Top Guns: Russia to Hold Its First-Ever Aerobatic Team Contest

Russia's first-ever aerobatic team contest will take place in the city of Voronezh between May 27 and June 1; the event will be part of the Aviadarts-2015 all-Russian air skill competition, according to Russian Air Force spokesman Igor Klimov.

More than 140 pilots will take part in the competition, in which they will conduct firing exercises, carry out aerobatics and drill penetrating the S-300 air defense system.

Separately, the traditional Aviamiks show will be held during the Aviadarts-2015 contest.

"For the first time in the framework of the Aviadarts-2015, a competition between Russian aerobatic performance demonstrator teams will be held in the Pogonovo range in the Voronezh region; the teams include Strizhi (Swifts), Russkiye Rytsari (Russian Knights), Sokoly Rossii (Falcons of Russia) and Berkuty (Golden Eagles)", Klimov said.

He explained that the air aces will perform aerobatics in a group using planes such as the MiG-29, the Su-27 and the Su-30SM fighter jets. The single event will see them flying the Mi-28N "Night Hunter" and the Ka-52 "Alligator" attack helicopters as well as the Mi-26 heavy transport helicopter.

Among other things, judges will evaluate the teams' flying accuracy in a synchronized display looking at the pilots' speed and altitude.

Launched in 2013, the Aviadarts contest was included in the combat training system of the Russian Armed Forces and is a great advert for the air force.