Pilots began to quit the legendary Swifts because of the scandal with the commander and humiliating duties
Another confirmation was received by the alarming words of the members of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation that the Russian aviation threatens to decline. The famous Swifts aerobatic team, which recently appeared in the center of scandal, began to leave the pilots. Two pilots of the MiG-29 leave the military service from the reserve team of the Swifts, RIA reportedNews"source familiar with the situation.One of them explains his decision by the fact that after the soldiers were removed from Kubinka in July, the pilots themselves began to attend the guard and perform other functions that the soldiers had previously performed, the source explained.
The situation in Kubinka, which poses serious problems both to the Swifts and their colleagues at the Su-27 - “Russian Knights” - was previously reported by officers who served at the airfield. According to them, half of the base has already been sold to "merchants", and the military may soon be completely banished from the facility. As for the pilots, they are now subordinate to the Lipetsk aviation center, which has its own aces, the Falcons of Russia, sources said. And the capital pilots seemed to be oppressed.
As for the second retired pilot from the Swifts, he explained his decision by disagreement with the pursuit of the commander of the aerobatic team. “I decided to quit because of the situation with the commander of Swifts, because“ I see no reason to continue the service, ”said a source.
Recall, the commander "Swifts" Valery Morozov is suspected of extortion: the pilot allegedly demanded payment from a local merchant for using the symbols of the aerobatic team. It was also reported that the officer extorted money from his subordinates. In this regard, an inspection was carried out in a military unit in Kubinka, following which Morozov was submitted for early dismissal from the Air Force due to non-compliance with the terms of the contract. Also in relation to the pilot conducted pre-investigation check.
On the defense of the commander immediately got his colleagues from the "Swifts". They stated that story with extortion is absurd and even wrote a letter to the president, and some even suggested that Morozov was slandered by the resigning pilot who was not at odds with the commander.
As previously stated in the Ministry of Defense, the question of the dismissal of Morozov has not yet been adopted, the officer continues to serve. However, the pilot may lose his job after October 15. Then his current contract expires, the Kubinka source told RIA Novosti the day before.
Two "Swifts" transplanted to the Yak-130
The interlocutors of the agency also indirectly confirmed the rumors about a possible early disintegration of the Swifts. The fact is that the Ministry of Defense has long wanted to create a piloting group in the new Yak-130 combat training aircraft. Without refusing from the existing groups "Swifts" and "Russian Knights", as stated in the military department.
However, it has now become known that in favor of these plans, the two "Swifts" - at least temporarily - are being transplanted from the MiG-29. "It was decided to send two pilots from the main staff of the Strizhi aerobatic team to retraining for the new Yak-130 combat aircraft. The training begins in November. The pilots will reveal all the subtleties of piloting the new machine and will be able to transfer the skills to their young colleagues," RIA "News" source familiar with the situation.
At the same time, he did not specify whether the pilots will remain in the Swifts or will be transferred to a new group.
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