In the life of Soviet Union, air shows were a highly regarded type of parade, almost always of military nature. They happened on various occasions and anniversaries, in many locations across the country. A notable air show was the Tushino Air Show held annually in August.
Dates
Soviet Air Fleet Day The most frequent date of air shows was the Soviet Air Fleet Day (). It was also known as the Soviet Air Forces Day (), or Soviet Aviation Day.Pre-history of MAKS - provides the complete information on Russian and Soviet air shows. It was established in 1933Council of People's Commissars of the USSR decree 859 of 28.04.1933 and was most usually held on the third Sunday of August, weather permitting. The initial exhibition on 18 August 1933,Curiously, the August 17, 1933, was the date of the first launch of Soviet rocket - GIRD-09. was a result of Yakov Alksnis initiative, and was held in Khodynka Aerodrome (the Central Moscow Aerodrome), but since the next year the show became located on Tushino airfield near Moscow, where it remained for entire decades. In 1937, the parade was attended by nearly a million people, observing the masses of aircraft spelling in the sky "LENIN", "STALIN" and "СССР". The celebrations repeated until the fall of Soviet Union, and continueDecree 3564-1 of September 28, 1992: "The establishment of the Russian Air Fleet Day" ()Decree 949 of 29 August 1997: "On establishing the Day of the Air Force" () and a revision 549 of 31 May 2006. in Russia (location is now Zhukovskiy airport, see MAKS airshow).
May Day
1 May was dedicated to multitude of parades throughout the Soviet Union. They often included large-scale flypasts. - May Day of 1947 - May Day of 1954.
Other
The Soviet Air Fleet Day became primarily associated with Soviet Air Forces (VVS), so a separate day has been established for Soviet Air Defense Forces (PVO) a second arm of Soviet military that employed numerous fighter squadrons. It was called Soviet Air Defence Forces Day (), occurred on the second Sunday of April,When it was established on 20 February 1975 the commemoration day was set for 11 April but it changed to the second Sunday of April following the decree of 1 October 1980. and was celebrated with air parades of lesser scale.
The October Revolution anniversary usually included air parade, but as it was held on 7 November, the aircraft were often cancelled because of weather conditions. The same problem pertained to 19 November, the Soviet Rocket Forces and Artillery Day.
Notably, the 50th anniversary of October revolution air show was held in the summer, on 9 July 1967 at Domodedovo airport. In an unprecedented display of air power, it featured twelve new types or variants of military aircraft, and prompted concern in the West, especially with reveal of the MiG-25, which appeared to be better than current U.S. fighters and influenced the F-X program and therefore the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle.
Notable first appearances
The Soviet air shows conveyed more than entertainment. In the atmosphere of harshly enforced clandestinity, these air shows were frequently the main source of information about the recent aviation achievements of Soviet design bureaus (OKBs). Both Eastern and Western public opinion benefited from it, as well as foreign military intelligence.
Year Month Day Location New fighters(Soviet designation) New bombers(Soviet designation) Other new aircraft Comments Reference 1947 3 August Tushino airfield Yak-19, La-150, La-156, La-160, Su-9, Su-11 Tu-4, Tu-77 - new jet designs 1950 1 May Tushino airfield - Il-18 Ka-10, Mi-1 - 1952 1 May Tushino airfield - - Mi-4 - 1954 1 May Tushino airfield - M-4, Tu-16 - - 1955 Tushino airfield MiG-19, Yak-25 Tupolev Tu-95 Yak-24 - 1956 24 June Tushino airfield MiG-21, Su-7B, Su-9 Yak-26 - 1961 9 July Tushino airfield Tu-28 M-50, Tu-22, Yak-28 Be-10, Be-12, Ka-20, Ka-22, Ka-25, Mi-8, Mi-10 - 1967 9 July Domodedovo Airport MiG-23, MiG-25, Su-11, Su-15, Su-17, STOL aircraft (MiG, Su, Yak-36) - - major impact in the West 1971 May Vnukovo Airport - - Tu-144, Tu-154, Il-76, Il-62M, Tu-134A, Yak-40, B-12 civil aviation exhibition 1972 - Domodedovo Airport - Sukhoi T-4 - -
See also Air show Flypast Military parade MAKS (air show), the current biennial Russian air show
References