E Strike Eagle supersonic jets, which have never met again at our event since then.

The public showed great appreciation to the  hour-long simulation of real fighting situation by the Czech Armed Forces, which presented even some unusual equipment like the Pegas 4M hovercraft.

NATO Day in Ostrava 2005

The fifth year saw the first foreign air force participation by the Royal Air Force. Two of its Tornado F3 supersonic jets from the base in Scottish Leuchars were originally planned for a static presentation only; however one of them was eventually instrumental in creating an unplanned final highlight of the programme. The characteristic sound of 111^th RAF Squadron’s Tornado F3s was a natural part of our show till 2010.

Among other highlights of the fifth year was a Joint Forces of the Czech Army display of three T-72M4CZ tanks, three BVP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, an engineering tank and Mi-17 and W-3A Sokol helicopters. A legendary Věra passive radar system had its public premiere at the event, before which it was known only from the media.

Special forces of the Customs Administration made  a fascinating display of an intervention against a tanker truck carrying refugees across state borders, in which the used vehicle actually originally belonged to real-world  smugglers, from whom it was confiscated.

An important part of the 2005 event was the finals of the European Championship in fire sport of firefighters  and rescuers.

Also, since 2005 the event has started its own separate website, which have been running with slight updates till 2012.

NATO Day in Ostrava 2004

In the framework of the fourth year, it was for the first time that the Czech public  were able to board the legendary E-3A Sentry “AWACS” early warning aircraft from NATO base from the  German Geilenkirchen base. Another opportunity for the visitors was the  presentation of all the equipment of a field hospital or of training of the world-renowned chemical protection unit from Liberec.

NATO Day in Ostrava 2003

Since the third year, the event has been held regularly in mid-September at the Leoš Janáček Ostrava Airport, setting of which enables to carry out  more attractive dynamic and especially flying displays. This year, the Special forces of the Prison Service and General Customs Directorate of the Customs Administration of the Czech Republic have joined the regular participants of the event, which significantly widened the scale of civil services and integrated rescue system components presenting. The absolute highlight of the programme was a Mi-24 helicopter flying display.

A third foreign participant joined the event – the United Kingdom with presentation of a British training team BMATT from Vyškov. The UK has been taking part almost every year since NATO Day in Ostrava 2003.

NATO Day in Ostrava 2002

The second year, which took place at the Černá louka again, saw participation of the first NATO non-member country at that time – Slovakia, which supported its pending invitation to join NATO at the Prague Summit by its active participation at the NATO Days. Slovakia sent its most elite fighting force – 5^th Special Purpose Regiment from Žilina, which has presented  itself only once in the Czech Republic – and for the last time till today.

NATO Days in Ostrava 2001

The first year took place on a Friday afternoon - "after work" - at the Černá louka fair ground in the Ostrava centre. The visitors could see special military and rescue equipment, equipment and armament of a special and reconnaissance unit, the training methods and equipment of the police, displays of an anti-terrorist commando, searching for drugs and weapons, displays of firefighters  and rescuers and many more interesting presentations. 

Also the elite paratroopers from Bialsko-Biala  presented themselves and Poland thus became the historically first foreign country, which took part in NATO Days in Ostrava.