Serbian Air Force
| Serbian Air Force and Air Defence | |
|---|---|
Serbian Air Force Coat of Arms
|
|
| Active | 1912–1918 2006–present |
| Country | Serbia |
| Allegiance | President of Serbia |
| Type | Air Force |
| Size | 5,100 personnel |
| Part of | Serbian Armed Forces |
| Headquarters | Air Force Command, Zemun |
| Motto(s) |
"За слободу и част Отаџбине" "For Freedom and Honor of the Fatherland" |
| Anniversaries | 24 December |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Major General Ranko Živak |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |
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|
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | J-22, G-4, |
| Fighter | MiG-29, MiG-21bis |
| Helicopter | Mi-8, Mi-17 |
| Attack helicopter | HN-42M GAMA, HN-45M GAMA |
| Utility helicopter | HO-42, HO-45 |
| Interceptor | MiG-21bis |
| Reconnaissance | INJ-22 , MiG-21M, MiG-21bis modified, HI-42 HERA |
| Trainer | Utva 75, Lasta 95, G-4, NJ-22 |
| Transport | An-2, An-26 |
The Serbian Air Force and Air Defence (Serbian: Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздухопловна одбрана / Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazduhoplovna odbrana), is the air force of Serbia and service branch of the Serbian Armed Forces. Established on 24 December 1912 in the city of Niš, it was absorbed into the various Yugoslav Air Forces between 1918 and 2006.
The first aviation pioneer in Serbia was Lieutenant Kosta Miletić (1874-1953), trained as a balloon pilot at the Technical Aeronautical School near Saint Petersburg, Russia from 27 February 1901 to 25 November 1902. Miletić was also trained in the use of carrier pigeons.
On the recommendation of Miletić, the Serbian armed forces posed messenger pigeon stations (in 1908 in Medosevac near Nis and in 1909 in Pirot), and bought two free spherical and one tied kite – balloon from the August Ridinger company from Augsburg. At the reception ceremony, on 19 April 1909, Kosta Miletić flew a spherical balloon called Srbija (Serbia). One balloon was provided from Russia. A gas chamber was ordered from the Dillmann company in Berlin, and a field winch from St Petersburg. A hydrogen unit was provided from the Swiss company Oerlikon. The equipment was delivered to Serbia in 1909 and 1910.
The first competition for cadet airmen in Serbia was opened in May 1911, and in the following year the first class of Serbian pilots started their flying training in France from 21 May to 8 September 1912 and got the rank of pilot. They finished the course in the beginning of the First Balkan War with aircraft and the balloons that had already been obtained prior to the outbreak of war. In the autumn of 1912, Serbia got the aircraft for its armed forces. On 24 December 1912 the head of the military ministry Radomir Putnik approved the formation of the Aviation Command situated in Niš; the commander was Major Kosta Miletić. It comprised: the Aircraft Squadron which counted 12 military aircraft, the Balloon Squad, the Pigeon Post and the Base. This date is regarded in Serbia as marking the official founding of the air force. This made Serbia one of the first 15 states in the world to have an air force.
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