Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

108 years since first military flight in Europe

The Albatross
Photo: lostbulgaria.com

The first military flight in Europe was carried out by Bulgarian pilots – Radul Milkov and Prodan Tarakchiev. It was a reconnaissance flight on board the German Albatross over the besieged Edirne fortress.

It took place on 16 October, 1912, just days after the start of the first Balkan War, lasted 50 minutes and astounded the Ottoman army. The flight by the two pilots trained in Germany, France and Russia has gone down in the history of the Bulgarian air force. That is the reason why, in 1963, the Council of Ministers issued a decree declaring 16 October day of the Bulgaria’s air force.

The modernization of the Bulgarian air force is ongoing. Under contract with the American Lockheed Martin, Bulgaria purchased 8 F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft for the sum of over 2 billion Leva.

The first 6 aircraft are to be delivered in this country in 2023. The remaining two will be used in USA for pilot and technical ground staff training up until 2024, after which they too will join the Bulgarian air force.

At the end of September the government announced it was planning to purchase another 8 aircraft to fully modernize Bulgaria’s air force. 

Compiled by Yoan Kolev



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Climatologist Prof. Georgi Rachev: There is water, but the state is not managing the resource properly

As we approach the height of summer and temperatures soar, access to water becomes essential. We remember the hardships of summer 2024, when hundreds of towns and villages across Bulgaria experienced a complete or partial lack of running water. The..

published on 6/19/25 8:50 PM

Culinary stars arrive in Burgas for the World Paella Cup

On June 21 and 22, the Expo Center "Flora" in the Sea Garden in Burgas will turn into a culinary arena , where the best paella masters from all over Bulgaria will face each other in the national qualifications for the World Paella Day Cup . There are..

published on 6/19/25 2:06 PM
Bulgaria's longest legal graffiti art wall is ready for its opening this weekend.

Kustendil unveils Bulgaria’s longest legal graffiti wall

A retaining wall alongside the Banshtitsa River in Kyustendil is being transformed into the country’s longest legal graffiti art wall, according to a report by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). "The goal is to attract artists from around the world to..

published on 6/19/25 8:25 AM