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Russian Knights video - “Smotr” tv-series

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Another excelent video from “Smotr” tv-series. This time about one ofthe best aerobatic teams in the world - “Russian Knights”. Absolutely must-see video.
Russian language, translation is in the post.
In this video very used materials you may find in our Russian Knights section.

The Russian Knights are in the sky. Even for the experienced ace pilots and for the most sophisticated spectators it’s always a big event. Having the colors of the Russian state flag Su-27 heavy fighters are demonstrating amazing performance on the minimum level and speed. The Magnetic show. You may feel these winged miracles (more then 20 tons each) in the sky are free like birds. They are almighty. “I wouldn’t like to meet these Russians in air combat.” - said one NATO general looking at this aerobatic team performance. It’s hard to add something to such words. Russian Knights are really the best pilots in the world. No other aerobatic team were able to perform the same level stunt-flying on the heavy fighters.

The Russian Knights aerobatic team was created on 5 April 1991. Team gathered the best pilots of Kubinka airbase, Moscow. To perform formation flying on heavy fighters was not an easy job. In close formation during the evolutions much more harder to handle Su-27 then, for example, Mig-29. Big dimensions, weight - and as a result - big aircraft inertia. Total weight of 6 planes in formation is about 150 tons, total wingspan is more then 75 meters.

First time the name “Russian Knights” appeared outside Russia on the 24 of august 1991 in Poland, during the airshow in Poznan. That time Vladimir Bazhenov performed single aerobatic program on Su-27 without any special colors. By the result of this flight team was invited on airshow in England. And less then in one month 6 fresh painted in Russian state flag colors Su-27 heavy fighters held a course for airbase Scampton, the homebase of RAF honour - Red Arrows aerobatic team.
The team made a riot in the Britain. They even were allowed to make a pass over Royal castle in Scotland, where RAF Captain-General Her Majesty Queen Mother were resting. Watching the flight from her palace balcony Her Majesty compared the Russian aircraft formation with menacing formation of shining knights cavalry on the tourney.

Afterwards the world tour of Russian Knights has started. From the 1991 till the 1995 they visited airshows and salons in France, Germany, Canada, USA, Norway, Belgium. Everywhere they had constant success. Sometimes it even could get into fun situation. For example in Canada local pilots were so excited about the pilot’s work that they even got into strong debate with Russian Knights team members - which plane is better - Su-27 or F-18 Hornet. Debate was resolved in sight of 200 thousands show visitors. F-18 and Su-27 got to the air to simulate air combat on tight turns. From the beginning both aircrafts were on the same level. But after exact moment due to the pilot professionalism Su-27 has shown all its amazing manoeuvring abilities and got on Hornet’s tail. Canadians lost and gave out the bet - 2 boxes of beer. Other time, on airshow in Prague after the single aerobatic program performed by the dual aircraft of Vladimir Gryzlov and Igor Tkachenko, US pilots refused to take-off their F-15 Eagles. And it is understandable why - they didn’t want to disgrace themselfs to the russians.

Russian Knights aerobatic team became world popular, the honour of Russia, the representation of Russian Air Force.

On the 12th of december 1995 an awfull disaster has happened. Russian Knights were about to be no more. Team was coming back from a successful demonstration flight on airshow in Malaysia. They were flying as usual, according to the international routes and in common flight formation - “wedge”. Il-76 in the center and Russian Knights aircrafts to the right and to the left. The accident happened during the approach to the Cam Ranh airbase, Vietnam, where aircrafts supposed to land for the refuelling. Il-76 commander made several blunders in the heavy fog conditions. As a result three Su-27 by the right side crashed into the mountain.

You may hear now recorded radiochat of controller with pilots at the crash moment. Pilots - Boris Grigoryev, Nikolay Kordyukov, Nikolay Grechanov and Alexandr Syrovoi were buried on the Nikolskoe village cemetery, near Kubinka. They lay together, as the flew.

It was very hard time for Russian Knights. Not many people believed they would fly again. But despite everything Russian Knights stood out this extremely high-G moral overload of Cam Ranh disaster. And not least due to the unexpected help of English friends - Red Arrows aerobatic team pilots. They understood very clearly, how badly Russian Knights felt at the moment. Red Arrows pilots invited Knights to the Scampton airbase. They didn’t give Knights any special sorrows or something. They just put heart-broken pilots into the flight plan and gave them the possibility to fly red-winged Hawks, because there is no better cure for the pilot then the sky is. And it has brought results - already in April 1996 Russian Knights started to fly on the native Kubinka airbase. From the beginning it was pair, then a group of three aircrafts. After it created diamond formation. Team got new pilots and by the summer it was already a 6-plane formation.

At the same time it was made a decision to change aircrafts color scheme a little bit. The top became blue. The bottom got sharp edge between white and blue - so-called “arrow” under the cockpit. Wing tips and fin tips were colored red. The first official demonstration of new crew was made in September 1996 on the hydro-air-salon in Gelendzhik. Over the bay there was flying the diamond of Alexandr Lichkun, Vladimir Kovalsky, Sergey Klimov and Vladimir Bukin. And after another year Russian Knights resumed their world tour demonstrations. They were flying over Celtveg airfield, Austria.

The 21st of June 1997 could become another black date for the Russian Knights. The unique footage you may see now is being shown for the first time (on TV - comment by Aviapedia). It was filmed by the airshow visitor on amateur camera. On the international airshow in Bratislava Su-27 tail no. 15 performed belly lending. Sergey Klimov forgot to extend landing gear. His technician got a heart-attack. Sergey Klimov was a very good, professional pilot. He got through Afghanistan, Cam Ranh. It was his first trip after the Cam Ranh accident. Russian Knights planes were just upgraded - navigation system was improved. Sergey wanted to take a look, to try everything out by himself. And got too deeply into it. At the last moment he understood that he is landing without gears. He wanted to execute second approach, even had advanced throttle. But it was too late, he landed without gears. Ukrainians from Mirgorod helped to take fighter away from the landing strip. Airplane was jacked, gears went out and aircraft was taken away by the towing tractor. Three days later wrecked Su-27 flew away home by itself. After that case Sergey Klimov said - “I will be flying this plane only”. But in spring 2002 Sergey has gone. He was 40 years old only.

Manfully take losses and make the hardest and the finest work - it’s something Russian Knights are used to. Nowadays they are successfully performing all over the world and each time they are being greeted by the rising in applause. They take part in every big holiday. Russian Knights pass over the Red Square, Moscow on 9 of May 2005 was an excellent culmination of the celebration. They flew over the heads of many states who came for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Victory Day.
And already traditional MAKS International Aviation and Space Salon can’t be thought of without Russian Knights show.
One of the latest team achievement is the victory on 23rd FAI World Grand Prix in Formation Teams/Jets group. This Grand Prix took place in January this year in Al-Ain, UAE.
Couple of days before team has returned from China, where they performed on the dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the end of the World War II International Holiday “Eagle of Victory - 2006″. They made there about 10 demonstration flights. By the Xinhua agency information about 100 thousands people were watching Russian Knights flights personally and dozens of millions - by TV.