2008 at Warsaw Bemowo airfield - EPBC

Welcome to 2008 at Warsaw Bemowo airport ( EPBC also known as Babice airport ) 

 

 23rd August 2008

 

7444 An-2 - fuselage only, no registration, orange used for parachute jump training - "Accenture" titles 

 

D-MBBJ CTSW - hangared - white/blue/yellow   

D-MKAW CTSW - hangared - white/red/grey  

SP-AIR Aviat A-1A Husky - s/n 1166 this Husky was built in 1990, it became SP-AIR in July 2006 

 

SP-KAO Reims Cessna 150L - white/blue/yellow

 

 

SP-KAR Cessna 150M - white/blue, dismantled in hangar - this had an accident at Modlin in 8.06 

SP-KDN Reims Cessna 150L - white/gold/grey

SP-KFP Cessna 152 - white/red/blue 

SP-KOL Cessna 152 - white/brown/orange 

SP-YMS Steen Super Skybolt 300 - white/blue/red  - newly registered July 2008 ex N51TL

SP-ZAP Cessna 172S Skyhawk  - white/red/blue

SP-SHUF Curtiss JN-4 Jenny Replica 75% size - blue/yellow - active  - note this aircraft was donated to the Krakow museum circa 2014 

 

 

My first visits - 1994 to 1995

Let me give you a little background to this Blog. I've always been interested in aircraft and spent my childhood making Airfix plastic models of planes and reading endless books about the history of aviation. In 1974 my family moved to south west London which gave me a chance to watch an endless sucession of aircraft inbound to London Heathrow airport ( LHR ). And so began a lifetime of watching, photographing and researching aircraft. 

In 1994 I married my wife who I'd met whilst working in London. Bea was Polish with a family in Warsaw the capitol city. In December 1994 we flew from Heathrow to visit her family for Christmas flying on British Airways Boeing 757 G-BIKF ( Flight BA 850 ). This would be my first visit to Poland. Before we went I did some research about airfields near Warsaw and learned about the general aviation airfield at Bemowo - Babice. Could I find the opportunity to get to Bemowo, how could I get to Bemowo, would I be able to get into the airfield at Bemowo, was it safe to go and look at aircraft at Bemowo as a foreigner, I didn't want to be arrested!       

 

Monday 26th December 1994 - my first visit to Bemowo airfield

I managed to borrow my father in-laws car and drove very carefully from the centre of Warsaw out to the north west suburb of Bemowo using a local A-Z map ( this is 1994 pre WWW pre internet ). I was rather nervous of the extensive tram network that criss-crossed the roads - trams have priority. As it was Boxing Day ( the day after Christmas ) there was not too much traffic on the roads. The airfield at Bemowo is large, it was a former Polish airforce fast jet base - over the years the city had expanded and now the airfield was surrounded by blocks and blocks of flats. The A-Z map had the location of the "Aeroklub Warszawa" hangar marked on the map ( on the north side of the airfield near some residential flats ), this was my target.

The entrance to the airfield was controlled by a man in a small hut who controlled a metal barrier. Without saying a word he raised the barrier and I drove in. I guess the local Warsaw type registration plate on the car may have helped. 

The airfield was completely dead, it was mid winter and it was the Christmas holidays. I parked the car and went for a walk by the many hangars. No more fences or gates. Lots of locals were enjoying a Boxing day walk in front of the hangars with their children and pet dogs. 

Parked on the frozen grass in front of the hangars was a long line of An-2 biplanes, this was for me was very good. Among the An-2 were half a dozen guard dog kennels, thankfully these appeared empty. Some of these aircraft were beginning to look a little tatty parked outside among the long grass. Here is my log,

 

SP-TBA, SP-TBD, SP-TBE, SP-TBF, SP-TBK, SP-TBL, SP-TBM, SP-TCA, SP-TCB, SP-TCC, SP-TCD, SP-TCE, and SP-TVN all An-2 - All part of the Aeropol fleet - note that TCA and TCB both had some fabric damage. 

 

                           SP-TBF s/n 1G159-47 modified for photo survey

  

                         SP-TCA s/n 1G167-10 with some fabric damage

 

The Polish National Archive has an interesting photo from 1984 showing the same Aeropol An-2 line up including SP-TBF which features just a few lines above 

 

  

The Aeroklub Warszawa hangars were all locked up, however the final hangar in the row was open - at the time this was the Aeropol hanger ( later IBEX and now Enter ), aircraft seen were

  

SP-TAA Let 410 Aeropol - s/n 822038 - white/blue

SP-TAB Let 410 Aeropol - white/orange

SP-TAC Let 410 Aeropol - white/orange  

SP-FSW Mi-2 

SP-SAE Mi-2 Aeropol

SP-FAU Let 200

 

Outside on the grass nearby 

 

 

SP-FSH Mi-2 - s/n 542209121 - white/blue ( once PWL 2209 )

  

SP-FSI Mi-2 - s/n 542503072 - white/blue ( once PWL 2503 )

  

SP-SWW Mi-8P white/green/blue - s/n 10650 built 1980 ( with signs of its previous registration SP-SWT underneath SWW )

 

I was very happy to see all the above aircraft. Polish registered aircraft ( ie "SP-" ) were very rare visitors to the UK usually only being seen at aviation trade shows such as Farnborough. Remember at this time Poland was only just emerging from decades of communist party rule and control by the USSR.

You will notice from the above listing of aircraft a complete absence of Western aircraft types  - the deluge of Cessna and Pipers would arrive very soon. As an aviation enthusiast it was great to see these Polish and Czech built aircraft. 

