COVER N.75 - Russia

Postmark: Illegible - 4-02-22
Posted on the 4th February; received on the 18th February
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Once again Julia sends me a lavishly decorated envelope with some very nice stamps of my favourite philatelic topic: aviation. Thanks a lot Julia. You are too kind!

The envelope is decorated with the logos of the "Russian Knights" and the "Swifts" Aerobatic Squadrons of the Russian Air Force, which are also the subject of the se-tenant strip of stamps used to mail the cover to Portugal. 

The Mig 29 of the Swifts is also showcased in the very nice postcard (#69)  Julia included inside her beautiful cover. Thank you so much!

The Swifts (Strizhi) were formed in 1991 with pilots belonging to the 237th Guards Proskurov Aircraft Demonstration Centre, based in Kubinka Air Base. 

The team flies MiG-29A and MiG-29UB (two-seater version of the A) aircraft. 

Although also relying on pilots from the 37th Guards Proskurov Aircraft Demonstration Centre, the Russian Knights display team, formed on 5 April 1991, flies Sukhoi SU-35S and Su-30SM fighters.

Stamps

Left to right, top to bottom:

The stamp strip with two 25 Ruble stamps  is part of a minisheet of 4 such strips issued on 24NOV2022 celebrating both aerobatic display teams, the vignette in he middle showing both teams flying in a tight formation.

The stamp on the right exhibits one of the Russian Knights Su-30SM. A mach 2 capable multirole fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air interdiction missions, and a development of the SU-27, its original version first took to the air in 1989. The SM version is characterised by the presence of thrust vectoring for its  two Saturn AL-31F powerplants  and cannards fore of the wings, 

The stamp on the left illustrates the Mig 29 of the Russian Knights.  Conceived as an air superiority fighter and Mach 2.25 capable through the use of two Klimov RD-33 afterburning turbofan engines, the Mig 29  first flew in 1977, and is still in production today, equipping the air forces of several countries.

5 Rubble stamp issued on 12JUL2008, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Helicopert Sport, a discipline of air sports that according to FAI - the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, "offers a great spectator experience. Events flown are in Navigation, Precision, Fender rigging, Slalom and Freestyle.".

The stamp is illustrated with an image of a MI-1, the first mass produced soviet helicopter, designed by Michail Mil. Its prototype first flew in 1948 and its first public appearance occurred at the Tushino Air Display of 1951.