Strizhi (Swifts) History
In 1986 six of the new Soviet fighters MiG-29 visit Finland to take part in airshow. This event leads the beginning of creation of the Strizhi (Swifts). In 1990 six pilots start to training formation flying with MiG-29. Later the planes receives white-blue color scheme. On 6 May 1991 they perform its first display with new painted MiG-29s and receive its present name Strizhi. The display was closed for public. This dates become team's birthday. Later in May they made its foreign debut, performing at airshow in Uppsala, Sweden and again this event was closed for public. The first public airshow is in May 1992, when Strizhi take part during 50th Anniversary of Normandy-Neman squadron in Rheims, France. In September that year for the firs time Blue Angels visit Russia, performing awesome flight demonstration. From Russian side only Strizhi (Swifts) flies on that show.
In 1999 the team is disbanded, because most of the team pilots retired. Also in Kubinka airbase starting major repair.
On 23 Nov 2000 the team begins to fly again, but with new pilots, with just four planes and in new airbase - Andrianople. The debut of a new team is performing on Pushkino airbase near St. Petersburg in 2001. Later they display on MAKS'01.
In 2002 Strizhi and Russian Knights start to training in jointly formation of four planes of each team to flypassed during Red Square parade.
In the beginning of 2003 all team planes received new paint scheme from MiG's manufacturer. The new paint is red, white and blue swift figure painted at the bottom and upper of the fuselage. On 12 June (Russian Independence Day), they fly again over the Red Square together with Russian Knights, but this time with six MiG-29s and four Su-27s from Russian Knights side. On 27 July same year, one of the team's two-seater MiG-29UB crashed right after take off from Perm's airport, Russia. Strizhi land there for refueling. Runaway was wet, pilot loses control and plane goes out into the grass. Both pilots ejected successfully.
Who are Strizhi (Swifts)
The team main count of planes during demonstration is six Russian fighters MiG-29, but on some displays they fly with fewer planes. The pilots and ground crew are variable and don't usually practice like other aerobatic team to change their members on some period. All team members are from 237th Guards Proskurov Aircraft Demonstration Centre based in Kubinka airbase. Pilots permanent duty is fighter training, while its formation training is days before the airshow. Unfortunately Strizhi's public appearances are very rarely. Team planes don't use smoke generators.