Also of note are the handful of SP-F...... registered aircraft - at the time the SP-F..... sequence was used for aircraft privately owned, a small but rapidly growing registration sequence in the 1990's.  

Bemowo airfield was also home to some military helicopters - seen parked over on the southern side of the airfield were,

606 Mi-17 grey camoflague with blue/white tail band

633 Mi-8 olive, square windows with blue/white tail band

634 Mi-8 white, square windows with blue/white tail band

635 Mi-8 white, square windows with blue/white tail band

The blue/white tail band shows that these were all operated by 103 Pułku Lotnictwa ( 103 PL )

 

I was very happy with all the aircraft I'd been able to see - the contents of the Aeroklub Warszawa hangars would have to wait for another day. Time to return to the family in Warsaw to enjoy Babcia's home cooking. 

 

Second visit - September 1995

On Wednesday 6th September 1995 I visited Bemowo airfield for the second time. I was no longer visiting from the UK, I was now living in Poland. We were now living in a village called Izabelin just outside Warsaw, towards the Kampinos forest. Fortunately for me the drive from Izabelin to Warsaw took me past Bemowo airfield - handy!   

The airfield was active and a couple of hangars were open too - here are my notes

Visitors

SP-ASL Zlin 142

SP-ATG Zlin 142 

SP-WOW An-2 - red/white/blue

SP-WPE An-2  - cream

SP-ZOI PZL 104 Wilga  

 

Also outside were

SP-BZU RSZ-05 balloon  - being inflated - blue

SP-ZUN Dromader

SP-ZUP Dromader

SP-ZWL Dromader  

 

Note that Dromaders were often present in the role of water bombers during the summer forest fire season  

 

The Aeroklub Warszawa hangar was open and revealed (note that not all these belonged to the AK Warszawa, some were privately owned ),

SP-AEU Zlin 42M s/n 0126 

SP-AFT PZL 104 Wilga s/n 16820643

SP-AHB PZL 104 Wilga s/n 118402

SP-AMB Piper J3C-65 Cub

SP-ARN Koliber s/n 25028

SP-ATD Zlin 142 s/n 0271

SP-ATS Zlin 142 s/n 0318

SP-AUC Zlin 50  - Lotto titles

SP-AWA Yak 12 s/n 30128

SP-AZG Zlin 142 s/n 0213 

SP-CKL Gawron s/n 107211

 

 

SP-CSY Zlin 526AFS Akrobat s/n 1228 - built 1972

SP-EAI PZL 104 Wilga

SP-EBH PZL 104 Wilga  - dismantled

SP-FSK Mi-2 

 

SP-FZL PZL 104 Wilga 80 s/n 15810601 ( this was previously SP-AFI )

 

 

SP-PKT Rand KR-2PM Smigly - homebuilt - white/yellow/red

Note that at this time the SP-P..... sequence was used for "proby" - prototypes and test flights - in due course this Rand KR-2 would become SP-FKT. 

 

Outside near the AK Warszawa hanger was the fuselage of an old An-2, used for parachute ground training

( 7444 ) An-2 unmarked fuselage only, ground instructional airframe for parachute training - ex Polish Air Force 

 

Also open was the air ambulance hanger ( CZLS ) - the CZLS had it's national HQ at Bemowo with many operating detachments around Poland.

SP-MXA Mewa

SP-UXI An-2

SP-ZXZ Mi-2

Note medical air ambulance aircraft had the letter "X" as a middle letter  

 

Also here were the many An-2 parked out on the grass as logged during my first visit above - note that these aircraft would soon start to disappear, more on this in later reports.  

 

Visible over on the military side of the airfield were

659 Mi-8 olive with blue/white tail band - 103 PL

1918 Mi-2 brown/green with blue/white tail band  - 103 PL 

 

Thursday 14th September 1995 - brief visit

Really good to see the Pelikan today, a pusher engine motorglider design from the Politechnic Warszawa

 

SP-0050 PW-4 Pelikan

SP-AOH - An-2 - visitor

plus over the far side 

1462 An-2 - Polish Air Force parked over by the tower - likely a visitor

plus 

606 and 608 Mi-17 camo with blue/white/tailband - 103 PL

636 Mi-8  olive with blue/white/tailband - 103 PL

 

Friday 15th September 1995 - the "far side"

Today I wanted to see if I could find a viewing point over on the "far side" ( south side ) of the airfield to get a better view of the military ramp. Along the boundary here many new houses were being built and this offered some views. I was very aware that I was the only person looking at the military aircraft with binoculars and a camera, so I didn't stay in this area too long. Logged were,

 

 

Mi-17 - 606, 607 and 608 all camo with blue/white tail band - 103 PL

Mi-8 - 633, 634, 636, 659  all blue/white tail band - 103 PL

Mi-2 - 2814 - olive - blue/white tail band - 103 PL

Mi-2 - 4514, 4712 and 7837 - camo - all red/white tail band - 42 EL

An-2 - 0853 - camo -  red/white tail tip - 42 EL

 

Photo shows 42 EL squadron badge on an An-2 based at Bemowo  ( Babice ) 

 

Sunday 24th September 1995 

A quick stop today found some Aeroklub Warszawa gliding in progress,

SP-CKL Gawron - active as glider tug  

SP-2543 Bocian

SP-2781 Bocian

SP-2943 Pirat

SP-3303 "LK" Junior 

 

Monday 25th September 1995 

Another look at the military ramp, this time viewing from behind some private garages. 

