The Aviation History of Yugoslavia: Mostar’s Role in War and Industry

This review paper traces the history of the development of Yugoslav aviation with a particular focus on Mostar, a key center of aircraft production and military aviation research. From the establishment of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes in 1918 to the dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, aviation played a critical role in national defense and technological advancement. During World War II, the Yugoslav Royal Air Force faced overwhelming challenges, while partisan aviation efforts laid the foundation for a post-war military air force. The rapid industrialization of the socialist era led to the rise of the SOKO aircraft factory in Mostar, which – through a productive synergy that emerged between industrial and academic centers – became the cornerstone of Yugoslav aerospace production, manufacturing military aircraft and helicopters, and developing ambitious projects such as the Novi Avion supersonic fighter. However, the breakup of Yugoslavia and the subsequent conflicts led to the collapse of the aviation industry in Mostar, with its infrastructure largely destroyed or abandoned. In the decades that followed, successor states turned to foreign aircraft procurement, while Mostar’s aviation legacy faded into history. This study examines the wartime and post-war evolution of Yugoslav aviation, the pivotal role of Mostar in aircraft production, and the ultimate decline of the country’s aerospace ambitions. It also pays homage to the many professors, assistants and engineers who participated in the discussed projects.