REVIEW: Aviaticka Pout 2025
The 33rd annual Aviaticka Pout, held on June 7-8, 2025, at Pardubice Airport in the Czech Republic, once again affirmed its status as a cornerstone of Central European aviation culture. This celebrated airshow, launched in 1991 to honor Czech aviation pioneer Jan Kašpar, has evolved over the decades into a dynamic celebration of flight, attracting thousands of spectators ranging from casual enthusiasts to seasoned aviation professionals. Coming off the heels of the Flight Training Center Pardubice’s (CLV) 20th-anniversary milestone in 2024, the 2025 edition wove together a rich tapestry of historic aircraft, modern military might, and awe-inspiring aerobatics, all set against the backdrop of Pardubice’s storied aviation legacy. Despite challenging weather conditions, the event delivered an unforgettable showcase of aerial excellence, blending technical precision with historical reverence in a way that captivated attendees and underscored the enduring spirit of Czech aviation.
Nestled approximately 120 kilometres east of Prague, Pardubice Airport provided an ideal stage for this aviation spectacle. With its 2,500-meter concrete runway (09/27) and a dual-use history as both a military base and civilian hub, the airport is steeped in significance. Home to the CLV, a key institution in Czech flight training, Pardubice transforms each June into a bustling epicentre of aeronautical activity. The 2025 event leveraged the airport’s expansive facilities, with aircraft neatly arranged along taxiways and aprons, creating a seamless blend of static exhibits and a dynamic flying program. The layout ensured that spectators could transition effortlessly between admiring grounded machines and watching them soar, enhancing the immersive experience. Beyond its practical role, Pardubice carries a symbolic weight: it was here, in 1910, that Jan Kaspar made his historic first powered flight in the Czech lands, a legacy that Aviaticka Pout continues to honour with pride.
Weather conditions shaped the event’s narrative in profound ways, testing the adaptability of organisers and pilots alike. Saturday, June 7, dawned with partly cloudy skies, the sun intermittently piercing through a patchwork of grey, though this serenity was frequently interrupted by rain showers that swept across the airfield. Temperatures lingered around 18°C, and a gentle southwest wind blew at 10-15 knots, creating a moody yet manageable atmosphere. The damp conditions softened the ground, adding a slight sheen to the aircraft on display, while the cloud cover lent a dramatic backdrop to the flying displays. By contrast, Sunday, June 8, escalated the challenge: rainfall intensified significantly, drenching spectators and turning the grass areas into slick patches, while winds strengthened to gusts of 25-30 knots. These conditions forced adjustments to the program—most notably the cancellation of Sunday’s paratrooper drop due to safety concerns—but the event’s momentum persisted. Pilots demonstrated remarkable skill in navigating the turbulent air, and the crowd’s enthusiasm remained undampened, their applause mingling with the patter of rain as a testament to the airshow’s resilience and appeal.
On the ground, a wealth of activities and static displays kept attendees engaged between aerial performances, offering an up-close encounter with aviation history and technology. Most aircraft slated for the flying displays were thoughtfully parked in accessible areas, allowing spectators to inspect their intricate designs and engineering marvels at close range. This hands-on access bridged the gap between static admiration and dynamic performance, enriching the experience for enthusiasts eager to study airframes like the CLV’s Aero L-39 Skyfox, Enstrom 480, and Zlin Z-142—all of which later took to the skies. The undisputed centrepiece of the static lineup, however, was the historic Panavia Tornado from the German Air Force’s Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 61 (WTD 61), an elite flight test unit renowned for pushing aeronautical boundaries. This particular Tornado retained its striking commemorative livery from 2024, marking 50 years since the Panavia MRCA’s inaugural flight on August 14, 1974—a design that evolved into the Tornado, a Cold War icon with its variable-sweep wings and multirole capabilities. Its sleek, predatory lines and vibrant paint scheme drew crowds, who marvelled at its historical significance and technical prowess.
The CLV’s own fleet bolstered the static displays, showcasing the centre’s diverse training aircraft. Visitors could explore the rugged Mi-2 and Mi-17 helicopters, renowned for their reliability and versatility, alongside the nimble Evektor SportStar, a modern light sport aircraft reflecting contemporary training methods. The iconic Aero L-39 Albatros, a mainstay of military aviation training, stood out, joined by the Skyfox, Enstrom 480, and Zlin Z-142, all of which also thrilled crowds as flying performers. The Czech Air Force contributed further highlights, presenting the Aero L-159 ALCA, its tail featuring a special scheme commemorating 25 years of service since its introduction in 2000, and an ex-Czech Air Force Aero L-39 Albatros, adorned in a 2018 livery celebrating the type’s 50th anniversary. Adding an international touch, the Slovenian Air Force’s Let L-410UVP-3 Turbolet—a support aircraft for their PC-9M solo display—stood proudly on display, its utilitarian design offering a subtle contrast to the more flamboyant aircraft. A standout addition to the lineup was the North American P-51D Mustang "Little Rebel", its gleaming aluminium fuselage and iconic sleek, low-drag fuselage, laminar flow wing, and bubble canopy drawing warbird enthusiasts. This legendary WWII fighter, powered by a 1,490-hp Packard V-1650-7 engine, served as a striking tribute to aviation’s storied past. Together, these exhibits offered a comprehensive look at aviation’s past, present, and future, grounding the airshow’s aerial feats in tangible history.