An-2 - 0853 and 5928 - red/white tail tip - 42 EL

Mi-2 - 0815 and 4435 - red/white tail band - 42 EL 

Mi-8 660 - blue/white tail band - 103 PL 

 

Saturday 30th September 1995  - a visit to the far side

4244 Su-20 - forward fuselage only, outside the WAT technical school hangar

1918 Mi-2 - brown/green camo, blue/white tail band - 103 PL 

1919 Mi-2 - brown/green camo, blue/white tail band - 103 PL  

2539 Mi-2 - bright green, blue/white tail band - 103 PL  

2814 Mi-2 - olive, blue/white tail band - 103 PL  

 

Monday 2nd October 1995  - another visit to the far side

1464 An-2- camo - no tip colur - believed to be a visitor

4419 Mi-2 - camo, blue/white tail band - 103 PL   

4522 Mi-2 - camo, blue/white tail band - 103 PL   

6942 Mi-2 - camo, blue/white tail band - 103 PL   

 

Monday 23rd October 1995  

215 M-20 Mewa - in hangar #5 ( far side ) - white/red/orange - 103 PL

over by the Aeroklub Warszawa hangar,

  

SP-FRC  Rallye 100 - blue

SP-NXA Let 200 - medical

SP-NXK Let 200 - medical

 

SP-TAA Let 410  - s/n 822038 - white/blue Air Polonia titles ( was previously marked as Aeropol )

 

Aeroklub hangar 

 

SP-AEU Zlin 42

SP-AFT PZL 104 Wilga

SP-AHB PZL 104 Wilga 

SP-AMB Piper Cub

SP-ARN Koliber 

 

SP-ASO Zlin 142

SP-ATD Zlin 142

SP-AWA Yak 12 

SP-CKL Gawron

SP-CSY Zlin 526

SP-CTC Zlin 526 

SP-EAI PZL 104 Wilga

SP-EBH PZL 104 Wilga

SP-EFA PZL 102 Kos  - low wing, single engine

SP-FSK Mi-2 

SP-PBN Gniady - white/red, new glider tug using many Wilga and Koliber components  

 

 

Wednesday 29th November 1995  - military side 

1918 Mi-2 - green/brown - blue tail band  - 103 PL

2814 Mi-2 - olive - blue tail band  - 103 PL 

2815 Mi-2 - olive - blue tail band  - 103 PL 

2919 Mi-2 - green/brown - blue tail band  - 103 PL 

 

Thursday 30th November 1995  

SP-MXA M-20 Mewa - Medical  - c/n showing as 1AH002-08  

 

SP-WXA Mi-2 - Medical

SP-WXN Mi-2 - Medical

SP-ZXZ Mi-2 - Medical - Central Childrens hospital titles 

 

Wednesday 27th December 1995  

A final visit for 1995, almost exactly one year after my very first visit - snow on the ground and everything locked up for Christmas and winter - still parked outside in the freezing weather were ten  An-2, that's four less than last year, noted today were SP-TBA, SP-TBF, SP-TBK, SP-TCA, SP-TCB, SP-TCC, SP-TCD, SP-TCE, SP-TCG ( my first sighting ) and SP-TVN all An-2.

 

Missing from this line up and seen in December 1994 were........ SP-TBD, SP-TBL, SP-TBM 

 

 

 

 

 

1996 - Bemowo Babice EPBC

 

Welcome to 1996 at Warsaw Bemowo airport ( EPBC also known as Babice airport ) 

 

Thursday 4th January 1996 - brief visit

2539 Mi-2 - bright green - blue/white tail band - 103 PL 

6624 Mi-2 - 3 x green camo - blue/white tail band - 103 PL 

 

Wednesday 17th January 1996 - the pink Sokol

420 W-3 Sokol - white/pink/red/maroon - with "123" on engine - blue/white tail band - 103 PL 

This interesting W-3 Sokol was s/n 300420 and had been a PZL Swidnik demonstrator as SP-SSK - the "123" on the engine cover was a show code for ILA 1994 in Berlin in May 1994.  Note that it had alternated between being SP-SSK and PWL 420 several times between 1993 and 1995. 

 

Friday 26th January 1996  - snow

Today was the first time I had seen a based 42 EL An-2 parked over on the civil Aeroklub side of the airfield - great to see and photograph. I suspect this particular An-2 ( 5155 s/n 1G151-55 ) was at the end of its military service, it would depart to Piotrokow Trybunal a few months later and eventually become SP-AON.

 

5155 An-2 - camo - white/red tip - 42 EL ( still here on 21.4.1996 )

SP-ANV An-2 - with "sharksmouth" under engine

The pink Sokol 420 was seen again over on the far side ( Babice ) of the airfield. 

 

Friday 2nd February 1996 - Tech school

Noted parked outside of the military Technical training school hangar were, 

0503 TS-11 Iskra

0624 Mi-2 - camo - white tail band 

 

Friday 29th March 1996 

414 W-3 Sokol - white/red/blue - blue/white tail band - 103 PL - first time I saw this Sokol

659 Mi-8 - olive - blue/white tail band - 103 PL

7837 Mi-2 - camo - red/white tail band - 42 EL

 

Sunday 21st April 1996 

 

 

 

SP-FHK Mi-2 - blue/red with "JM Tronik" titles ( newly registered February 1996 )

 

 

 

SP-FTE Reims Cessna 172N - a new resident - first registered a few days earlier on 11.4.96 ( ex G-BHNU  - photo above taken April 2000 at Bemowo )

 

SP-ANK An-2 - water bomber with two orange chutes under the fuselage 

SP-ZWC PZL M-18B Dromader  

SP-ZWG PZL M-18B Dromader  

 

also still here of interest were An-2 SP-ANV and 5155 

 

Today I was lucky, the Aeropol hangar was open and it was full of Mi-2 helicopters, noted were

