Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the Moscow International Aviation and Space Show.
The prime minister, who has not missed a single MAKS airshow in the past decade, once again visited Zhukovsky yesterday. This time, he arrived in an Ilyushin Il-96 airplane directly from Astrakhan, where he had gone fishing with President Medvedev.
Incidentally, the prime minister's plane landed about 500 metres from the MAKS rostrum.
Technically, Vladimir Putin did not deliver a speech, so much as a commentary on what was happening at the airshow. "On display at the air field of the legendary Zhukovsky Airport are the Sukhoi SuperJet-100 and the operational trainer Yak-130, the multi-purpose "generation four plus" fighter, the GLONASS global navigation satellite system and the concept model of the Rus spaceship. I'd like to emphasise," here Putin paused theatrically, "that the PAK FA fifth generation fighter, a promising air system of front-line combat aviation, will take part in the flight programme for the first time."
Upon completing his speech, Vladimir Putin put on his sunglasses and joined other MAKS guests. Meanwhile, a spectacular show began in the skies. The famous aerobatic teams Vityazi, the Russian Knights, and Strizhi, the Swifts, performed in the air alongside pilots of Mi-38 and Ka-52 helicopters, and Sukhoi Su-35 and Su-32 fighters.
And of course, two brand-new Russian fifth generation fighters immediately tore through the skies over Zhukovsky.
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Further extracts from Vladimir Putin's address:
"The government will continue to support our aerospace complex, which is an absolute strategic priority for us. From 2009 to 2011 the government allocated more than 270 billion roubles towards programmes in the aviation and space industries. Our country has become fourth in the world in annual expenditures on space exploration."
"Russia is resuming its programmes on the exploration of planets in our solar system, and is developing its orbital complex, including the GLONASS global navigation satellite system."
"As you know, here in Zhukovsky, we have decided to set up a centre for the national aircraft industry, which will include leading research institutions, design bureaus and experimental plants. This centre will form the basis of the innovative core of the domestic aircraft industry. We hope for it to become a world-class research and production cluster."
Alexander Gamov