The Russian Knights (Russian: Русские Витязи, romanized: Russkie Vityazi) is an aerobatic demonstration team of the Russian Air Force. Originally formed on April 5, 1991 at the Kubinka Air Base as a team of six Sukhoi Su-27s, the team was the first to perform outside the Soviet Union in September 1991 when they toured the United Kingdom. On December 12, 1995, disaster struck as three team jets flew in-formation into a mountainside near Cam Ranh, Vietnam during approach while en route to home from a Malaysian airshow during adverse weather conditions. The team now performs with eight Su-30SM.[1]
| Russian Knights | |
|---|---|
 Russian Knights insignia | |
| Active | 5 April 1991 – present |
| Country |  Russia |
| Branch | Russian Air Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Kubinka (air base) Moscow Oblast, Russia |
| Colors | Red, White and Blue |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | |
History
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The team is based at Kubinka AFB. Kubinka is a major base of the Russian Air Force in the Moscow region.[citation needed]
Accident and incidents
editOn 12 December 1995, when approaching the Cam Ranh airfield (Vietnam) in adverse weather for refueling, two Su-27s and an Su-27UB of the Russian Knights team flew into a nearby mountain while in-formation, killing four pilots. The cause of the crash is attributed to a misinterpretation of approach-pattern instructions, and in particular the leading Il-76 that was acting as a reconnaissance aircraft.[3][4]
On 16 August 2009, two Su-27s rehearsing acrobatic maneuvers collided near Moscow, killing one pilot and sending the jets crashing into nearby vacation homes. The dead pilot was the Russian Knights' commander, Guards Colonel Igor Tkachenko, a decorated air force officer.[5]
On 9 June 2016, a Su-27 pilot was killed near Moscow as he failed to eject when trying to avoid homes.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b ""Русские Витязи" полностью укомплектовали группу новыми самолетами Су-30СМ". bmpd.livejournal.com. November 30, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
- ^ "Группа "Русские Витязи" получила четыре истребителя Су-35С". bmpd.livejournal.com. November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
- ^ Sidorov, Pavel. "Катастрофа "Русских Витязей"". airbase.ru. Retrieved April 24, 2007.
- ^ Pronina, Lyuba (August 14, 2001). "Knights and Swifts Aim to Conquer New Heights". The Nation. Thailand. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
- ^ "Pilot dies as Russia jets collide". BBC News. August 17, 2009.
- ^ Cenciotti, David. "Russian Su-27 pilot killed after aerobatic team crashes". Business Insider. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
External links
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