The flying displays launched with a visceral demonstration of contemporary air power, as two Czech Air Force Saab JAS-39C Gripens thundered overhead in the formation flypasts, their afterburners igniting the damp air with a deafening roar. These Saab-built multirole fighters, leased from Sweden since 2005, are powered by the Volvo RM12 engine, producing 18,000 pounds of thrust and propelling them to speeds exceeding Mach 1.8. Their delta-wing design and fly-by-wire controls enable unmatched agility, which the pilots showcased with high-speed passes at approximately 500 knots, slicing through the cloudy skies with surgical precision. Following this opening salvo, a CASA 295M transport aircraft took centre stage on Saturday, climbing to 3,000 feet to execute a paratrooper drop. The twin-engine turboprop, designed by Airbus Defence and Space, boasts a payload capacity of 9,250 kg and a cruising speed of 260 knots, making it a versatile workhorse for tactical airlift. Members of the 43rd Airborne Regiment leapt from its rear ramp, their parachutes unfurling into the grey expanse below in a display of military coordination and skill. Sunday’s stronger winds grounded this segment, but the Gripens returned with an abbreviated flypast, their sleek forms undeterred by the gusts, reaffirming their role as the backbone of Czech air defence.
The military showcase continued with a solo performance by Captain Jan Ratz of the 211th Tactical Squadron, based at Caslav Air Base, flying a Saab JAS-39C Gripen in a freshly unveiled livery debuted weeks earlier at the Caslav Open Day. Commemorating 20 years of Gripen service in the Czech Air Force since 2005, the paint scheme featured intricate motifs of national pride, accentuating the aircraft’s predatory silhouette. Ratz’s display was a masterclass in aggression and control, with the Gripen’s 80 kN of thrust (with afterburner) powering vertical climbs, high-G turns, and a slow-speed pass at 100 knots that highlighted its thrust-to-weight ratio of 0.97. The routine included a “minimum radius turn,” showcasing the aircraft’s agility, and a thunderous afterburner climb that reverberated across the airfield. Drawing on his experience from NATO exercises like Tiger Meet, Ratz pushed the Gripen to its limits, offering a visceral tribute to modern fighter technology. Meanwhile, the Czech Air Force PZL W-3 Sokol delivered a dynamic Search and Rescue (SAR) demonstration, its twin PZL-10W engines (900 shp each) driving a series of low-level hovers and simulated casualty extractions. Piloted by the 24th Transport Air Base crew from Kbely, the Sokol’s agility—capable of 260 km/h and a 745 km range—shone through, its grey camo livery blending with the rainy backdrop, underscoring its vital role in emergency operations.
Adding an international dimension, the Slovenian Air Force’s Pilatus PC-9M Hudournik Solo Display, flown by Captain Andrej Fiorelli, brought a different flavour of military precision. While its 1,150-shp Pratt & Whitney PT6A-62 turboprop lacks the jet-fueled volume of the Gripens, the PC-9M’s display was a study in complexity and finesse. Fiorelli guided the aircraft—capable of 320 knots and a maximum takeoff weight of 3,200 kg—through loops, rolls, Cuban Eights, and low-level passes with razor-sharp execution. A veteran of European airshows, the Hudournik routine featured a “four-point hesitation roll,” where the aircraft pauses at quarter-turn intervals, demanding exceptional control. The PC-9M’s lightweight airframe and responsive handling made it a standout, its quiet elegance contrasting with the raw power of its jet counterparts, cementing its reputation as one of Europe’s premier solo displays and highlighting Slovenia’s contribution to military aviation training.
