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According to spotters, the aerobatics team of the Russian Aerospace Forces "Russian Knights" received four more new Su-30SM multifunctional fighters new building Irkutsk Aviation Plant PJSC Irkut Corporation, in addition to those previously delivered. Russian Knights received Su-30SM aircraft with blue tail numbers "34", "35", "36" and "37" (serial numbers, respectively, 10MK5 1320, 1401, 1402 and 1407), painted in the "corporate" colors of the group. On November 29, 2016, these four aircraft flew to the permanent base of the Russian Knights at the Kubinka airfield near Moscow. The flight is carried out with intermediate landings in Novosibirsk and Ulyanovsk.
Earlier on October 8, 2016 "Russian Knights" the first four Su-30SM aircraft with blue tail numbers "30", "31", "32" and "33" (serial numbers, respectively, 10MK5 1313, 1314, 1318 and 1319), painted in the "corporate" colors of the group. With the receipt of all eight Su-30SMs, the process of practical re-equipment of the Russian Knights group from Su-27 fighters was completed, on which the group, which is part of the Display Center aviation technology 4th Order of Lenin of the Red Banner Center for military testing and training of personnel of the VKS named after V.P. Chkalov, has flown since its formation in April 1991.
Original taken from a colleague ivan_stalich in "Russian Knights" the group was fully equipped with new aircraft!
The Russian Knights aerobatic team received four more new Su-30SM multifunctional fighters. now they have EIGHT brand new cars!
The planes are painted in the "signature" colors of the group and received tail numbers from 34 to 37.
Frequently Knights to us! For the last time already the fourth visit!
Came in a traditional rhombus. We made a passage over the airfield, flow and landing
And when do they get it? After all, the group recently returned from China, and also flew to Iran to perform! We didn't expect them so early - they were a surprise.
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A rhombus is a type of battle formation, or formation. Battle formations serve to solve the problems of combat training and the performance of combat missions.
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I guess with learning new car, with great opportunities the group will also have new aerobatics figures. True, I suspect that most likely in solo aerobatics, because. the maneuverability of the new aircraft for group aerobatics may not even be good - the aircraft is more maneuverable, more sensitive to controls, which means it can be even more difficult to control it in group aerobatics than the simpler Su-27. Let's hear what the pilots have to say
No. 37 enters.
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This time I did not ask the pilots - who flew what car, so I will write only airborne ones. Another photo, b / n 37 (I think this is Guards Lieutenant Colonel Sergey Shcheglov)
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Following b / n 36 (maybe this is Guard Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Erofeev?) I will have to ask.
Interestingly, in last time everyone, except Alekseev, landed with an air brake, and today everyone landed without releasing the “shovel”. Apparently the conditions are different.
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The Su-30SM is super-maneuverable, equipped with a phased array radar, thrust vectoring engines and front horizontal tail.
No. 35 enters, he is in the title photo (it is possible that this is Guard Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Bogdan)
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The Su-30SM's ability to simultaneously detect and engage multiple targets and its super-maneuverability are unique.
No. 34, which was at the head of the rhombus, is coming in for a landing, which means that this is most likely Guard Colonel Andrey Alekseev
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I really want to see aerobatics on new cars!
Andrey Anatolievich. We are looking forward to it!
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And given the fact that now there are eight new cars in the group, we can expect new figures!
It is with great pleasure that I join all the congratulations on the occasion of the birthday of our wonderful aerobatic team "Russian Knights"! Yesterday, April 05, the group turned 23 years old. Only 23 years old is youthful, although enough mature age. I wish you always a clear, blue and, most importantly, peaceful sky.
The day before, flights took place, timed to coincide with the birthday of the "Russian Knights" and, in preparation for the celebration of May 9th. And at the same time - these were the usual scheduled sorties provided for by the combat training program.
To date, the Russian Knights have been and remain the only aerobatic team in the world performing single and group aerobatics consisting of four, six and nine combat aircraft on heavy Su-27 fighters. Aerobatic team "Russian Knights" - business card Air Force Russia.
The weather was not festive at all - it was snowing, a gusty wind was blowing, but is this a hindrance for real aces. In the sky over Kubinka, as always, a wonderful performance unfolded. I love "Cuba" for the fact that here you can often see much more than anywhere else.
