International Air Show, BIAS 2026, Kicks Off Today, August 28, at the Aurel Vlaicu International Airport Băneasa in Bucharest and at Romaero

The first day is reserved for official training flights, which the public can watch for free, while the major aerial demonstrations, drone show, fireworks, and concert are scheduled for Saturday. Public access to both days of the event is free, with no ticket required. The 16th edition brings together over 200 military and civilian participants from Romania and abroad.

Among the main attractions are the Frecce Tricolori and Turkish Stars formations, the Rafale, F/A-18 Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Panavia Tornado fighter jets, as well as aircraft of the Romanian Air Force. On Friday, August 28, spectators can watch the preparations of the formations and pilots enrolled in this year's program. Public access for viewing the training flights will be allowed between 2:30 PM and 6:30 PM, the same interval set for visiting the exhibition area and the aircraft on static display.

The first day's program includes practice performances by Frecce Tricolori, Turkish Stars, Rafale Solo Display, the Romanian Air Force, and the Romanian Aeroclub. An F/A-18 Hornet of the Spanish Air and Space Force will also take part, along with Panavia Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft of the German Air Force. After 6:30 PM, access to the BIAS perimeter will no longer be permitted.

People already inside will be able to stay until 8:00 PM, when the public program of the training day ends. The main day of the event will begin Saturday at 8:00 AM, when public access opens. Between 9:00 AM and 9:30 AM, flights with light and ultralight aircraft, presentations by aviation schools, and a motorcycle demonstration by Doomstrike are scheduled.

The opening ceremony will take place between 9:45 AM and 10:00 AM, and the air show proper will continue until 9:00 PM. The Romanian Air Force will open the series of major demonstrations with aerobatics, tactical exercises, and formation flights. At the end of the performances, there will be a drone show and fireworks, followed by a concert between 9:00 PM and 10:00 PM, marking the end of the BIAS 2026 program.

The exhibition area and static aircraft display can be visited Saturday between 9:00 AM and 6:30 PM. One of the main attractions of this edition is the return of the Frecce Tricolori, the official aerobatic team of the Italian Air Force. They will perform in Bucharest for the first time after a 14-year absence, with nine MB-339 aircraft and a program built around synchronized flight.

Turkish Stars returns to BIAS after eight years since its last participation in the capital. The demonstration team of the Turkish Air Force uses Northrop NF-5 Freedom Fighter aircraft and is known for high-speed maneuvers in configurations requiring a high degree of precision. The public will also be able to watch the Rafale Solo Display, a demonstration with the fighter jet of the French Air and Space Force.

The international program is completed by the F/A-18 Hornet from Spain, the Eurofighter Typhoon and Panavia Tornado from Germany, as well as Pilatus PC-9 aircraft of the Slovenian Air Force. The Romanian Air Force will participate in BIAS 2026 with F-16 Fighting Falcon, C-27J Spartan, and C-130 Hercules aircraft, along with IAR-330 helicopters. The demonstrations will include tactical maneuvers, aerobatics, and formation flights.

The Romanian military presence will continue in the static exhibition area, where visitors can see up close F-16, C-27J Spartan aircraft, IAR-330 and IAR-316B Alouette helicopters, as well as the IAK-52 training aircraft. A replica of the Vlaicu II aircraft and a full-scale model of the IAR-80 will also be on display. The exhibition will include the IAR-317 Airfox helicopter, a TPS-79R radar, HAWK and M903/PATRIOT installations, flight and shooting simulators, as well as a special vehicle for explosive ordnance disposal interventions.

The General Aviation Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will participate with an S-70M Black Hawk helicopter, integrated into a tactical exercise conducted together with fighters of the Special Interventions and Actions Service (SIAS) of the Romanian Police. Romanian sport aviation will be represented by Hawks of Romania, the national aerobatic team of the Romanian Aeroclub. The pilots will perform with Extra 330SC aircraft, through individual maneuvers and synchronized flights.