Gallery > 2009 > MAKS 2009 Flying Display 1/2

MAKS 2009, August 21-22, Flying Display

In August I visited the International Aviation and Space Salon. MAKS is held once every two years on Zhukovskiy AB South-East of Moscow. MAKS 2009 welcomed over 550 000 visitors, including 65 000 business visitors from 80 countries.

This album shows you the pictures of the Flying Display. The pictures are sorted by display and every display is a mix of two different days. The first day there was an overcast but no rain. Second day in the afternoon the weather cleared and the sun showed up!

I decided to let the pictures talk for the most. If you have any questions you can contact me.

During practice the Sunday before two Russian Knights collided and one pilot lost his life. The Russian Knights cancelled for MAKS 2009. On the first day there was an overcast so pilots flew their low-show. The Russian solo's and team display were a bit 'safe' and easy. Not very agressive, more high G turns and sometimes a roll... A bit disapoiting. First I thougt they didn't prepare a low-show but at the end I believe due to the crash on Sunday they (especially the teams) were told to take it easy.
On the first day the Rafale was THE big star! It showed the Russians how to perform an amazing agressive low-show! Very very cool to watch!
But on the second day it all changed! In the morning there was an overcast... again... The Russian formation teams were being carefull again but then in the afternoon the clouds disappeared and Russia send out there solo's! Su-30MKI, Su-35, Mig-29OVT...
Now the clouds were gone they were able to make some altitude and everything changed! The manouvres they made were stunning... Very hard to photograpg due to the distance but amazing to watch! The crowds went baslistic!

More pictures at page 2! >>>