"Russian Knights" and "Swifts" estimated at $ 7 million
Well, the time has come when the remnants of the former might of the Air Force were left to the merchants. Now the place of combat aircraft of the unsurpassed aerobatic teams “Russian Knights” and “Swifts” will be occupied by businessmen! No, gentlemen, this is not a duck, but the bitter truth of our life. Kubinka airfield, where until recently the pride and stronghold of the Russian aviation, virtuosos of air battles, aerobatic teams "Russian Knights" and "Swifts", given over to the construction of commercial terminals. One stroke of the pen of Prime Minister Putin was enough to remove Kubinka from the lists of jointly based airfields, and thereby deliver the final blow to the Russian Air Force.Rumors that this could happen had long since been patrolling among military pilots, but no one could believe that such sabotage is possible even in principle (there seems to be not infinite 90s in the yard!). To the great regret of all the Armed Forces, and of all of Russia, they were mistaken. Recently published order of the Government of the Russian Federation, orders to open the legendary military airfield Kubinka for civil aircraft engaged in international flights.
When billionaire Suleiman Kerimov bought part of the famous airbase from the Ministry of Defense in 2010, it was about sharing the airfield for military and civil aircraft. After all, even then it was clear that the billionaire bought Kubinka for the construction of a terminal for business aviation. The airfield, preserved by the veterans in excellent condition, is larger than the space for aircraft parking, proximity to Moscow - what more do you need, without investing extra money, to increase your fortune not yet a few billion dollars ?! Well, the fact that here, in Kubinka, from 1938, the might of our air force was forged and the best aces of our time were nurtured, it just seemed a misunderstanding. Now it turns out that Kerimov owns not just a part of Kubinka, but a significant territory with all the facilities, at a rate of about 77% of all space and communications. And without his knowledge military pilots simply will not be able to perform their tasks. Hardly it will worry the billionaire, because he received everything he needed from the military department, and then ...
The pilots of the unique Russian Knights and Swifts aerobatic teams, who conquered almost all the world with their mastery on the MiG-29 and Su-27 serial front-line fighters, did not count either. With these highly qualified professionals, they decided to do the same as with all the once-powerful USSR Air Forces - to disperse, and the groups themselves - to destroy! Of course, no one has really given such an order yet, but all the former military, including myself, know well how this is done. The military unit will be transferred to another location, for example, in Lipetsk, and there will be a dilemma before the pilots. Or leave from the familiar place, where everything is already arranged, the children go to school or kindergarten. Or be poisoned to a new place of service, where there is neither an apartment, nor social conditions, besides, nobody is waiting for you there, rather the opposite, because you come and create additional tension in the queue for housing. What remains? Write a letter of resignation and begin civilian life.
And, unfortunately, many will have to do so. That destroyed the fraternity of "Russian Knights" and "Swifts". Anyone can then revive something like that? I am sure that no !. And hardly anyone will need it. On the example of Kubinka, as under a microscope, one can see all the treacherous attitudes towards military aviation, which they systematically and thoughtfully continue to destroy. Let's look at the facts.
Since 1938, the Kubinka air base has acquired the special status of a test site for research and practical use of the latest models of equipment, weapons, various systems, as well as equipment. A special position, as the shield of the Capital, presupposes the presence of the most advanced aviation fleet and high-class flight personnel.
In 1993, the Kubinka squadron was reinforced by equipment, as well as by pilots and other military specialists of the 16 Air Force, withdrawn from Germany. At that time, 16-I air was considered the most powerful combination of our Air Force.
From 1994-1995 a period of destruction of the then mighty compound begins. As a result of the reform and the lack of adequate support, the air army soon turned into an air corps, and then completely sank into oblivion. To date, the Russian Vityaz and Strizhi aerobatic teams, which represent the Aviation Technique Center for Aviation Engineering, survived somehow. Kozhedub; 226-th mixed air regiment, equipped with Tu-134, An-30, An-26, An-24, An-12 and Mi-8 and Mi-28 helicopters; "121 aircraft repair plant", as well as USO Cuban ATSK ROSTO. Compared to what was here before - just tears.
And one more fact. For the past four years, the Ministry of Defense has forbidden the recruitment of cadets who could learn from the unique flight experience of modern aces. And only now it became clear why. Neither the combat readiness of the Air Force nor the country's defense capability do not care about the Ministry of Defense. And why? Sold the airfield for 7 millions of dollars and great! And in order to put dust in the eyes of the people, it is enough to trumpet all media that the airbase in Voronezh received new Su-34 (as many as !!!) in the amount of four. But they didn’t say that they should be a hundred times more. Better on quiet to sell airfields and other military facilities. Enough for their age! How long will this go on? Why do we allow temporary workers to ruin what our fathers and ourselves created by incredible work? Will this be the limit?
When there is only a few meters between the wing of your fighter and the plane of your comrade, when the implacable force of overload presses into the chair, and the commander demands to keep the line, then you can only understand what is the power of true male friendship and what is the real purpose of the man.
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