MOSCOW. June 9 (Interfax-AVN) - SU-27 Flanker and MIG-29 Fulcrum fighters will make demonstration flights over Red Square on Thursday with maximum attention to security measures, the press service of the Russian Air Force told Interfax-Military News Agency.
The Russkiye Vityazi and Strizhi aerobatics teams flying SU- 27 and MIG-29 planes respectively will perform the flights on the occasion of Day of Russia, a press service official said.
The Russian Air Force's best pilots serving with the Kozhedub aircraft demonstration center will pilot the planes, which is an additional guarantee, he noted.
"The aircraft involved in the demonstration flights belong to the fourth generation of planes. Each aircraft is powered by two up-to-date engines. And though any aircraft demonstration of this kind contains elements of risk, they are reduced nearly to zero in this case," the official said.
He stressed that the demonstration will not cause any financial damage to combat training in the Air Force, because the event is not funded by the Defense Ministry.
According to him, experts of the ministry's flight security service and Air Force together with the command of the Kozhedub center are reconnoitering the area.
The aerobatics teams are taking special training for flights over urban areas.
The official recalled that warplanes flew over Moscow last time on the 50th anniversary of the victory in World War II, and the previous flights of warplanes over Red Square were made in 1956 and 1957.
Member of the State Duma lower house of parliament Oleg Sheyin and chairman of the Russian Air Traffic Controllers' Trade Unions Federation Sergei Kovalev earlier told reporters that they consider inexpedient the airshow over Moscow on Thursday. They explained their position by security considerations and claimed that spending of funds on this event was irrational.