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Report :   

The Swifts at the Oulu International Airshow, Finland, 7-8.6.1997


The following report of the performances at the Oulu International Airshow by the Russian Swifts MiG-29 display team has been provided by SIG member Perttu Karivalo, from Finland. Perttu was Airshow Coordinator for the event.



Oulu International Airshow was the biggest ever airshow in Finland. Over 100 display aircraft, 100 + general aviation aircraft, crowd of 40,000 +. The airshow was run under the European Joint Aviation Regulations, and it's Information Leaflet No. 22. This regulation controls all the flight displays in Europe.

Long before the show, we had started to negotiate with the Russians to get one of their display teams from Kubinka to perform in Oulu International Airshow. We received a confirmation during last winter that the Russian Knights with their Su-27 Flankers will participate Oulu International Airshow. This confirmation was changed in February to the Swifts with six MiG-29.

On Thursday June 5th 13:20 local time, arrived an Ilyushin Il-76MD support aircraft, RA-78776, with 52 crew members on board. This included a group of 11 high ranking officers lead by General Major (Aviation). The flight route from Kubinka AB near Moscow was via Siversk AB in Russia to Oulu International Airport, Finland. The support Il-76MD was in standard Aeroflotcolour scheme with RA- registration, but with tail turret (no guns). Some extra blue paint was also around the engine pods. No team markings were carried.

On the same date 15:00 local time, a tight formation of six MiG-29s flew over the field (4 x MiG-29 serials 43, 44, 46, 48 and 2 x MiG-29UB serials 33, 34). After the fly-past, the formation broke and landed one by one. The "follow me" car marshalled the aircraft to the standing area. During the taxi there were six Russian ground crew members in line next to the taxiway to collect braking chutes, which were still attached. After the landing it took only six hours to have all the aircrew in hotels and planes ready for the next day's practise display. The Swifts had their MiG-29s painted like seen before, overall light gray with blue tails and fuselage stripes with white numbers on tail. On Friday 6th of June 1997, the Swifts were supposed to practise, but they informed us that they have been practising so much lately that they do not need to practise any more. So no MiG-29 flying on Friday, when the press was there waiting for it.

On Saturday 7th of June 1997, the Swifts displayed last, 18:30 LT. The display was flown with five MiG-29s (one was a UB). The remaining MiG-29UB was reserve aircraft on the ground. First took off a formation of four and flew directly to the holding area. After this, the solo MiG-29 took off and made a nice loop right after take off. The solo performed his full show first when the formation was holding. After the solo had completed it's show, it flew to the holding area and the formation of four returned to the front of the crowd. The formation approached at 120 feet above the display line from right to left. The planes flew in tight line formation. Then, just front of the crowd, THEY STARTED TO FIRE FLARES !!!!!!!!!! (real ones, not the ones to made for display use). We, as the organizers, didn't know anything about this !!!! The Swifts had forgotten to tell us about this !!!! Well, the show had definately started!!!

The formation of four then displayed several different manouvers and formations. The formation was always very good and they kept the distance between the aircraft to a minimum. World-class performance. I personally liked their very tight diamond formation in slow flight with landing gear extended. Very good show, can put against Blue Angels, Thunderbirds, Red Arrows etc., anytime. Their formation flying was very good but they had problems to stay on the right side of the display line (..because they didn't follow it in a such a way you are normally supposed to do), and they drifted all the time above the crowd. The display went OK, and the crowd was pleased, but in the next morning's display briefing our Airsow Director (ex-Squadron Commander from Finnish Air Force Academy) personally gave a safety lecture to the Commander of the Swifts. The weather was +26°C and it had not rained for weeks, so the ground was extremely dry. The flares were a BIG safety risk. The Swifts agreed to fly the "flare" run at 600 feet, because the flares will burn 150 feet. Also they agreed to follow display line more carefully. The team commander promised this personally.

Everything was supposed to be fine for the display flight on Sunday 8th of June 1997. The formation of four took off and the solo flew its show. This time one MiG-29 was reserve aircraft and both -UBs flew in the formation. Then the formation of four returned for "flare" run. They flew only 100 feet high when they started to fire flares !!!!!!! Because of the low altitude one of the flares started a small forest fire on the other side of the main runway, just 100 meters (300 feet) from the display aircraft flight line. Naturally, our rescue teams were in alert and they rapidly took care of the fire !!! Believe me, it's not very funny to watch the smoke rising out of the trees close to parked display aircraft.

Their formation flying was again excellent but they didn't follow the display line almost at all. They flew clearly over the crowd in almost every manouver. Again it was quite stressfull to watch their display hoping that it will end as safely as possible. In their final break, one of the MiGs flew directly over the crowd, very low, less than 100 feet, doing rolls !!!!!!! Have to say that we had not so much to say on that moment. The Swifts fly very good, but why did they have to break all the rules in purpose ??? That is something I can't understand.

By the way, the Swifts had one NATO F-16 pilot in the back seat of the second -UB on Sunday's display without the permission from the authorities. Carrying other than display crew members in the airshow is allowed only with the permission from the appropriate controlling authorities, otherwise it is stricly against European Joint Aviation Regulations.

Finnish Civil Aviation Administration's airshow inspector was standing next to me during the display. He wasn't very happy with what he saw. Finnish CAA will inspect the Swifts display. It might take a long time until the Swifts will have permission from Finnish CAA to display in Finland again.

Our airshow director asked only one question from the Swifts Commander after the Sunday's show :

What is the difference between a Finnish Squadron Commander and a Russian Squadron Commander?

When a Finnish Squadron Commander says 600 feet it means exactly 600 feet.

When a Russian Squadron Commander says 600 feet, it means 100 feet !!!!!!


Very Best Airshow Regards,

Perttu Karivalo

Display Office
Oulu International Airshow.