Soko 522 Explained

The Soko 522 was a two-seater Yugoslav military training and light attack aircraft produced in the 1950s by SOKO in Yugoslavia.

History

The Soko 522 was designed by Yugoslav engineers Šostarić, Marjanović and Čurčić at the Ikarus Aircraft Factory in Zemun. The first prototype flew in February 1955. After the initial success of the new aircraft, production was transferred to the Soko aircraft factory in Mostar. Production lasted until 1961 and totalled 110 units. The Soko 522 was used as the primary trainer aircraft for the Yugoslav air force until it was retired in 1978.

It gained some fame for its role in war movies filmed in Yugoslavia during the 1960s and 1970s, where it was used to portray the Fw 190 German fighter. Some of its prominent movie roles were in the Yugoslav Oscar candidate Battle of Neretva and Kelly's Heroes, starring Clint Eastwood.

Operators

• Yugoslav Air Force
  • 460th Light Combat Aviation Squadron (1961–1967)
  • 461st Light Combat Aviation Squadron (1961–1968, 1973–1977)
  • 462nd Light Combat Aviation Squadron (1961–1968, 1973–1977)
  • 463rd Light Combat Aviation Squadron (1961–1966)
  • 464th Light Combat Aviation Squadron (1961–1966)
  • 465th Light Combat Aviation Squadron (1961–1966)

Surviving aircraft

France

• 60168 – Soko 522 airworthy.^[1]

Serbia

• 60132 – Soko 522 on static display at the Museum of Aviation in Belgrade.^[2]
• 60157 – Soko 522 on static display at the Museum of Aviation in Belgrade.
• 60204 – Soko 522 on static display at the Museum of Aviation in Belgrade.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

• 60143 – Soko 522 on static display at Mostar Airport in Mostar, Herzegovina-Neretva.^[3]

Slovenia

• Soko 522 on static display at the Pivka Park of Military History in Pivka.^[4]

United States

• Soko 522 owned by John Magoffin in Tucson, Arizona.^[5] It was damaged in a wheels up landing.^[6]

References

Bibliography

• Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1961.
• Illustrated history of aviation ’’Modern Ikars“, IRO Vuk Karadzic&Sluzbeni list SFRJ, Belgrade, 1989.
• Yugoslavian Air Force and Air Defence, group of authors, VINC, Belgrade, 1989.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Soko 522 - Untitled . Airliners.net . 15 November 2022 . 2006.
2. Web site: AviationMuseum.eu . Muzej Yugoslovenskog Ratnog Vazduhoplovstva . 15 November 2022.
3. Web site: Airframe Dossier - SOKO 522, s/n 60143 YAF . Aerial Visuals . 15 November 2022.
4. Web site: Paviljon C . Park Vojaške Zgodovine Pivka . 15 November 2022 . Slovenian.
5. Web site: Airframe Dossier - SOKO 522, c/n U-210, c/r N210TU . Aerial Visuals . 15 November 2022.
6. Web site: Member's Aircraft . Dixie Wing . 15 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20030503114059/http://www.dixiewing.org/aircraft/other/index.htm . 3 May 2003.