Second day at the Hydro Aviation Show
We got into the show early - so had an empty ramp to wander round....
This is the 'other' Beriev Be-200ChS - a fully operational machine belonging to MChS - the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The Mil-8 was ready for liftoff - taking the Swifts & Russian Knights pilots back to Krimsk.
Trying to hold the camera steady in the downdraft was difficult......
....as he turned and flew right over our heads.
Beriev A-42PE sitting in the early morning light.
I asked the pilot of the 'our' Be-200 if I could go aboard and take photos - 'No problem' he replied..
The cockpit had all the control labels written in English.
A view across the ramp from the cockpit.
Looking forward from the rear of the cabin - note all the test instrumentation and lack of proper seating.
As I was about to leave, the rest of the group came aboard - and informed me that we were going for a flight !!!
This is Jim in the seat behind the starbord observation bubble window.
Jonathan is seated behind me - the engineer is talking to Mort, Howard & Richard down the back....
The hoist by the large upward-opening cargo hatch.
Looking back down the fuselage from my position - Howard and Richard are seated at the back.
The large green tanks are filled with retardant when fighting fires.
Off we go!! The wheel brakes made a disconserting grinding noise as we taxied down the ramp ......
....but once afloat it was very smooth....
Note that red and white balloon on the quayside - it makes a useful reference point.
....09:05 and we were airborne after a remarkably short run...
We quickly formated with the MChS machine.....
.....and followed him inland...
....we then banked round at the mouth of the horseshoe-shaped bay before heading back towards the ramp.
Gelendzhik is a holiday resort as well as a flying boat base.
Banking round in formation. Our apartment is visible under the port float of the Be-200ChS - next to the hotel Privetlivy Bereg.
A few more degrees of bank as we turn .....
....a closeup of the previous photo.....
I went up to the cockpit to take these photos....
....heading out to the mouth of the bay again....
We separated as we banked round to starboard - note that red-and-white balloon.
The new, as yet unfinished, airport is visible - with its massive ramp area.
The turn gets tighter as we fly over the show area with its beer tents in orange and Red Bull colours.
We are nearly wings-vertical as we turn over the new Gelendzhik runway.
Looking back to starboard at the ramp. There's that balloon again!
The A-42PE, Cessna Caravan, two Be-103s and the La-8 are visible on the ramp.
Straight and level as we head back out.....
Not even the Germans are up at this hour!!
Another turn to starboard - note the jetty in the centre with the MChS fireboat moored up.
Round again ......
The new control tower under construction...
As we start our turn, I could see the MChS Beriev starting his water pickup run.......
....then it was our turn....
....descending straight and level....
.....over the beach....
.....letting down...
.....lots of juddering as we pick up water while skimming along the surface...
.....and back up in the air again....
....back out to the mouth of the bay...
....to start our run-in for the water drop.... I am now sat looking backwards out of the port side bubble window...
...as we run parallel to the ramp.....
....the doors open to start our first water drop...
....the engines increase thrust and we start to climb as 12 tonnes of water is dumped....
....followed by a steep, gut wrenching bank to port ......
....over the end of the ramp area....
Some of the locals are still having their breakfast on the flat roof tops.
Another run in for a water pickup past some bathers.....
Another run in..... I have vacated the bubble window now....
....but the view is still OK... Note the fuel bowser, the fire engines and the Robinson R-44.
It is now 09:21.
You can see the shadow of our Be-200 as we fly parallel to the ramp.....
.....and make our water drop....
....there's our old friend the red-and-white balloon....
Looking out of the starboard bubble window as we make another water pickup.
The lighthouse at the mouth of the bay.
Over the woods for another run in....
...over the ramp again...
....for another drop.... Note the two Beriev Be-103s and the Aerovolga La-8. The ramp area is still pretty much deserted.
Starting our bank to port.... just think - I was using the shadow cast by that balloon for some welcome shade on the opening day!
Descending for another pickup over the massive acres of concrete that is the new airport ramp.
....over the early morning bathers.
The boys in the back are still OK....
Another drop - we made five pickups and drops in all.
Down we go again....
