Vrazhdebna Air Base
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| Vrazhdebna Air Base | |||||||
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Авиобаза Враждебна | |||||||
| Sofia, Bulgaria | |||||||
 Emblem of the Vrazhdebna Air Base | |||||||
| Site information | |||||||
| Type | Military Air Base | ||||||
| Owner | Sofia Airport | ||||||
| Operator | Bulgarian Air Force | ||||||
| Controlled by | Bulgarian Air Force | ||||||
| Location | |||||||
  Vrazhdebna Air Base Location within Bulgaria | |||||||
| Coordinates | 42°41′43″N 23°26′23″E / 42.69528°N 23.43972°E | ||||||
| Site history | |||||||
| Built | 1937 | ||||||
| In use | 1994–present | ||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||
| Occupants | 16th Transport Squadron | ||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||
| Identifiers | IATA: SOF, ICAO: LBSF | ||||||
| Elevation | 532 metres (1,745 ft) AMSL | ||||||
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| 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
[edit]"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).
Although the name, in modern Bulgarian, can be translated to mean "hostile", the actual origin is disputed, with some claiming that it was named after a founder named Vrazhil[2], while other sources claim it is derived from the Old Bulgarian "vrazhdenie" (враждение), meaning "persecution".[3]
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
[edit]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
[edit]- 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
[edit]- ^ Information of Sofia International Airport (Vrazhdebna), airport-data.com
- ^ "Settlements". Sofia Municipality - Kremikovtsi District. Sofia Municipality - Kremikovtsi District. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
The name "Vrazhdebna", according to old accounts and tales comes from the name of its founder - Vrazhil
- ^ "Докога София ще е "Враждебна"". www.24chasa.bg. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
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