Posted on 04/04/2014 11:18:02 PM PDT by goldstategop
MOSCOW, April 05 /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian Knights aerobatic team marks its 23rd anniversary.
The group, the world's only one piloting heavy fighters, Sukhoi-27s, was formed on April 5, 1991.
In the early 2000s, the Russian Knights and the Swifts began to fly in the formation called "Kubinka Diamond" of five Su-27 and four MiG-29 jets.
The two aerobatic teams almost every day train at their base at Kubinka near Moscow, mastering their piloting skills in the air.
Before joining the group, a pilot must undergo two-three-year training. Each of the newcomers is an ace who has logged at least 800 flying hours.
The Russian Knights commander Andrei Alexeyev said earlier that three new pilots would join the group and they would have six jets. For the present they pilot five fighters.
The team is planned to participate in many events in Russia and abroad this year. During all April, they will train together with the Swifts for the Victory-Day Parade, which will traditionally take place on Red Square in Moscow on May 9. They will show their famous Kubinka Diamond.
Years ago I recall watching the Navy's Blue Angels perform at So. Weymouth NAS flying the F-4 Phantom another big jet.
Different definition than the West or really old guys.
Looks like the guy on the right is burnin a little rich....(8^)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.