Georgi Benkovski Higher Air Force School

At a glance

Source: Wikipedia: Georgi Benkovski Bulgarian Air Force Academy; Wikipedia (Bulgarian): Висше военновъздушно училище „Георги Бенковски“; Official website: Georgi Benkovski Higher Air Force School^1,2,3

History

The school’s aviation education history reaches back to the founding of an Aviation School in 1914 and an Aeroplane School in 1915. A National Air Force School was established at Vrazhdebna, near Sofia, in 1945 and moved to Dolna Mitropoliya in 1948. In 1959, the aviation schools were merged into the Higher People’s Air Force School “Georgi Benkovski”. Its first graduating class of pilots and engineers with higher-education degrees completed their studies in 1964.^1,2

From 2002 to 2019, the institution operated as the Aviation Faculty of Vasil Levski National Military University. The National Assembly voted in April 2019 to re-establish it as an autonomous school. The decision took effect on 1 January 2020, when the faculty’s activities transferred to the new institution.^1,2

Programmes

The school offers military and civilian aviation programmes and is accredited to award bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Its training combines theoretical study with practical flight and engineering instruction.¹

• Military specialities include pilot training, air traffic management, aircraft and aircraft engines, aircraft radio-electronic equipment, aviation armament, and aviation electrical and automatic systems.
• Civilian specialities include aviation equipment and technology, automation and control equipment, and electronics.

Source: Wikipedia: Georgi Benkovski Bulgarian Air Force Academy; Wikipedia (Bulgarian): Висше военновъздушно училище „Георги Бенковски“^1,2

Training and research

Cadet pilots train alongside the 12th Air Training Wing at Dolna Mitropoliya Air Base. The wing operates Aero L-39ZA Albatros jet trainers and Pilatus PC-9M turboprops; graduates continue to the Bulgarian Air Force’s MiG-29 and Su-25 fleets. The school also conducts fundamental and applied research in areas of contemporary aviation science.^1,2

Location and links

The school is in Dolna Mitropoliya, around 12 km from Pleven, and shares its airfield with the 12th Air Training Wing. It is affiliated with the European Air Force Academies and is named after Georgi Benkovski, a Bulgarian revolutionary associated with the April Uprising of 1876.^1,2