On May 9, 2019 Victory Parade was held across Russia. The aviation part always attracts the most of attention.
In honor of the 74th anniversary of the Victory it was involved more than 13 thousand soldiers, more than 130 units of equipment as well as 74 aircraft. The trainings took place on nine airfields in Moscow, Tver, Ryazan, Kaluga, Ivanovo, Saratov, Voronezh and Lipetsk regions. Our correspondents visited almost all of them and took part in the preparations for the Victory Parade, the main holiday for the residents of Russia.
Unfortunately, due to bad weather conditions, the aviation part of the Victory Parade in Moscow was canceled.
Training flights were performed at altitudes from 150 to 450 meters at speeds from 200 to 550 km/h, depending on the type of aircraft.
The rehearsal for the Victory Parade was attended by: a group of Mi-8 helicopters led by the largest transport helicopter in the world – the Mi-26, Mi-28N Night Hunter, Ka-52 Alligator and Mi-24.For the first time in four years, an upgraded A-50U long-range radar detection and control aircraft was deployed in preparation for the parade. Also, the annual participants in the celebration were three military transport Il-76MD, a strategic bomber Tu-160 and four Tu-22M3, three Tu-95MS, and the tanker Il-78 with Tu-95MS performing one of the most difficult elements in aviation – air refueling.
In addition, for the first time in four years, upgraded MiG-29SMT fighters from the Astrakhan Aerospace Aeronautical Center were involved.
Su-24SM, MiG-31BM, Su-34, the famous “Cuban diamond”, consisting of nine crews of the “Russian Knights” and “Strizhi” aerobatic teams on Su-30SM and MiG-29 airplanes, six Su-25 attack aircraft, which traditionally was to paint the sky in the color of the Russian flag and the “Tactical Wing” consisting of ten Su-34, Su-30 and Su-35 fighters – all of them took part in rehearsals over Red Square.
Training for the Victory parade began a month before the significant date. On April 8, 2019, airplane crews made the first flight over the Alabino near Moscow. And on May 4 and 7, the rehearsal of the aviation part of the parade took place over Moscow.
Unlike Moscow, the aviation part of the Victory Parade in St. Petersburg took place!
The Mi-8, Mi-26, Mi-28 helicopters, An-26, An-12, Tu-134 aircraft, Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft, MiG-31 fighters, and Su-34 multi-purpose combat aircraft took part in it.
