Moscow. 03 June 2021. The black and gold coloring of the L-39 jet trainers, on which the “Rus” aerobatics group performs, emphasizes the impeccable geometry of the aircraft structures in the sky and resembles the luxurious patterns of ancient Russian art crafts. It is impossible to imagine the flight program of the MAKS air show without the brilliant performances of this air group, which represents the best traditions of the Russian piloting school and invariably gives delighted spectators a real holiday.
The oldest domestic aviation group of aerobatics “Rus” was formed in 1987 on the basis of the Vyazemsk Aviation Training Center (UAC). By the decision of the Central Committee of DOSAAF, the training center was entrusted with the preparation of an aerobatic team of ten aircraft to participate in the upcoming aviation festival. The L-39 Albatros jet trainers were transferred to the UAC from the Air Force. The best pilots of the training center were gathered to participate in the air parade. However, despite the highest individual skill of each, they did not have the experience of flying in a tight command formation, let alone performing the most difficult elements of group aerobatics. There were only a few months left to prepare. Hard training and the most real professional creativity began. There were no guidelines, diagrams, drawings, everything had to be invented and worked out by ourselves, literally “from scratch”. We watched the recordings of flights of famous foreign aerobatic teams, composed and drew a drawing of the performance on paper, estimated the capabilities of technology, developed algorithms for performing various structures. And the day has come – on June 3, 1987, a formation of nine aircraft was first built in the air, and this very day is considered the birthday of the Rus aerobatic team.
The group’s first public performance took place on Aviation Day, August 18, 1987, at a grand aviation-sports festival in Tushino, when Rus, in the presence of 800 thousand spectators, performed passes in a dense formation with climb, rearrangements and turns, after which it presented a conditional air battle of two pairs of planes. The performance was a tremendous success, it was a brilliant premiere!
Over the years of training and performances, a unique style of the aerobatic team “Rus” has developed, demonstrating the best traditions of the national school of individual flying skills and group flying. The Rus squadron is always enthusiastically greeted by residents of Russian cities at numerous aviation holidays, parades, festivals, demonstrations and air shows. The audience of Belarus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Latvia, Ukraine, Estonia expressed their admiration for the skill of the Smolensk aces.
Today “Rus” is a recognized team of world-class synchronized aerobatics masters. In the arsenal of the aces there are the most complex elements of aerobatics, and the rich program of performances invariably delights even the most demanding spectators. Let’s list just a few of the numerous aerobatics performed by the “Rus” group: “Passing through the line”, “Fan”, “Mirror”, “Heart”, dissolutions “Fountain” and “Tulip”, performed by four and six aircraft, respectively. G-forces experienced by pilots during demonstration performances range from -4 to +8. The minimum distance between aircraft during flight is only one meter. The single aerobatics of the aces of the “Rus” group looks no less virtuoso and spectacular:
The aerobatic group “Rus” is an indispensable and beloved participant of the MAKS airshows in Zhukovsky. A rich and bright program of flights of famous aces, possessing the most complex elements of group and solo aerobatics, invariably delights aviation enthusiasts. Well, we are looking forward to new bright performances of “Rus” at MAKS-2021!
