Old planes in Rinas military aerodrome | Photo: BIRN

Once they were the pride of the isolated communist country – a fleet of 210 military aircraft bought decades ago from Russia and China.

However, much like the old munitions inherited from that era, many of these planes no longer fit modern needs and have become a burden to the Albanian armed forces.

Now the Albanian Defence Ministry has decided to sell off some of these relics in an international auction.

On February 22, military officials will present potential buyers with 40 planes and helicopters.

Built between 1950 and 1977, the 36 planes and four helicopters will be sold to interested museums or to private collectors keen on Cold-War military mementos.

Up for auction are several types of combat plane; six Yak-18s, three Mig-15s, three Uti-Migs, four Mig-17s, four Uti-Mig 17s, ten Mig-19s, six Mig-21s and four helicopter Mil Mi-4s.

With modest prices ranging from around 8,000 to 13,000 euros, the Ministry of Defence expects to raise around 435,000 euros in all.

Old plane in Rinas | Photo: BIRN

The ministry’s media adviser, Edlira Prendi, told BIRN that the money gained from the sale would be used to equip the army with NATO-standard ammunition.

“Our objective is to modernize the army… regarding this, the revenue from the auction will exclusively go towards buying new ammunition in line with NATO standards,” she said.

The sale will relieve the Albanian army of the cost of maintaining the 40 aircraft. It has been costing it around 50,000 euros as year to keep them in one piece.

However, selling off these ageing Cold War relics may be tricky. In 2012 and 2013, the Defence Ministry failed six times in a row to sell obsolete aircraft in auction. Officials hope not to not repeat this experience.

Forgotten aerodromes:

Old planes in Rinas military aerodrome | Photo: BIRN

Few Albanians know that at Rinas, no more than 500 metres from Tirana International Airport, a forgotten military aerodrome shelters a fleet of 11 Mig planes.

It was closed after a disaster on September 16, 2004, when pilot Jani Tarifa lost his life, trying to fly an old Mig-19 loaded with 41 missiles.

Before him, a total of 34 other Albanian pilots have lost their lives since 1955 while trying to fly Eastern-bloc aircraft.

The last incident rang alarm bells with the Albanian authorities and a decision quickly followed, banning flights by all old Russian and Chinese-made Mig combat planes.

The ministry’s media adviser, Edlira Prendi, told BIRN that the stock of aircraft that is going to be sold was banned from flying long ago.

“They have not been able to fly for years because they didn’t go through the standard operational maintenance procedures required for flying,” she explained.

Three of the planes lying marooned at Rinas aerodrome are up for sale in the auction on February 22.

Rinas aerodrome is not the only one that has been abandoned. The military aerodromes at Kucova in the south and at Gjadri to the north of Tirana are also home to old aircraft that are not allowed to fly anymore.