# Cheshnegirovo Air Base

Cheshnegirovo Air Base/Sadovo (ICAO code: LBPS) used to house the 25th Fighter-Bomber Air Regiment (flying MiG-23BN/UBs) of the 10th Composite Aviation Corps. Located in central Bulgaria, north east of Plovdiv. According to the major restructuring plans it became the first regiment to convert to an air base structure. Briefly it housed the entire Bulgarian MiG-23 fleet after which it became inactive.

## History

Alternate name Sadovo. Also spelled 'Tcheshnigirovo'. Date when built - 1951. Home of 25 Fighter-Bomber Air Regiment of 10th Composite Air Corps, with the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 "Fresco". In 1976 it received the MiG-23BN. The base closed in 2000 and is now used for the storage of aircraft. There are reports that the 68 Special Forces Brigade will move here from Plovdiv.
Runway data: Location: N42 06 50.91 E024 59 34.59, Elev: 604 ft (184 m), Rwy 10/28, Size: 8345 x 170 ft (2544 x 52 m), concrete.

## Aircraft

MiG-23BN Flogger in Cheshnegirovo Air Base :
| Serial | c/no. Prev. Identity | Delivered | Fate/Notes |
| 06 | 7942/0393215766 | 1981 | Preserved Rakovski Apr 2003 |
| 20 | 6542/0393209520 | 1978 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 21 | 6543/0393209521 | 1978 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 23 | 6545/0393209523 | 1978 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 30 | 6546/0393209530 | 1978 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 31 | 6547/0393209531 | 1978 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 36 | 6548/0393209536 | 1978 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 37 | 6549/0393209537 | 1978 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 39 | 6641/0393209539 | 1978 | w/o 7 August 1984 |
| 48 | 7843/0393215748 | 1981 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 49 | 7844/0393215749 | 1981 | w/o 3 August 1994 |
| 50 | 7845/0393215750 | 1981 | Preserved Plovdiv/Krumovo Oct 2004 |
| 51 | 5650/0393208751 | 1976 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 52 | 7846/0393215752 | 1981 | w/o 16 Sept 1986 |
| 53 | 7847/0393215753 | 1981 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 54 | 7848/0393215754 | 1981 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 55 | 6344/0393209355 | 1977 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 56 | 6345/0393209356 | 1977 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 57 | 6346/0393209357 | 1977 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 58 | 6347/0393209358 | 1977 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 60 | 7849/0393215760 | 1981 | Stored Graf Ignatievo May 2004 |
| 61 | 7850/0393215761 | 1981 | Stored Graf Ignatievo May 2004 |
| 63 | 7941/0393215763 | 1981 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 65 | 6348/0393209365 | 1977 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 66 | 6349/0393209366 | 1977 | Preserved Cheshnegirovo Town Apr 2003 |
| 67 | 6350/0393209367 | 1977 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 70 | 5644/0393208370 | 1976 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 75 | 5645/0393208375 | 1976 | Stored Dobrich Sept 2002 |
| 77 | 7943/0393215777 | 1981 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 79 | 5646/0393208379 | 1976 | Preserved Plovdiv/Krumovo Oct 2004 |
| 80 | 7944/0393215780 | 1981 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 90 | 5649/0393208400 | 1976 | Dolna Mitropoliya |
| 91 | 5647/0393208391 | 1976 | Chopped in Cheshnegirovo Apr 2007 |
| 93 | | 1976 | w/o 19.08.1986 г. |
References:
* European Air Forces Directory 2003/04 (Mach III)
* European Air Forces Directory 2005/06 (Mach III)

### Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23UB Flogger

MiG-23UB Flogger :
| Serial | c/no. Prev. Identity | Delivered |
| 020 | A1037620 | 1976 |
| 021 | A1037621 | 1976 |
| 022 | A1037622 | 1976 |
| 023 | A1037701 | 1977 |
| 024 | A1037702 | 1977 |
| 25 | A1037855 | 1978 |
| 26 | A1037856 | 1978 |
| 27 | A1037857 | 1978 |
| 028 | A1038105 | 1981 |
| 29 | A1038318 | 1983 |
| 30 | A1038320 | 1983 |
| 31 | A1038330 | 1983 |
| 32 | A1038404 | 1984 |
| 33 | A1038406 | 1984 |
| 040 | 19015140 | 1984 |
References:
* European Air Forces Directory 2003/04 (Mach III)
* European Air Forces Directory 2005/06 (Mach III)
* arrow-aviation.nl