In 1987 the soviet council of ministers, pushed by the soviet government, became the order to form a new acrobatic flying team to join the celebration of 70th years of soviet aviation, held later on at Tushino airfield. Finally the Society for assisting the Army, Air Force and Navy

(DOSAAF) got the contract to form a flying acrobatic team, using the Aero L-39 “Albatross”

jet fighter.

During the celebration of the 70th anniversary of soviet air force at Tushino, the new formed VYAZMA RUS Aerobatic Team, flying 9 Aero L-39 “Albatross” showed the crowd there fantastic performance over the sky’s of Moscow. After the collapse of the former Soviet Union in 1991 the VYAZMA RUS Aerobatic Team was the only team left in the new Russian federation.

Since this year the team performed every year at many air shows in Russia, Belarus and the 

Czech Republic. Sadly the team never had the chance to show their great performance anywhere in the western hemisphere.

In 1995, when I visiting the MAKS air show at Zhukovsky, Moscow I had the great opportunity to talk to some of the pilots. Regarding to my question, where they come from, they told me from a small town, called Vyazma, about 250km west of Moscow.

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

As interested I was, my next question concerning a visit of the team at their home base at

Vyazma. Regarding to the statement of the pilots it was no problem, even photographing was permitted. After we changed our telephone numbers I planned to visit the team and their base in the upcoming year.

In 1996 I had for the first time the chance to fly with the team on the co-pilots seat. It was an absolute remembering experience in my life and at his time a small sensation!

In the meantime I had the opportunity to fly four times with the VYAZMA RUS Aerobatic Team. Many of my best in-flight shots you will see in this photo report.

During my last visit, this August 2011, they still perform with five L-39 “Albatross” during the air shows and the small town of Vyazma is still there home base.

Yours Guido E. Buehlmann

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros and a Aero L-29 Delfin August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros and a Aero L-29 Delfin August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-29 Delfin August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1996 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

1997

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1997 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1997 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1997 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

1998

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1997 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1997 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1998 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1998 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1998 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1998 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1998 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

1999

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1999 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1999 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1999 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Aero L-39 Albatros August 1999 (Photo courtesy Guido E. Bühlmann)

Air Forces using or used the L-39 “Albatros”

USSR / Russia, Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chechnya, Cuba, Czechia, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Germany (East), Germany (West), Georgia, Ghana, Hungary, Iraq, Libya, Lithuania, Nigeria, North Vietnam, Romania, Syria, Thailand, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

Appendix:

Breitling Aerobatic Team and the Baltic Bees Aerobatic Team are worldwide the only civilian Aerobatic Teams using the Aero L-39 “Albatros”. Around 100 L-39 are worldwide privately owned and many of them still flying all over the world, mainly in the United States.

Estonian Air Force

VYAZMA

last update 27. September 2011

Written 7. September 2011

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