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Russia's defense industry

Russian Knights and Swifts: unique aerobatic teams

The Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerobatic team performed a demonstration flight at China International Airshow in Zhuhai
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The Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerobatic team performed a demonstration flight at China International Airshow in Zhuhai
© Marina Lystseva/TASS
A team of Sukhoi Su-27s was originally formed on April 5, 1991 at the Kubinka Air Base. Photo: Russian Knights aerobatic team performs maneuvers during celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of the 16th Air Force formation
© ITAR-TASS/Marina Lystseva
Five airplanes are usually in the sky during aerobatic team's performances. Photo: Air Force Day in Lipetsk, 2014
© ITAR-TASS/Sergei Bobylev
Strizhi (Swifts) aerobatic team performs maneuvers on lightweight fighters MiG-29. Photo: Swifts and Russian Knights aerobatic teams are seen performing a demonstration flight at Kubinka air base
© ITAR-TASS/Fyodor Savintsev
MiG-29 was constructed in the 1970s. Photo: A MiG-29 jet fighter aircraft of the Swifts aerobatic team performs a demonstration flight
© ITAR-TASS/Sergei Bobylev
Both aerobatic teas are welcome guests at the largest air shows and festivals around the world
© EPA/GEI CHIRIKOV
Russian Knights aerobatic team is the only one in the world who performs stunts on heavy fighters
© ITAR-TASS/Marina Lystseva
Russian Knights' Su-27 airplanes keep a minimum distance of 3 meters during a performance
© ITAR-TASS/Sergei Bobylev
Su-27 is a supermaneuverable multi-purpose fourth generation fighter. Several climb time world records were set by this plane
© ITAR-TASS/Mitya Aleshkovskiy
Only experienced first class pilots are included in both aerobatic teams. All of them spent at least 1 thousand hours in the air
© ITAR-TASS/Marina Lystseva
Photo: A MiG-29 jet fighter of the Swifts aerobatic team performs a demonstration flight at an air show on the Russian Air Force Day
© ITAR-TASS/Sergei Bobylev
Photo: Aerobatic teams fly above the Red Square forming the number 65 during the general rehearsal of the Victory Day parade in Moscow, 2010
© EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOV
In 1993, Swifts aerobatic team was awarded the title of "Best aerobatic team of the world"
© ITAR-TASS/Donat Sorokin
Photo: Swifts aerobatic team performs during a parade marking the Russian Navy Day, July 27, 2014
© ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Metzel

The Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerobatic team performed a demonstration flight at China International Airshow in Zhuhai. Russian Knights aerobatic team is the only one in the world that performs stunts on heavy fighters. Together with Strizhi (Swifts) aerobatic team they are often welcome guests at the largest air shows and festivals around the world. Swifts aerobatic team performs maneuvers on lightweight fighters MiG-29. Images of stunts and maneuvers by internationally recognised aerobatic teams - in photo gallery by TASS.

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Russian defense industry
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