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Russia's Berkuts: 25 years of unique helicopter aerobatic team

April 11 marks 25 years since the Berkuts (Golden eagles) aerobatic team of the Russian Air Force was established

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The Berkuts (Golden eagles) aerobatic team of the Russian Air Force fly Mi-28N attack helicopters

© Igor Rudenko, Bogdan Rudenko/Russian Defense Ministry

The team was established in 1992 and first time used four, later six, Mi-24 helicopters

© Igor Rudenko, Bogdan Rudenko/Russian Defense Ministry

The Berkuti changed to six Mi-28N combat helicopters in 2012

© Alexei Yereshko, Svetlana Umarova

Berkuts' pilots Alexander Chichkin, Alexander Novochenko, Evgeny Ignatov, Anatoly Egorov, Alexander Rudykh and Alexander Anikin, 1992

© Pilots' archive

The Berkuti team performs a demonstration flight at the Aviamix airshow at the Dubrovichi range, 2015

© Alexander Ryumin/TASS

The helicopters of the Berkuts air group rehearse for the 9 May military parade, 1995

© Alexander Nemenov/TASS

Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jet of the Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerobatic team and Mi-28N helicopters of the Berkuts team

© Marina Lystseva/TASS

Mi-24 attack helicopters of the Berkuts aerobatic team at the 344th Centre for Combat Training and Flight Personnel Training located in the city of Torzhok, Tver Region

© Rostislav Koshelev/TASS

Mi-28 is Russian all-weather anti-armor attack helicopter. It was unveiled in 1995

© Marina Lystseva/TASS

Mi-28N Night Hunter helicopters are designed to carry out search and destroy operations against tanks and armoured vehicles

© Igor Rudenko, Bogdan Rudenko/Russian Defense Ministry

Mi-28N helicopter can operate night and day, and in adverse weather conditions

© Igor Rudenko, Bogdan Rudenko/Russian Defense Ministry

The Berkuts (Golden eagles) aerobatic team of the Russian Air Force fly Mi-28N attack helicopters. The team was established in 1992 and first time used four, later six, Mi-24 helicopters. The Berkuts changed to six Mi-28N combat helicopters in 2012. See the photos of the unique helicopter aerobatic team - in this photo gallery.

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