In the life of Soviet Union, air shows were a highly regarded type of parade, almost always of military nature. They happened on various occasions and anniversaries, in many locations across the country, but if one would want to point one most notable air show, it would be the Tushino Air Show happening annually in August.
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The most frequent date of air shows was the Soviet Air Fleet Day (Russian: День Воздушного Флота). It was also known as the Soviet Air Forces Day (Russian: День Военно-воздушных Сил), or Soviet Aviation Day.[1] It was established in 1933[2] and was most usually held on third Sunday of August,[3][4][5] if weather permitted. The initial exhibition on August 18, 1933,[1][6] was a result of Yakov Alksnis initiative, and was held in Gorky Park (Moscow) (the Central Moscow Aerodrome), but since the next[7] year the show became located on Tushino airfield near Moscow, where it remained for entire decades. In 1937, the parade was attended by nearly a million[7][8] of viewers, observing the masses of aircraft spelling in the sky "LENIN", "STALIN" and "SSSR". The celebrations repeated until the fall of Soviet Union, and are continued[1][9][10] in Russia (location is now Zhukovskiy airport, see MAKS airshow).
The 1st of May was dedicated to multitude of parades throughout the Soviet Union. They often included large-scale flypasts.[11][12]
The Soviet Air Fleet Day became primarily associated with Soviet Air Forces (VVS), so a separate day has been established for Soviet Air Defense Forces (PVO) a second arm of Soviet military that employed numerous fighter squadrons. It was called Soviet Air Defense Forces Day (Russian: День войск противовоздушной обороны СССР),[13] occurred on the second Sunday of April,[14] and was celebrated with air parades of lesser scale.
The October revolution anniversary usually included air parade, but as it was held on November 7, the aircraft were often cancelled because of weather conditions.[15] The same problem pertained to the November 19, the Soviet Rocket Forces and Artillery Day.
Notably, the 50th anniversary of October revolution air show was held in the summer, on July 9, 1967 at Domodedovo airport. In an unprecedented display of air power, it featured no less than twelve new types (or variants) of military aircraft previously unknown,[1][16] and prompted almost hysterical reaction in the West.
The Soviet air shows conveyed much more value than mere entertainment. In the atmosphere of harshly enforced clandestinity, these air shows were frequently the main source of information about the recent aviation achievements of Soviet design bureaus (OKBs).[1] Both Eastern and Western public opinion benefited from it, as well as foreign military intelligence.[1]
| Year | Month Day | Airfield | New fighters (Soviet designation) |
New bombers (Soviet designation) |
Other new aircraft | Comments | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | August 3 | Tushino airfield | Yak-19, La-150, La-156, La-160, Su-9, Su-11 | Tu-4, Tu-77 | - | new jet designs | [17] |
| 1954 | May 1 | Tushino airfield | - | Myasishchev M-4 | - | - | [12] |
| 1956 | June 24 | Tushino airfield | MiG-21, Su-7B, Su-9 | - | [18] | ||
| 1961 | July | Tushino airfield | Tu-28 | Tu-22, Yak-28 | Be-12, Ka-25, Mi-8, Mi-10 | - | [18] |
| 1967 | July 9 | Domodedovo Airport | MiG-23, MiG-25, Su-11,[18] Su-15, Su-17, STOL aircraft (MiG, Su, Yak-36) | - | - | major impact in the West | [16] |
| 1971 | May | Vnukovo Airport | - | - | Tu-144, Tu-154, Il-76, Il-62M, Tu-134A, Yak-40, B-12 | civil aviation exhibition | [1] |
|title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://www.besttopnews.com/news/interesting_news/15-08-2010/84691-0.|title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://www.russianlife.com/giftgiving.cfm.|title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/russia/bomber-intro.htm. - May Day of 1954