Bucharest International Air Show 2026
Romania’s biggest aviation event of the year is the Bucharest International Air Show held at Aurel Vlaicu Airport in the Băneasa district of the country’s capital city. It is an epic event a flying display lasting for nearly 12 hours supported by static displays and a sizable aviation exhibition. It is also a free, un-ticketed event and draws huge crowds, particularly as the display builds with the visiting national display teams into an evening flying display, fireworks display and closing concert.
Paul Johnson/Flightline UK reports. All photography by the author.
Organized by Bucharest Airports and Aeroclubul Romaniei, the Bucharest International Air Show has become one of Europe’s best regarded airshows. Visiting the event is a unique experience, one so good that after my last visit in 2025, a 2026 visit was firmly put in the calendar.
It is undoubtedly one of the most convenient events to visit taking place on the outskirts of Bucharest with good public transport links via bus or tram. For international visitors, there is simply no need to hire a car.
Remarkably, for such a large annual event, it remains free to enter on the ‘Training Day’ and the main show day on Saturday. Unlike last year, the Friday ‘Training Day’ was more restricted in 2026 with public entry only after 2.30pm and it ran to a published flying program featuring mainly the international visiting displays than had already conducted rehearsals beforehand.
Free Entry does mean it draws huge crowds, and the organisers claim that 450,000 visited the event over the two days in 2026. For an airfield-based airshow held over one and half days, that is truly extraordinary.
The 2026 event was dedicated to the Traian Vuia, one of Romania’s aviation pioneers. 120 years ago Vuia conducted his first flight with a self-propelled aircraft. That first flight was not made in Romania, but at Montesson, near Paris in an aircraft named Vuia 1. Though his aircraft was not capable of sustained flight, it did influence the design of Louis Blériot’s monoplanes. He later designed two early, experimental rotary aircraft between 1918 and 1921.
Supporting the flying displays is a sizable ground exhibition and static display around the Romaero hangars. Within those hangars, there were numerous companies and organizations connected to the aerospace industry in Romania. Aeroclubul Romaniei dominated the main hangar, but there was so other stand out displays including TAROM, Romania’s national airline, showcasing some of the local cuisine and delicacies! Romania’s aviation heritage was also celebrated and this year The National Romanian Aviation Museum had a large exhibition around its IAR 80 replica. Outside the hangars it also had the IAR 317 Airfox on display, a Romanian development of Alouette III as a light battlefield attack helicopter. That project never proceeded beyond the prototype stage.
The Romanian military also support the ground show well. The Air Force had examples of the Leonardo C-27J Spartan, IAR-330, IAR-316, Lockheed Martin F-16AM Fighting Falcon, Yakovlev Yak-52 and its latest remotely piloted air systems on display. Alongside the aircraft were ground control stations and a Patriot missile battery. The Romanian Emergency Rescue Service, known as SMURD (Serviciul Mobil de Urgență, Reanimare și Descarcerare), also supported the display with a Bombardier Learjet 75 equipped as a long-range MEDEVAC aircraft. International military participants included a Luftwaffe Airbus A400M wearing 75th Anniversary tail markings and a Slovenian Pilatus PC-6 Turbo-Porter.
Alongside the military aircraft were a whole host civilian aircraft. The General Aviation Exhibition brought in aircraft from Cirrus, Extra, Cessna and other manufacturers together with some of Aeroclubul Romaniei’s own fleet of sports flying types and parachute dropping aircraft. Saturday also saw Romania’s latest airline, Animawings, showcased one of its Airbus A220s.
For those that want to experience the full show, the Saturday is a very long day. The flying got underway before the official show opening with what Aeroclubul Romaniei dubbed ‘The Slow Start.’ This featured three different types of aircraft operated by the club starting with a pair of Zlin 242s performing some close formation passes before a tailchase display by six ICP Savannah ultralights. This early segment of flying was then closed by the ‘Mini-Hawks of Romania.’ This was a team of four Extra 300Ls and one Extra 330SC flown by pilots working their way up the display flying ladder with the aeroclub with a view of perhaps joining the main Hawks of Romania team when experience allows.
The show was officially opened at 10am by a military parade followed by a large flypast by the Romanian Air Force. Heading up the flypast were two elements of Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcons – first a four-ship and then a formation spelling out ‘10’ in the sky to mark the 10th Anniversary of the F-16 being accepted into Romanian Air Force service. Nine IAR-330 Puma helicopters then followed with the lead aircraft flying the Romanian Tricolor. The flypast then switched to heavier types with a three-ship of Leonardo C-27J Spartans followed by examples of the Lockheed C-130B and C-130H Hercules. A surprise addition to the flypast was an Antonov An-30 Clank photographic reconnaissance from the 902nd Airlift and Aerophotogrammetry Squadron. The Romanian Air Force is one of the last users of the Soviet era aircraft and operates two of them alongside a single An-26 transport aircraft.