Aerobatics took the spotlight with the Czech Flying Bulls Aerobatics Team, who commanded the skies in their four XA-42 aircraft. Powered by 315-hp Lycoming AEIO-580 engines, these machines boast a roll rate exceeding 400 degrees per second and a climb rate of over 3,000 feet per minute, purpose-built for the rigors of unlimited aerobatics. Led by pilots Stanislav Cejka, Martin Spacek, Jan Tvrdik, and Jan Rudzinskyj, the team performed a breathtaking array of four-ship manoeuvres, including upside-down loops that tested their synchronicity and endurance. The signature “four-ship mirror loop”—two aircraft flying inverted mere meters above the other two—was a heart-stopping feat, the negative-G forces (exceeding -6G) pushing blood to the pilots’ heads, a punishing sensation that underscores their physical and mental fortitude. These routines, unique to the Flying Bulls and unmatched globally, blended tight formations with daring innovation, their red-and-silver aircraft painting dynamic arcs against the cloudy canvas, a testament to Czech aerobatic prowess honed through years of competition and airshow mastery.
Solo aerobatics reached a fever pitch with Petr Kopfstein in his Zivko Edge 540 V3, a machine engineered for the extreme demands of unlimited aerobatics and air racing. Powered by a 340-hp Lycoming AEIO-540, the Edge 540 boasts a roll rate of 420 degrees per second and a climb rate of 3,700 feet per minute, its carbon-fibre airframe optimised for agility. Kopfstein, a Czech aerobatic luminary and the inaugural Red Bull Air Race Challenger Cup winner in 2015, unleashed a routine of snap rolls, torque rolls, and tumbling manoeuvres that defied conventional aerodynamics. Highlights included the “knife-edge spin,” where the aircraft spirals vertically in a knife-edge attitude, and the “avalanche,” a loop punctuated by a snap roll at its apex. Enduring G-forces exceeding +10/-6G, Kopfstein demonstrated extraordinary resilience, his mastery honed through years in the Red Bull Air Race Master Class (where he placed third overall in 2019) and international competitions like the FAI World Aerobatic Championships. His performance was a visceral celebration of human and machine in harmony, leaving the crowd in awe of his fearless precision.
The warbird segment opened with the Austrian Flying Bulls, whose eclectic formation of vintage aircraft captivated spectators with a blend of power and nostalgia. Leading the charge was the North American B-25J Mitchell, its twin 1,700-hp Wright R-2600 engines rumbling as it flew alongside the Lockheed P-38 Lightning (twin 1,425-hp Allison V-1710s), Vought F4U-4 Corsair (2,000-hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800), North American P-51D Mustang (1,490-hp Packard V-1650-7), and North American T-28B Trojan (1,425-hp Wright R-1820). The initial flypast, piloted by Frederic Handelman (B-25), Raimund Riedmann (P-38), Eric Goujon (Corsair), Eskil Amdal (Mustang), and Nicolas “Vincent” Rossier (T-28)—a former Swiss Air Force F/A-18 display pilot (2017-2020)—was a visual and auditory feast, the diverse engine notes harmonizing in a roar that evoked WWII battlefields. The formation then split: the B-25 and T-28, the latter trailing elegant white smoke from its wingtip system, performed synchronised flypasts, the smoke lingering to reveal aerodynamic wakes and tracing graceful patterns in the turbulent air. Coordinating such a varied group was a logistical triumph, each aircraft’s unique speed, weight, and handling—from the B-25’s 284 mph cruising speed to the P-51’s 437 mph top speed—demanding precise timing and communication. The solo and formation displays that followed highlighted each warbird’s character, from the Corsair’s bent-wing agility to the Mustang’s sleek speed, a living history lesson in the skies.
A rare gem followed with the Avro Anson Mk.I from RAF Station Czechoslovakia, the world’s only airworthy example, freshly imported from New Zealand. Built in 1943 at Yeadon, this twin-engine marvel—powered by two 410-hp Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX radials—served in WWII’s RAF Coastal Command, earning the nickname “Faithful Annie” for its reliability in convoy protection and submarine hunting. Restored over a decade (2003-2012) to its 1940 configuration, complete with a dorsal turret and replica bombs, it made its Northern Hemisphere premiere at Pardubice. Its elegant low passes, some trailing smoke from its Holmsly Smoke System, showcased its 184 mph top speed and graceful 17.52-meter wingspan, while its Coastal Command camouflage gleamed under the wet skies. Once owned by Australian enthusiast Terry Brain and later New Zealand’s Bill Reid (as ZK-RRA), its journey—from a 1960 crash to a 2012 FlyPast Magazine award for “Most significant warbird restoration”—culminated in this debut, a highlight that drew gasps for its rarity and historical weight.
The Hawker Hurricane Mk.I P3143 NN-D from the Tocna Aviation Museum added another layer of WWII valour. Acquired after the tragic 2022 loss of their Hurricane IV, this Battle of Britain veteran—powered by a 1,030-hp Rolls-Royce Merlin III—wore markings honouring Sgt Bohumir Furst of No. 310 Squadron, the first RAF unit of foreign nationals, formed in 1940. Flown by Czech pilots like Furst, who downed a Bf 110, Bf 109, and He 111, P3143 claimed multiple victories during the Battle of Britain. Its display featured elegant flypasts, its 328 mph top speed and distinctive humpbacked silhouette a poignant tribute to the 37.5 victories of 310 Squadron. Previously operated by Jan Roozen in France (F-AZXR), its new Czech stewards showcased its restored glory, the Merlin’s growl a haunting echo of 1940s skies, resonating deeply with history buffs.
