ВАЗДУХОПЛОВНИ САВЕЗ ЈУГОСЛАВИЈЕ 1945–1953: СКИЦА ЗА ИСТОРИЈУ ЈЕДНЕ ДРУШТВЕНЕ И СПОРТСКЕ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЈЕ У СОЦИЈАЛИСТИЧКОЈ ЈУГОСЛАВИЈИ
AERONAUTICAL UNION OF YUGOSLAVIA 1945­-1953: A SKETCH FOR THE HISTORY OF A SPORTS AND SOCIAL ORGANISATION IN SOCIALIST YUGOSLAVIA

Summary/Abstract: The Aeronautical Union of Yugoslavia was formed as the Federal Committee for Sports Aviation in 1946, after a year of almost spontaneous gathering together of aviation enthusiasts and former members of the Aeroclub of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which was dissolved during the Second World War. The Union took its new name in 1948. It was formed as a part of the Popular Technics Organisation (Narodna tehnika), which also included other technical organisations such as the Automotive Union of Yugoslavia. Its main task was to provide a cadre of trained aviators who would represent a reserve for the Yugoslav Air Force, as well as to help the technical enlightenment and education of Yugoslav citizens. This was done by forming federal aviation centres and aeroclubs, holding aeromodelling, parachuting, gliding and motor aviation courses, organising air shows, competitions and exhibitions, publishing magazines etc. Internationally, the Aeronautical Union was at first cooperating with similar organisations from the Eastern Bloc, but this was stopped after 1948 and the Tito­Stalin split, which meant the cutting of all ties between Yugoslavia and other socialist countries, after which it became a member of the World Air Sports Federation (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) in 1950 and started participating in a growing mnumber of international competitions, while also hosting the first World Parachuting Championship in 1951. Its relationship with Yugoslav aviation authorities was a rather tumultuous one, with the Aeronautical Union trying to avoid working in compliance with civil aviation regulations until 1953, when it finally started fully cooperating with the Civil Aviation Administration. That same year, in the wake of decentralising the Popular Technics Organisation, the Aeronautical Union decided to leave it and become an independent organisation.

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