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Guido Bühlmann) |
Take-off with Tu-134 in Chkalovsky, north-east of Moscow (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
The dissolution of the world's largest socialist state, the Soviet Union, also marked the end of the Cold War. From 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics disintegrated and a period began in which Russia opened up to the West. From this point onwards, it was possible to move around Russia much more freely than had ever been thought possible before. In the years that followed, our editor Guido Bühlmann made various trips to Russia and was able to look around Russian military bases. In total, our editor travelled to Russia 36 times and has thus become a well-founded expert on Russian aviation.
In August 1996, he led a small tour group of aircraft enthusiasts through Russia. The small group of twelve people visited several air force bases that were previously inaccessible. The starting point was Chkalovsky, located 31 kilometres north-east of Moscow near Shcholkovo in the Moscow Oblast (Moscow Military District). The group was flown by the air force to Engels 2 in a Tupolev Tu-134AK and was able to visit the bomber base there.
Overflight of Saratov airport (on the right bank of the Volga) (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Overflight over the base of Engels (on the left side of the Volga) (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
With this Tu-134AK "Crusty" we flew from Chkalovsky to Engels (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Officers' dining hall where we had lunch (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Line-up with Myasishchev 3MS-2 "Bison C" and Tu-95MS "Bear H" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Line-up with Tupolev Tu-95MS (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Line-up with Tupolev Tu-95MS "Bear-H" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Tupolev Tu-160 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Tupolev Tu-160 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Tupolev Tu-160 "Il'ya Muromets" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Tupolev Tu-160 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Tupolev Tu-160 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Tupolev Tu-160 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Crew of the Tupolev Tu-160 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Crew of the Tupolev Tu-160 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Engels
2 is a strategic airport of the Russian Air Force. It is located 5
kilometres east of the city of Engels in the Saratov oblast. Engels-2 is
Russia's largest operational base for strategic bombers and its only
base for Tupolev Tu-160 heavy bombers. The base was due to receive its
first Tu-160 aircraft in 1987. However, these were relocated to Pryluky
at short notice. In the following years, aircraft from later production
series were then transferred to Engels. In 1996, five Tu-160s were
stationed at the base and ready for operation.
In 1996, there were also other bombers at the base, such as the Myasishchev 3MS-2 "Bison C", Tu-95MS "Bear H", Tupolev Tu-22 "Blinder-B" and the modern Tupolev Tu-22M-3 "Backfire-C". Some aircraft were scrapped at the base in accordance with the SALT (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties) and CFE (Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe) agreements.
The last military operational flight with a Myasishchev 3MS-2 took place shortly after the inspection of the base on 13 August 1996.
Today (2024) there are only two aircraft types left at Engels 2: the Tupolev Tu-160 "Blackjack" and the indestructible Tu-95MS "Bear". The aircraft are operated by two air force regiments. Der letzte militärische Einsatzflug mit einer Mjassischtschew 3MS-2 erfolgte kurz nach der Besichtigung der Basis vom 13. August 1996.
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121. Heavy bomber regiment (Tupolew Tu-160 "Blackjack")
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184. Heavy bomber regiment (Tu-95MS "Bear")
Crew of the Tupolev Tu-160 (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Scrapping of Tu-95 according to SALT and CFE agreement (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Scrapping of Tu-95 according to SALT and CFE agreement (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Antonov An-26 "Curl" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Tupolev Tu-134UBL "Crusty" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Ilyushin Il-78M "Midas" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Tupolev Tu-22 M-3 "Backfire-C" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Tupolev Tu-22 M-3 "Backfire-C" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Tupolev Tu-22 M-3 "Backfire-C" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Tupolev Tu-22 M-3 "Backfire-C" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Line-up with Tupolev Tu-22 "Blinder B" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Line-up with Tupolev Tu-22 "Blinder B" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Tupolev Tu-22U "Blinder B" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Tupolev Tu-22U "Blinder B" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
Tupolev Tu-22U "Blinder B" (Picture courtesy Guido Bühlmann)