SP-SAA Mi-2 being resprayed

SP-SPE Mi-2 - blue/white

SP-STB Mi-2 - blue/white

SP-STC Mi-2 - blue/white

SP-SWB Mi-2 - blue/white

SP-SWG Mi-2 - blue/white

SP-SWK Mi-2 - blue/white 

SP-SWM Mi-2 - blue/white 

SP-TSA Mi-2 - brown/orange colours

SP-TSB Mi-2 - blue/white

SP-TSD Mi-2 - missing nose wheel 

 

plus the following Aeropol An-2 still present out on the grass

SP-TBA, SP-TBD, SP-TBE, SP-TBF, SP-TBK, SP-TCA, SP-TCB, SP-TCC, SP-TCD, SP-TCE, SP-TCG and SP-TVN all An-2 - All part of the Aeropol fleet 

 

Saturday 27th April 1996 

Today was an "Open Day" at the military technical training hangar ( WAT ) on the south side ( Babice ) of the airfield - that was handy ! 

 

Outside

0503 TS-11 Iskra

 

0624 Mi-2

 

6810 Mig 21 MF - grey 

 

Techical Training Hangar ( WAT )

 

04 Mig 21 PFM

05 Mi-2M2 - 2 x green with s/n ZD0105094 ( rare Mi-2M2 version )

 

4205 Mig 21 PFM - silver 

4244 Su-20 - forward fuselage only - camo

 

parked nearby on the airfield

(  photo from 1997 )

 

510 W-3 Anakonda - green/yellow camo - floation gear - blue/white tail band - 103 PL  

 

I then drove around to the Aeroklub Warszawa side of the airfield - the airfield was busy and hangars were open,

 

SP-ANK An-2 - water bomber

 

SP-FSD Mi-2 - smart black/green/red colours - visitor 

SP-FYA PZL 104 Wilga - silver ( ex PWL )  - visitor

SP-CKL PZL 101 Gawron - active glider tug  

 

Aeroklub Glider Hangar

 

SP-2375 SZD 24C Foka 

SP-2558 SZD 30 Pirat 

SP-2565 SZD 30 Pirat

SP-2781 SZD 9 Bis Bocian 

SP-2882 SZD 30 Pirat 

 

 

SP-2943 SZD 30 Pirat - s/n S06-19 built at PZL Swidnik in 1975 

SP-3062 "AW" SZD 42-2 Jantar 2B

SP-3069 SZD 50-1 Puchacz 

SP-3211 SZD 51-1 Junior

SP-3214 SZD 52 Jantar 15 

 

SP-3246 "TE" SZD 51-0 Junior         s/n X-116

SP-3303 "LK" SZD 51-1 Junior 

SP-3585 SZD 36A Cobra 15 

SP-PKT Rand KR-2PM Smigly

 

Aeroklub hangar area

SP-AEU Zlin 42 

SP-ASD, SP-ASO and SP-ATS Zlin 142 

SP-AFT, SP-AHB, SP-EAI, SP-EBH dismantled, SP-FZL PZL 104 Wilga

SP-AMB Piper Cub

SP-ARN PZL 110 Koliber 

SP-AWA Yak 12 

SP-CSY Zlin 526 Akrobat

 

 

SP-CTC Zlin 526F Trener - s/n 1253 built 1972

SP-EFA PZL 102 Kos 

SP-FHK, SP-FSK Mi-2  

SP-PBN Gniady - no engine  

 

Aeropol hangar 

SP-FTV Let 410 - s/n 882038 - Aeropol - white/blue ( note newly registered 29.4.96 ) 

SP-TAC Let 410 - white/orange/black 

SP-STA Mi-2 - being resprayed dark blue 

SP-TBL An-2  ( previously parked out on grass )

SP-TBM An-2   ( previously parked out on grass )

 

Thursday 2nd May 1996   - two new interesting aircraft

 

 

SP-FMC AT-1 - low wing single engine - built by Tomasz Antoniewski - named "Gift of Friendship" -  in 1991 this aircraft toured Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France, quiet an achievement at that time )

SP-PUL Pottier P.220S -AT-2 - green primer - kit built by Tomasz Antoniewski

SP-AFT PZL 104 Wilga

SP-2924 SZD 36A Cobra 15

 

SP-3042 SZD 9 Bis Bocian 1E

 

Tuesday 14th May 1996 

SP-ARP PZL 110 Koliber - s/n 25030 - visitor

 

Gliders noted,

SP-2793 "WA" SZD 38A Jantar 1

SP-2882 SD 30 Pirat 

SP-2924 SZD 36A Cobra 15 

SP-2943 SZD 30 Pirat 

SP-3062  SZD 42-2 Jantar 2B 

SP-3214 "YY" SZD 52-0 Jantar 15 

SP-3251 SZD 48-3 Jantar Standard 3 

SP-3303 "LK" SZD 51-1 Junior 

SP-3456 SZD 42-2 Jantar 2B 

 

Aeropol hangar

SP-SAE Mi-2 

SP-TBK An-2 - maintenance 

SP-TBM An-2  - note has "SP-FYM" marked on a sticker ( SP-FYM was registered on 31.5.96 ) 

 

Wednesday 5th June 1996  - Motorised Bocian - nice

Some new gliders logged today, 

BGA 4150 "HRV" SZD 55-1 - s/n 551195076 - British registered SZD glider - in hangar 

SP-0045 Bocian M2000 - Motorised Bocian - s/n P-344 / YL-001 -  modified by Yalo with a Limbach SL1700EC engine - this later became SP-8003

