Souvenirs of the USSR flyers

Craigie fan Bradley Borland says he enjoyed Thomas Brown’s recollections of seeing Soviet military aircraft making a rare appearance at RAF Leuchars’ annual Battle of Britain air show just over 30 years ago.

The Kinfauns dweller writes: “I read with interest the information from 1991 provided by your correspondent Mr Thomas Brown of Bankfoot. It triggered my mind, and I researched through my RAF Leuchars air show catalogues from 1980 to 2013, which was the event’s final staging.

“I have emailed attachments of the Russian Knights and photos from the catalogue for Mr Brown, who may not have the full details. I attended all the air shows between 1980 and 2013. I was also present at some prior to 1980 but didn’t collect the catalogues unfortunately, in a period when

they had Hawker Hunters, Gloster Javelins and English Electric Lightnings stationed at the base.”

Referring to the Soviet star attraction at the 1991 air show, the catalogue that Mr Borland has scan copied reads: “The full team consists of six Sukhoi 27 aircraft, four single-seat and two twin-seat, which are based at Moscow Kubinka Airfield in the Moscow Military District, of which General Antoshkin is the air force commander.

“In Russian folklore, a young warrior famous for his strength and ability to defend his motherland was called a Veetyaz – an equivalent to an English knight, hence Russkiye Veetyaze or ‘Russian Knights’.

“This is the first time the Russian Knights and the Su-27s have displayed in the United Kingdom, although both the Su-27 and the Mig 29 have been seen at the SBAC Air Display at Farnborough.

“The aircraft on display today are operational and the excellent characteristics of the Su-27 should enable them to put on an impressive and exciting display.”

The catalogue goes on to provide pen pictures of the 10 service personnel who made up the Soviet Air Force team. It says Lt Gen Nikolai Antoshkin had been born in 1942 and served as air force commander and chief of staff for the Kiev district prior to redeployment to the Moscow area in 1989.