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Sormovo (airfield)
Encyclopedia
Sormovo is an airfield in Russia
, located on the outskirts of Nizhny Novgorod
, some 8 km (5 mi) from the center city, just west of the Sokol Aircraft Plant
. Legally, it is within the city's Moskovsky District (Московский район), but it is commonly referred to by the name of the much better-known neighborhood of Sormovo
, which is to the north of the airfield. Moreover, between 1956 and 1970 the airfield (and all of today's Moskovsky District) was in fact part of the Sormovsky District.
According to the Western sources, it is a military base with MiG-25 and MiG-31 aircraft. The runway dimensions suggest that this airfield was built in the 1950s as a bomber base.
As of 2000, Google Earth
high-resolution satellite images showed 14 MiG-25, 6 MiG-21, and a small number of older fighters and fixed-wing aircraft. The west side of the runway has a 50-m (164-ft) displaced threshold; the actual runway dimension is 3000 m (9840 ft).
Locally, the airfield is known as Airfield Nizhny Novgorod (Sormovo) of the Nizhny Novogorod Sokol Aviation Plant
. According to Sokol's website, the plant currently manufactures MiG-31E fighter-interceptors, MiG-29UB fighter-trainers, and Yak-130 combat trainers; they also upgrade customers'
MiG-21 BIS planses, and manufacture small civilian airplanes (M-101T, a light passenger turboprop, and
Accord-201, an amphibious aircraft).. The factory premises are adjacent to the eastern end of the airfield.
It should be noted that 110th Military Airlift Regiment (110 VTAP) of Military Transport Aviation flying Ilyushin Il-76
freighters up until 2009 was not stationed at Sormovo, but another airfield near Nizhny Novgorod, Krechevitsy Airport
, 11 kilometres to the northeast.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, located on the outskirts of Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is, with the population of 1,250,615, the fifth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg...
, some 8 km (5 mi) from the center city, just west of the Sokol Aircraft Plant
Sokol design bureau
Sokol plant is a manufacturer of MiG fighters, based in Nizhny Novgorod. It was founded n 1932 and is also known as "Aviation Plant 21", named after Sergo Ordzhonikidze. During 45 years of serial production the plant manufactured about 13,500 combat aircraft....
. Legally, it is within the city's Moskovsky District (Московский район), but it is commonly referred to by the name of the much better-known neighborhood of Sormovo
Sormovsky City District
Sormovsky District , or Sormovo , is one of the eight city districts of the city of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. It occupies the northwestern corner of the city, adjacent to the Volga River. Population:...
, which is to the north of the airfield. Moreover, between 1956 and 1970 the airfield (and all of today's Moskovsky District) was in fact part of the Sormovsky District.
According to the Western sources, it is a military base with MiG-25 and MiG-31 aircraft. The runway dimensions suggest that this airfield was built in the 1950s as a bomber base.
As of 2000, Google Earth
Google Earth
Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
high-resolution satellite images showed 14 MiG-25, 6 MiG-21, and a small number of older fighters and fixed-wing aircraft. The west side of the runway has a 50-m (164-ft) displaced threshold; the actual runway dimension is 3000 m (9840 ft).
Locally, the airfield is known as Airfield Nizhny Novgorod (Sormovo) of the Nizhny Novogorod Sokol Aviation Plant
Sokol design bureau
Sokol plant is a manufacturer of MiG fighters, based in Nizhny Novgorod. It was founded n 1932 and is also known as "Aviation Plant 21", named after Sergo Ordzhonikidze. During 45 years of serial production the plant manufactured about 13,500 combat aircraft....
. According to Sokol's website, the plant currently manufactures MiG-31E fighter-interceptors, MiG-29UB fighter-trainers, and Yak-130 combat trainers; they also upgrade customers'
MiG-21 BIS planses, and manufacture small civilian airplanes (M-101T, a light passenger turboprop, and
Accord-201, an amphibious aircraft).. The factory premises are adjacent to the eastern end of the airfield.
It should be noted that 110th Military Airlift Regiment (110 VTAP) of Military Transport Aviation flying Ilyushin Il-76
Ilyushin Il-76
The Ilyushin Il-76 is a multi-purpose four-engined strategic airlifter designed by Ilyushin design bureau. It was first planned as a commercial freighter in 1967. Intended as a replacement for the Antonov An-12, the Il-76 was designed for delivering heavy machinery to remote, poorly-serviced areas...
freighters up until 2009 was not stationed at Sormovo, but another airfield near Nizhny Novgorod, Krechevitsy Airport
Krechevitsy Airport
Krechevitsy is an air base located 11 km northeast of Veliky Novgorod, Russia. It contains 30 large revetments in a sprawling taxiway pattern, suitable for large transports. It was home to 110 VTAP , of the 61st Air Army, flying Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft...
, 11 kilometres to the northeast.