The first aviation trip with (!) a camera took the author to MAKS at Zhukovsky in 1993. In the early 1990s, a trip to Russia was still quite a little adventure, especially when only a student budget was available. Of course some of the museum highlights of Moscow and its surroundings were also on the programme, so the eight films brought along were by no means enough to photograph all interesting subjects.
After an exhibition of Soviet aircraft technology had already taken place at Khodynka in 1989 and once secret types had also become accessible to foreigners with MosAeroShow'92, a visit to the first edition of MAKS (Международный Авиационно-Космический Салон) was practically inevitable. Unfortunately – unlike two years later – no MiG-21 could be seen at the show.
The MiG-21's presence was limited to models and brochures. An upgrade of a MiG-21PFM, as shown on this model, never actually happened.
Otherwise, almost the entire range of Russian aviation technology could be seen at the event – from the giant An-225 transport ...
... to the Yak-3 replica for solvent private customers, ...
... from the Tu-95 strategic bomber (rear) to the sports plane.
Aircraft with export or upgrade potential were shown with their complete weapons range, including the MiG-31, ...
... MiG-29K ...
... and MiG-27.
A special rarity at the show was the Myasishchev VM-T Atlant, of which only two were built on the basis of the M-4 bomber specially for transporting parts of the Energia rocket and the Buran space shuttle.
The flying programme featured both the Berkuty helicopter aerobatic team ...
... and the Russkiye Vityazi with their Su-27s.
Not only current technology could be seen at the show. NPO Mashinostroyenia showed a selection of its missile developments, including the Ametist anti-ship missile ...
... and P-5.
Central Armed Forces Museum Moscow
Even though there are only a few aircraft among the exhibits of the Central Armed Forces Museum in Moscow, they are not uninteresting.
The museum's MiG-21F is probably the best-preserved aircraft of this version.
Among others, there is also a MiG-21SM to see, which has changed its paint scheme several times in recent years.
The most spectacular exhibits of the museum, however, come from the arsenals of the land forces, including various heavy artillery, ...
... and of the missile forces, such as this RSD-10 Pioner (SS-20) and ...
... this TR-1 Temp (SS-22).
Khodynka Airfield Museum
The museum at Khodynka airfield offered visitors a representative selection of Soviet tactical jet combat aircraft, including some prototypes. In the meantime both the museum and the airfield have closed. The last aircraft, an Indian Il-38, took off there on July 3, 2003. Flats and the "Megasport" winter sports arena have been built on the site.
The MiG design bureau was represented in the museum by, among others, versions of the MiG-19, ...
... MiG-21 – here an S – ...
... MiG-23 – pictured, one of the prototypes of the MiG-23BN – ...
... and MiG-25.
From Sukhoi, the Su-7 in single- ...
... and two-seat versions as well as ...
... the Su-15 ...
... and the Su-17 could be seen.
From Yakovlev, the Yak-23UTI, ...
... the Yak-28R ...
... and the Yak-28P were shown.
Further exhibits included two MiG-21PFs (one of them pictured here), ...
... a Tu-143 Reys drone ...
... and this Il-28.
As part of MAKS, paratroopers presented themselves with their equipment on the museum grounds.
At the edge of the airfield, near the "Znamya Truda" aircraft factory, stood – and perhaps still stands – this MiG-21 monument.
Central Air Force Museum Monino
The Soviet / Russian aviation museum par excellence is the Central Air Force Museum at Monino, which as part of the Air Force Academy was long inaccessible to civilians. Even the author's visit at that time was only possible thanks to the intercession of a colonel who happened to be present, although the obstacle was not the meanwhile obsolete "secrecy" but the reluctance of the staff. The museum's exhibits were nevertheless worth all the effort and speak for themselves:
