Vrazhdebna Air Base

Vrazhdebna Air Base Bulgarian Air Force
Aerial image - 27 October 2007
IATA: SOF ICAO: LBSF
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Sofia Airport EAD
Operator	Bulgarian Air Force
Location	Sofia, Bulgaria
Built	1937
In use	1994–present
Occupants
Elevation AMSL	1,745 ft / 532 m
Coordinates	42°41′43″N 23°26′23″E / 42.69528°N 23.43972°E / 42.69528; 23.43972Coordinates: 42°41′43″N 23°26′23″E / 42.69528°N 23.43972°E / 42.69528; 23.43972
Map
Vrazhdebna Air Base Location within Bulgaria
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 09/27 11,811 3,600 Asphalt
Source: Sofia International Airport (Vrazhdebna)[1]

Vrazhdebna Air Base (Bulgarian: Авиобаза Враждебна, romanized: Aviobaza Vraždebna) or 16th Transport Air Base is a military air base, located on the site of Sofia Airport. The air base functions as a hub for the 16th Transport Squadron of the BAF.

History[]

"Vrazhdebna" is the original name for Sofia Airport, used since its establishment in 1937. The name is derived from the nearby village of Vrazhdebna (now a suburb of Sofia) and is literally translated as hostile.

Although various military transportation units, have been based at the airport since the late 1940s, it was not until 1994 when a separate military unit (16th Transport Air Base) was established. Both Sofia Airport and 16th TAB carry the official name "Vrazhdebna".

Units[]

Until 1950 it was the hub for the 14th Air Transport Regiment, which included mostly German aircraft (Junkers Ju 52, Junkers A 35). After 1950 it was renamed to 16th Transport Squadron and was equipped with Lisunov Li-2 transport aircraft.

On some occasions Vrazhdebna Air Base also houses civilian Aviation Detachment 28 aircraft, which carry senior members of the Bulgarian government.

See also[]

• Dobroslavtsi Air Base
• Cheshnegirovo Air Base
• Gabrovnitsa Air Base
• Uzundzhovo Air Base
• Graf Ignatievo Air Base
• Bezmer Air Base
• Dobrich Air Base
• Ravnets Air Base
• Balchik Air Base
• List of Bulgarian Air Force bases
• The Bulgarian Cosmonauts
• List of joint US-Bulgarian military bases

References[]

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