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Wonsan International Friendship
Air Festival |
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North
Korea is known for its isolation from the rest of the word as a result of
decades of Cold War geopolitics. Its military has been off-limits to
foreign eyes due to high political tension. In a nearly historic step,
the North Korean
officials of the brand-new Kalma airport at Wonsan, invite for the first
Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival. At the 24 and 25 September
2016 this first military air show taken place. Around 10,000-15,000
local spectators watched the show, as did a number of international
journalists and around 200 international aviation enthusiasts. At the
first edition the Korean People's Army Air Force displayed a number of
its aircraft, including Su-25, MiG-21 and MiG-29 combat aircraft. In
addition Tu-134, Tu-154, An-24, Il-62 and Il-76 aircraft of Air Koryo,
the North Korean national airline, also participated. |
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(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
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Victorious War Museum |
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(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
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American Vought Corsair (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
American Douglas Skyraider (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
American Douglas Skyraider (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
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Air Koryo |
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The aerial
gateway to Wonsan the brand-new Kalma airport, constructed to an
impressive international standard. While international flights have not
yet begun, the facility was inaugurated in historic fashion on the
weekend of 24 - 25 September with North Korea’s first airshow. North
Korean national airline, Air Koryo wit its fleet of Soviet-era planes (Tupolev
Tu-134 and -154, Ilyushin Il-18, -62 and -76, and Antonov An-24) also
participated in the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival. |
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Iljuschin Il-18 #P-835 (Picture
courtesy Guido Buehlmann) |
Iljuschin Il-18 #P-835 (Picture
courtesy Guido Buehlmann) |
Iljuschin Il-18 (Picture
courtesy Guido Buehlmann) |
Iljuschin Il-18 (Picture
courtesy Guido Buehlmann) |
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PAC P-750 XSTOL
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) * |
PAC P-750 XSTOL
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) * |
Ilyushin Il-62M #P-885 (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Ilyushin Il-62M #P-885 (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
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Ilyushin Il-76TD #P-913 (Picture
courtesy Guido Buehlmann) |
Ilyushin Il-76TD #P-913 (Picture
courtesy Guido Buehlmann) |
Tupolev Tu-134 #P-813 (Picture
courtesy Guido Buehlmann) |
Tupolev Tu-154B #P-552
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
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Tupolev Tu-154B #P-552
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Antonov An-24 #P-537
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Antonov An-24 #P-537
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Antonov An-24 #P-537
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
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The Air Show |
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However the
Korean People’s Army Air Force line-up, while representing considerable
firepower, does not include anything the world hasn’t seen close up
elsewhere, and at the end of 2015 the decision was made by the North
Korean authorities to allow the air force to participate in the Wonsan
air show alongside the Air Koryo fleet.
The
programme tended to alternate between civil and military. There was also
a formation of 4 Hughes 500E helicopters, since 2013, during the
traditional flying parade over Pyongyang, the North Korean "Little Birds"
have long been surrounded by mystery.
In
addition to aeronautical pursuits, traditional Korean food, snacks and
drink will be available throughout the event. Interesting was also the
DPRK’s second National Beer Showcase also take place, offering examples
of Korean beers from across the country, and visitors will be welcome to
sample their wares. |
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Mil Mi-8 #303 (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Mil Mi-8 #847 (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Mil Mi-8 #847 (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
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(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Mil Mi-8 #312 (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Mil Mi-8 #911 (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Antonov AN-2 Anushka #621 (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
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Antonov AN-2 Anushka #952 (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Antonov AN-2 Anushka #952 (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Mc Donnell Douglas MD-550 #492
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Mc Donnell Douglas MD-550 #244
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
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Sukhoi Su-25 #49
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Sukhoi Su-25 #49 (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Sukhoi Su-25 #49 (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Sukhoi Su-25 #28 (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
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Sukhoi Su-25 #45
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Sukhoi Su-25 #57
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21PFM #42
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21PFM #42
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
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Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21PFM #42
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21PFM #42
(Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Mikojan-Gurewitsch MiG-29
#555 (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
Mikojan-Gurewitsch MiG-29
#550 (Picture courtesy Guido
Buehlmann) |
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* Note:
The P-750 XSTOL in the markings of the North Korean state airline was
photographed during the Wonsan Air Festival on September 24–25, 2016.
The aircraft had been sold to China in September 2017 and then illegally
exported to North Korea. Pacific Aerospace expressed surprise, however
New Zealand Customs discovered that even after the company was aware the
aircraft was in North Korea some of the company staff had planned to
sell replacement parts for the aircraft to a Chinese company. In October
2017 Pacific Aerospace plead guilty to three charges of planning to
export aircraft parts indirectly to North Korea, and another charge
relating to incorrect completion of export documentation. |
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