To make the aviation holiday truly unforgettable, you need a demonstration performance of the aerobatic team on modern aircraft. As part of the recent Rostov campaign "Contract Service - Your Choice!" similar tasks were solved by the pilots of the Russian Knights group. Their aerobatic program was a loud and spectacular conclusion to an event hosted by the Ministry of Defense.
After the end of the air parade and individual demonstration performances of the helicopter pilots of the aerobatic team "Berkuts" on the Mi-28N and Ka-52, four Russian Knights fighters appeared in the air. It is worth noting that this is not the first time this group has performed in Rostov-on-Don, but each of their arrival causes a real stir. Thus, more than 60 thousand people came to the aviation holiday on September 3, and most of the spectators arrived on the embankment of the Don River precisely at the beginning of the flight program.
Four of the Russian Knights demonstrated their skills. It may be recalled that in 2015, during a similar campaign by the Ministry of Defense, six heavy fighters took part in the flight program, but a smaller number of aircraft this time did not affect the beauty of the performance and the reaction of the audience.
The recent performances of the aerobatic team, which took place on September 2 and 3 within the framework of two holidays, were notable for the fact that the Rostovites for the first time were able to see the "Russian Knights" on the new technology. Last year, a group that previously used Su-27 fighters received the first Su-30SM aircraft. In the spring of 2017, the pilots first showed the audience a performance on the new technology, and just a few months after that, the most modern aircraft appeared in the skies over the Don.
One of the main differences between the new Su-30SM and the older Su-27s are engines with a thrust vector control system, which give a noticeable increase in maneuverability. This feature of the new technology was taken into account when drawing up the program, and the guests of the holiday were able to see what the Su-30SM can do both independently and in a group.
Traditionally, the performance of the aerobatic team began with the group aerobatics of the four fighters lined up in a diamond. Keeping minimum distances and intervals, the pilots performed various aerobatics. "Russian Knights" demonstrated to the audience both relatively simple passages and bends with the preservation of the formation, as well as more complex elements. In particular, the barrels were shown both with the preservation of the order, and with the individual rotation of the aircraft around their own axis.
In accordance with the established traditions of performances, at a given moment the group split up. The four aircraft entered the vertical rise and fired at false heat targets. At the same time, the cars began to disperse in different directions, drawing a beautiful figure in the sky with smoke. After that, the pair of pilots separated from the group, allowing their comrades to continue their performance.
Using the basic capabilities of their technique, two "Russian Knights" demonstrated many different maneuvers and the most spectacular paired aerobatics figures. In particular, the pilots showed such elements of aerobatics as "mirror" and "oncoming passage", which are always popular with the audience.
Demonstration performances of the Russian Knights group ended with an individual performance by one of the pilots. He once again confirmed the high potential of the Su-30SM in the context of close maneuvering combat. Perhaps the most memorable moments of the program were the "bell" and "cobra" figures. During the last plane used thermal targets, leaving behind a beautiful trail of smoke and flares.
After completing the demonstration performance, the fighter of the aerobatic team went to the airfield. The aviation festival ended, giving the audience joy and pride in the national armed forces. In addition, among the guests of the holiday one could hear regret that such events do not take place too often. But there is no doubt that the next holiday of this kind will certainly gather tens of thousands of spectators and once again show the achievements of the army.
