Russian air forces are establishing a new aerobatic team operating Yak-130 operational trainers, Lenta.ru reports with reference to a source close to the aircraft industry. According to the current plan, new aerobatic team will take part in the Victory Parade on May 9th 2014.

The pilots are being trained by The Air Force Academy named after N.E. Zhukovsky and Y.A. Gagarin at Borisoglebsk training center of the Russian air forces named after Chkalov. The first group of cadets trained for piloting Yak-130 jets passed their exams in 2013. The pilots are being trained with the assistance of Yakovlev design bureau.

The pilots are practicing maneuvers and prepare for piloting the jets under severe weather conditions. The information related to establishing the aerobatic team was also confirmed by a source close to the United Aircraft Corporation. The number of aircraft to be operated by the team has not been unveiled yet. The team’s new livery has not been demonstrated either.

Besides, Yakovlev design bureau is working on fitting the aircraft with smoke generators. The jets will also be fitted with avionics allowing them to land at Russian and foreign civil airports. The new systems will be tested on Yak-130 prototypes owned by Yakovlev design bureau.

Initially it was planned to establish the Yak-130 aerobatic team in the first quarter of 2013. Russian Ministry of Defense planned that the first demonstration flight will be performed by the team at MAKS-2013, held in August 2013 in Zhukovsky (Moscow Region). It was reported earlier that the new aerobatic team may be created on the basis of an existing one (for example, Strizhi team).