BEIJING/MOSCOW. Nov 1 (Interfax-AVN) - Training flights of Russia's Strizhi (Swifts) aerobatics team, which is to carry out demonstration flights at the Airshow China 2004 in Zhuhai, southern China, have proved outstanding capabilities of Russian MIG-family fighters, the Chinese Xinhua news agency says.
According to Xinhua, Chinese experts consider Russian MIGs modern and reliable aircraft, stuffed with electronics, which feature outstanding flight characteristics, demonstrated by the Russian aerobatics team.
The SU-27SK Flanker multi-role fighter is considered to be the world's best aircraft, as far as its combat capabilities are concerned. The IL-76 Candid transport aircraft has also received positive assessments.
The air show, which is to last until Sunday, sees participation of aircraft manufacturers from Russia, the U.S., France, Germany, and Italy.
The Strizhi aerobatics team, equipped with MIG-29 Fulcrum fighters, was tailored on May 6, 1991. The team conducts in excess of 50 demonstration flights on an annual basis. It ha visited a total of 30 foreign states, including Finland, Malaysia, and Austria. Strizhi left the Kubinka airfield outside Moscow for China on five MIG-29 fighters on October 22 in order to participate in Airshow China 2004.
A total of 40 Russian defense industry enterprises display about 300 various products at the Chinese air show under the auspices of Rosoboronexport. Such products are primarily represented by posters and advertisements.