Sky jubilee: Russia celebrates century of its Air Force (VIDEO)
The world`s best pilots have arrived in Moscow as Russia starts celebrating the centennial of its Air Force. The three-day jubilee show will see Russian and foreign aviation aces performing their best stunts for thousands of viewers.
More than a hundred aircraft and helicopters are taking part in the magnificent air-show taking place in the city of Zhukovsky just outside Moscow.Display teams from the UK, France, Finland, Turkey, Poland and other countries are part of the air festivities. Britain’s famous Red Arrows will perform in Russia for the first time in 22 years.Russia`s aerobatic teams Russkie Vityazi (Russian Knights) and Strizhi (the Swifts) will wrap up the three-day show on Sunday.The show will also include planes from the First World War and the Second World War.Russian aviation was established in 1912 during the rule of Tsar Nicholas II when the country`s Defense department created an air division within the General Staff.At first the division was mainly used for intelligence operations, but after Igor Sikorsky designed his famous Ilya Muromets airliner, long-range aviation began to develop as well.
