Russian Knights

The Russian Knights (Russian: Русские Витязи, romanized: Russkkiye 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]

This article is about the aerobatic team. For historical Russian knights, see bogatyr.
Russian Knights
237 TsPAT
(237-th Aviation Technology Demonstration Center of the RF's AF)
4 Sukhoi Su-27P's of the Knights in formation at Aero India 2013. The Su-27P has since been replaced with eight Su-30SM
Active5 April 1991 – present
Country Russia
Branch Russian Air Force
Garrison/HQKubinka (air base)
Moscow Oblast, Russia
ColorsRed, White and Blue
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Aircraft flown
Fighter

History
Russian Knights at Igor Tkachenko tribute flight

The team is based at Kubinka AFB. Kubinka is a major base of the Russian Air Force in the Moscow region.

Accident and incidents

On 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 identified as 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
  • Soviet air shows
  • MAKS Air Show
  • Swifts

References
  1. ""Русские Витязи" полностью укомплектовали группу новыми самолетами Су-30СМ". bmpd.livejournal.com. November 30, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  2. "Группа "Русские Витязи" получила четыре истребителя Су-35С". bmpd.livejournal.com. November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  3. Sidorov, Pavel. "Катастрофа "Русских Витязей"". airbase.ru. Retrieved April 24, 2007.
  4. 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 – via HighBeam Research.
  5. "Pilot dies as Russia jets collide". BBC News. August 17, 2009.
  6. "Fighter jet crash: SU-27 pilot killed near Moscow, failed to eject trying to avoid homes". RT. June 9, 2016.
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