Russian Knights

This article is about the aerobatic team. For historical Russian knights, see bogatyr.

Russian Knights 237 TsPAT (237-th Aviation Technology Demonstration Center of the RF's AF)
4 Sukhoi Su-27P's of the Knights in formation at Aero India 2013
Active	April 5, 1991 - present
Country	Russia
Branch	Russian Air Force
Garrison/HQ	Kubinka (air base) Moscow Oblast, Russia
Colors	Red, White and Blue
Insignia
Identification symbol	100px
Aircraft flown
Fighter	4 - Sukhoi Su-27P's 2 - Sukhoi Su-27UB's

The Russian Knights (Russian: Русские Витязи, Russkiye Vityazi) is an aerobatic demonstration team of the Russian Air Force. Originally formed on April 5, 1991 at the Kubinka Air Base as a team of six Sukhoi Su-27s, the team was the first to perform outside the Soviet Union in September 1991 when they toured the United Kingdom. On December 12, 1995, disaster struck as three team jets flew in-formation into a mountainside near Cam Ranh, Vietnam during approach while en route to home from a Malaysian airshow during adverse weather conditions. The team now performs with four Su-27Ps and two Su-27UBs.

History

Russian Knights at Igor Tkachenko tribute flight

The Kubinka air force base located 60 km west of Moscow is well known both in Russia and abroad. For years, it has been known as the Air Force installation used for demonstrating advanced combat aircraft to national and foreign leaders. Nowadays, Kubinka AFB is known as the best aerobatics school where the Russian Knights and Swifts aerobatics teams are stationed. Meanwhile, Kubinka is a major base of the Russian Air Force in the Moscow region.

Team tragedies

On December 12, 1995, when approaching the Cam Ranh airfield (Vietnam) in adverse weather for refueling, two Su-27s and an Su-27UB of the Russian Knights team flew into a nearby mountain while in-formation, killing four pilots. The cause of the crash is attributed to a misinterpretation of approach-pattern instructions, and in particular the leading Il-76 that was acting as a reconnaissance aircraft.

On August 16, 2009, two Su-27s rehearsing acrobatic maneuvers collided near Moscow, killing one pilot and sending the jets crashing into nearby vacation homes. The dead pilot was identified as the Russian Knights' commander, Guards Colonel Igor Tkachenko, a decorated air force officer.