Radom Airshow 2025: Su-22’s Farewell Flight Announced
Organisers of the Radom Airshow have confirmed that the Polish Air Force’s Su-22 will take to the skies at this year’s edition of the event for the very last time. Scheduled for August 30-31, 2025, at Warsaw-Radom Airport in Radom, Poland, this biennial spectacle is gearing up to draw over 140,000 aviation enthusiasts from across the globe. Tickets are already up for grabs, so if you’re keen to catch this historic moment, now’s the time to snag yours.
This isn’t just another airshow—it’s a farewell party for a legend. The Radom Airshow has long been a highlight on Europe’s aviation calendar, known for its jaw-dropping displays and a chance to see everything from vintage warbirds to cutting-edge jets. But in 2025, all eyes will be on the Su-22, a rugged warrior of the skies that’s bowing out after decades of service. Expect emotions to run high as this Polish icon makes its final pass.
Polish Air Force Su-22M4 / 100 Anniversary Finnish Air Force
The buzz around the Su-22’s retirement is palpable, and the airshow’s official social media channels have captured it perfectly. They announced, “For the last time before our eyes—Su-22 says goodbye to the sky! Radom Airshow 2025 promises not only great emotions, but also moving moments. During this year’s edition, we will witness the farewell flyover of the legendary Su-22—a machine that for decades was the pride of Polish aviation, a symbol of strength, reliability and the history of our sky.” That roar of its engine? Unmistakable. That sleek, swept-wing silhouette? Instantly recognisable. For fans, it’s more than metal and rivets—it’s a living piece of Poland’s military story.
And it’s not just about the plane. The Su-22 represents generations of pilots who’ve climbed into its cockpit, technicians who’ve kept it airworthy, and mechanics who’ve tinkered with its guts. As the announcement puts it, “Su-22 is also people—dozens of generations who have tied their service, their lives and their passion to it. It was a school of character, responsibility and true aviation class.” This flyover isn’t just a stunt—it’s a salute to everyone who made the Su-22 a cornerstone of Polish air power. Picture the scene: the crowd hushed, necks craned, as this beast thunders overhead one last time. Chills guaranteed.
Let’s rewind a bit and talk about the Radom Airshow itself. Held every two years, it’s a magnet for anyone who loves the smell of jet fuel and the scream of engines. Warsaw-Radom Airport transforms into a playground for aviation buffs, with aircraft buzzing the sky and gleaming on the tarmac. It’s a mix of military muscle and civilian flair, drawing top-tier teams and solo acts from across Europe and beyond. Past shows have featured everything from acrobatic prop planes to roaring fighters, and 2025 is shaping up to be no different—except, of course, for that bittersweet Su-22 sendoff.
Poland’s been hosting this event since the 1990s, and it’s grown into one of the continent’s must-see aviation gatherings. The setting helps: Radom’s got the space and infrastructure to handle big crowds and bigger planes, plus a passionate local fanbase that turns out in droves. With an estimated 140,000-plus attendees expected, the 2025 edition could be one for the record books. Whether you’re a hardcore spotter scribbling tail numbers or just there for the noise and thrills, Radom delivers.
Now, let’s get under the hood of the star of the show: the Sukhoi Su-22. This Soviet-designed fighter-bomber, nicknamed the “Fitter” by NATO, first rolled off the production line in the 1960s as an evolution of the Su-7. Poland started flying them in the early 1980s, snapping up a mix of Su-22M4 and two-seat Su-22UM3K variants. With its variable-geometry wings—think of them as adjustable for speed or stability—and a beefy Lyulka AL-21F-3 engine pumping out over 24,000 pounds of thrust with afterburner, the Su-22 was built to hit hard and fast.
In Polish service, it was a jack-of-all-trades. Ground attack? Check. Reconnaissance? Yep. It could lug bombs, rockets, and cannons into a fight, or mount cameras to snoop from above. Over its 40-plus-year career, Poland operated around 110 of these brutes, based mostly at Świdwin and Powidz airbases with units like the 40th Tactical Squadron. They weren’t just hangar queens either—through the Cold War’s tail end and into the post-Soviet era, Su-22s were a key part of Poland’s defense strategy, even as newer jets like the F-16 started stealing the spotlight.
Upgrades kept them relevant. The Poles tweaked the avionics, added better navigation gear, and even toyed with precision-guided munitions. But time catches up with every machine. By the mid-2010s, the fleet was shrinking, with spares getting scarce and maintenance costs climbing. The last handful—down to about a dozen by some counts— soldiered on into the 2020s, mostly for training and the occasional show of force. Now, with the F-16s and incoming FA-50PLs and F-35As taking over, the Su-22’s days are done. Radom 2025 is its victory lap.
What’s it like to fly? Ask a Polish pilot (if you can find one willing to spill), and they’d probably mention the raw power—and the quirks. That cockpit’s a time capsule: analogue gauges, a forest of switches, and a stick that demands respect. Landing’s a workout too, with a narrow gear track and a tendency to bounce if you’re sloppy. But for those who mastered it, the Su-22 was a beast worth taming—a loud, proud relic of a bygone era.
Of course, the Su-22 won’t be the only draw at Radom. The 2025 lineup is already shaping up to be a smorgasbord of wings and rotors. At least ten countries are sending their best, from Finland’s snarling F/A-18C Hornet to France’s sleek Rafale slicing through the clouds. The Czechs are bringing a triple threat: the zippy SAAB Gripen, the chunky W-3A Sokol helicopter, and the L-159 ALCA on static display. Germany’s pitching in with Eurofighter Typhoons, an A400M Atlas transport, and the hulking CH-53G Sea Stallion chopper—imagine that monster parked next to a smaller W-3 Sokol.
Italy’s showing off too, with the stealthy F-35A Lightning II gleaming on the ground, plus the agile T-346A Master, powerful Eurofighter Typhoon and rugged C-27J Spartan putting on a flying clinic. The Royal Jordanian Falcons will weave their four Extra 330LX planes into tight, patterns, while Britain’s Red Arrows—nine BAE Hawk T1s in perfect sync—promise to paint the sky red, white, and blue. Closer to home, Poland’s own Team Orlik will tumble through aerobatics, and the F-16C Tiger Demo Team will strut its stuff with flares and growls.
Tally it up, and you’ve got over 20 different aircraft types—jets, helicopters, trainers, and transports—split between screaming flyovers and up-close static displays. The Baltic Bees Jet Team’s quartet of L-39 Albatros jets will add some civilian spice, their bright paint jobs popping against the military greys and greens. It’s a lineup that’ll keep your head swivelling all weekend.
But let’s bring it back to the main event. The Su-22’s farewell isn’t just a footnote—it’s the heart of Radom Airshow 2025. When that flypast happens, you’ll feel the weight of history in every decibel. It’s the end of a 40-year run, a goodbye to a machine that shaped Poland’s skies and the people who flew it. The organisers call it “a gesture of gratitude to the pilots, technicians, mechanics—and to the plane itself, which for decades has guarded the Polish sky.” They’re not wrong.
So, grab your tickets, pack your binoculars, and get to Radom. This isn’t just an airshow—it’s a chance to stand on the tarmac and watch a legend sign off. The Su-22’s final flight is a moment you won’t want to miss. See you there, eyes up, ears open.
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