The Russian Knights
The
Russian Knights aerobatic team was created on the 5th of April 1991 and
manned by the best pilots of the Kubinka Air Force base, who had fully
mastered the piloting of the 4th generation Su-27 fighter. The team is
organic to the Russian Air Force 237th Aircraft Demonstration Centre named
after Air Force Marshal Ivan Kozhedub.
Across the world, aerobatic teams that fly sports and trainer aircraft or even light fighters are aplenty. The Russian Knights are unique owing to their being the only aerobatic team flying group aerobatics in heavy fighters. The average weight of the aircraft of the six-plane team totals about 150 tons during the aerobatics, with the sum of their wingspan amounting to over 75 m.
The Russian Knights made their foreign debut in September 1991 when they displayed their aerobatics programme in the United Kingdom for the first time. Since then the Russian Knights have become regular participants at major airshows all over the world. They have visited Malaysia, USA, France, Holland, Canada, Slovakia, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, and China. The Russian Knights' aerobatics is a highlight of the MAKS Moscow international airshows held at the Gromov LI I airfield in Zhukovsky.
Little can rival the spectacular sight of supersonic aircraft group aerobatics. Aerobatics emerged almost simultaneously with aircraft themselves. Later, the best pilots in the world turned to formation flying. It is well known that the heavier the aircraft, the harder it is to control as part of the team. However, the unique performances of the Su-27 has added new momentum to the sophistication of aerobatics. Coupled with the superior flying skills of the Kubinka aces, the performance of the Su-27 turns the Russian Knights' flying into a breathtaking show.
Across the world, aerobatic teams that fly sports and trainer aircraft or even light fighters are aplenty. The Russian Knights are unique owing to their being the only aerobatic team flying group aerobatics in heavy fighters. The average weight of the aircraft of the six-plane team totals about 150 tons during the aerobatics, with the sum of their wingspan amounting to over 75 m.
The Russian Knights made their foreign debut in September 1991 when they displayed their aerobatics programme in the United Kingdom for the first time. Since then the Russian Knights have become regular participants at major airshows all over the world. They have visited Malaysia, USA, France, Holland, Canada, Slovakia, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, and China. The Russian Knights' aerobatics is a highlight of the MAKS Moscow international airshows held at the Gromov LI I airfield in Zhukovsky.
Little can rival the spectacular sight of supersonic aircraft group aerobatics. Aerobatics emerged almost simultaneously with aircraft themselves. Later, the best pilots in the world turned to formation flying. It is well known that the heavier the aircraft, the harder it is to control as part of the team. However, the unique performances of the Su-27 has added new momentum to the sophistication of aerobatics. Coupled with the superior flying skills of the Kubinka aces, the performance of the Su-27 turns the Russian Knights' flying into a breathtaking show.
