Legendary Russian aerobatic team the ‘Swifts’ celebrates its 35th anniversary!

The team’s story began at the Kubinka military airfield near Moscow on May 6, 1991, when the team performed for the first time at an air show. The original name (‘Strizhy’ in Russian) was coined by the pilots themselves, who were all recruited from the 234th Guards Aviation Regiment, one of the best in the Soviet Air Force.

In 1992, the ‘Swifts’ performed abroad for the first time – they were invited to France to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Normandie-Niemen Air Regiment. The following year, they were awarded the title of ‘Best Aerobatic Team in the World’ at the International Aviation and Space Show at Zhukovsky airfield (MAKS-1993). Since then, the pilots have visited 28 countries.

Flying MiG-29 fighter jets painted in the colors of the Russian flag, the ‘Swifts’ masterfully perform a wide range of aerobatic maneuvers, including the Nesterov loop, the barrel roll and the oblique loop. They change formations precisely and harmoniously, moving from the classic ‘peleng’ to the ‘hammer’, ‘star’, ‘arrow’, ‘cross’ or ‘spear’.

The ‘tulip’ maneuver is particularly impressive: aircraft in a tight formation synchronously spread out and release heat flares – a kind of fireworks display. The outline of a flower then becomes visible in the sky.

The ‘Swifts’ often perform alongside the ‘Russian Knights’ aerobatic team, which flies Su-27 fighter jets. The signature formation flight of both teams is the ‘Cuban Diamond’, named after their home airfield, Kubinka. The aircraft fly at high speed, at low altitude and very close to each other. Deviating more than half a meter to the side is strictly prohibited!