Historic replicas transported spectators to aviation’s infancy, beginning with the Bleriot JK, a nod to Jan Kaspar’s 1910 flight. Modelled on the Blériot XI, this fragile monoplane—wooden frame, fabric skin, and a 25-hp Anzani engine—took off from a grass strip, rising barely a meter before landing. Replicating Kaspar’s 2-kilometer hop from Pardubice to Chrudim, its 50 km/h top speed and exposed rigging highlighted the audacity of early flight. Frenchman Louis Bleriot’s original 1909 Channel crossing inspired Kaspar, and this replica’s brief flight—piloted with care to avoid overstressing its delicate structure—served as a living monument to Czech aviation’s roots, its simplicity a stark contrast to the modern machines around it.
The Swiss Classic Formation debuted with a Douglas C-47 Skytrain leading three Beechcraft Model 18 Twin Beeches, their vintage charm captivating the crowd. The C-47’s twin 1,200-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830s and the Beech’s twin 450-hp Pratt & Whitney R-985s powered a routine of formation flypasts, breaks, and opposition passes, with solo flourishes showcasing their individuality. Designed for transport and training, not aerobatics, these aircraft posed challenges: limited cockpit visibility and sluggish controls demanded meticulous coordination. The C-47, a D-Day veteran with a 252 mph cruising speed, and the nimble Beeches—used by the Swiss Air Force into the 1970s—delivered a dynamic yet nostalgic display, their polished aluminum glinting through the rain, a tribute to mid-century aviation ingenuity.
A World War I dogfight closed this segment, featuring replicas of the Aviatik D.I.Berg, Morane MS 139, and Nieuport XI. With engines ranging from 100-200 hp, these aircraft reenacted early aerial combat, their tight turns and low passes evoking the Western Front. The Aviatik Berg, flown by Dan Griffith—a globally acclaimed test pilot—stood out for its agility, its 185-hp Austro-Daimler engine driving spirited manoeuvres. A replica of Kaspar’s design debuted on Sunday, braving fierce winds in a testament to pilot skill and historical fidelity, linking the airshow’s origins to the dawn of military aviation.
Training aircraft highlighted the CLV’s legacy, starting with the Aero L-39 Skyfox and LET C-11 (Yak-11). The Skyfox, a successor of the Cold War era Aero L-39 Albatros with a 3,800-lb-thrust Williams International FJ44-4M turbofan engine, flew formation passes with the C-11—a 700-hp Shvetsov ASh-21-powered trainer—before the Skyfox landed, letting the C-11 shine in a solo routine of loops and rolls. A Soviet design adapted by LET in the 1950s, the C-11’s 295 mph top speed and robust airframe bridged the propeller and jet eras, its display a nod to Cold War training heritage. The Enstrom 480 and Zlin Z-142 followed with a rare joint takeoff, the helicopter’s 420-shp Rolls-Royce 250-C20W enabling hovers and pivots, while Martin Sonka—2018 Red Bull Air Race Champion—pushed the Z-142’s 210-hp Avia M 337 through aerobatics, proving its versatility beyond its trainer roots.
The Zlin Z-381, a Bü 181 Bestmann variant with a 105-hp Walter Minor 4-III, offered graceful aerobatics, its low passes and energy management highlighting its Luftwaffe trainer lineage. A trio of WWII trainers—the Boeing Stearman PT-17 (220-hp Continental W-670), Ryan PT-22 Recruit (160-hp Kinner R-540), and Bucker Bu 131 Jungmann (105-hp Hirth HM 504)—performed some passes, their charm evoking 1940s flight schools. The de Havilland Tiger Moth (130-hp Gipsy Major) and Taylorcraft Auster (130-hp Lycoming O-290), flown by Jiri Hruska, rounded out the segment with serene displays, the STOL capabilities of the Auster and open-cockpit nostalgia of the Tiger Moth a gentle coda to the high-energy program.
Aviaticka Pout 2025 triumphed over adverse weather, delivering a world-class aviation experience that honoured its heritage while embracing the future. The absence of the Me-262, sidelined by engine failure, was a minor disappointment; its promised 2026 return—with twin jet engines evoking Luftwaffe innovation—adds anticipation for next year. From military might to historic grace, this airshow remains a beacon for enthusiasts and professionals, its spirit unbowed by rain or wind.
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