Torzhok, Tver region, 27 April 2012
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Golden Eagles, the formation display team that has become the symbolic calling card of the Russian helicopter industry, and of Russian Army Aviation. Based at the Russian Army's Flight Training Centre in Torzhok, the Golden Eagles are one of the few helicopter display teams to perform flight acrobatics in both the horizontal and vertical plane at low altitude.
The Golden Eagles’ Mi-24 attack helicopters have been regulars at the regular Zhukovsky air shows and have taken part in ceremonial parades in Red Square.
Russian Helicopters, a leading global designer and manufacturer of helicopters and producer of some of the world’s most iconic, innovative and widely operated models, today congratulated the Golden Eagles on their 20th anniversary, issuing a press release (on which this blog post is based) and these photos.
To mark the occasion, Russian Helicopters' new light, multi-role Ansat-U helicopter was demonstrated at Torzhok, alongside the Mi-26, the heaviest-lift helicopter in the world, and the stalwart Mi-8.
The foundation stone of a memorial to helicopter pilots who died in the line of duty was also laid.
The press release included the following statement: "The pilots will mark this anniversary in new helicopters – the Mi-28N Night Hunter, which was adopted as the Russian Armed Forces main attack helicopter by presidential decree from 15 October 2009, and the all-weather day/night Ka-52 Alligator, which Russian Helicopters supplies under the state defence procurement programme."
Does this mean that we'll see the team re-equipping with these new types?
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