Bucharest - Arcul de Triumf (Romania)

Romanian Great Union Day parade

1 December 2017

Probably one of Europe’s largest military parades, along with parade. In commemoration of the unison of Romania and Transylvania in 1918, it consists of marching troops from numerous countries, a fly-by over the replica of the Arch of Triumph and rolling material to top it off.

One of us sampled these goods packed like a herring with other reporters in the press enclosure, while the other two tried their luck a couple of hundred metres from the centreline being eyeballed by the Securitate (yes, they still exist). As this was our first time we did not have an ideal spot.

Luckily, the helicopters were quite low and straight along the centreline. The transports and jets were off line though, unfortunately on our side too; so more or less overhead. Next year is the 100th incarnation and wetter permitting should see a bigger parade (this year’s instalment was ten aircraft short of last year’s).

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