(source: Ján Krošlák, SME)
The Slovak International Air Fest takes place every year at Sliač military airport near Banská Bystrica. The dates for 2017 are August 26-27.
B-52 and B1 American bomber aircraft and a Croatian acrobatic group performing on the Pilatus PC-9M plane will be among the new features.
Other performers at the air show will be a Spanish solo acrobat on the EF-18M Hornet aircraft and a 7-member formation from the United Arab Emirates called Al Fursan (knights).
"Personally, I'm very pleased that visitors to the biggest aviation event in Slovakia will be able to see the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters for the first time,” said Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee), as quoted by the TASR newswire.
“We're keeping our promise to build modern armed forces that will fulfil the task of benefiting the citizens of the Slovak Republic," Gajdoš continued as quoted by TASR, adding that the Black Hawks will be used for domestic crisis management in following years.
SIAF and Slovak Aviation Agency director Hubert Štoksa said that this year's international aviation days will be unique in terms of the number of performers and showcased aircraft.
“Thanks to the confirmed participation of foreign aerobatic groups and the excellent aircraft, SIAF can be compared to the world's biggest aviation shows," he said.
SIAF 2017 is organised by the Slovak Aviation Agency while the main programme partner is the Defence Ministry.
