JOHN PARROTT COLLECTION
No. 5019. Sukhoi Su-27UB "Flanker" (2206918 c/n 1040804) Russian Air Force
Photographed at Hillsboro, Oregon, USA, 1991, by John Parrott

Sukhoi Su-27UB

15/04/2006. Remarks by Bernhard C. F. Klein: "This aircraft belongs to the Russian aerobatic team "Russian Knights". The team was formed on April 5, 1991 and flew their first show abroad in September 1991 in the UK. The team also toured Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Slovakia, the Netherlands and the USA.

Returning from another Malaysian air show, three aircraft were lost on December 12, 1995. While approaching the Cam Ranh airfield (Vietnam) in adverse weather for refueling the aircraft (two Su-27Ps and one Su-27UB) flew into a mountain, with the loss of live of four pilots: Col. Boris Grigoryev, LtCol. Nikolai Grechanov, LtCol. Nikolai Kordyukov and LtCol. Aleksandr Syrovoy.

A new "Russian Knights" team was formed in early 1996 and it preformed its first airshow at Gelendzhik in September 1996, flying four Su-27s in a new bright colour scheme. In 1997 another two aircraft were added and since then the new team has flown abroad again and performed shows in Austria, China, France and Slovakia."

Created February 15, 2006