Strana 7
A fundamental change in its coloration was
brought about only in the spring of 2016, when
the LOM Prague paint shop applied Jan Rükr's
design dubbed ‘Tiger’. This happened just before
the planned participation in the international
exercise NTM 2016 in Zaragoza, Spain. The
four additional fuel tanks with a capacity of
450 liters also received a corresponding paint
scheme.
The actual exercise, which was to be the
largest in the 55-year history of NATO's Tiger
Association, would see the participation
of thirteen countries and more than eighty
aircraft, began with a flyover of participating
helicopters. On May 12th, 2016, two Mi-35
attack helicopters, bearing fuselage codes
3366 and 3370, took off.
The appearance of 3366 was completely
new. The aircraft was named ‘Kosta’, whose
unconventional camouflage scheme had been
introduced a year earlier, on the occasion of
the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II,
when it received a scheme based on that of the
Liberators of our 311th Czechoslovak Bomber
Squadron RAF in Great Britain, to whose
legacy the helicopter base in Namest proudly
claims its honorary name ‘Biskajska’ (Biscay).
To make it clear that it belonged to the same
stable as ‘Tiger’, 3370 also received at least
the same color on the PZU dust filters on the
air inlets to the engines.
The third helicopter involved was a transport
Mi-17, coded 0839, which was on loan to the
221st Squadron in Namest nad Oslavou for
a certain period of time from the 24th Transport
Air Force Base in Prague-Kbely.
The rest of us followed them on May
15th, 2016, also by air, on an Airbus A-319CJ
transport aircraft, from Čáslav Air Base,
whose 211th squadron also participated in the
exercise with JAS-39 Gripens.
After a few hours of flight, we landed safely
at the air base in Zaragoza, which is the home
base of ALA 15 (15th wing of the Spanish Air
Force) McDonnell EF-18 Hornet aircraft and
which became our temporary home for the
next fourteen days. In addition to the bright
spring sun, we were greeted by a relatively
strong wind. What caught my attention at
first sight was the huge concrete stand for
all the evet participants. Another pleasant
surprise awaited me at the joint introductory
briefing. After several years, I met my friend
REPORT
INFO Eduard
7
February 2026