Anatoly Kvochur
Encyclopedia
Anatoly Kvochur is a Russian aerobatics
pilot, a test pilot
, and a Hero of the Russian Federation
. He is currently the Deputy Chief of the Gromov Flight Research Institute
(ЛИИ). He is widely regarded as one of the best Russian pilots.
in the Vinnytsia
Oblast
of Ukraine
.
He studied at the V. M. Komarov Higher Military Flying School at Yeysk
, graduating in 1973. He began service as a pilot in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany
. He served for two years before he was discharged from the Soviet Armed Forces
in 1977 with a recommendation for admittance to the Test Pilot School at the Zhukovsky airfield
. He graduated from the school in 1978. From 1978 to 1981 he worked as a test pilot at Komsomolsk-on-Amur
, testing Su-17 aircraft and its modifications. He also studied further at the Moscow Aviation Institute
, from whence he graduated in 1981.
He was transferred to the Mikoyan Design Bureau
where he participated in the testing of more than 80 types of aircraft, including MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, MiG-29, MiG-31, as well as air-to-air
and air-to-surface missile
s. Since then he has appeared in numerous international air shows, showcasing Russian aircraft.
In 1995 Kvochur participated in a very long range flight demonstration of Su-27PD and Su-27PU Flankers featuring an inflight refueling probe
. He led an aerobatic team, known as the Test Pilots Team (Lyotchiki-Ispyttahteli), which also included the pilots Vladimir Loginovskiy
and Aleksander Gamayev.
. He was flying a single-seater Mikoyan MiG-29
Fulcrum 'Blue 303', the latest fighter aircraft
of the Soviet Union
at the time. While executing a low-speed, high-angle attack portion of his routine, a bird was sucked into the turbofan
of his right engine (a bird strike
), causing the engine to burst into flames. Kvochur immediately turned the remaining engine to full afterburner
. However his speed, at 180 kilometres per hour (111.8 mph), was too slow to maintain stability on one engine. Despite his efforts, the stricken aircraft went into a steep dive. Kvochur managed to steer the MiG away from the crowd and eject 2.5 seconds before impact. He landed 30 metres (98.4 ft) away from the fireball of the crashed plane. The incident was caught on video.
The aircraft Kvochur was in had a Zvezda
K-36D ejection seat at that time. The same ejection seat also helped saved the lives of the pilots of two MiG-29's that collided mid-air
at the Royal International Air Tattoo
in July 24, 1993, and the pilot and navigator of a Sukhoi
Su-30 that crashed from a bird strike at the Paris Air Show in June 12, 1999 (which was also captured on video).
named after Kvochur.
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
pilot, a test pilot
Test pilot
A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....
, and a Hero of the Russian Federation
Hero of the Russian Federation
Hero of the Russian Federation is a Russian decoration and the highest honorary title that can be bestowed on a citizen by the Russian Federation. The President of the Russian Federation is the main conferring authority of the medal, which is bestowed on those committing actions or deeds that...
. He is currently the Deputy Chief of the Gromov Flight Research Institute
Gromov Flight Research Institute
M. M. Gromov Flight Research Institute or LII for short is an important Russian aircraft test base, scientific research center located in Zhukovsky, 40 km south-east of Moscow.It has one of the longest runways in Europe at 5,403 m...
(ЛИИ). He is widely regarded as one of the best Russian pilots.
Biography
Anatoly Kvochur was born in April 16, 1952 in the village of Mazurovka, Mohyliv-PodilskyiMohyliv-Podilskyi
Mohyliv-Podilskyi is a city in the Mohyliv-Podilskyi Raion of the Vinnytsia Oblast , Ukraine. It is located at , on the border with Bessarabia, Moldova.-History:The first mention of the town dates from 1595...
in the Vinnytsia
Vinnytsia
Vinnytsia is a city located on the banks of the Southern Bug, in central Ukraine. It is the administrative center of Vinnytsia Oblast.-Names:...
Oblast
Oblast
Oblast is a type of administrative division in Slavic countries, including some countries of the former Soviet Union. The word "oblast" is a loanword in English, but it is nevertheless often translated as "area", "zone", "province", or "region"...
of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
He studied at the V. M. Komarov Higher Military Flying School at Yeysk
Yeysk
-External links:* *...
, graduating in 1973. He began service as a pilot in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany
Group of Soviet Forces in Germany
The Group of Soviet Forces in Germany , also known as the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany and the Western Group of Forces were the troops of the Soviet Army in East Germany....
. He served for two years before he was discharged from the Soviet Armed Forces
Soviet Armed Forces
The Soviet Armed Forces, also called the Armed Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Armed Forces of the Soviet Union refers to the armed forces of the Russian SFSR , and Soviet Union from their beginnings in the...
in 1977 with a recommendation for admittance to the Test Pilot School at the Zhukovsky airfield
Ramenskoye Airport
Ramenskoye Airport , also known as Ramenskoye Airfield or Zhukovsky Airfield, is an airport in Moscow Oblast, Russia located 40 km southeast of Moscow and near the town of Ramenskoye. It serves as a major aircraft testing facility since the Cold War years with the majority of the major Russian...
. He graduated from the school in 1978. From 1978 to 1981 he worked as a test pilot at Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Komsomolsk-on-Amur is a city in Khabarovsk Krai, Russia, situated on the left bank of Amur River. It is located on the BAM railway line, northeast of Khabarovsk. Population: -Geography and climate:...
