Take into consideration that they probably spent an entire month preparing these planes and spent a ton of money to make them flyable. As for certifications and capable pilots...they probably just found a bunch of retired pilots...gave them some booze and walked right back into the cockpit to fly. The truth is...if they wanted to maintain a regular schedule and sustain some kind of image...they have to manufacture and put out new fighters and bombers as soon as possible. The amusing thing...is that the west as they buy natural gas and oil from Siberia...are helping to restore the Russian military.
Yup... I bet the average age of the pilots was somewhere between 55-60.
...similar scenario with China and our Wal Mart shoppers