After 20 Years of Silence: Aircraft Lands on Runway
The only airstrip in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, shelled during the Homeland War, is operational again. The first flight opened the door to the development of aviation tourism in Nova Rača.
The only airstrip in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, shelled during the Homeland War, is operational again. The first flight opened the door to the development of aviation tourism in Nova Rača.
On Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, the Day of Croatian Defenders, and the Day of the Nova Rača Municipality, the airstrip in Nova Rača experienced a kind of resurrection. After nearly two decades of complete inactivity, the first aircraft landed on Thursday, August 6, 2026, symbolically marking a new beginning for this historically significant facility.
Darko Knežić, the mayor of Nova Rača, highlighted the uniqueness of this airfield, the only one of its kind in Bjelovar-Bilogora County. "This is the first landing in many years. This runway is the only one in the county that was shelled during the Homeland War. Fortunately, the projectiles did not hit the concrete part of the runway but the grassy area, and the grenades did not explode. With this landing, we are practically reopening the runway for smaller aircraft that can now come to Nova Rača," Knežić told Super portal.
The runway, nearly 650 meters long, was historically used exclusively for agricultural purposes. It served for aerial crop spraying, fertilizing large agricultural areas, and protecting forests from pests. The last major event, an aircraft gathering, was held there twenty years ago.
The arrival of the Beechcraft aircraft, with 200 horsepower and a top speed of about 250 kilometers per hour, was met with full honors. Firefighters from the Bulinac Volunteer Fire Department, led by President Franjo Tanić, gave the pilot a traditional water cannon salute. The first landing also ended with the symbolic opening of champagne.
Pilot Mario Vinković, who flew the aircraft, emphasized the excellent flying conditions and the importance of preserving the memory of this location. "Twenty years ago, the last aircraft gathering was held here. This airfield holds a special place because it is the only one in Bjelovar-Bilogora County that was shelled during the Homeland War. That is exactly why it deserves to come back to life and for its history not to be forgotten," Vinković said.
The reactivation of the runway is not just a symbolic gesture. Mayor Knežić revealed concrete plans for its use. "There are already announcements of aircraft arriving for the Feast of the Assumption. The plan is to organize transport from the runway to the center of Nova Rača to make arrival as easy as possible for visitors," he announced.
The municipality's long-term ambitions are even greater. There are plans to renovate, restore, and extend the runway to bring it into full operation. The ability of aircraft like the Beechcraft to reach Pula in just one hour further underscores the potential of this airfield for developing tourism and aviation facilities in the heart of Bjelovar-Bilogora County.
