Fifteen helicopters flew with portraits of Great Patriotic War pilots applied to them

Photo: Russian Helicopters

Russian Helicopters holding has first held the national Immortal Regiment in the Sky event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Victory. Helicopters with portraits of Great Patriotic War pilots applied to them flew in different parts of Russia, from Far East to Far North. 

Pilots in 15 vehicles took part in the event: twelve Mi-8, two Mi-38 and one Mi-26, the world’s largest helicopter. Twenty six war heroes flew up again on their fuselages. The event was held in Magadan, Ulan Ude, Kazan, Arkhangelsk, Naryan-Mar, Moscow Region, Primorsky Kray and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District. 

“The central idea of the project was to commemorate pilots, heroes of the Great Patriotic War, and to bring them back into their element — the sky. Images of renowned heroes, who participated in air battles and missions, attacks and strikes against the enemy, rushed through clouds on the rotorcraft. It is symbolic that the helicopters were made at the plants that supplied airplanes to the frontline in 1941-1945. Thus, Kazan Helicopter Plant was the major manufacturer of the Po-2 airplanes and Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant produced the La-5 and La-7 frontline fighters during the war. The event linked the past to the present by showing the feats of veterans and home front workers,” said the representatives of Russian Helicopters.