Graf Ignatievo Air Base
| Graf Ignatievo Air Base Treta Istrebitelna Awiazionna Basa 3rd IAB  |
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| Characteristics | |||
| ICAO code | LBPG | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Height above MSL | 58 m (190 ft ) | ||
| Transport links | |||
| Distance from the city center | 15 km north of Plovdiv | ||
| Street | II / 64 | ||
| Basic data | |||
| opening | 1930s | ||
| operator | Bulgarian Air Force | ||
| Start-and runway | |||
| 08/26 | 2992 m × 82 m asphalt | ||
The Air Force Base Graf Ignatiewo ( Bulgarian Авиобаза Граф Игнатиево ) is a Bulgarian military airfield of the Bulgarian Air Force . The 3rd fighter pilot base, Treta Istrebitelna awiazionna basa (3ta IAB, Трета Изтребителна авиационна база, 3та ИАБ) is located a few kilometers northwest of Mariza in the Plovdiv Oblast in central Bulgaria.
In addition, Graf Ignatiewo Air Base serves as one of several United States military bases in Bulgaria .
history
The airfield was built at the end of the 1930s with significant help from the Third Reich, which is why it is also known as the “German airfield” in Bulgaria. The airfield was opened in 1940 and from then on served the Royal Bulgarian Air Forces , which initially took part in the Second World War on the Axis Powers and later on the Allies.
After 1945 the air formations stationed here of the now People's Republic of Bulgaria flew Soviet-made aircraft. The conversion to fighter jets began in 1951. The longest-used fighter aircraft during the Cold War was the MiG-21 , the first copy of which arrived in 1963 and which were used in various series until after the Warsaw Pact collapsed .
Todays use
Today a squadron of MiG-29A / UB fighter aircraft of the Bulgarian Air Force, the 1-wa Istrebitelna Awioeskadrila (1-ва Изтребителна авиоескадрила) is stationed on the base .
In addition, the United States use the airport and within the Southern Air Policing of NATO and fighter jets of allies are here temporarily stationed.