, testing Su-17 aircraft and its modifications. He also studied further at the Moscow Aviation Institute
Moscow Aviation Institute
Moscow Aviation Institute is one of several major engineering higher education establishments in Moscow .Although the school is currently offering a wide range of majors and research...
, from whence he graduated in 1981.
He was transferred to the Mikoyan Design Bureau
Mikoyan
Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG , or RSK MiG, is a Russian joint stock company. Formerly Mikoyan-and-Gurevich Design Bureau , then simply Mikoyan, it is a military aircraft design bureau, primarily designing fighter aircraft...
where he participated in the testing of more than 80 types of aircraft, including MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, MiG-29, MiG-31, as well as air-to-air
Air-to-air missile
An air-to-air missile is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled...
and air-to-surface missile
Air-to-surface missile
An air-to-surface missile is a missile designed to be launched from military aircraft and strike ground targets on land, at sea, or both...
s. Since then he has appeared in numerous international air shows, showcasing Russian aircraft.
In 1995 Kvochur participated in a very long range flight demonstration of Su-27PD and Su-27PU Flankers featuring an inflight refueling probe
Aerial refueling
Aerial refueling, also called air refueling, in-flight refueling , air-to-air refueling or tanking, is the process of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another during flight....
. He led an aerobatic team, known as the Test Pilots Team (Lyotchiki-Ispyttahteli), which also included the pilots Vladimir Loginovskiy
Vladimir Loginovskiy
- Club Career Stats :Last update: 1 February 2011-External links:*...
and Aleksander Gamayev.
Paris Air Show incident
Kvochur was involved in an airshow accident in June 28, 1989 at the Paris Air ShowParis Air Show
The Paris Air Show is the world's oldest and largest air show. Established in 1909, it is currently held every odd year at Le Bourget Airport in north Paris, France...
. He was flying a single-seater Mikoyan MiG-29
Mikoyan MiG-29
The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a fourth-generation jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union for an air superiority role. Developed in the 1970s by the Mikoyan design bureau, it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983, and remains in use by the Russian Air Force as well as in many other...
Fulcrum 'Blue 303', the latest fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
at the time. While executing a low-speed, high-angle attack portion of his routine, a bird was sucked into the turbofan
Turbofan
The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
of his right engine (a bird strike
Bird strike
A bird strike—sometimes called birdstrike, avian ingestion , bird hit, or BASH —is a collision between an airborne animal and a man-made vehicle, especially aircraft...
), causing the engine to burst into flames. Kvochur immediately turned the remaining engine to full afterburner
AfterBurner
The AfterBurner is a lighting solution for the Game Boy Advance system that was created by Triton-Labs.Originally, portablemonopoly.net was a website created to petition Nintendo to put some kind of light in their Game Boy Advance system...
. However his speed, at 180 kilometres per hour (111.8 mph), was too slow to maintain stability on one engine. Despite his efforts, the stricken aircraft went into a steep dive. Kvochur managed to steer the MiG away from the crowd and eject 2.5 seconds before impact. He landed 30 metres (98.4 ft) away from the fireball of the crashed plane. The incident was caught on video.
The aircraft Kvochur was in had a Zvezda
Zvezda
Zvezda is a common word among the Slavic languages meaning "star" , and may refer to one of the following:* Zvezda , 2002 Russian film* Zvezda , a component of the International Space Station...
K-36D ejection seat at that time. The same ejection seat also helped saved the lives of the pilots of two MiG-29's that collided mid-air
Mid-air collision
A mid-air collision is an aviation accident in which two or more aircraft come into contact during flight. Owing to the relatively high velocities involved and any subsequent impact on the ground or sea, very severe damage or the total destruction of at least one of the aircraft involved usually...
at the Royal International Air Tattoo
Royal International Air Tattoo
The Royal International Air Tattoo is the world's largest military air show, held annually over the third weekend in July, usually at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom in support of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust...
in July 24, 1993, and the pilot and navigator of a Sukhoi
Sukhoi
Sukhoi Company is a major Russian aircraft manufacturer, headquartered in Begovoy District, Northern Administrative Okrug, Moscow, famous for its fighters...
Su-30 that crashed from a bird strike at the Paris Air Show in June 12, 1999 (which was also captured on video).
Awards and recognition
- Order "For Merit For The Fatherland" 3rd Class (January 15, 1998)
- Hero of the Russian FederationHero of the Russian FederationHero of the Russian Federation is a Russian decoration and the highest honorary title that can be bestowed on a citizen by the Russian Federation. The President of the Russian Federation is the main conferring authority of the medal, which is bestowed on those committing actions or deeds that...
(November 17, 1992) - Distinguished Test Pilot Of The Soviet UnionBadges and Decorations of the Soviet Union-All-Union Civilian badges:-All-Union sport decorations:-Military badges:-Badges for Excellence:-Local badges:-Leninist Young Communist League Awards:-See also:* Orders, decorations, and medals of the Soviet Union...
(August 8, 1990) - Order of the Red Banner of LabourOrder of the Red Banner of LabourThe Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
(1988)
Kvochur's bell
Kvochur's bell is a variation of the Tailslide aerobatic maneuverAerobatic maneuver
Aerobatic maneuvers are flight paths putting aircraft in unusual attitudes, in air shows, dog fights or competition aerobatics. Aerobatics can be performed by a single aircraft or in formation with several others...
named after Kvochur.