President Milanović Attends Aviation Event at “Susret za Rudija,” Held in Honour of Homeland War Hero and Pilot Rudolf Perešin
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended today the aviation event at the “27. Susret za Rudija” [“27th Rally for Rudi”], which took place in Gornja Stubica in memory of the pilot Rudolf Perešin, a hero of the Homeland War.
President Milanović viewed this highly popular and unique aviation event in Croatia, accompanied by the Commander of the Croatian Air Force, Major General Michael Križanec, the Prefect of Krapina-Zagorje County, Željko Kolar, the Head of the Municipality of Gornja Stubica, Jasmin Krizmanić, the secretary of the Zagreb Aeronautical Technical Association “Rudolf Perešin,” Luka Šimura, and members of the late Rudolf Perešin’s family. This year’s “27th Rally for Rudi” featured a traditionally rich flight programme with the participation of numerous aircraft from general aviation, the Croatian Air Force, special units of the Ministry of the Interior (MUP), the aerobatic display team “Krila Oluje,” and the air forces of neighbouring countries.
The event was held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Croatia, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia, and the Mayor of the City of Zagreb, and was organized by the Zagreb Aeronautical Technical Association “Rudolf Perešin” and the Municipality of Gornja Stubica.
The opening ceremony of this year’s “Rally for Rudi” began with the laying of wreaths at the bust of Perešin in the Rudolf Perešin Memorial Park in Gornja Stubica. The President’s delegate at the wreath-laying was Ivica Olujić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defense.
In early May 1995, Rudolf Perešin, a legendary pilot of the Croatian Air Force, a hero of the Homeland War, and an honorary citizen of the City of Zagreb and the Municipality of Gornja Stubica, was killed during Operation Flash. On 25 October 1991, he defected to Austria in a Yugoslav People’s Army MIG-21 because he did not want to fight against his own army, the Croatian Army. Every year in Gornja Stubica, in honour of Rudolf Perešin – Rudi, events rich in sports and entertainment are held.
FOTO: Ured predsjednika Republike Hrvatske / Tomislav Bušljeta