OREANDA-NEWS. September 24, 2010. All of the four representatives of the Sukhoi Flying Club, members of Russia’s national flying sports team at the European Championship held in Touzim, the Czech Republic, entered the top ten. Mikhail Mamistov was second in men’s individual classification, yielding to Frenchman Renaud Ecalle. Alexander Krotov was third. Among women, the third place was taken by Svetlana Kapanina. Victor Chmal was seventh among the best stuntmen of the continent.

The Russian team did fine at the competition, winning the first place in the total. The pilots from France were second, the British were third. The Russians dominated both in men’s and women’s events. Out of six highest prizes, four went to the Russians. The best among women was Yelena Klimovich, the repeated champion and prize winner of Russian, European and world championships.

The mainstay of the team that performed on the Su-26M3 aerobatics aircraft were Sukhoi pilots. The team was formed based on results of the national championship held in July, this year. The team included absolute champions of Europe and the world at various times. Among them were merited master of sports Mikhail Mamistov, Oleg Shpolyansky, Yelena Klimovich, Svetlana Kapanina, Anatolii Belov, Victor Chmal, Alexander Grevtsev, and Alexander Krotov.

The Sukhoi Flying Club has been in operation for over 20 years. Over this time, it has turned out 220 pilots, masters and candidate masters of sport. The club trainees are repeated prize winners of Russian, European and world championships in individual and total classifications. The Su sports aircraft have convincingly proved they are the best both for training and aerobatics flying, as well as for demonstration flights. Using the Su-26, Su-26M3, Su-29 and Su-31, the pilots of the national team had won over 300 medals. The Sukhoi Company is one of the Russian aerobatics team’s sponsors, funding both pilot training and participation in competitions.