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Aeroklub Varaždin has been active for more than 90 years and is ranked alongside the first related civil aviation associations that were formed in Europe and the world.

Aviation in Varaždin has a long and extremely rich tradition. For example, the first successful manned hot air balloon flight in Varaždin took place in 1890, and Roman Kažimir Schmidt, a native of Varaždin and our first motor plane pilot, became an air ace of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1918.

The first initiative for the establishment of the Local Committee of the Aeroclub “Naša krila” was launched in 1928, and was realized in 1930, when the first plane, Klemm-25 with pilot Vid Kršlović, landed in our city. Then the first airport, the popular Vinokovčak in Veliki Prelogi, was modestly arranged. In September, an airshow with “aerial baptisms”, i.e. panoramic flights, was held there, with the participation of three sports and tourist planes.

During the Second World War, the “Croatian Wings” modeling school operated in Varaždin, producing national champions whose results in competitions were not surpassed until the end of 1945. After II. during World War II, the aviation modellers’ association “Atom” and “Aviation Society” operate in Varaždin, and members of the Aeroclub managed to acquire and train their first aircraft – the glider “Salamander” – in 1950. By the mid-1960s, the Aeroclub and Aerocentar received the first Polikarpov PO-2, Aero-2D, Aero-3 motor airplanes and gliders for initial training – Vrabac and Roda – from the Aviation Association.

In 1968, members of the Varaždin Aeroclub found the plot of land in Dravčina and arranged their airport on it, which still exists there today. A hangar and an administrative building with a control tower were soon built on it, and in the 1970s aircraft were intensively acquired. At one point, there were as many as six planes and two gliders in the hangar of the Aeroclub.

In the rich tradition of the Aeroclub, we should definitely mention the 13 international Varteks Cups held – modeler competitions and international sports and tourism events – Aeropicnic. Among others, Čedomil Vertuš, state champion in modelling, Predrag Korenički, state record holder in parachuting, Milica Petrović, multi-awarded parachutist, and motor pilots – Milan Šimek, Mario Husnjak, Zvonimir Žitnjak, Franjo Žganec, Boris Hanžek – stood out in aviation sports. and others, who achieved top positions in numerous competitions. In addition to them, the largest number of medals and awards at State and club competitions in the period from 1985 to 1991 were won by members of the aviation model section.

A large number of motor pilot, paratrooper, modeler and numerous international air shows were held at the Varaždin airport, of which the CIAV is known throughout the world. One of them was held in 1987 on the occasion of the opening of the newly renovated asphalt runway 1,735 meters long.

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