The first displays came from some of the F-16s which performed several low approaches and go-arounds marking a very noisy start to the flying. In fact, apart from the An-30 all of the types in the flypast made further appearances throughout the flying display. Two F-16s were seen again flying along four IAR-330 SOCAT Pumas in the Combat Search and Recue Demonstration. The Lockheed C-130B Hercules was also busy first dropping a huge number of military affiliated parachutists under various canopies and then opening the CSAR demo by dropping a ‘downed airman.’ Solo displays also came from a C-27J Spartan and the C-130H Hercules. The latter was one of four ex-United States Air Force examples procured by Romania to enhance the countries air-lift capabilities. There was also a very enjoyable, synchronised aerial ballet from two IAR 330s which included some classic carousel manoeuvres.
One of the most impressive displays came from the Romanian Police (Poliția Română) and their Rapid Intervention Service Unit (Serviciul de Poliție pentru Intervenție Rapidă) with their Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk. The display started with the helicopter manoeuvring quite vigorously with officers hanging from the side of the fuselage before dispatching them (and a dog) vis fast roping. The helicopter stayed over giving fire support to the officers as the neutralised some criminal activity. The display was brought to a close with a rapid recovery of the officers via an underslung rope which even the dog seemed to enjoy!
One item missing from the Air Force displays was the four-ship of Yakovlev Yak-52s. However, there was perhaps a glimpse of a potential successor to the Yak, the Grob 120TP. No formal competition for a future training aircraft in Romania has been launched, but Grob were clearly keen to be seen with their offering which was put through an outstanding aerobatics routine by the Grob demonstration pilot.
Romania is connected by several airlines. The National carrier TAROM presented one of its Boeing 737-800 in the flying display, It made its first two passes with three of the Romanian Hawks Extra 330SCs in escort before performing an eye-opening low level display of tight turns and flypasts. Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air is also a major connection to Bucharest. In the flying display its 250th aircraft, an Airbus A321-271NX, appeared performing three flypasts. The aircraft, one of Airbus’ latest A321Neos (New Engine Option) wears a colourful special livery marking the milestone.
Aeroclubul Romaniei is a very active origination and does much to promote civilian aviation and air sports in Romania. To do this, it has an incredible array of its own display teams. Blue Wings is the club own parachute display team, and they made two drops during the main show showcasing canopy formations, streamer towing and flying a very large Romanian flag. Their principle gliding display comes from the White Wings team flying a pair of ICA IS-28 B2 gliders. They performed an incredibly graceful formation aerobatic routine which included some very tight loops, mirror formation and a close formation landing all set to music.
One of the club’s most surprising displays comes from Escadrila ZLIN. As the name suggests, this is a team of three Zlin 326Fs. It is not an aerobatic display, but a recreation of a Second World War dogfight with aircraft representing the Luftwaffe, the United States Army Air Force and Romanian Air Force. After an airfield attack by the Luftwaffe aircraft a wheeling dogfight ensued with the American aircraft eventually falling foul of the Romanian aircraft. It was also an ear-bashing display with heavy metal music providing the soundtrack and plenty of pyrotechnic explosions too.
The club’s principal ambassadors are Șoimii României – Hawks of Romania. They are in effect Romania’s national aerobatic team too having performed at several international events. The team contributed several times to the display over the course of the day including the formation with the TAROM Boeing 737. One of their star pilots is Andreea Bănesaru, a flight instructor with the aeroclub and more recently, author to a series of children’s books promoting aviation. Early in the flying display she flew a stunning aerobatic solo display supported by some patriotic ground-based fireworks. Soon after, the audience were treated to the first team display with four Extra 330SCs and an Extra 300L led by George Rotaru. The four 330SCs maintain a close formation for much of the display, while the 300L flew some low solo passes close to the crowdline.
As well as the contributions from the Romanian Aeroclub, there were two further civilian acts. The Iacării Acrobați (Aerobatic Yakkers) are a long-established team flying the Yakovlev Yak-52TW aircraft. Like many Yak-52s, these aircraft were built in Romania by Aerostar. For BIAS 2026, they flew a close coupled duo display of formation aerobatics in the main daytime display.
The legendary Jurgis Kairys also returned to BIAS in his Sukhoi Su-31. The Lithuanian pilot is the most outstanding showman performing a barnstorming display of his own unique brand of aerobatics. One of his trademarks is diving into the display box from height performing multiple flick rolls before launching himself into a relentless routine of tumbling aerobatics and the occasional ‘cobra’ maneuver. It is a display that both the Romanian commentators and crowd absolutely adored.
This year saw a very high-quality cadre of international military displays at BIAS. Ala 12 of the Spanish Air Force contributed an outstanding old school display with the McDonnell Douglas EF-18M Hornet with signature moments like the very high alpha slow pass and the square loop. Ala 12 is currently based in Romania is support of NATO Air Policing and in the early evening golden light, their aircraft returned to Constanța, but not before a rather eye-catching pairs departure. Another outstanding aerobatic solo came from the Slovenian Air Force Pilatus PC-9M Hudournik. It is an extremely polished routine with some incredibly crisp aerobatics more associated with dedicated competition aircraft such as the Extra 300 or Sukhoi series.
