Aviation Regiment 4050 (5818 Regiment)
Role: Transport

Aviation Regiment 4050 includes the oldest squadron in the Albanian Air Force. 4050 Regt was formerly known as 5818 Regt, before it was renumbered in the early 1990s The unit comprises one squadron. Aircraft do not wear the allocated unit serial prefix of '1'. The unit had disbanded by 2003.

1 Skuadrilja
Utility transport squadron.
What was know known as No.1 Transport Squadron was first established on 24 April 1951 with a dozen Yak-9 fighters for the air defence of Tiranë. After the Yaks were replaced by the MiG-15s of 4020 Regiment, the unit may have continued with Yak trainers and/or Po-2 agricultural aircraft. From 1963, the unit assumed the utility transport role with the Chinese version of the Antonov An-2, the Harbin Y-5. One of the principle uses of the Y-5 in Albania has been crop spraying. The CJ-6 operated is the personal aircraft of the Albanian Chief of Staff. Since the 1990s the unit has operated several government helicopters for VIP transport and rescue duties.

Aircraft Used:

Type	Qty	Service	Badge	Example Serials
Yak-9P	11	April 1951 - 1956?		?
Yak-9V	1	April 1951 - 1956?		?
Po-2	4	1951 - 1964		?
Yak-11	4	1952 - 1963		?
Yak-18	4	1952 - 1962		?
Yak-18A	18	1953 - 1962		?
Il-14M	1	1957 - 19??		?
Nanchang CJ-6	1	1962 - 2002		01
Harbin Y-5	11	1963 - 2002		12,22,31
AS.350 Ecureuil	3	1991 - 2002		?
Bell 222UT	1	1991 - 2002		?
Alouette III	2	1995 - ?		?

? Skuadrilja
Helicopter squadron.
A helicopter squadron was established at Lapraka in September 1957 (or 7 June 1957), using Russian supplied equipment. With the arrival of the Chinese-built Z-5 in 1967, the squadron formed the nucleus of the newly established 4040 Regiment at Tiranė-Farke. Transport, SAR and AOP duties were carried out.

Aircraft Used:

Type	Qty	Service	Badge	Example Serials
Mi-1	3	Sept 1957 - 1960		16
Mi-4A	4+3	Sept 1957 - Dec 1967		-

Air Bases:

Base	Duration
Tiranė-Lapraka Aerodrome	April 1951 - 2002

Unit Insignia:

Figure 1

References:

• Air Forces Monthly April 2004