Smolensk North Airport

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The military airfield Smolensk - North ( Russo военный аэродром " Смоленск - Северный ") is operated by the Russian Air Force airfield on the northern outskirts of the Russian city of Smolensk.

The runway is approved for take-offs and landings of aircraft in categories A, B, C and D, but with limitations due to their carrying capacity. Except for military aircraft also test aircraft of the aircraft plant Smolensk ( Смоленский авиационный завод / СмАЗ ) are stationed at the airfield.

History

During the Cold War, the airfield was the home of the 401st IAP ( 401 interceptor regiment / истребительный авиационный полк ) and the 871 IAP of air defense with its main aircraft MiG- 23rd

Later in Smolensk was the 103rd Guards Military Transport Aviation Regiment " W. S. Grisodubow " stationed with machine Ilyushin Il -76 ( Il- 76M and Il- 76MD ). This air regiment was disbanded in October 2009 and moved the aircraft to the military airfields Orenburg 2 and Taganrog. The regimental flag and the honorary title of the regiment ( Guard, Award: Red Flag ) were handed over to the newly created Air Force Base first order on the military airfield Orenburg 2 in the city of Orenburg.

Incidents

On April 10, 2010 fell from a Polish government aircraft type Tupolev Tu -154 with Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife and a high-ranking official Polish delegation on board when landing in thick fog. All 96 people on board died.