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

The 2025 Harvest Campaign officially kicks off in Vidin

The official opening of the 2025 Harvest Campaign will take place at 10am in the "Agro – Tsar Petrov" farm in the Vidin region. BTA reports that the host of the event is Victor Rombaut. Rombaut is an agricultural producer in the Vidin area, originally..

published on 6/17/25 7:45 AM

‘Bulgaria Wants You’ and the emotional pull of home

Bulgaria is constantly changing, say the founders of the Bulgaria Wants You initiative. For the past five years, they have been holding motivational meetings and discussions with Bulgarians living abroad, showing them a different side to their homeland..

published on 6/16/25 10:36 PM

Over 5,000 unemployed Bulgarians have started seasonal work in Europe since the beginning of 2025

Employment in the services sector is increasing, while demand for labor in sectors such as agriculture and industry is decreasing. Data from the National Statistical Institute reflect this trend, typical for the first quarter of the year. During the..

published on 6/16/25 4:00 PM