Vadim Stepanov | aviaspotting.com

SPOTTING REPORT

In the beginning of August 2025 Mochishche Airfield near Novosibirsk hosted the annual airshow. This year the aviation performance in the center of Siberia was called Viva Avia.

Crowd of many thousands people gathered at the airfield to watch one of the biggest aviation fest in Russia. The airshow program included demonstration flights of many private and general aviation planes, some military and experimental aircrafts, parachute jumps from minimum height performances of popular music groups, and other kinds of near-aviation activity.

But the highlights of the program were the shows of the famous aerobatic teams of the Russian Air Force – Strizhy (the Swifts) and Russkie Vityazi (the Russian Knights).  In addition, two aerobatic teams on propeller-driven aircraft demonstrated their skills – Pervyi Polet (the First Flight and Barsy (the Panthers).

The show was certainly a success despite the cloudy weather and the heavy rain at the end of the program.

Well, for me it was an opportunity to visit a small airfield near Novosibirsk for the first time and take pictures of planes that are not yet in my collection.

Here’s what I shot, roughly in chronological order.

Private aircrafts and general aviation based in Mochishche

Helicopters – active and stored

Public, aerobatic teams souvenirs’ shops and music

Flags parade

Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bomber/strike aircraft demonstration flight

The aircraft is manufactured at the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant named after V. P. Chkalov. This aircraft in its factory dead color is one of the new aircrafts that has not yet been handed over to the Air Force.

Performance of the Pervyi Polet (the First Flight) aerobatic team

The team used Yak-52 and yak-54 aircrafts and is the first professional aerobatic team in Russia on piston aircrafts. The group’s pilots are multiple World and Russia champions and prize winners. Еру solo aerobatic pilot in the team Irina Markova, is the only woman in the group. Commander of the aerobatic team is Konstantin Borovik, bronze medalist of the 2017 World Championship, silver medalist of the Russian Championship in the Advanced class in team competitions in 2018.

Yak Aircrafts by Pervyi Polet (the First Flight)

The weather scout  of Strizy aerobatic team – RF-92944 MiG-29UB (41 blue)

A weather reconnaissance plane usually arrives at the show site half an hour to an hour before the aerobatic team’s performance, making flyovers and a number of solo elements to reconnoiter the flight conditions – air quality, weather, and the location of the spectators.

Strizhy performance

Strizhy (The Swifts) is an aerobatic team of the Russian Air Force, which was formed in 1991 on the basis of the 234th Proskurovsky Aviation Regiment from the best pilots of the Kubinka Air Base near Moscow. The team is part of the I. N. Kozhedub Aviation Equipment Demonstration Center. It performs group and solo aerobatics on multi-purpose highly maneuverable MiG-29 fighters.

The Barsy (Panthers) aerobatic team performance and their aircrafts

The first Russian female aerobatic team was formed in 2014 in Surgut. The team consists of amateur cadets and is based at the Borovaya airfield in Surgut. The team commander is Ivan Barsov, the only man in the team. The team flies Yak-52 and Yak-18 aircrafts.

Yak planes by barsy team

Demo flights of private and general aviation planes based at Mochishche Airfield

Experimental  short takeoff and landing aircraft Partizan

The plane designed and built by Siberian Aviation Research Institute named after S. A. Chaplygin (SibNIA) in Novosibirsk. The aircraft use hybrid power plant and active blowing of the lifting surfaces. The unique technology was presented and took to the air on a flying laboratory based on the TVS-2MS aircraft. The plane demonstrated flights at minimum speed – 25-30 km/h.

The weather scout  of the Russian Knights aerobatic team – Su-35S (53 blue)

Glider flights and Parachute Jumping

Russkie Vityazi (the Russian Knights) aerobatic team performance

Russian Knights is an aerobatic team of the Russian Air Force. The holder of several world records, it was formed in 1991 on the basis of the 1st aviation squadron of the 234th  Proskurovsky mixed aviation regiment of the 16th Air Army, based at the Kubinka airfield near Moscow. Now the team is the 237th Center for the display of aviation equipment. Russian Knights currently operate two types of fighters – Su-30SM and Su-35S, which are the latest Russian multi-role super-maneuverable fighters.

Brilliant performances, excellent program and interesting planes. Viva, avia!

All Viva Avia aircraft and their identification can be found in this gallery.

Enjoy!