Open Door Night at Zemunik Base
The Zemunik Air Base held the “Open Door Night” on 30 January 2015 for the second consecutive time, joining the nation-wide initiative of the Night of the Museums that has grown into a 10-year tradition.
The Base was visited by over 1000 citizens, who defied the unfavourable weather to enjoy the night-time watching of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence assets (including the ZLIN 242 L , the Pilatus PC-9 M, the Canadairs and the Airtractors, and the Bell 206 B Jet Ranger III helicopters , as well as the newly acquired two-seat Airtractor AT-802 Fireboss firefighter aircraft.,
As previously, young visitors had the opportunity to take part in prize contests on the occasion, the most popular being – “The prettiest smile of the cockpit”. The winners, according to the jury composed of the editorial staff of the Croatian Military Magazine “Hrvatski vojnik“ – Matej Vrkić, Noa Stipić and Ema Marinović, received the complimentary presents by 1st Lieutenant Antonija Mutabdžija, the pilot and flight instructor of the Base..
The event featured a brief musical programme with the Best Singer contest, “starring“ the pupils of the “Vladimir Nazor“ Elementary School from Škabrnja.
In addition, at the Ministry of Defence’s information stand the visitors could obtain information oncareer possibilities in the Armed Forces and on the new military study programmes (military management and military engineering).
“The Open Door Night“ is a great opportunity to demonstrate to what extent the Base is open to the public; and to present our activities and missions to the visitors on the site. Bearing in mind that It has also become a place for family hangout and that young visitors are our most enthousiastic public we have prepared an interesting entertainment programme, with the emphasis on the night view of the apron, the runways and the aircraft. The visitors’ impressions are very positive, some of them have come from the neighbouring towns, and we believe that the Open Door Night at Zemunik will become our tradition“, said Lt. Col. Mario Pleša of the Zemunik Air Base.