site.btaJoint Bulgarian-American Flight Training "Thracian Summer 2024" Begins

The annual joint Bulgarian-American flight training "Thracian Summer" will be held from August 17 to 29 in the areas of the 24th Air Base in Krumovo, Plovdiv Airport, the military area in Cheshnegirovo, and in temporarily separated areas of the airspace of the Republic of Bulgaria. This was announced by the press centre of the Ministry of Defence on Friday. The training will involve forces and assets from the Ministry of Defence and structures directly subordinate to the Minister of Defence, the Bulgarian Air Force, the Joint Special Operations Command and formations from the US Air Force in Europe, as well as teams from the Military Medical Academy.

The aim of Thracian Summer 2024 is to enhance the capabilities and interoperability of the aircrews of the military transport aviation and air defence formations of the Air Force and the special forces when participating in international exercises and operations.

In 2024, the head of the training is the deputy commander of Vrazhdebna Air Base - Lieutenant Colonel Plamen Donchev.

The training will include day and night flights with Spartan aircraft of the Bulgarian Air Force and C-130 aircraft of the US Air Force.

Tasks during the training are aimed at improving the skills of the Bulgarian servicemen to work on procedures for the execution of elements related to the combat use of Spartan aircraft, as well as for comprehensive logistic support and provision of support by the Air Force as the host country.

Personnel and flying equipment will be redeployed to Plovdiv Airport for participation in the joint training exercise, the release said.