SP-3388 "XT" SZD 42-2 Jantar 2B - s/n B-1670

SP-3525 SZD 9 Bis Bocian 1D - s/n 812 - this was previously SP-2401   

 

Aeropol hangar

SP-FYL An-2  s/n 1G185-57 - this was registered on 30.4.96 and was previously SP-TBL 

 

Tuesday 25th June 1996   

 

SP-ZOO PZL 104 Wilga s/n 20900900  - visitor 

SP-FGB PZL 101 Gawron - s/n 85162 - dismantled wings only in hangar - this aircraft was sold on to Lithuania  

 

 

SP-FRM PZL 110 Koliber 150 s/n 19006 - white/blue

 

Thursday 11th July 1996   

 

SP-FCX  Zlin 142 s/n 0522  - visitor 

 

 

SP-FMW Let 200D Morava - s/n 171001 - white/yellow ( ex SP-FAU seen at Bemowo in 1994 ) - note above photo from Bemowo in 1997 

 

additional gliders first noted, 

SP-2583 "PW" SZD 48 Jantar Standard 2 - s/n X-134

SP-2680 SZD 30 Pirat - s/n B-571 

SP-3191 SZD 48-1 Jantar Standard 2 - s/n B-1146 

SP-3542 SZD 48-3 Jantar Standard 3  - s/n B-1894

 

others of interest still here

SP-FMC AT-1

SP-PUL Pottier P220S / AT-2

SP-0045 Motorised Bocian 

 

Aeropol hangar

SP-FMN An-2 - s/n 1G177-21 - blue/white White Eagle titles

SP-FTN Let 410 UVP - s/n 902515 - White Eagle titles

SP-FYL An-2 - s/n 1G185-57 

 

 

Tuesday 23rd July 1996   

 

SP-ECH PZL 104 Wilga s/n 62160 - visitor believed from Mielec

SP-3616 SZD 9 Bis Bocian 1D - newly registered on 14.6.96 - ex SP-2425

 

noted in the glider hangar

SP-3069 SZD 50-1 Puchacz - dismantled - note this would be seen a few weeks later as SP-P069

SP-AMB Piper J-3C-65 Cub - noted dismantled and engineless with some torn fabric on the rear fuselage  - note in a few weeks it would start a re-building process at Yalo

 

I checked the withdrawn An-2 line up and noted the following still parked out on the grass

 

SP-TBA, SP-TBD, SP-TBE, SP-TBF, SP-TCA, SP-TCB, SP-TCC, SP-TCD, SP-TCE, SP-TCG and SP-TVN   

 

plus active An-2

SP-ANK An-2 waterbomber 

 

 

Tuesday 6th August 1996   

 

The Aeropol hangar was open and contained

 

SP-0001 SZD 45 Ogar  - Warszawa Politechnika titles on tail 

SP-FNK Beech A36 Bonanza s/n E3014 - note this was the second Bonanza SP-FNK, registered on 26.7.96 - the first SP-FNK Bonanza ( s/n E2905 ) crashed at Swidnik in September 1995

SP-FYL An-2 s/n 1G185-57

SP-FYO An-2  s/n 1G185-56 ex SP-TBK - note that this was officially registered a few days later on 9.8.96

 

SP-P069 SZD 50-1M Puchacz inside the glider hanger - note rare use of "P" prefix to indicate testing ( proby )   - it would re-appear as SP-3069 in 1999

 

SP-TXA Let 410 UPV-E - s/n 892319 - Medical 

 

 

 

Wednesday 7th August 1996   - nice visitor 

Help - Parked over on the miltary side today was a W-3 Sokol in a green/white/dayglo colour scheme ( ie like the German Police colour scheme ) - Unfortunatley I couldn't manage to read the registration - in theory it was either German Police Sokol D-HSNA ( their second example  D-HSNB had not flown at this time ) or it was a PZL owned demonstrator SP-SUB which was also painted in a similar colour scheme  - If you saw this Sokol at Bemow in August 1996 please do get in touch - thanks.  

 

Thursday 8th August 1996  

Short visit, of interest

SP-FYL An-2 was active and flying circuits

SP-P069 SZD 50-1M Puchacz was noted dismantled 

 

Monday 19th August 1996  

 

The Medical hangar was open, with some lovely aircraft , 

SP-NXN(2) Let 200D Morava - s/n 171401 - note newly registered on 3.7.96 

 

 

SP-NXY Let 200D Morava - s/n 171402 ( note from 1966 to 1981 this was SP-NAC )

 

SP-UXI An-2 - s/n 1G214-07 - built 1986 - registered 23.9.1986 - cancelled 12.9.2003 - later sold to SP-FVB

SP-ZXE Mi-2 - s/n 544304085

SP-ZXO Mi-2 - s/n 515032126

SP-ZXZ Mi-2 - s/n 535643068 - Centre for Chidrens Health

 

plus another interesting glider, 

SP-3500 PW-3 Bakcyl - s/n L-01 - Politechnic Warszawa design  

 

plus long term withdrawn from use resident, 

SP-TCG An-2 - s/n 1G188-60 now dismantled outside the Aeropol hangar ( one of the many An-2 usually parked in the long grass )  - note this was cancelled from the registered a few days earlier on 14.8.1996 - this An-2 soon made its way to an aviation museum at Cerbaiola near Rimini in Italy and was later painted in fake Croatian AF colours.  

