Dolna Mitropoliya

A groundbreaking virtual reality system for F-16 training has been delivered to the Higher Air Force School "G. Benkovski" in Dolna Mitropolia, Bulgaria, reports BNT. This state-of-the-art equipment enables a life-sized study of the F-16 aircraft and its systems, marking a significant advancement in pilot and technical personnel training.

Bulgarian military personnel and colleagues paid their final respects to Lieutenant Colonel Petko Dimitrov and Captain Vencislav Dunkin, who lost their lives in the line of duty on September 13. The farewell ceremony took place at the 12th air base in Dolna Mitropolia, where the two pilots were honored with full military rites.

The pilots Major Petko Dimitrov and Senior Lieutenant Ventsislav Dunkin, who tragically lost their lives in the "Graf Ignatievo" plane crash on September 13, have been posthumously promoted to higher military ranks. The promotions were made by order of Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov.

Two highly skilled pilots from the Dolna Mitropolia Air Base have tragically lost their lives in a crash involving an L-39ZA combat training aircraft. The incident occurred at the Third Air Base in Graf Ignatievo, with Major Petko Dimitrov Dimitrov and Senior Lieutenant Ventsislav Atanasov Dunkin identified as the deceased.

Two Bulgarian pilots from the "Graf Ignatievo" Air Base lost their lives in a crash involving a training-combat aircraft. The crew, from the Dolna Mitropolia base, were identified as Major Petko Dimitrov Dimitrov, born in 1973, and Senior Lieutenant Ventsislav Atanasov Dunkin, born in 1996.

A 4-year-old girl died after an accident in Pleven region, the Ministry of the Interior reports. The accident happened around 21:35 last night on a third-class road after the village of Opanec in the direction of the town of Dolna Mitropolia.

The 30-year-old driver of the car in which the child was traveling lost control, the car left the roadway and hit a roadside tree.

"On December 15 this year, we will have our first medical helicopter." This was stated by caretaker Health Minister Asen Medzhidiev on the National Television

The purchase agreement was concluded with the Italian company "Leonardo". In the following years, we will gradually receive the remaining five helicopters. One machine costs about 18 million euros, the minister said.

The Day of Aviation and Cosmonautics - April 12, will be celebrated in a number of cities across Bulgaria with a series of events.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov attended the ritual of taking a military oath by freshmen at the National Military University "V. Levski" in Veliko Turnovo.
"The government has allocated BGN 16 million to repair your buildings," the prime minister said. In his speech, he stressed that this year nearly BGN 4 billion will be spent on defense.

The first F-16 Block 70 aircraft for the Bulgarian Air Force will be produced in December 2022, the manufacturer-company Lockheed Martin and the United States Embassy in Bulgaria announced. This aircraft will train Bulgarian pilots.