Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

The Knights and the Swifts aerobatic teams of the Russian Air Force will join at least two other elite flying squads in the air over Zhuhai during the 11th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition this November. The two Russian teams signed an agreement with the Air Show China Executive Committee on Aug 25, confirming their debut as a mixed formation outside the Russian Federation. 

It was another breakthrough after the contract signing on Aug 19 with the UK’s Royal Air Force aerobatics team, the Red Arrows, one of the world's premiere display teams. 

Signing ceremony [Photo by Lu Zhanqing / Zhuhai Daily APP]

The executive committee will also soon sign with the Pakistan Air Force to confirm participation of the JF-17 Thunder. Thus, the 11th Airshow China will have assembled performances of aerobatic teams from four countries (including China) -- a new record in the number of foreign performing teams during Airshow China.    

The Knights and Swifts aerobatic teams have both impressed audiences in previous air shows in China. The Knights, which will perform the Nesterov Somersault, Augmented Circling, and Jump Rival Wingover Inverted Rise Drop Down, is the world’s only aerobatic team using heavy fighters. On the other hand, the Swifts, which like the Knights was established in 1991, uses MIG-29s and features Pyramid and Cross maneuvers. 

[File Photo]

Performances such as the Kubinka Diamond by a mixed formation of Su-27 and MIG-29s will undoubtedly be the biggest highlights of the air show, according to the agreement.