 

Tuesday 20th August 1996  

 

More aircraft by the Medical hangar

SP-NXT Let 200D Morava - s/n 171327

SP-WXA Mi-2 - s/n 542448072

 

another active glider, 

SP-3367 SZD 50-3 Puchacz - s/n B-1610 

 

Thursday 22nd August 1996  

 

Visiting military aircraft parked over by the tower ( far side ),

5344 Mi-2 - possibly from 49 PSB from Pruszcz Gdański

9866 An-2  - possibly 23 LES from Deblin 

 

Tuesday 3rd September 1996  

 

SP-AGZ PZL 104 Wilga  - s/n 19850824 - visitor

SP-EAN PZL 104 Wilga - s/n 59069  - visitor

SP-FTY Let 410 UVP-E - s/n 892317 - orange/black with Aviation Enterprise titles

 

also of interest

SP-ANV An-2 - back again 

SP-P069 SZD 50-1M Puchacz  - now assembled again

SP-TVN An-2  - now inside the Aeropol hangar 

 

Tuesday 10th September 1996  

 

 

SP-FSG Mi-2 - s/n 19850824 - ex SP-FSE,  all white, the "G" on the registration looks oddly painted - newly registered on 3.7.96  

 

 

SP-1979 Fauvel AV-36C - unusual flying wing type glider, blue/silver, very dusty inside glider hangar 

 

  

Tuesday 1st October 1996 - new modern aerobatic aircraft  

 

 

SP-FEK Extra 300L - s/n 032 - red - first example of an Extra in Poland, newly registered in Poland 9.9.1996  

 

Sunday 6th October 1996   

SP-2891 SZD 38A Jantar 1 - s/n B-616  

The Extra 300L SP-FEK was still here 

 

 

Sunday 6th October 1996 - Bielany "Pedigree Pal Show"   

The suburb of Bielany is near the airfield at Bemowo - Pedigree pet foods organised a pet show which included two tethered hot air balloons   

SP-BWX Thunder & Colt AX8-90 - s/n 1709 - red/white Kitekat titles

SP-BWZ Thunder & Colt AX8-90 - s/n 1717 - red/white Chappi titles

 

Wednesday 9th October 1996   

SP-SDH Mi-2 - s/n 524004025 - blue/yellow - visitor - seen here several times in October 1996

SP-MXB PZL M-20 Mewa - s/n 1AH002-12 - Medical

 

Monday 14th October 1996   

The Aeropol hangar was open

SP-FSX Mi-2 - s/n 535401107 - dark blue - no rotors

SP-FSY Mi-2 - s/n 5210401097 - dark blue 

SP-TSB Mi-2 - s/n 543042123 - white/blue

SP-TSC Mi-2 - s/n 524738046 - yellow

SP-FYO An-2 - s/n 1G185-56 - full White Eagle colours 

 

Wednesday 23rd October 1996  - visiting An-2s  

 

SP-AOD An-2  - s/n 1G108-64 - ex PWL camo with black registration  - visitor

SP-AOM An-2  - s/n 1G159-27 - ex PWL camo with red/white fin tip  - visitor - registered on 28.5.96

 

Wednesday 13th November 1996   

Of note today was the absence of both SP-FSH and SP-FSI - these two Mi-2 had been parked in the long grass since my first visit in December 1994 - both were cancelled by the GILC on 28.10.96 - now they were gone - see also 25.11.96 

 

Monday 25th November 1996 - the military side   

SP-FSH Mi-2  - inside the 42 EL hangar ( note in April 1998 this would become SP-FDH ) 

607 Mi-17  - green/tan - blue/white tailband - 103 PL  

701 Mi-17  - sand/green - blue/white tailband - 103 PL 

659 Mi-8  - olive - blue/white tailband - 103 PL   

1919 Mi-2 - green/brown - blue/white tailband - 103 PL   

4522 Mi-2 - green/brown - blue/white tailband - 103 PL   

6942 Mi-2 - 3 x camo - blue/white tailband - 103 PL

4154 Bell 206B Jet Ranger - blue/white tailband - 103 PL ( note photo above taken 8.95 at Deblin )

 

Friday 13th December 1996    

SP-FVV Cessna 421B  - s/n 421B-0525 - note newly registered on 22.10.96

SP-2437 SZD 9 Bis Bocian 1D - s/n F-846 - arrived dismantled on a car trailer  - ( note in March 1998 this would be re-registered as SP-3626 )  

Note that Mi-8 SP-SWW was still present parked in the long grass 

 

 

 This is the end of my 1996 notes - please see the 1997 page too   

 

 

 

  

 

1997 - Warsaw Bemowo airfield - EPBC

Welcome to 1997 at Warsaw Bemowo airport ( EPBC also known as Babice airport ) 

 

 

Tuesday 14th January 1997 

SP-TCA An-2 is now just a fuselage with no wings, still parked outside in the long grass 

 

Sunday 26th January 1997 

Medical hangar area 

 

                        photo SP-NXX(2) at Bemowo in June 1997 

 

SP-NXX(2) Let 200D Morava - s/n 171206 - in a very modern stylish blue/white c/s  - registered 11.96 - Medical

SP-NXY Let 200D Morava  - s/n 171402 - Medical

SP-WXB Mi-2 - s/n 542449072 - Medical

SP-ZXZ Mi-2 - s/n 535643068 - Medical - Childrens health centre titles

 

SP-TVN An-2 is also now just a fuselage outside in the long grass  ( SP-TCA also still here as a fuselage )

 

Friday 31st January 1997 - An-2 update  

Time for a report update on the many AN-2 still here at Bemowo, 

SP-TBA  - sat in the long grass

SP-TBD - now parked near Aeroklub 

SP-TBE  - sat in the long grass

SP-TBF  - sat in the long grass

SP-TCA - dismantled fuselage only

SP-TCB  - now parked near Aeroklub 

SP-TCE  - sat in the long grass

SP-TVN -  dismantled fuselage only

 

plus An-2 in the White Eagle hangar

SP-FMN - full White Eagle colours

SP-FYO 

SP-TCC - complete 

SP-TSB Mi-2 - no rear boom, engine being taken out 

 

