Russian Air Force Day (russian: День Военно-воздушных сил, Den Voyenno-vozdushnykh) is a professional military holiday of Russia celebrated on 12 August to honor the active and reserve personnel, as well as veterans of the
Russian Aerospace Forces
The Russian Aerospace Forces or Russian Air and Space Forces ( rus, Воздушно-космические силы, r=Vozdushno-kosmicheskiye sily) or VKS ( rus, ВКС}) comprise the air and space branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Fe ...
.
History
Air Fleet Day (russian: День Воздушного Флота, Den Vozdushnogo Flota), also known as the Air Forces Day or Soviet Aviation Day
[Pre-history of MAKS]
- provides the complete information on Russian and Soviet air shows. was established in 1933 and was celebrated on the third Sunday of August. The first aviation exhibition was held on 18 August 1933,
[ at the initiative of ]Yakov Alksnis
Yakov Ivanovich Alksnis (russian: Яков Иванович Алкснис, lv, Jēkabs Alksnis; – 28 July 1938) was a Soviet military leader and the commander of the Red Army Air Forces from 1931 to 1937.
Biography
Jēkabs Alksnis was b ...
at Moscow's Khodynka Aerodrome
Khodynka (russian: links=no, Ходынский, ''Khodynskiy''), officially Frunze Central Aerodrome, often referred to as Tsentralny (), was an airport in Moscow, Russia, located northwest of the centre of the city.
History
The founding of the ...
. Future air parades were held at Tushino Airfield, where they remained for decades. In 1937, the parade was attended by nearly a million people,
Soviet Air Force Day was enshrined by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (russian: Президиум Верховного Совета, Prezidium Verkhovnogo Soveta) was a body of state power in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).[Supreme Soviet of Russia
The Supreme Soviet of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Russian SFSR (russian: Верховный Совет РСФСР, ''Verkhovny Sovet RSFSR''), later Supreme Soviet of the Russia, Russian Federation (russian: Верховны ...]
fixed this date as Russian Air Force Day. The modern holiday was introduced to the Russian Armed Forces
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (, ), commonly referred to as the Russian Armed Forces, are the military forces of Russia. In terms of active-duty personnel, they are the world's fifth-largest military force, with at least two m ...
by President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime min ...
on 31 May 2006. The date was chosen based on the fact that 12 August 1912 marks the anniversary of the establishment of the Imperial Russian Air Service
The Imperial Russian Air Service (russian: Императорскій военно-воздушный флотъ, , Emperor's Military Air Fleet) was an air force founded in 1912 for Imperial Russia."''12 августа 1912 года прик ...
, which was formerly part of the Engineer Corps.[Военно-воздушные силы // Советская военная энциклопедия (в 8 тт.) / под ред. Н. В. Огаркова. том 2. М.: Воениздат, 1976. стр.201–208] 12 August is today considered to be the birthday of Russian military aviation.
Celebrations
Festive events dedicated to the holiday are held annually.[УКАЗ Президента РФ от 29.08.97 N 949 (ред. от 31.05.2006) «ОБ УСТАНОВЛЕНИИ ДНЯ ВОЕННО-ВОЗДУШНЫХ СИЛ»]
/ref> Air shows are commonly held at Zhukovsky Airport. Solemn events are held at the Moscow House of War and Armed Forces Veterans. The 2012 Air Force Day celebrations marked the centennial
{{other uses, Centennial (disambiguation), Centenary (disambiguation)
A centennial, or centenary in British English, is a 100th anniversary or otherwise relates to a century, a period of 100 years.
Notable events
Notable centennial events at a ...
of Russian military aviation, being attended by President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime min ...
.
Gallery
File:Su-34 Fullback formation - Zhukovsky 2012 (8726231645).jpg, Su-34's flying over Zhukovsky in 2012.
File:4X5A4297-1200.jpg, Members of Russian military bands
Russian military bands fall under the jurisdiction of the Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of Russia, which is the official music service for the Russian Armed Forces, and led by the Senior Director of Music, a billet of an officer wit ...
on Air Force Day in 2020.
File:Kremlin.ru - With Air Force servicemen and veterans.jpeg, Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime min ...
with Air Force veterans after the flypast.
File:MiG-29, Su-27, Su-25 - Hundred.jpg, A flypast with the number "100" to honor the centennial
{{other uses, Centennial (disambiguation), Centenary (disambiguation)
A centennial, or centenary in British English, is a 100th anniversary or otherwise relates to a century, a period of 100 years.
Notable events
Notable centennial events at a ...
of the Russian Air Force.
See also
*Navy Day (Russia)
Day of the Russian Navy () is national holiday in the Russian Federation and a senior holiday in the Russian Armed Forces. The day honors the sailors in units of the Russian Navy and its specialized arms (Naval Aviation and the Coastal Troops con ...
*Defender of the Fatherland Day
Defender of the Fatherland Day (russian: День защитника Отечества ''Den' zashchitnika Otechestva''; kk, Отан қорғаушы күні; tg, Рӯзи Дорандаи Ватан; ky, Мекенди коргоочула ...
*Paratroopers' Day
Airborne Forces Day (russian: День Воздушно-десантных войск) also known as Paratroopers' Day (russian: День десантника) is a professional military holiday in Russia and other countries, celebrated on 2 August ...
*Cosmonautics Day
Cosmonautics Day (russian: День Космона́втики, ''Den Kosmonavtiki'') is an anniversary celebrated in Russia and some other former Soviet Union countries on 12 April.
References
{{Reflist, 30em
August observances
Russian Air Force
Soviet Air Force
Public holidays in Russia