Q. and A. from the letters

Take a look at the dialogue from the letters, and don't blame us for some kind of English please :). Anyway I think it could be interesting.

Q.
"...First of all, I want to thank you for your magnificient forum, where i've learn a lot of things and get absolutely superb videos and photos..... even if i don't understand russian language (thanks online translator ;-))"
...
1) How are your aerobatic program built ? Is it "drawn" on a paper ? If yes, you could send me an exctract of this ?
2) What are the radio call sign of the group ?
3) Could you explain me the take off and landing procedures ( speed, radio messages, "actions" ) you use during your formation ?
...

A. Hi! Thank you for your questions and interest in us.

1) You asking about Strizhi display program or about common 2-teams program with the Russian Knights' Su-27, in 10, 9, 8 or 4-planes formations?
There is big difference between the both squadrons' programs and there is much more difference and many "hues" in the each, after all I'm afraid that I could not answer to many questions. This is just MUST have to see by yourself... :)

In present time it could be a 6-planes, 5-planes and 4-planes formation program. Each time Strizhi team performing their group formation aerobatic, the program is subject to change. The main reasons is the weather (f.e. low clouds ceiling) and runway conditions, display box sizes and local airshow regulations. Surely the airshow bosses will know about all the program before the show begins.

I'll try to explain, let's consider we are talking about our MiG-29's Team Strizhi.

I. Lining up, run and takeoff in two (pair), three or four planes formation: leader #1, wingman #2 to the left, wingman #3 to the right, and wingman 4 ("slot" or "tail") to the right, right behind wingman #3. 5th wingman (his position in the group is at left edge of "pyramid") taking off alone or with 6th wingman in pair formation.

II. Migs going in the close group in the midair off-screen and return to spectator's area in the "PYRAMID" with 6-migs (or 5-migs) formation, or in the core "RHOMBUS" 4-migs formation.

III. Then, you can look at the aerobatic complex program performed by Strizhi with the:
a) loops and fly-bys,
b) "inclined loops" (75-degrees to the line or horizont loop),
c) flat 360-degrees turns,
d) so-called "battle turn" (turn to 180 degrees at high-G's),
e) fly-bys in "close rhombus", the distances between neighbours are minimal,
f) barrel rolls in group,
g) synchronous barrels of each mig,
h) fly-bys in the left or right line formation, with flare salute (time is subject to change).
j) (a b c) in "ARROW" or other formation
i) "The Tulip" – main "flower" spread performed directly in front to the spectator's area. All the migs is pulling at 7-8G and then build their pattern to quick landing, except leader.
Note that a), b), and c) maneuvers could be performed with and without the gears retracted.

IV. The leader remain in aerobatic area to do his agile solo, performs the loops and those maneuvers with up to 9G, + add the low-speed fly-by at 200-220 km/h., + the bell and salute at the end of show.

The ceiling for all the maneuvers is below 1200-1500 meters, the "bottom" aerobatic line is according local airshow regulations (usually 100-200 meters), speed is 600-800 km/h, angle of attack up to 12-15 degrees in group formation, up to 18-20 degrees in the solo.
The usual sequence is: come to display in 6-planes pyramid, then, after doing some group aerobatics one leaving to land, the rest continue display in 5, ...then one leaving to land, and now continue to display in 4 ("rhombus") core Strizhi formation, ...then you got the flower :), ...then – leader doing solo to the end of his personal show.
All 6-5-4 formation could be rebuild and re-rebuild right before the spectators, this is especially featured.

2) The radio callsign does not any matter, it is just abstract number, f.e. "348" or "712". In case of your team you could assign the callsign before each of your training flights.

3) The radiochatter of formation takeoff I've just described is simple: leader request lining up, check the group already built, and request takeoff. After clearance is granted, the throttle goes froward with the brake is on, we're about to begin the genesis run, the leader command to release brakes, ...speed rise to 200 km/h, pulling up the stick and now the show is beginning! :)

The radiochatter of formation landing is unusual, because of mostly Strizhi have to land alone.
The pair landings were often performed on the many airshows, and have no any special chatter except request and clearance to land – this is just the part of show, pair leader and wingman do their jobs to keep the formation.

Anyway you can always come to see the photos:
http://www.strizhi.ru/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=aerobaticshow;action=display;num=1093052139;start=50, this topic is the best to describe my message. And surely you can dig into the whole Gallery:
http://www.strizhi.ru/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=pilotsphotoglance, please note that Gallery have 6 pages of 15 topics each :).

I'd recommend to open all the topics, and see all the photos and videos to get an idea.

Hope I could help.
Best regards from russian sky!

Landing at Kubinka Airforce base

All the Team landed at Kubinka 2:30 pm, the return route from UAE (Al Ain->Ashgabat->Astrakhan->Kubinka) is completed.
The photos from snowy runway February 2, 2005. Click to see high-resolution images.




The portraits of the Strizhi (Swifts) pilots is here and the Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) is here.

Going home!

All the Team coming home, the airshow was closed.
February 1, our four aerobatic fighters and one Il-76 at Astrakhan, February 2 is the date of return.

Thank all of you in Al Ain!

The many photos from Al Ain is here, please note the continuous numbers of pages.