On this day, not only "Knights", but also "Swifts" flew, though in a limited number. If I'm not mistaken, Osyaykin and Zubkov went up into the sky. The flight program was divided into several parts - first, weather scouts got up in the morning, then training began at about 12.30. First, a pair of MiG-29s took off, and then the Su-27s began to spin their program.
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We were a little late for the start of the training flight. "Knights" have already begun their program, and had to watch partially from the car. As always, such "goodies" as oncoming aerobatics, "rhombus" passage, "barrels", "wing" and other elements of group aerobatics were shown.
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The weather was fine in the morning, though a little haze crept in, but nothing foreshadowed bad weather. Then, out of nowhere, snow fell, the cloudiness dropped to 300 meters, and it seemed that the flights would not take place. But then, again, a sharp change in the weather - the snow ended, the clouds rose to an acceptable level and it became clear that the flight program would be today.
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There was group, pair and individual aerobatics
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There were several hours between training and the main flights, and during this period of time there was an opportunity to observe ground handling aircraft, close slowly to consider the details. For example, notice how many images of flags various countries applied to the fuselage of "Sushki". These are the states in which the "Russian Knights" on their "Su-27" showed their skills. And not all cars have such an individual feature.
I was able to recognize Great Britain, Poland, Germany, Malaysia, USA, Norway, France, United Arab Emirates, Finland, Vietnam, Canada, Czech Republic, Belarus in the flags. Who will add?
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Looking at this and other photos, you will most likely not believe that they were taken on the same day as the title photo. And completely in vain. On this day, the weather made it possible to feel like in a fairy tale "12 months". Bright sun and blue sky was replaced by snow charges, then everything was repeated in the same order.
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The plane is preparing for an imminent departure, technicians check the operation of the systems
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From below the plane looks very interesting
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Photographers are ready to take their the best shots;) cold ground doesn't stop anyone)
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The tail plumage of the aircraft "Russian Knights" has a well-recognized coloring
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Su-27s take off today in two groups - first a pair, then a troika
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Combat aircraft are already about 20 years old, however, they are in service and show the maximum of their capabilities. Recently I watched a program, in my opinion on Discovery, it turns out that the American aerobatic team "Blue Angels" ("Blue Angels") flies on their F-18 Hornets, whose age is comparable to the age of our cars. There, too, the planes in the group have been flying for 20-25 years.
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A trio of planes joins the pair that took off earlier and the group gathers to perform aerobatics
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The takeoff maneuver is carried out very quickly and in a few seconds the pilots are ready for the task.
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Russian Air Force
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Passage with extended landing gear and landing lights at low speed. Minimum distance between planes
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Gathering for the formation of the "Wing"
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"Wing".
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Climb
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Landing and firing of braking parachutes at the command of a ground service specialist
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Nesterov's loop performed by AGVP "Russian Knights"
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"Unbreakable and legendary..."
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An invariable attribute of all flights of aerobatic teams - photographers with televisions
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Got another board. welcome home
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"Barrels" in the group
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bottomless sky
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Aerobatics figure "Mirror". One plane flies in a normal position, and the second inverted. Looks very impressive
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Koptim
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Another "Mirror"
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The dissolution of the four "Knights" .... And-and-and-and ... R-r-time
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"Small diamond" formation, when the aircraft are located at a minimum distance from each other and with a small interval
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Another aircraft from the group touched the ground and rolled into the parking lot. In a few minutes, the pilots will arrive at the guests of the holiday, among whom there are many veterans of the 237th Central Patriotic Aviation Center and representatives high command. It should be said that with The creation of the first aerobatic aviation group took place as early as May 1989, when Su-27 fighters entered service with the 1st Aviation Squadron of the Center for Displaying Aviation Equipment. Experienced pilots quickly mastered new technology and soon began training flights as part of a pair, three, and then four cars in the "rhombus" formation. For 23 years, pilots have performed in huge number air shows in many countries.
The birthday of the Russian Knights was April 5, 1991, whenthe composition of the aerobatic team of six aircraft was finally formed. It was decided to give the new unit bright name"Russian Knights", which is associated withhistorical origins, Russian epics, warlike spirit and unique masculinity
Five pilots assembled, arrived at the official part of the event and to communicate with the press
From left to right: Denis Plaksin, Alexander Bogdan, Andrey Alekseev, Oleg Erofeev, Sergey Shcheglov.
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In the future, it is planned to increase the number of the main pilots of the group to six. Several candidates for the sixth vacancy are now flying around.
