The Russian aerobatic team "First Flight" landed in Vitebsk

At the beginning of the week, the Vitebsk airport welcomed champions. On their way home to Moscow from the Czech city of Chotebor, the aerobatic team "First Flight" dropped in on us. Its members, as part of the Russian national team, successfully performed at the European Aerobatics Championship in the Advanced category, also known as aerial acrobatics.

A trio of light sports aircraft unexpectedly emerged from the clouds over the airport and, after making a semicircle, gracefully and effortlessly entered for landing. Russian masters of aerobatics are choosing our regional center for refueling and service for the second time.

The few airport service employees and journalists from "Vitebskiye Vesti" became the first Belarusians to congratulate the triumphant participants of the continental championship. The Russians' achievement includes a victory in the team event.

The absolute champion was a member of the aerobatic team and, concurrently, the General Director of the regional public association "Moscow Aerobatics Federation," Dmitry Samokhvalov. The third place in the overall standings was won by the President of the "Moscow Aerobatics Federation," Roman Ovchinnikov, with whom we managed to speak after the necessary customs and border formalities were completed.

The only private aerobatic team in Russia flying piston-engine aircraft was formed in 2009 and is based at the Bolshoye Gryzlovo airfield near Moscow. It consists of professional athletes – prize-winners of national and world championships. They deliberated for a long time on the name. Someone suggested "First Flight," and they settled on that.

– For pilots, the first flight is associated with the first solo sortie; it is the most memorable event for every pilot, – explained Roman Ovchinnikov. – At first, such a name was not perceived, but today it has become a brand.

The team's aircraft fleet consists of four Yak-52 training aircraft, Yak-54 and Su-31 sports aircraft, as well as a two-seater Extra-330 and a twin-engine Piper PA-23.

– Most participants received aviation training at aeroclubs on Yak-52 aircraft. This remarkable machine has no global analogues in its class. We call the Yak a flying desk, on which you can learn everything – from simple flight, takeoffs and landings to aerobatic maneuvers, – noted Roman Ovchinnikov.
The "First Flight" aerobatic team has many original aerobatic figures performed by a group of five aircraft. For example, the spectacular "Crown," where the aircraft also rotate upon disengagement, or the "Fan," where Yak-52s follow a Piper and spin around the leader's smoke trail…

However, such things are useless to describe in words. You have to see it once, after which you are guaranteed to be infected with a love for the sky and airplanes.

This is what the "First Flight" aerobatic team strives for.

Sergey Kochetov. Photos by Anton STEPANISHCHEV. "Vitebskiye Vesti".