Vast Russian participation in Al Ain International Aerobatic Championship

The visitors of Al Ain event are used to the strong participation of the Russian Federation every year, such as last year's dazzling displays magnificently performed by the renowned 'Russian Knights' team on Sukhoi heavy fighters with a total weight of more than 150 tons.

On top of the new activities to be held in the 2007 session and for the first time in the world will be displaying the IL 76 MDK Microgravity Flying Laboratory, which is used to train astronauts on flying and loss of gravity. Reporters and visitors will have the chance to try this unique experience of swimming in space. In Russia, such experience would cost US$10,000 per person, and one would need to wait for more than one year to get this chance.

Among the important Russian participations there will also be the Yak-130 new Russian Air Force Jet Trainer (same class like L-39), and the MIG-29 OVT (New Type of Mig-29 with new engines for the 'Cobra' maneuver).

Moreover, in Al Ain 2007 and for the first time in the world, the Russian Space Museum with all its historic contents will be on the air show site for five days. Gagarin Space Training Centre Museum will demonstrate more than 100 unique exhibits including the first satellite 'Sputnik', Gagarin Space Suit, Landing Capsule and many other rarities.

The surprise of the event will be the direct contact with the International Space Station, the crew of which will talk to the visitors, and that will be telecasted live on major global satellite channels.

The Russian Air Force Aerobatic Team 'SWIFTS' also will take part in Al Ain event with 5 aircrafts of MIG-29 Supersonic fighters. The daily program of the team will include: group aerobatic, pair (front aerobatic), and solo aerobatic. Total display is about 20 minutes.