RoAF 71st Air Base
Encyclopedia
The Romanian Air Force
71st Air Base (Baza 71 Aeriană) is located near the town of Câmpia Turzii
, in Cluj County
. The 71st Airbase was founded on the 1st of June 2002, according to the Romanian Armed Forces
reorganization program.
Since its foundation, the unit has become one of the best units of the Air Force thanks to the pilots' proficiency in carrying out flight missions, day and night and all-weather, and to the responsibility of the logistic support personnel.
In January 2001, the unit received the first MIG-21 LanceR fighter planes, and the pilots started the transition to the new model.
The base is home to the 711st, 712nd Fighter
squadrons, operating MiG-21 LanceRs and to the 713rd, 714th Helicopter
squadrons, operating IAR-330
s.
attack aircraft. In 1969, an air defence unit was created on the airfield in order to provide protection against air attacks. In 1980 a paratrooper
regiment is founded and assigned to the Campia Turzii. On June 30, 1982, the first fighter squadron was assigned at the air base, which in 1986 became the 71st Fighter Regiment. In 1987, when the air base finally became fully operational and operated MiG-21 fighters.
On January 24, 2001 the unit was the first one to receive the modernized MiG-21 LanceR fighters. On July 1 2002, according to a Romanian Armed Forces
reorganization and modernization program, the 71st Air Base was officially founded. During late-2004, the RoAF 93rd Air Base
is disbanded and its helicopter units were relocated at the 71st base. Since then, the 71st Air Base participated to a large number of national/multinational military exercises and training missions. Also, it often participated in various humanitarian missions, in cooperation with other Romanian Government institutions.
Four MiG-21 LanceR Cs belonging to 71st Air Base were deployed from August 2007 to November 2007 at Šiauliai
, in Lithuania
for Baltic Air Policing
. The Romanian detachment succeeds the French Air Force
Mirage 2000Cs of Escadron de Chasse 01.012 from Cambrai
, which fulfilled the Baltic Air Policing since May 2007. Once the RoAF finish its three-month stint, a Portuguese Air Force
detachment will take over the mission.
The four aircraft and a total of 67 personnel, among them nine pilots, are part of the detachment: 63 serve at Šiauliai, while other four serve at the air traffic control centre in Kaunas
, to ensure smooth cooperation with local authorities. The Romanian detachment has attracted huge attention from the local media, not least from the fact that it is only the second time a fighter from the Soviet era has deployed to Šiauliai
- Polish Air Force
MiG-29s have also been deployed here in 2006. The RoAF will perform again Baltic Air Policing most probably in three or four years.
fighters were deployed from March 27, 2008 to April 6, 2008, in order to provide air policing together with the Romanian Air Force fighters during the NATO 2008 Bucharest Summit
, the 20th, held at Bucharest
. These fighters were assisted by KC-135 Stratotanker
s located at the Budapest Airport
in Hungary
. The 323rd Air Expeditionary Wing
directed the USAF deployment.
Romanian Air Force
The Romanian Air Force is the air force branch of the Romanian Armed Forces. It has an air force headquarters, an operational command, four air bases and an air defense brigade...
71st Air Base (Baza 71 Aeriană) is located near the town of Câmpia Turzii
Câmpia Turzii
Câmpia Turzii is a city in Cluj County, Romania, which was formed in 1925 by the union of two villages, Ghiriş and Sâncrai...
, in Cluj County
Cluj County
Cluj ; is a county of Romania, in Transylvania, with the capital city at Cluj-Napoca.-Demographics:In 2007, it had a population of 692,316 and a population density of 104/km².*Romanians – 80%*Hungarians – 17.5%*Roma – 2.5%-Geography:...
. The 71st Airbase was founded on the 1st of June 2002, according to the Romanian Armed Forces
Romanian Armed Forces
The Land Forces, Air Force and Naval Forces of Romania are collectively known as the Romanian Armed Forces...
reorganization program.
Since its foundation, the unit has become one of the best units of the Air Force thanks to the pilots' proficiency in carrying out flight missions, day and night and all-weather, and to the responsibility of the logistic support personnel.
In January 2001, the unit received the first MIG-21 LanceR fighter planes, and the pilots started the transition to the new model.
The base is home to the 711st, 712nd Fighter
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
squadrons, operating MiG-21 LanceRs and to the 713rd, 714th Helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
squadrons, operating IAR-330
IAR 330
|-See also:-External links:*...
s.