Friday 7th March 1997  - Aeropol  

The Aeropol Mi-2 hangar was open, lots to see - all are Mi-2

SP-FSV - s/n 5210539038 - dark blue/white - White Eagle titles

SP-FSX - s/n 535401107 - dark blue/white - White Eagle titles ( note not registered until 11.97 )

SP-FSY - s/n 5210401097 - dark blue/white - White Eagle titles

plus stored

SP-STB

SP-SWB

SP-SWG

SP-SWH

SP-SWK

SP-SWM

SP-TSA

SP-TSC

SP-TSD

SP-TVA 

 

Tuesday 1st April 1997 - sunny Spring day 

After a long winter good to see signs of activity in early Spring - of interest,

SP-FMC AT-1

 

 

 

SP-PUL Pottier 220S - AT-2 - yellow/black - this design was later developed into the succesful Aero AT-3

SP-FYA PZL 104 Wilga 35 - silver ( ex PWL 197 )

SP-ANK An-2 - water bomber 

SP-ZWC PZL M-18 Dromader - fire duty 

 

Glider hangar

SP-ARN PZL 110 Koliber

SP-P069 SZD 50-1M Puchacz 

SP-2680 SZD 30 Pirat 

SP-2781 SZD 9 Bocian

SP-2924 SZD 36A Cobra 15 

SP-3214 "YY" SZD 52-0 Jantar 15

SP-3367 SZD 50-3 Puchacz   

SP-3388 "XT" SZD 42-2 Jantar 2B 

 

 

Sunday 13th April 1997  

 

SP-FRA Socata Rallye 150 s/n 2661 built in 1976 this was previously D-EBWK - registered in Poland in 1985

Of note was the absence of An-2 SP-TCA  - no sign of this dismantled aircraft

 

Friday 18th April 1997

 

SP-FNY Piper Pa-34-200T - badly damaged wreck seen inside the Aeroklub Warszawa hangar - this Seneca was s/n 34-7870199. On 16th July 1996 this aircraft changed registration from SP-FKC to SP-FNY - just two days later on 18.7.96 SP-FNY crashed whilst landing at Bemowo ( undercarriage collapsed on landing ) - SP-FNY lived to fly for just two days! The registration was cancelled by the GILC in May 1998. The wreck of Seneca SP-FNY was last seen in 1999 dumped behind the hangars at Bemowo. 

Of note today were the dismantled wings of Gniady SP-PBN

 

Friday 2nd May 1997 - a busy day at Bemowo - full log

 

Noted around the Aeroklub hangar area were,

SP-AEU Zlin 42M

SP-AFT PZL 104 Wilga 

SP-AHB PZL 104 Wilga

SP-ASD Zlin 142

SP-ASL Zlin 142

SP-ASO Zlin 142

SP-ATS Zlin 142

SP-AWA Yak 12

SP-AZG Zlin 142

SP-CKL PZL 101 Gawron

SP-CSY Zlin 526AFS Akrobat

SP-EAI  PZL 104 Wilga

SP-EFA PZL 102 Kos 

SP-FGB - PZL 101 Gawron - wings only ( SP-FGB was sold to LY-EGO in 1998 )

SP-FNY Piper Pa-34-200T Seneca - wreck 

SP-FRA Socata Rallye 150 

SP-FSK Mi-2

SP-FZL PZL 104 Wilga 80

SP-PBN Gniady - wings only

 

Aeropol hangar apron area

SP-ANK An-2

SP-ANV An-2

SP-AOM An-2 - camo 

SP-FHK Mi-2

SP-FTE Cessna 172

SP-FYA PZL 104 Wilga

SP-SDH Mi-2

SP-ZUP PZL M-18 Dromader

SP-ZWC PZL M-18 Dromader

 

Gliders - assembled 

SP-P069 SZD 50-1M Puchacz

SP-2524 "F" SZD 24-4A Foka 4

SP-2680 SZD 30 Pirat

SP-2882 SZD 30 Pirat

SP-3042 SZD 9 Bis Bocian 

SP-3246 SZD 51-0 Junior

SP-3251 SZD 48-3 Jantar Standard 3 

SP-3303 SZD 51-1 Junior

 

Gliders - disassembled in hanger

SP-1979 Fauvel AV-36C - dusty

SP-2136 SZD 22C Mucha Standard

SP-2258 SZD 22C Mucha Standard

SP-2375 SZD 24C Foka 

SP-2437 SZD 9 Bis Bocian

SP-2444 SZD 9 Bis Bocian

SP-2512 SZD 24C Foka

SP-2513 SZD 24C Foka - wreck in hangar, accident 1994

SP-2540 SZD 39 Cobra 17

SP-2543 SZD 9 Bis Bocian

SP-2565 SZD 30 Pirat 

SP-2661 SZD 9 Bis Bocian - wreck in hangar, accident 1995

SP-2730 "L" SZD 30 Pirat - wreck in hangar, accident 1994

SP-2793 "WA" SZD 38A Jantar 1 

SP-2943 SZD 30 Pirat

SP-3211 SZD 51-0 Junior

SP-3459 SZD 51-1 Junior  - accident damage around cockpit

SP-3525 SZD 9 Bis Bocian

SP-3585 SZD 36A Cobra 15

SP-3616 SZD 9 Bis Bocian 

 

Wednesday 20th August 1997 

 

SP-3459 SZD 51-1 Junior - s/n B1810 dismantled on a trailer with accident damage around the cockpit area - this Junior was back in service with the Aeroklub Warszawa by 2000 when it also had tail code "SJ" 

 

Of interest was SP-PBN GM-01 Gniady in action busy towing gliders 

 

Thursday 28th August 1997  

 

A couple of visitors 

 

SP-0047 SZD 45A Ogar s/n B644 built in 1975 - this was previously SP-0013 - this was the only time I saw this Ogar at Bemowo.

