"Feel the Limits of Opportunities": Deputy Commander of "Swifts" - on aerobatics and pilot training

On May 6, the famous Russian aerobatic aviation group "Strizhi" celebrates its 30th anniversary.

The squadron began to form in the fighter aviation regiment in Kubinka in the mid-1980s, when the USSR Air Force was actively mastering the newest super-maneuverable combat vehicle, the MiG-29.

Pilots near Moscow had the idea to create a unit of Air Force officers who are fluent in aerobatics techniques in order to perform demonstration flights and visually demonstrate the achievements of the domestic aviation industry both domestically and abroad.

The first main composition of the Swifts included Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Kutuzov (leading), Captain Alexander Katashinsky, Captain Andrey Makarenko, Major Alexander Zakharov, Major Alexei Sherstnev, Major Vladimir Galunenko, Major Valery Evdokimov.

Already in October 1991, the group made its debut abroad - this happened in Sweden at the Uppsala airbase.

The following year, the pilots performed in France on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Normandie-Niemen squadron. 

Subsequently, "Swifts" have repeatedly represented Russia at foreign exhibitions and commemorative events.

In our country, the aerobatic team regularly demonstrates the skill of controlling aircraft at Victory Parades, various festive events, the MAKS aerospace show and the Army military-technical forum.

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In an interview with RT, the deputy commander of this squadron, pilot of the 1st class of the guard, Major Dmitry Ryzhevolov, spoke about the peculiarities of the selection and training of the crews of the Swifts aircraft.

In the group, he is the right inner follower.

- On May 6, the Swifts aerobatics group celebrates its 30th anniversary.

How did this name come about?

After all, the "Swift" is a small and completely not threatening bird.

- We are not faced with the task of threatening someone.

We are engaged in the popularization of aviation in general and Russian aircraft in particular.

With the help of aerobatics, our squadron demonstrates the capabilities that a person and the machine created by him have.

People should enjoy looking at such beauty.

And the name "Swifts" was chosen by our predecessors, who, in fact, created the aerobatic team.

What were they guided by?

30 years ago, pilots, as now, flew the MiG-29, a fighter with great aerobatic capabilities, including at high speeds.

This is a fast and maneuverable machine, and when MiG-29s fly in a group, an association with a flock of swifts arises.

• Deputy Commander of the Aerobatics Aviation Group (AGVP) "Swifts", Guards Major Dmitry Ryzhevolov

• RIA News

• © Alexey Kudenko

- What modifications of the MiG-29 do you fly?

- Combat MiG-29 and "spark", that is, a two-seat combat training version of the MiG-29.

- Are there any plans to replace the MiG-29 with other fighters?

- This question is not in my competence, but, of course, we are ready to master our latest aircraft, be it the Su-57 or MiG-35 - we are looking forward to it.

True, we have not yet flown these planes.

It will take time to master them and fly as efficiently as on the MiG-29.

- You have nine pilots in your group.

Are there people in the squadron who are, shall we say, "off-screen"?

- Yes, there are nine pilots in our group now, but there is a flight crew that is undergoing training - this is our future shift.

Pilots in "Strizhi", as a rule, serve for 5-7 years, maximum - 10 years, and give way to representatives of the younger generation.

But this is only a conditional rotation, the change of the Swifts' pilots is natural.

And, of course, I cannot but say kind words about our engineering and technical staff, without whose professionalism nothing will ever rise into the air.

Taking this opportunity, I want to express my deep gratitude to them for the hard and very important work.

Spit three times - nothing refused.

We are confident both in the materiel and in our techniques that they will not let you down.

“Strizhi is not the only aerobatic aviation unit in Russia.

Could you tell us what the “conceptual” differences are between “Strizhi” and such a group as “Russian Knights”?

What is your relationship with her?

Is there an element of competition?

- The first difference between us is that we fly different types of aircraft.

The MiG-29 is a light fighter, and the aircraft of the Sukhoi Design Bureau, on which the Vityaz (Su-27, Su-30SM and Su-35S) fly, are heavy machines.

The "Knights" now have a new materiel - aircraft with engines with thrust vector control.

And they perform maneuvering flights using this particular technical feature.

Our emphasis is on group rebuilding and dynamic displays.

This is a more classic aerobatics.

For example, aerobatics of the Su-30 is more so-called flight around the tail.

The plane is good at doing somersaults and other similar figures, which just allows it to be controlled by the thrust vector. 

Different engines are installed on the MiG-29, and we are focusing on traditional aerobatics - Nesterov's loops in different variations, "barrels" and so on.

About the rivalry.

Healthy competition is always essential.

This is the format of our relations with Vityaz.

