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20 - 21 September 2016
| For the first time in its history an airshow was organized in the Democratic People’s |
| Republic of Korea. Starting with an initiative of the for North Korea tours well established |
| British Tour operator Juche Travel Services, North Korean officials embraced the idea in order |
| to promote the Wonsan area as an upcoming foreign tourist location. The result was a well |
| organized air festival at the recently renovated Kalma airport, with a fluently exercised |
| air display and a very interesting side program. |
| The foreign visitors and about 15,000-20,000 spectators each day had the opportunity to walk |
| freely over the festival terrain, check the many vendor locations and drink whatever was presented. |
| Of course this opportunity was only taken by the many spotters after the flying displays. During |
| the displays the foreigners were allowed to walk almost freely to get the best shots with the |
| sun from the right direction. A true example for many European airshows! |
| The first day of the festival consisted of two display periods of two hours during which the Air |
| Koryo aircraft present made fly-pasts and/or touch and go’s, alternated by the military aircraft |
| that presented more vivid displays. The airshow consisted of a solo display of the MiG-29S, |
| a Su-25K, Mi-8MTV-1 and an H500 and a formation display of four H500s, three Su-25Ks and two |
| MiG-21s. The latter two were flown by the very famous Flowers in the Sky, being two 21 year old |
| female pilots, one of which (Jo Kum-Hyang) made a widely publicized firm landing with aircraft |
| 42 that proved in mint condition during close inspection in the static display next day. |
| The second day the festival continued with parachute jumps from the Mi-8Ts (including spotters doing |
| tandem-jumps) and radio-controlled model-flying including a Thunderbirds F-16 (!) in the morning. |
| The majority of the day was filled with pleasure flights by spotters with all available transport |
| aircraft and helicopters, including the Air Force Mi-8Ts and An-2s! Again with optimal photo |
| locations for the foreigners not flying. |
| In line with the habit of Korea of showing the polished side of the country, the majority of the civil |
| and military aircraft recently had received a new coat of paint, many of which including a big red |
| rectangle plaque to indicate the aircraft was inspected by Kim Yung-Un or even late Kim Yung-Il back in |
| 1988 (Su-25K 49 on 17 August 1988). |
| Given the success of this years show it is very likely that the festival will be organized again in 2017. |
| Both Pyongyang Aero Club aircraft didn’t carry any markings, other than the North Korean flag in the tail. |
| The P-750 was still on the Chinese register being delivered earlier this year to Free Sky Aviation, |
| although details are unknown. Some of the An-2s on show were among the 140 units delivered in the early |
| 70’s from the Polish production line. Given the serials it can be expected that the other two Antonovs |
| were of Chinese origin, hence Y-5. One MiG-29S (type 9-13) proved extra interesting as it had been |
| observed recently as MiG-29B version (Type 9-12). |
| 621 | An-2/Y-5 | KPAAF | flying |
| 622 | An-2/Y-5 | KPAAF | spare |
| 952 | An-2T | KPAAF | 1G129-52 flying |
| 28 | Su-25K | KPAAF | 10248 flying |
| 45 | Su-25K | KPAAF | 10245 flying |
| 49 | Su-25K | KPAAF | 10149 flying/static |
| 57 | Su-25K | KPAAF | 10257 flying |
| 42 | Su-25K | KPAAF | spare |
| 231 | MD500E | KPAAF | spare |
| 234 | MD500E | KPAAF | flying |
| 240 | MD500E | KPAAF | flying |
| 248 | MD500E | KPAAF | spare |
| 255 | MD500E | KPAAF |
| 492 | MD500E | KPAAF | 0092E flying/static |
| 42 | MiG-21bis | KPAAF | 75014205/1004 flying/static |
| 53 | MiG-21bis | KPAAF | 75014513 flying |
| 92 | MiG-21bis | KPAAF | spare |
| 550 | MiG-29B | KPAAF | (25755)/3601 static |
| 555 | MiG-29S | KPAAF | flying |
| 303 | Mi-8T | KPAAF | flying |
| 312 | Mi-8T | KPAAF | flying |
| 911 | Mi-8T | KPAAF | flying |
| 847 | Mi-8MTV-1 | KPAAF | (96022) flying |
| P-537 | An-24B | Air Koryo | flying |
| P-552 | Tu-154B | Air Koryo | flying |
| P-813 | Tu-134B-3 | Air Koryo | flying |
| P-835 | Il-18D | Air Koryo | flying |
| P-885 | Il-62M | Air Koryo | flying |
| P-913 | Il-76TD | Air Koryo | flying |
| - - | P-750 XStoll-III | Pyongyang Air Club | flying |
| - - | Alpi 400 | Pyongyang Air Club | flying |
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