Podgorica Airbase
Encyclopedia
The Podgorica Airbase is an active airbase
in Montenegro
. The airbase facilities are shared with Montenegro's main international airport, Podgorica Airport
. It is the main base of the air arm of the Military of Montenegro
. During the Yugoslav
era, it was the home to the 172nd Aviation Brigade of Yugoslav Air Force
and its main flying training base for primary and basic pilot training.
, and has a large ramp attached to the taxiway, used exclusively for military aircraft.
Part of the military complex was also 08/26 runway, which was not used by civilian planes. It is connected to the main 18/36 runway by 3 km long taxiway, and is located adjacent to Šipčanik Hill, near the town of Tuzi
. The hill doubled as an underground aircraft shelter.
Airbase facilities were frequent target of 1999 NATO bombing. Fuel tanks and the aircraft ramps were extensively targeted, as well as parked aircraft. All of the Leteće zvezde
Yugoslav
aerobatic team G-4 Super Galeb
s were destroyed on the airbase premises during the strikes. Šipčanik underground shelter was also targeted on several occasions, and was since unused as an aircraft shelter. It has been converted into a wine cave
by the Plantaže
company. The entire Šipčanik compound, tightly guarded by the JNA
during Yugoslav era
, is now of civilian use, and even first 800m of 08/26 runway adjacent to the Šipčanik hill is accessible by car.
With Montenegro's independence on June 3, 2006, the newly formed Military of Montenegro
announced that it will not maintain a combat air force. Currently, 11 G-4 Super Galeb
s (4 operational), 4 Lola Utva 75
s, 11 Aérospatiale Gazelle
s and 1 Mil Mi-8
are located at Podgorica Airbase. The helicopters were incorporated in the newly formed air arm of the Military of Montenegro, while the fate of the jets and trainers is yet to be decided. The Podgorica Airbase is designated to become a regional helicopter pilots training facility.
Airbase
An airbase is a military airfield that provides basing and support of military aircraft....
in Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. The airbase facilities are shared with Montenegro's main international airport, Podgorica Airport
Podgorica Airport
Podgorica Airport is an international airport located south of Podgorica, Montenegro. It is the main hub for Montenegro Airlines....
. It is the main base of the air arm of the Military of Montenegro
Montenegrin Air Force
The Montenegrin Air Force is the air arm of the Military of Montenegro. The aircraft marking of the Montenegrin Air Force consist of a red-on-gold roundel, currently being the sole air arm using the latter colour in its official insignia.-Equipment:Following the dissolution of the state union of...
. During the Yugoslav
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
era, it was the home to the 172nd Aviation Brigade of Yugoslav Air Force
Yugoslav Air Force
The Yugoslav Air Force may refer to:Kingdom of Yugoslavia*Yugoslav Royal Air Force, active from 1918 to 1941.Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia*SFR Yugoslav Air Force, active from 1945 to 1991....
and its main flying training base for primary and basic pilot training.
Overview
Podgorica Airbase shares the main runway with nearby Podgorica AirportPodgorica Airport
Podgorica Airport is an international airport located south of Podgorica, Montenegro. It is the main hub for Montenegro Airlines....
, and has a large ramp attached to the taxiway, used exclusively for military aircraft.
Part of the military complex was also 08/26 runway, which was not used by civilian planes. It is connected to the main 18/36 runway by 3 km long taxiway, and is located adjacent to Šipčanik Hill, near the town of Tuzi
Tuzi
Tuzi is a town in the Podgorica municipality, Montenegro, located along a main road between the city of Podgorica and the Albanian border crossing, just a few kilometers north of Lake Skadar. The exact location of Tuzi is...
. The hill doubled as an underground aircraft shelter.
Airbase facilities were frequent target of 1999 NATO bombing. Fuel tanks and the aircraft ramps were extensively targeted, as well as parked aircraft. All of the Leteće zvezde
Letece zvezde
- Predecessors :Yugoslavia has a long history of precision display flying which was first demonstrated to the public during and airshow at Zemun – Belgrade's military airfield – in June 1938...
Yugoslav
Fry
-Food and cooking:* Frying, the act of cooking food in oil or fat** Pan frying, frying food in a flat pan** Stir frying, frying food in a wok and stirring it while it cooks* Full breakfast, a traditional cooked meal, also called a fry-up or Ulster fry...
aerobatic team G-4 Super Galeb
G-4 Super Galeb
The Soko G-4 Super Galeb is a single engine, advanced jet trainer and light ground-attack aircraft.-Design and development:First flown on 17 July 1978, with serial production beginning in 1982, the G-4 was designed to replace the G-2 Galeb in the Yugoslav Air Force.-Operational history:The G-4 saw...
s were destroyed on the airbase premises during the strikes. Šipčanik underground shelter was also targeted on several occasions, and was since unused as an aircraft shelter. It has been converted into a wine cave
Wine cave
Wine caves are subterranean structures for the storage and aging of wine. They are an integral component of the wine industry world wide. The design and construction of wine caves represents a unique application of underground construction techniques....
by the Plantaže
Plantaže
-Overview:In the period from 1977 to 1982, AD Plantaže, joint stock company presently incorporated into Holding company "Agrokombinat 13 jul", transformed a barren and waterless Ćemovsko field into the vineyards and one of the largest gardens on the Balkans....
company. The entire Šipčanik compound, tightly guarded by the JNA
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
during Yugoslav era
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, is now of civilian use, and even first 800m of 08/26 runway adjacent to the Šipčanik hill is accessible by car.
With Montenegro's independence on June 3, 2006, the newly formed Military of Montenegro
Military of Montenegro
The Military of Montenegro consists of an army, navy and air force. Conscription was abolished in 2006; the military is now a fully professional standing army....
announced that it will not maintain a combat air force. Currently, 11 G-4 Super Galeb
G-4 Super Galeb
The Soko G-4 Super Galeb is a single engine, advanced jet trainer and light ground-attack aircraft.-Design and development:First flown on 17 July 1978, with serial production beginning in 1982, the G-4 was designed to replace the G-2 Galeb in the Yugoslav Air Force.-Operational history:The G-4 saw...
s (4 operational), 4 Lola Utva 75
Lola Utva 75
|-See also:-External links:*...
s, 11 Aérospatiale Gazelle
Aérospatiale Gazelle
The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
s and 1 Mil Mi-8
Mil Mi-8
The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
are located at Podgorica Airbase. The helicopters were incorporated in the newly formed air arm of the Military of Montenegro, while the fate of the jets and trainers is yet to be decided. The Podgorica Airbase is designated to become a regional helicopter pilots training facility.
See also
- Entrance in Šipčanik underground aircraft shelter
- Podgorica AirportPodgorica AirportPodgorica Airport is an international airport located south of Podgorica, Montenegro. It is the main hub for Montenegro Airlines....
- Military of MontenegroMilitary of MontenegroThe Military of Montenegro consists of an army, navy and air force. Conscription was abolished in 2006; the military is now a fully professional standing army....