SAMARA, Volga Region, February 26 (AVN) - Planned parachute jumps of the 3rd special-purpose guard bridage started at the Bobrovka airfield near Samara on Monday, Brigade Commander Colonel Vladimir Kozlov told the Military News Agency.
The jumps take place only thanks to personal contiribution of Airborne Commander Georgy Shpak, Kozlov said. There is no aircraft fit for jumps in the region - AN-2 Colt planes and MI-8 Hip helicopters used for airborne training are either out of order or not equipped properly. Shapak issued a special order to grant a Colt to the Volga military district's paratroopers.
According to Kozlov, if the weather is good enough the brigade will be able to arrange parachute jumps for all servicemen recruited in 2000, as well as for officers that came to man the brigade after graduation from higher military educational establishments of non-airborne profile.