Does anyone have an idea as to what the Russian Knights pilots actually do when there are no airshows or practice sessions? Whilst some of them, including Victor Pughacev and Anatoly Kvochur [who has left the team] were Sukhoi test pilots who were involved flight testing new Su-27/30 variants, what exactly does the team do apart from participating in air shows as none of them are active Russian Air Force pilots?
The Russian Knights team and its pilots
- Thread starter STURM
- Start date
Haavarla
Active Member
Those pilots often have signed test program contract with aircraft manufactors like Sukhoi or Mig. And that way they do get their flying hours and expirience much faster vs the ordinary fighter pilots.
But you have to start somewhere, so its often senior instructors and pilots anyway.
Take the cheif test pilots Sergey Bodgan of the the Russian Pak-Fa program, he has several tousand flying hours with various Fighters models before he got the position.
You can just google him and see his record history.
Otherwise, like the swift and the Knights display teams. They do regular AF service, but i think they get prioritized with many flying hours.
But you have to start somewhere, so its often senior instructors and pilots anyway.
Take the cheif test pilots Sergey Bodgan of the the Russian Pak-Fa program, he has several tousand flying hours with various Fighters models before he got the position.
You can just google him and see his record history.
Otherwise, like the swift and the Knights display teams. They do regular AF service, but i think they get prioritized with many flying hours.