Lipetsk 17th of August 2005. Picture heavy.

[MikeH]

As it’s nearly twenty years since our visit, I thought is was about time I got around to editing the rest of the photos I took during this epic visit back in 2005. Lipetsk is the chief combat training centre of the Russian Aerospace Forces. I’ve no idea why they put on such a show for our visit but there were no complaints. Memories of overnight coach travel from Moscow, jumping red traffic lights behind a police escort through Lipetsk, being welcomed at the base by a brass band and being given refreshments by the Russian equivalent of the Women's Institute.

I’m sure some experts on here will be able to fill in the details of the individual types, so apologies in advance for any misidentification in the image titles.

MiG-29-Lipetsk-22-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

MiG-29-Lipetsk-29-32-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

MiG-29-Lipetsk-30-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

MiG-29-Lipetsk-29-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

MiG-29-Lipetsk-32-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

MiG-29UB-Lipetsk-38-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

MiG-29UB-Lipetsk-37-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Mixed-Formation-Lipetsk-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Mixed-Formation-Lipetsk-2-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

MiG-31-Lipetsk-37-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-24-42-Red-Lipetsk-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-24-45-Red-Lipetsk-3-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-24-52-Red-Lipetsk-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-24M-Lipetsk-44-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-24-X4-Lipetsk-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-24M-Lipetsk-45-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-25-73-Red-Lipetsk-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-25-75-Red-Lipetsk-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-24M-Lipetsk-47-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-25-77-Red-Lipetsk-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-25TM-85-Red-Lipetsk-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-25T-Lipetsk-83-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-25UB-77-Red-Lipetsk-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-27-Lipetsk-02-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-27-Lipetsk-08-Red-3-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-27-Lipetsk-01-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-27-Lipetsk-08-Red-2-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-27-Lipetsk-08-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-27-Lipetsk-61-Red-2-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-27-Lipetsk-80-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-27-Lipetsk-11-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Tails-Lipetsk-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-27-Lipetsk-61-Red-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-27-X7-Lipetsk-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

Su-27-X4-Lipetsk-17AU05 by Michael Hall, on Flickr

[teeonefixer]

Simple words of praise don't do this post justice. They are terrific, Michael!

[atech]

After seeing some pictures of your visit taken by one of your fellow travellers, I booked the same trip the following year.

Complete contrast to your visit, lashing rain, no flying, (until after we left) , marched off base at midday, bus broke down and a visit from the local head of KGB. Still the static line up and the mad drive through the Mig 25/31 storage area was fun.

Thanks for sharing, great set of pics.

Atech

[roughcutter]

Wow! That's absolutely priceless, somehow I don't think such a visit could be pulled off today Who did you travel with (4Aviation?)?

[MikeH]

Who did you travel with?

It was an APC (Aviation Photo Club - the precursor of COAP,) tour of the Moscow area. Base visits included Ivanovo, Ryazan and the Chernoye Mil Mi-2, Mil Mi-8 and Antonov An-2 repair and restoration facility. We also visited the museum at Monino and spent two days at Zhukovsky for the MAKS Air Show.
The effort our hosts at Lipetsk went to welcome and accomodate us remains a mystery. Like you said, it’s unlikely a similar visit would be possible in the foreseeable future.

[Dan214sqn]

Amazing

[pb643]

Hi Mike,

I was there! A truly spectacular day, the highlight of an amazing trip.

I too have always wondered exactly how we came to be treated to such a show. From what I recall we were given the option to drive through the night to see a navalised Mig29, just about the only thing we didn't see.

I had a similar experience on a George Pick tour in 1994. On a base visit to Kubinka we were met with a greeting from General Nikolai Antoshkin (Awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Order of Lenin for leading the helicopter group tasked with dropping sand and boron on to the Chernobyl reactor, immediately after the accident) We were then invited to sit in a Mig29, Su27 and Su25 before being treated to full displays by The Russian nights, The Swifts and the Sky Hussars. I don't know who they thought we were? But it has always seemed very lavish for a coachload of aircraft enthusiasts.

Looking back now, it is sobering to think that some of those bases visited have become the site of current day battlefields, after being attacked by drones. It is also sad to think that such things will not be repeated.

Phil

[atech]

From memory “some” of the money we paid went into the pockets of the senior officers involved in setting up the visits.

Apparently and allegedly the money we paid didn’t reach the right pockets which is why we were less than welcome. It was the same at Kubinka, a couple of knackered old transports and after much discussion one old swifts Mig 29 with a broken leg.

They didn’t like our long telephotos when they realised that we could see to the other side of the airfield. We were then treated to a tirade from an air force colonel about how we in the west had screwed it all up for the Soviet’s etc etc.

There are a couple of members of this forum who were on that trip. All in all it was an interesting first time visit to Russia.

Atech

[roughcutter]

Who did you travel with?

It was an APC (Aviation Photo Club - the precursor of COAP,) tour of the Moscow area. Base visits included Ivanovo, Ryazan and the Chernoye Mil Mi-2, Mil Mi-8 and Antonov An-2 repair and restoration facility. We also visited the museum at Monino and spent two days at Zhukovsky for the MAKS Air Show.
The effort our hosts at Lipetsk went to welcome and accomodate us remains a mystery. Like you said, it’s unlikely a similar visit would be possible in the foreseeable future.

Well it's a fabulous post Mike, the sort of trip most of us could only dream about, you lucky chap.
Thanks for sharing them with us bud.

[pb643]

From memory “some” of the money we paid went into the pockets of the senior officers involved in setting up the visits.

Apparently and allegedly the money we paid didn’t reach the right pockets which is why we were less than welcome. It was the same at Kubinka, a couple of knackered old transports and after much discussion one old swifts Mig 29 with a broken leg.

They didn’t like our long telephotos when they realised that we could see to the other side of the airfield. We were then treated to a tirade from an air force colonel about how we in the west had screwed it all up for the Soviet’s etc etc.

There are a couple of members of this forum who were on that trip. All in all it was an interesting first time visit to Russia.

Atech

On my 1994 visit, Russia's finances were in a very precarious position, we exchanged for roubles 2 or 3 times a day, as the rate was continually worsening. In the evening ladies would stand in the street selling a loaf, kitten or bottle of beer, Moscow was crumbling. On that occasion you can see that a pile of $$ would be very influential and get you almost anywhere.

By 2005, the situation was very different, new roads had been built, packed with expensive western cars, Moscow had become a rich city. It would be interesting to see how the cost of "influence" had changed in the intervening years. From recollection we witnessed flying that lasted 3 or 4 hours at Lipetsk.

Without doubt, my two most memorable aviation trips.

Phil

[Vulcanone]

And to think one little irritating clown, aka Darth Putin and his cronies has B@@@ered t all up....

[SW Sky Blue]

Excellent set