Guard Major Denis Plaksin
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Guard Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Bogdan
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Deputy Commander of the 237th Guards Center for Patriotic Aviation, Colonel Andrey Alekseev
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The leader of the group Andrey Alekseev and the closing guard lieutenant colonel Oleg Erofeev. According to Andrei, the position of the trailer is the most responsible and difficult in the entire ranks.
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All the pilots in the group, except for Denis Plaksin, graduated from the Kachinsky VVAUL, the famous "Kacha". According to Alexander Bogdan, they know each other, one might say from the "first class". Mutual understanding in flight and trust in group mates is the most important factor coherence in group aerobatics.
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Denis Plaksin graduated from Armavir VAI
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Guard Lieutenant Colonel Sergei Shcheglov - extreme left wingman
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Pilots are very popular with the press
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The pilots were given commemorative medal in honor of twice Hero Soviet Union pilot Grigory Kravchenko
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TASS-DOSIER /Valery Korneev/. June 9 front-line fighter Su-27 of the Russian Knights aerobatic team of the Russian Aerospace Forces crashed
April 5, 2016 marked the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Russian Knights aerobatic team of the Air Force (since August 1, 2015 - as part of the Aerospace Forces, VKS) of Russia.
The Russian Knights group was formed on April 5, 1991 from the pilots of the 1st squadron of the 237th Guards Proskurov Mixed Aviation Regiment of the 16th Air Red Banner Army of the USSR Air Force (now the 237th Guards Proskurov Red Banner Orders of Kutuzov and Alexander Nevsky Aircraft Display Center named after I.N. Kozhedub, 237th Guards TsPAT, Kubinka Air Base, Moscow Region).
"Agency "Voeninform" of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation"
Since 1967, the 237th Air Regiment has been specializing in aircraft demonstrations and aerobatics; since May 1989, the pilots of the regiment have mastered front-line fighters Su-27. The name of the air group was chosen at the suggestion of pilot Nikolai Grechanov. AT different years the group included 31 military pilots.
The group currently operates four Su-27P fighters (modified for air force air defense) and two Su-27UB (double training version). Demonstration flight programs include group aerobatics of four and six aircraft; synchronized, head-on aerobatics of two aircraft, as well as single aerobatics.
Band performance history
The first performance of the "Russian Knights" took place on August 24, 1991 at the air show in Poznan (Poland), where the group commander Vladimir Bazhenov demonstrated the solo aerobatics program. In the early autumn of the same year, the Sukhoi Design Bureau created a unified visual design for the group's fighters in white-blue-red colors. The first group performances of the "Knights" took place in the autumn of 1991 at Lukers and Finningley Air Force Bases, where Russian Su-27s flew together with the British Red Arrows aerobatic team (English "red arrows").
Since 1991, "Russian Knights" have been regularly participating in demonstrations of aviation skills at an air show in Russian cities and abroad - in the Czech Republic (1991), Malaysia (1991, 1995, 2013), USA (1992), France (1992, 1997), Holland (1993), Canada (1993), Slovakia (1994, 1996), Norway ( 1994), Luxembourg (1994), Turkmenistan (1994), Austria (1996), China (1998, 2006, 2012), UAE (2005, 2006), Belarus (2006), Finland (2008), Bahrain (2012, 2014) , India (2013), Hungary (2013) and others.
The flights of the group's fighters in formation in the shape of a rhombus, both separately and as part of the "Cuban Diamond" (nine aircraft together with the MiG-29 of the Swifts aerobatic team, which is also based in Kubinka), are a traditional element of the program of the International Aviation and Space Salon ( MAKS, Zhukovsky, Moscow region), Victory Parade on Red Square in Moscow, International Naval Show in St. Petersburg.
"Knights" participated in the laser show of Jean-Michel Jarre during the celebration of the 850th anniversary of Moscow (1997), accompanied the airliners of the British Queen Elizabeth II and French President Jacques Chirac during their visits to Russia in 1994 and 1997.
catastrophes
During the history of the "Russian Knights" there were three disasters in which the pilots who were part of the group died.
December 12, 1995 during the flight from Malaysia to Russia after participation in the international air show "Lima-95" three fighters of the group crashed. The collision with the mountain occurred during the landing approach for refueling at the Vietnamese Cam Ranh airfield. The reason was the unsatisfactory organization of flights in adverse weather conditions. Four pilots were killed: Guard Colonel Boris Grigoriev, Guard Lieutenant Colonel Nikolai Grechanov, Nikolai Kordyukov and Alexander Syrovoy.
