| Bulgarian Naval Aviation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1915 |
| Country | Bulgaria |
| Type | Air wing |
| Role | Defence |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Multirole helicopter | Eurocopter AS565 Panther |
| Observation helicopter | Mil Mi-17 |
The Bulgarian Naval Aviation is the naval air wing of the Bulgarian Navy.[citation needed]
History[]
Bulgarian Naval Aviation was established in 1915[1][not in citation given] at Chayka Naval Air Base when the Imperial German Navy based some seaplanes there. In 1918 the base and the seaplanes were transferred to Bulgaria.[citation needed] On 5 April 1941 it became the base for Luftwaffe floatplanes of 7 Seenotdeinstaffel. It is home to the Navy's Mi-14 helicopter unit. From 1959-1990 it was known as the Independent Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operated Soviet aircraft for ASW and SAR duties.[2]
Current inventory and bases[]
| Aircraft | Origin | Number | Photo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurocopter AS565 Panther | France | 2 | 
|
On 9 June 2017 during a training mission of artillery fire against surface targets as a part of the "Black Sea-2017" exercise of the Bulgarian Navy, a Panther helicopter crashed in the water, killing the commander and injuring the other two officers on board.[citation needed] |
| Mil Mi-14 | USSR | 3 | 
|
Stored in non-airworthy condition.[citation needed] |
Retired inventory[]
| Aircraft | Origin | Number | Photo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamov Ka-25 Hormone | USSR | 1[3] | 
|
|
| Mil Mi-4 Hound | USSR | 2[4] | 
|
Bases[]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ "Bulgarian Naval Aviation". https://www.insigniamag.com/bul.html.
- ↑ "Bulgarian Naval Aviation (VSNB) & Coastal Defence Units / XAIRFORCES". http://xairforces.net/army.asp?id=90#.WwyWZdNuau4.
- ↑ "Bulgarian Naval Aviation". http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/bulgaria/navy2/bulg-nv2-home.htm.
- ↑ Pike, John. "Bulgaria - Navy" (in en). https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/bg-navy-history-1.htm.
The original article can be found at Bulgarian Naval Aviation and the edit history here.