The French Air & Space Force also returned to Bucharest after being represented by Patrouille de France in 2026. 2026 saw the Dassault Rafale C solo display flown by Captain Alexandre “Rocky” Roeckel. As ever, it was just the most outstanding display with the jet always rolling, pitching or turning.
In their 75th Anniversary year, the Luftwaffe sent two solo jet displays to Bucharest. The first was the Panavia Tornado IDS from Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 33 based at Büchel. The Tornado display has been a welcome addition to the European display circuit over the past couple of seasons and this year saw some notable development of the display routine, However, stealing the show in several aspects was the Eurofighter EF2000 from Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 31 “Boelcke” based at Nörvenich. This is one of two Eurofighter Demo Teams that represents the Luftwaffe and for 2025 has as new display pilot – “BOOKIE.” His display is really very different from previous Luftwaffe displays showcasing the agility and raw power of the aircraft very effectively. But it was the flamboyant commentary and choice of music from BOOKIE’s squadron colleague that really brought the display to life – particularly the celebration of the culture of Cologne!
The headliners of the display were two of Europe’s most colourful national jet display teams. It is fair to say local media helped hype up their appearance and draw in such huge crowds. First to appear were the Turkish Stars flying seven Northrop NF-5A/B Freedom Fighters. Their display does include some spectacular moments but is rather gappy as they use enormous amounts of airspace to reposition for each pass. Nevertheless, their colourful display drew huge admiration from the crowds, particularly as they returned to their parking spots with Turkish and Romanian flags hanging from their canopy rails.
It was the Italian Air Force’s Il Frecce Tricolori however that really sent the crowd wild. It is pleasing to see the team back at full strength of 10 Aermacchi MB339PANs after a difficult season last year. Their display is back to its absolute best – full of colourful smoke and panache that no other team can match. In the golden light of early evening, it was nothing short of perfection. The end of their display also marked perhaps the most incredible mood change I’ve ever experienced at an airshow. The commentator was clearly very excited about the Frecce’s appearance as he described their return, but then he played a pop song. I assume it was a very popular song in Romania and about Italy as it sent the crowd into a frenzy dancing and waving as the MB339’s passed along the crowdline back to their parking. As the show headed into into the evening, this was more party than air display.
The evening segment started with displays from the Romanian Aeroclub. First was a combined display slot featuring a six-ship display by Hawks of Romania flying with The Pelicans team. The latter are the club’s formation of ICP Savannah ultralights. They alternated passes with the team of extras as the sunset turned into twilight, briefly leaving centre stage to the Hawks to complete their display routine. They returned to close the sequence, this time with their aircraft illuminated with LEDs and trailing smoke in the national colours of Romania. There was also one further contribution from the Aeroclub in the evening display with a stunning display by a MDM-1 Fox Glider with wingtip pyrotechnics.
There was one final solo display by a Romanian Air Force IAR 330 SOCAT Puma in the evening section. This include two spectacular flare drops, the first from a nose-over towards the crowd and then in a climb away from the crowd.
One of the best loved parts of the evening display is the Air Bandits. This sees Jurgis Kairys and the Iacării Acrobați join forces and provide the show with some its most insane moments. The display is based around an air battle with aircraft diving into attack the airfield supported by spectacular ground pyrotechnics and fireworks set to Rammstein’s ‘Du Haast.’. It then moves into swirling dogfight with more pyrotechnics being fired by Jurgis in his Sukhoi before a final wall of fire from the ground. At one moment in this year’s display, a huge black smoke formed from the pyros and Jurgis got a huge cheer from the crowd as he passed through the middle of it!
The atmosphere of the airshow then changed again into something more blissful and joyful with the Flying Dragons team of paramotors from Poland. They filled the black sky with colour with their canopies bathed in coloured light, pyrotechnics streaming behind them and fireworks soaring skywards from the grounds. The final flourish of piloted action came from the Romanian Air Force with a flare drop along the display line by a C-27J Spartan and two F-16AM Fighting Falcons – but it was not quite over!
Ahead of the Fireworks display and concert that bring BIAS to a close, there was a new sight in Bucharest’s skies – a really enchanting drone show celebrating all facets of aviation! BIAS and Bucharest offer something very different to other major airshows. Firstly, Bucharest itself is well worth exploring, but over the two times I’ve visited BIAS I’ve left feeling it was just so much fun, helped enormously by the infectious enthusiasm of the Romanian crowds. It can feel very crowded at times, particularly towards the late afternoon and into the evening which can make getting out and back to the accommodation a trifle challenging, but it is worth just to share that unique, euphoric atmosphere that BIAS creates.
