9013, 322 Tactical Squadron, 32 Tactical Air Force Base, Náměšť nad Oslavou, Czech Republic, summer 1996

In the summer of 1991, the most interesting Czech Su-25K in terms of coloration was the aircraft number 9013. The unusual color scheme with a painting of a frog destroying a tank by a hammer was based on the NATO code name of Su-25: Frogfoot. Arpád Molnár was the main person behind this design, the drawing of the frog was made by Ladislav Váňa. The aircraft was made famous thanks to numerous displays flown by major František Tabačko and later also by kpt. Martin Hejra. The color job was done with basic grey primer. While yellow paint was bought in a local drugstore and brown and both greens were the colors used for camouflage paints of the aircraft shelters and other buildings on the air base. The drawing of the frog was done with Humbrol paints using a modeler spray gun.

5007, 30 Fighter Bomber Regiment, Hradec Králové, Czechoslovakia, April 1984 

One of the first delivery batch of eight Su-25Ks in their original form, i.e., with black fuselage numbers. The aircraft were delivered from the USSR with national insignia only, numbers were applied after acceptation by Czechoslovak Air Force. Aircraft of the series 5 and 6 were not equipped with lateral control boosters, i.e., control of the ailerons. Therefore, they were equipped with large trim tabs on the ailerons. The black fuselage numbers were difficult to read on the dark camouflage colors and were therefore outlined in white. Subsequently, they were painted in full white. While still with black number, the aircraft was shiny new and did not sport any signs of wear.

6019, 30 Attack Aviation Regiment, Pardubice, Czechoslovakia, August 1988

Various nose arts appeared on the Czechoslovak Su-25Ks. The first attempts were just quickly and easily removable chalk drawings. Such a drawing, the silhouette of a seated girl with a screwdriver, was sketched on this aircraft as well, and as there were no objections from the commanding officers, it was decided to paint colorful and more durable nose art. Aircraft engineer Antonín Fidranský decided to create a drawing of a girl and a shark’s mouth by washable colors. Also, the emblem of the 30 Attack Aviation Regiment, last used on the MiG-15bisSB, appeared on this aircraft. The painting of “Anča” (Annie) as the aircraft was named, probably occurred on the weekend of August 20 and 21, 1988, just before the planned live ammunition gunnery exercise. But the taxiing accident of aircraft No. 1008 dashed any hope of getting the “Anča” into the air, because the incident was followed by the arrival of the AAIC (Aircraft Accident Inquiry Comission). Due to that, the paintwork was quickly washed out to avoid any unwanted interest from the AAIC. This aircraft was manufactured on October 18, 1984, and first flown in Czechoslovakia on January 18, 1985. The last flight was conducted on May 27, 1998. When discharged, the aircraft had 917 hrs logged and 15 mins of flight time. After its retirement it was sold to the USA on April 10, 2004.

1002, 30 Attack Aviation Regiment, Pardubice, Czech Republic, May 1993

Aircraft of fuselage number 1002 changed its camouflage and markings several times. In May 1993, it underwent a revision of R-1 level at the Čáslav Aircraft Repair Base and a distinctive shark’s mouth, red trim on the white fuselage number and a large 30 Attack Aviation Regiment inscription on the directional stabilizer were applied. Less than a year later, the entire vertical fin and rudder were painted in tricolor livery with Lubrifilm company advertisement. This Su-25K was manufactured in Tbilisi on May 15, 1987, and landed at the Pardubice base on June 27 of the same year. It was one of the aircraft that were transferred to the air base in Náměšť in 1994. In 1996 it was overhauled and discharged in 2001 after a total flight time of 703 hrs and 43 mins. The aircraft was sold to a new user in 2003.