History
The Câmpia Turzii military airfield was built between 1952 and 1953, and was home of the Soviet-made Ilyushin Il-10Ilyushin Il-10
Ilyushin Il-10 was a Soviet ground attack aircraft developed at the end of World War II by the Ilyushin construction bureau...
attack aircraft. In 1969, an air defence unit was created on the airfield in order to provide protection against air attacks. In 1980 a paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
regiment is founded and assigned to the Campia Turzii. On June 30, 1982, the first fighter squadron was assigned at the air base, which in 1986 became the 71st Fighter Regiment. In 1987, when the air base finally became fully operational and operated MiG-21 fighters.
On January 24, 2001 the unit was the first one to receive the modernized MiG-21 LanceR fighters. On July 1 2002, according to a Romanian Armed Forces
Romanian Armed Forces
The Land Forces, Air Force and Naval Forces of Romania are collectively known as the Romanian Armed Forces...
reorganization and modernization program, the 71st Air Base was officially founded. During late-2004, the RoAF 93rd Air Base
RoAF 93rd Air Base
The Romanian Air Force 93rd Air Base was an air base located near Timişoara at the Traian Vuia International Airport. The base was disbanded in August 2004 due to the Romanian Armed Forces reorganisation program and the retirement of the MiG-23s which were based here.The military sector of the...
is disbanded and its helicopter units were relocated at the 71st base. Since then, the 71st Air Base participated to a large number of national/multinational military exercises and training missions. Also, it often participated in various humanitarian missions, in cooperation with other Romanian Government institutions.
2007 Baltic Air Policing
Šiauliai
Šiauliai , is the fourth largest city in Lithuania, with a population of 133,900. It is the capital of Šiauliai County. Unofficially, the city is the capital of Northern Lithuania.-Names:...
, in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
for Baltic Air Policing
Baltic Air Policing
The Baltic air-policing mission is a NATO air defence Quick Reaction Alert in order to guard the airspace over the three Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.-Mission:...
. The Romanian detachment succeeds the French Air Force
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
Mirage 2000Cs of Escadron de Chasse 01.012 from Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
, which fulfilled the Baltic Air Policing since May 2007. Once the RoAF finish its three-month stint, a Portuguese Air Force
Portuguese Air Force
The Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
detachment will take over the mission.
The four aircraft and a total of 67 personnel, among them nine pilots, are part of the detachment: 63 serve at Šiauliai, while other four serve at the air traffic control centre in Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
, to ensure smooth cooperation with local authorities. The Romanian detachment has attracted huge attention from the local media, not least from the fact that it is only the second time a fighter from the Soviet era has deployed to Šiauliai
Šiauliai
Šiauliai , is the fourth largest city in Lithuania, with a population of 133,900. It is the capital of Šiauliai County. Unofficially, the city is the capital of Northern Lithuania.-Names:...
- Polish Air Force
Polish Air Force
The Polish Air Force is the military Air Force wing of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej...
MiG-29s have also been deployed here in 2006. The RoAF will perform again Baltic Air Policing most probably in three or four years.
2008 Bucharest summit
Six USAF F-15E Strike EagleF-15E Strike Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle is an all-weather multirole fighter, derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The F-15E was designed in the 1980s for long-range, high speed interdiction without relying on escort or electronic warfare aircraft. United States Air Force F-15E Strike...
fighters were deployed from March 27, 2008 to April 6, 2008, in order to provide air policing together with the Romanian Air Force fighters during the NATO 2008 Bucharest Summit
2008 Bucharest summit
The 2008 Bucharest Summit or the 20th NATO Summit was a NATO summit organized in Bucharest, Romania on 2 – 4 April 2008. Among other business, Croatia and Albania were invited to join the alliance. Republic of Macedonia was not invited due to its ongoing naming dispute with Greece...
, the 20th, held at Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. These fighters were assisted by KC-135 Stratotanker
KC-135 Stratotanker
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
s located at the Budapest Airport
Budapest Ferihegy International Airport
Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport , formerly known as Budapest Ferihegy International Airport, is the international airport serving the Hungarian capital city of Budapest, and the largest of the country's five international airports. The airport offers international connections primarily...
in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. The 323rd Air Expeditionary Wing
323rd Air Expeditionary Wing
The 323d Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. As a provisional unit, it may be activated or inactivated at any time....
directed the USAF deployment.