The Russian Knights () 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.
The team has performed with eight Su-30SM fighters since October 2016, and added eight Su-35S in November 2019, bringing its total aircraft to sixteen.
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 the Russian Knights' commander, Guards Colonel Igor Tkachenko, a decorated air force officer.
On 9 June 2016, a Su-27 pilot was killed near Moscow as he failed to eject when trying to avoid homes.
See also
- Soviet air shows
- MAKS Air Show
- Swifts
References
External links
- Russian Knights official website (Russian language)
- Russian Knights official website (English language)
- Russian aerobatic team Russian Knights on Aerobaticteams.net
- Official Telegram Channel of Russian Knights
- Official VK page of Russian Knights
- Russian Knights on YouTube Channel