We understand that there will be no development without healthy competition, and therefore there should be several aerobatic teams in Russia.

In some ways we are better than the "Knights", in some ways they are superior to us.

We observe each other and are constantly improving.

- Are there aerobatic units abroad that attract your attention?

Do you interact with foreign pilots?

- We have no contacts with foreign pilots, although, naturally, we intersect at foreign air shows and watch videos on the Internet with the performance of foreign aerobatic teams.

All this is in the public domain.

I am sure that they, in turn, also do not miss the performances of "Swifts" and other Russian groups.

Separately, I would highlight the Italian squadrons and the American Blue Angels and Thunderbirds.

But in fact, all aerobatic troupes are good in their own way.

I would not say that there is an aerobatic team in the world that has nothing to see.

Professionals are always employed in such units.

Nevertheless, the quality of the aerobatic team should be judged not by the pilots, but by the audience.

- What is the practical significance of the Swifts' activities?

What are the benefits of the Russian Aerospace Forces?

- Each type of activity in aviation has strictly defined tasks and performers.

Our fundamental task is to popularize domestic aircraft in Russia and abroad.

In practice, such activities are expressed in attracting young talented personnel to the Aerospace Forces, and abroad - in contracts for the export of Russian aircraft.

Also, all pilots of the Swifts are required to take courses in aerobatic and combat training.

Each of us, in fact, is a professional military pilot from a combat unit, but with aerobatics skills.

• The MiG-29 fighter of the Swifts aerobatic team performs a demonstration flight within the framework of the Army-2020 International Forum at the Kubinka airfield in the Moscow region

• RIA News

• © Alexander Wilf

- What are the requirements for a candidate for the status of a Swift pilot?

Do you need some kind of physical condition, experience, a certain plaque in hours?

- Nowadays, lieutenants are often sent to us, that is, recent graduates of the aviation school, but, of course, the requirements remain high: this is a good level of theoretical training, which is revealed during an interview, and the correct piloting technique, which is checked directly during flights.

Human qualities are also extremely important.

To perform aerobatics in a group, to keep a distance when changing lanes, pilots, at a minimum, must trust each other.

There can be no internal conflicts in the team.

On the whole, the candidate should be able to read the desire to serve in the Swifts, which is almost always visible from the burning eyes.

- Could you explain how the Strizhs manage to constantly surprise the audience?

How does group interaction work?

- All maneuvers are always carefully practiced.

There are no surprises during the performance.

The program is discussed and practiced hundreds of times by all pilots.

First, it happens "on the ground" - pilots simulate flights, holding mock-ups of fighters in their hands, the "airborne foot" method is applied (when the pilots simulate maneuvers instead of flying machines. -

RT

).

This allows you to clearly learn the algorithm of actions in the group.

Next comes the work in the air.

The group focuses on the actions of the commander (guard Colonel Sergei Osyaykin. -

RT

), who is the leader, and carries out his orders - they are given by radio communication.

As a rule, no other communication takes place on the air, the followers can speak only in case of some kind of force majeure.

- What, in your opinion, are the most difficult aerobatics?

- In fact, if you try to do something perfectly, it will always be difficult.

This is a universal rule.

If we talk about group execution, then the most difficult elements seem to me to be the afterburner bend and the “group roll”, which is very difficult, especially for the extreme followers due to the large radii of rotation around the leader.

- There are a number of conceptual issues on the practical application of combat aviation.

For example, does aerobatics help in warfare?

- The peculiarity of aerobatics is that the pilot begins to feel the aircraft much better.

In practice, he needs much less time to make decisions, including in an extreme situation.

That is, he practically does not look at the instruments in the cockpit, which allows him to send precious seconds to assess the situation.

This is very important in maneuverable air combat.

The famous truth is at work here, expressed in the wonderful Soviet film "Only old men go to battle" in the famous "three cannot be" the hero of Rolan Bykov.

One of them sounds like this: "Roll your head 360 degrees."

Aerobatics gives the pilot the wonderful feeling that he is becoming an organic part of the aircraft.

This comes only with experience and with the assimilation of the capabilities of the machine in full.

Aerobatics allows you to do this, to feel the boundaries of the technical capabilities of aircraft.

- How do you assess the relevance of improving methods of close air combat in the context of the development of long-range missile destruction systems?

- It should be borne in mind that simultaneously with the improvement of long-range destruction systems, means of electronic warfare (EW) and jamming are developing.

One way or another, the planes fly towards each other, and close maneuvering combat, by and large, is inevitable.

I think it makes sense to develop different combat techniques and different types of weapons.

You don't have to completely rely on one thing.

Only such a comprehensive development (and this applies to the armed forces as a whole) is capable of giving an effective end result.