Running in for the last time.... the 'new' concrete area is where the Mi-8 took off from earlier.
A closeup of our shadow over the R-44.
We are much higher this time.....
Looking to port along the new Gelendzhik airport runway.
Our English-speaking Beriev flight test engineer at his station by the starboard bubble window.
Final landing - after an amazing 38 minutes flying.....
Fast taxy across the water....
.... as we head back to the ramp....
.....past the Gelendzhik port area.....
....and the jetty with the MChS Fire Boat and the four boats that did the sail past on the opening day.
Wheels down, power increased, as we climb out of the water onto dry land.
Russian Militia keeping and eye on the spectators....
Back on Terra Firma - note the designation - Be-200ChS and manufacturers logos - TANTK (Beriev), Beta Air and Irkut.
The starboard bubble window - and 'sponsor' - VneshEkonomBank.
The front set of drop doors....the retractable scoops are just in front of the rear set of doors at left.
Registration and MChS logo - although the machine is still operated by Beriev as a test aircraft.
Main undercarriage and both sets of water drop doors. You can just see the retractable scoops above the wheels.
Our pilot is in the foreground as Howard chats to the test engineer.
RF-21512 is pushed back to its parking slot on the crowded ramp.
The crew (and a Swiss journalist) pose for photos.
The fully operational MChS machine comes ashore....
.... as the local Cormorants display a total lack of interest.
11:30 - and I am now ensconced on the jetty ready for the 'real' flying display to start...
View across the bay to our apartments next to the hotel Privetlivy Bereg (Genial Shore in English).
The public are now staring to arrive on the ramp area.
A bunch of card-carrying journalists (including Piotr Butowski in the orange shirt) is taken out on a launch to watch the flying display.
A display of parascending before the show proper.
Plus a hovercraft showing off...
Two intrepid parascenders....
There is some commotion on the far side of the bay as a restaurant goes up in flames.....
....and one of the show fire tenders leaves to assist.
A five-ship formation of the Russian Knights opens the show - despite the smoke from the fire.
"Laydeees and Gentlemen - Roooooskiy Veeetyazeeeee!!!!!!" (as the excitable announcer said in Russian).
Meanwhile, that fire kept on pumping smoke into the air....
Su-27 of the Russian Knights.
The four-ship making an upward 'bomb burst' firing off flares.
Inverted pass by the singleton.
'Chicken'!
Hauling the big Flanker round must take some muscle......
..... as it squeezes the moisture out of the air....
Nice plan view of the Flanker...
I didn't notice that there is no 'Ruskiy Vityazi' logo on the starboard side???
Two-seat Su-27UB makes a low pass.....
The MChS fire boat slips his moorings to take up station for the flying boats.
....as the A-42PE slips into the water....
....and 'taxies' out....
..... and comes ashore again...
Meanwhile, the Russian Knights singleton is finishing off his display....
....with a climbing spiral, firing flares.....
..... before a final knife-edge pass....
This is what the water drop looks like from the outside.
Lining up parallel to the ramp....
Engine thrust increases as the drop doors open....
....starting to climb as 12 tonnes of water are dumped...
....starting the banking turn...
.... the power and the G-forces increase....
....round she goes....
.....as a seagull tries to get in on the act....
....back down again ....
.... before finally landing'.....
..... and coming ashore.
The Robinson R-44 displaying its prowess.
....with a water landing....
....and a climbout.....
The Be-40 (A-42PE) is back in the water in the background.
The six-seat Beriev Be-103 does its display.
...before coming ashore past the ever-present Cormorants.
The Cessna Caravan taking off with some fare-paying passengers on a pleasure flight.
The Be-103 flew low over our heads before landing after another flight.
Touchdown....
Slap, slap, slap........
Coming ashore....
The A-42PE comes ashore like a bull Walrus.
It's 5pm - the crowds have gone home and the Mi-8 'taxy' is tied down for the night.
But there is still some flying to be done as our intrepid duo, Richard and Howard board the Be-103 for a pleasure flight.
The Be-200 test machine is also still busy - exercising with the MChS boats....
.... MChS boat alongside the Beriev.....
....and performing a practice tow.