The Podgorica Airbase (also known as Golubovci Airbase) is an active

airbase An air base (sometimes referred to as a military air base, military airfield, military airport, air station, naval air station, air force station, or air force base) is an aerodrome used as a military base by a military force for the operation ...

Montenegro ) , image_map = Europe-Montenegro.svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Podgorica , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , official_languages = M ...

. The airbase facilities are shared with Montenegro's main international airport,

Podgorica Airport Podgorica Airport ( cnr, Аеродром Подгорица, Aerodrom Podgorica, ) is an international airport serving the Montenegrin capital of Podgorica and the surrounding region. It is one of two international airports in Montenegro, the ...

. It is the main base of the air arm of the Military of Montenegro. During the Yugoslav era, it was the home to the 172nd Aviation Brigade of

Yugoslav Air Force The Air Force and Air Defence ( sh-Cyrl-Latn, Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздушна одбрана, Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdušna odbrana ; abbr. sh-Cyrl-Latn, label=none, separator=/, РВ и ПВ� ...

and its main flying training base for primary and basic pilot training.

Overview

Podgorica Airbase shares the main runway with nearby

, and has a large ramp attached to the taxiway, used exclusively for military aircraft. Part of the military complex was also 08/26 runway, which was not used by civilian planes. It is connected to the main 18/36 runway by 3 km long taxiway, and is located adjacent to Šipčanik Hill, near the town of

Tuzi Tuzi ( cnr, Tuzi/Тузи, ; sq, Tuz or ''Tuzi'') is a small town in Montenegro and the seat of Tuzi Municipality, Montenegro. It is located along a main road between the city of Podgorica and the Albanian border crossing, just a few kilometers n ...

. The hill doubled as an underground aircraft shelter. Airbase facilities were frequent target of 1999 NATO bombing. Fuel tanks and the aircraft ramps were extensively targeted, as well as parked aircraft. All of the

Leteće zvezde The Leteće zvezde (Serbian Cyrillic: Летеће звезде, en, Flying Stars) was the official aerobatic flight display team of the Yugoslav Air Force. History Predecessors Yugoslavia has a long history of precision display flying whi ...

aerobatic team

G-4 Super Galeb The Soko G-4 Super Galeb ( en, Super Seagull), also referred to as N-62, is a Yugoslav single-engine, advanced jet trainer and light ground-attack aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Technical Institute at Žarkovo and manufactured by the SO ...

s were destroyed on the airbase premises during the strikes. Šipčanik underground shelter was also targeted on several occasions, and was since unused as an aircraft shelter. It has been converted into a

wine cave Wine caves are subterranean structures for the storage and the aging of wine. They are an integral component of the wine industry worldwide. The design and construction of wine caves represents a unique application of underground construction ...

by the

Plantaže Plantaže ( cnr, Плантаже, ; MNSEPLAP is a Montenegrin wine and grape brandy producer. Overview ''AD Plantaže'', a joint stock company presently incorporated into Holding company "Agrokombinat 13 jul", is the biggest Montenegrin viticu ...

company. The entire Šipčanik compound, tightly guarded by the JNA during the Yugoslav era, is now of civilian use, and even first 800m of 08/26 runway adjacent to the Šipčanik hill is accessible by car. With Montenegro's independence on 3 June 2006, the newly formed

Military of Montenegro The Armed Forces of Montenegro ( cnr, Војска Црне Горе, Vojska Crne Gore) are the military forces of Montenegro. The Armed Forces consists of an army, navy and air force. The military currently maintains a force of 2,350 active du ...

announced that it will not maintain a combat air force. Currently, 11

s (4 operational), 4

Lola Utva 75 The UTVA 75 is a compact, low-wing monoplane, piston-engine aircraft manufactured by UTVA. It is mainly used as a military basic trainer and sporting aircraft. Development The Utva 75 made its maiden flight in 1976. Between 1978 and 1985 ...

s, 11

Aérospatiale Gazelle The Aérospatiale Gazelle (company designations SA 340, SA 341 and SA 342) is a French five-seat helicopter, commonly used for light transport, scouting and light attack duties. It is powered by a single Turbomeca Astazou turbine engine and was ...

s and 1

Mil Mi-8 The Mil Mi-8 (russian: Ми-8, NATO reporting name: Hip) is a medium twin-turbine helicopter, originally designed by the Soviet Union in the 1960s and introduced into the Soviet Air Force in 1968. It is now produced by Russia. In addition t ...

are located at Podgorica Airbase. The helicopters were incorporated in the newly formed air arm of the Military of Montenegro, while the fate of the jets and trainers is yet to be decided. The Podgorica Airbase is designated to become a regional helicopter pilots training facility.

References

* – IATA and ICAO codes * – IATA, ICAO and DAFIF codes

References

Military of Montenegro Airports in Montenegro Yugoslav Air Force bases Podgorica Municipality {{Europe-mil-stub

Overview

See also

References

References