The disaster was the first loss among personnel groups.
August 16, 2009 near the Ramenskoye airfield (Zhukovsky, Moscow region) during a training flight in preparation for the MAKS-2009 air show, Su-27 fighters (tail number "14 blue") and Su-27UB (tail number "18 blue") aerobatic team collided in the air, one of them fell on a cottage in a holiday village. The commander of the 237th TsPAT, Igor Tkachenko, was killed, and another of the pilots received a spinal injury. Five residents of the village were also injured, where three residential buildings burned down as a result of the disaster. On August 22, 2009, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, Guards Colonel Igor Tkachenko was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
June 9, 2016 front-line fighter Su-27 of the aerobatic team "Russian Knights" of the Russian Aerospace Forces crashed near the village of Muranovo (Pushkinsky district, Moscow region). The pilot, Major Sergei Eremenko, was killed.
Future aircraft change
It is planned that during 2016 the pilots of the Russian Knights will switch from heavy combatant Su-27s to more modern aircraft. In January 2016, Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, told reporters that the decision on which Vityazi aircraft would fly in 2017 would be made by the Russian Defense Minister.
In March, the leading pilot of the air group of the Guards, Colonel Andrey Alekseev, told the media that the command had set the task of re-equipping the aerobatic team, and the pilots and engineering staff were already undergoing a retraining program for new type aircraft. What kind of car it is has not yet been reported.
The main composition of the air group
Andrey Alekseev
Deputy Commander of the 237th Aircraft Display Center
Team Leader, Lieutenant Colonel
In 1995 he graduated from the Kachinsky Higher Military aviation school pilots. He served as an instructor pilot in the Borisoglebsk center for the retraining of flight personnel. Since 1998 he has been serving at the Cuban Air Base. During his service, he mastered the Yak-52, L-39, MiG-29, Su-27 aircraft. He flew 2100 hours on these types of aircraft. He has been engaged in aerobatics since 2001. Military sniper pilot.
Sergei Shcheglov
Commander of the air group "Russian Knights", lieutenant colonel
Left wingman
In 1995 he graduated from the Kachin Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots. He served as a pilot in the Borisoglebsk center for the retraining of flight personnel. Since 2007, he has been serving at the Kubinka air base. During his service, he mastered the Yak-52, L-39, MiG-29, Su-27 aircraft. He flew 1300 hours on these types of aircraft. Military pilot 1st class.
Alexander Bogdan
Right wingman, lieutenant colonel
In 1995 he graduated from the Kachin Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots. He served as a pilot in the Borisoglebsk center for the retraining of flight personnel. Since 2005, he has been serving at the Kubinka air base. During his service, he mastered the Yak-52, L-39, MiG-29, Su-27 aircraft. He flew 1500 hours on these types of aircraft. He has been engaged in aerobatics since 2008. Military pilot of the 1st class.
Oleg Erofeev
Tail wingman, lieutenant colonel
In 1995 he graduated from the Kachin Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots. He served as a pilot in the Borisoglebsk center for the retraining of flight personnel. Since 1997 he has been serving at the Cuban Air Base. During his service, he mastered the Yak-52, L-39, MiG-29, Su-27 aircraft. He flew 2000 hours on these types of aircraft. He has been engaged in aerobatics since 2001. He performs flights as a leader, as well as an external, internal and tail wingman. Military sniper pilot.
Vladimir Kochetov
Left extreme wingman, captain
In 2008 he graduated from the Krasnodar Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots. Served in the 611th fighter regiment. Since 2010 he has been serving in Kubinka. During his service, he mastered the L-39, MiG-29, Su-27 aircraft. He flew 670 hours on these types of aircraft. He has been engaged in aerobatics since 2012. Military pilot of the 1st class.
Sergey Eremenko
Right extreme wingman, major
In 2003 he graduated from the Krasnodar military aviation institute. He served in the 31st Fighter Aviation Regiment. Since 2010 he has been serving in Kubinka. During his service, he mastered the Yak-52, L-39, MiG-29, Su-27 aircraft. He flew 800 hours on these types of aircraft. He has been engaged in aerobatics since 2011. Military pilot of the 1st class.
Died June 9, 2016 during Su-27 plane crash near the village of Muranovo (Pushkinsky district, Moscow region).