1002, 30 Attack Aviation Regiment, Pardubice, Czech Republic, June 1994

The lack of funds for participation on the airshows was solved by the Display Team members by sponsorship. One of the aircraft “decorated” with sponsor’s decals was Su-25K No. 1002, whose display “sorties” were supported by Lubrifilm company. The No. 8077 aircraft was similarly modified. The spraying and painting of the 1002 had its premiere during Pardubice airshow on May 21, 1994. The next 1002 appearance took place at the Aviation Days in Náměšť nad Oslavou on June 11 and in České Budějovice a week later, on June 18,1994. Not everyone liked such a sponsorship and after interpellations from politicians, the Minister of Defense banned all advertising activities on military aircraft. Therefore, in July 1994, the advertising stickers were removed, leaving only the colored SOP. The 1002 flew in this design until the end of 1994. To finish Your model in this state of markings, do not use No. 45 decal and use Nos. 48; 49; 107; 108 for the tail vertical surfaces.

1002, 322 Tactical Squadron, 32 Tactical Air Base Náměšť and Oslavou, Czech Republic, May 1996

The next reincarnation of the Su-25K number 1002 was named “Shark”. Already at the end of 1995, the technicians of the 322 Squadron expressed their wish to have the fuselages of the two aircraft painted in a special color scheme, and Jan Martinec began to prepare graphic designs. The painting was carried out in the week from May 13 to 17, 1996, and finally the new coloring was applied on whole aircraft. The ceremonial roll out took place on Friday May 17, 1996 and the aircraft subsequently made number of displays. Kpt. Ladislav Oslanský flew it at CIAF 2000, which was the last display of the aircraft on domestic airshows.

8076, 322 Tactical Squadron, 32 Tactical Air Base Náměšť nad Oslavou, Czech Republic, May 1996

Along with the 1002, the 8076 was also painted in a special livery. In its case, it was an application of the eagle motif that the 322 TS had as its emblem. The implementation of this coloring took only three days from May 15 to 17. The aircraft had the original camouflage in good condition and so received only the nose paint job and, as was customary, the auxiliary tanks were also decorated accordingly.

8080, 322 Tactical Squadron, 32 Tactical Air Base Náměšť nad Oslavou, Czech Republic, 1997

Aircraft of the 322 Tactical Squadron gradually received graphic symbols on their vertical fins, which helped to identify the aircraft quickly even if the fuselage number was not visible. The number 8080 received two crossed white stripes on the green plastic cover of the top of the fin. The front sides of the engine nacelles already sported the squadron insignia with a stylized eagle. The colors were already very weathered. 

8074, 2 Squadron, 33 Fighter Bomber Wing, Air Base Kuchyňa, Slovakia, April 1997

In 1993, the 8074 was fitted with a “fire” motif that earned it the nickname “Flamingo”. It was first presented to the public in this form at the 1993 SIAF Air Show in Košice. After the division of the Czechoslovakia, the newly formed 3 Fighter Bomber Aviation Regiment of the Slovak Air Force had its base at the Kuchyňa airfield, but since it was already occupied by MiG-21, Su-22 and L-29 aircraft, the Su-25Ks were based at the Trenčín airport, right next to the aircraft repair facilities. On January 1, 1993, the Su-25 squadron was reorganized and transferred to the 2 Combined Aviation Regiment in Piešt'any, becoming its 1 squadron. It moved from Trenčín to Kuchyňa airfield on September 27, 1994 and became the 2 squadron of the 33 Fighter Bomber Wing Malacky on January 1, 1995 in the process of the second reorganization.

1027, 3 Fighter Bomber Regiment, Trenčín airfield, Slovakia, August 1994

The Slovak Su-25K named “Bizon” (Buffalo) became the most attractively colored Slovak aircraft of the type. The design was created by Pavol Homer and Jozef Horváth. Preparations started on July 17, 1994 and the “Bizon” flew for the first time on July 28 and 29 with the unfinished paint job. It was completed on August 14 and it was presented in premiere at the SIAF 1994 Air Show on August 21 in Bratislava. The “Bizon” was the only Su-25 that also bore the emblem of the 1 Technical Squadron. After completing its service in the Slovak Air Force, the aircraft was sold in 2004 to Armenia.