 

SP-FNE  Socata TB-9 Tampico s/n 1089, this was newly registered in Poland in June 1997 ( ex F-GNHX built 1990 )  - in 2005 it was sold to the OKL College at Rszezow as SP-TUN  

 

 

  

 

Check back for more update soon

 

 

 

2007 - Warsaw Bemowo Babice airfield EPBC

 

 Welcome to 2007 at Warsaw Bemowo airport ( EPBC also known as Babice airport ) 

 

 

Sunday 19th August 2007 - a busy Sunday with lots of aircraft

 

  

SP-AEU Zlin 42M s/n 0126 at the end of its career with the Aeroklub Warszawa, parked in the long grass - initially registered on 9th November 1977 this Z42 was cancelled from the register a few months after this photo, in December 2007. 

 

SP-ANV An-2 - s/n 1G137-60 - white/blue - Visiting - Good to see this particular An-2 again - it was based at Bemowo in the mid 1990s, see my earlier reports for photos of it in a different paint scheme. 

 

 

 

SP-AWP Piper J3C-65 Cub s/n "Lfs 1-1948" - this Piper Cub has a long complicated history, built in 1948 using parts from SE-AWD and SE-ASY and given the Swedish s/n "Lfs 1-1948" - a frankenstein Cub. It was registered in Sweden as SE-AWP. It was registered in Poland in December 2003, making the simple change from SE-AWP to SP-AWP. In May 2023 it moved onto the Polish Ultralekkie ( ultralight ) register as SP-SAWP.   

 

SP-ECM Cessna 152 s/n 15284905 built in 1981 was newly registered in Poland in April 2007, this was previously N5280P - in 2021 the registration was cancelled, becoming D-EELS in Germany. 

 

SP-FGW Beech 19A Musketeer Sport s/n MB-32 built in 1966 - this is the only Beech 19 registered in Poland ( up to 2025 ) of the approx 900 examples built - this example was previously HB-ENO and joined the Polish register in June 1999 ( still registered 2025 ).  

 

SP-FVY Cessna 150L s/n 74774

 

SP-KBY Piper Pa-28-201R Arrow III s/n 2844127 built in 2006, almost new and looking in excellent condition, this aircraft was originally N3126Z before becoming SP-KBY on 26th April 2006  - note still registered 2025

 

 

 

 

SP-KIH Reims Cessna F 152 s/n 1723 this was built in 1980 and was registered in Poland in April 2002 - it was previously D-EIFY - still registered 2025 

SP-KIY Cessna 152 s/n 15281774 - white/blue 

SP-KOL Cessna 152 s/n 15284517 - white/brown 

 

 

 

SP-KWW Cessna 152 s/n 15285261 built in 1982 this C152 was registered in Poland on 3rd August 2006 - it came from the USA ex N6483Q 

 

SP-YUD EOL Special s/n E37 - white/red/blue - still on the current register in 2025 

SP-SKAS(1) 3Xtrim 450 Ultra  s/n E59 - white/orange - note built 2006 this would later become SP-SFCB 

SP-SPAM Aeropro Eurofox  s/n 22607 - white/red/blue  - note newly registered April 2007

 

 

SP-SPAW Aeropro Eurofox 912S - s/n 19606 - white/red/blue - registered in June 2006 this aircraft was written off in an accident in 2009

 

Glider hangar area

 

SP-AWA Yak 12A - s/n 30128 - yellow/red

SP-CAG Yak 12A - s/n 30133 - yellow/red active 

SP-CKL PZL 101 Gawron  s/n 107211 - yellow/red 

no registration YALO Ultra Pup - yellow - almost complete, I suspect this was newly built 

 

SP-1979 Fauvel AV-36C - hanging vertically on the wall 

SP-2524 "F" SZD 24-4A Foka - s/n W387 white/blue 

 

 

 

SP-2540 SZD 39 Cobra 17 s/n W477 built in 1970 - seen inside the Aeroklub glider hangar 

SP-2693 "V" SZD 36 Cobra W676

SP-2793 "WA" SZD 38A Jantar s/n B637 

 

 

 

SP-2882 SZD 30 Pirat s/n S06-03 built in 1975 - this resident Pirat was previously coded "GB"circa 2000-2004

SP-2891 SZD 38A Jantar 1 - dismantled 

SP-2924 "C" SZD 36A Cobra 15 s/n W757

SP-3042 SZD 9 Bis Bocian s/n P749

SP-3191 "T" SZD 48-1 Jantar Standard 2 s/n B1146 

SP-3369 "JJ" SZD 42-2 Jantar 2B - dismantled 

 

  

SP-3670 "W2" Bielsko 1 PW-5D Smyk s/n 05.001.07 this Smyk was built in 2002. The Smyk was originally mass produced by PZL Swidnik. When they ceased production Bielsko 1 was established as a joint venture between PW/DWLKK and Avionics, together they produced a further 16 examples of the Smyk before production ended circa 2007. SP-3670 has a modified winch hook position for German certification trials.     

 

SP-3684 "N6" SZD 36A Cobra 15 - s/n W683 - dismantled 

SP-8050 PW-4 Pelikan s/n S02  - was previously SP-0050