Berkuts

Berkuts, also rendered as Berkuti and translated as “Golden Eagles,” is a Soviet and later Russian helicopter aerobatic demonstration team associated with the Russian Air Force. It was established in 1992 and developed as a specialist formation for public aviation displays, military celebrations, air-show appearances, and demonstrations of helicopter maneuverability. Unlike a consumer-facing commercial brand, Berkuts functions primarily as an institutional aviation identity: its name, aircraft markings, flying style, and appearances represent a military flight team rather than a separately incorporated company or product business. The team originally flew four Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters and subsequently expanded its formation to six aircraft. The Mi-24s retained broadly conventional camouflage, but were visually distinguished by a lightning-shaped band in the Russian national colors—white, blue, and red—running along the upper portion of the fuselage. The team emblem was displayed near the cockpit, helping establish a recognizable visual identity during demonstrations and at static displays. Its performances presented coordinated helicopter formation flying and aerobatic maneuvers using aircraft derived from combat platforms rather than purpose-built civilian display aircraft. Berkuts later transitioned to six Mil Mi-28N combat helicopters. This change linked the team’s public role more closely to the presentation of a newer Russian attack-helicopter type and made its demonstrations relevant to both military public relations and aviation exhibitions. The transition also distinguished the group from other prominent Russian military display teams, including the Russian Knights and the Swifts, which operate fixed-wing aircraft. Together, these teams became recurring participants in major Russian aviation events and national military ceremonies. A major incident occurred on 2 August 2015, when a Berkuts helicopter crashed and caught fire at the conclusion of a flight demonstration in Ryazan. One pilot survived after being rescued, while the other was killed. The reported investigation focus was a failure in the helicopter’s hydraulic system. The accident resulted in the temporary grounding of the Mi-28 fleet, giving the event significance beyond the individual team and affecting the wider operational presentation of that helicopter type. Berkuts nevertheless resumed public flying relatively quickly and performed again at the MAKS air show at the end of August 2015. The available reference material does not identify a separate corporate owner, commercial revenue model, founder, or publicly traded structure for Berkuts. Its principal “offerings” are public flight demonstrations, ceremonial appearances, and military aviation representation. The team’s significance lies in its role within Russian military aviation culture and air-show programming, particularly through the operation and display of attack helicopters. Its continuing status, exact organizational structure, and current aircraft inventory should be verified against up-to-date official Russian aviation or defense sources.

Berkuts was founded in 1992 as a helicopter aerobatic team in the post-Soviet Russian military aviation environment. The team’s name is associated with the golden eagle, a bird used in Russian military and aviation symbolism, and is also written in transliterated form as Berkuti. From its beginning, the group was intended to demonstrate the maneuverability and coordinated handling of military helicopters in public settings rather than to conduct ordinary operational missions. The first aircraft used by Berkuts were Mil Mi-24 helicopters. The formation initially consisted of four aircraft and was later expanded to six. The Mi-24s were not repainted into an entirely separate display livery; they generally retained camouflage associated with their military role. Their visual identity was reinforced by a lightning-like stripe in white, blue, and red, corresponding to the Russian national colors, extending over the upper fuselage from the cockpit area. The team emblem was positioned on the right-hand side of the cockpit area. These markings made the helicopters identifiable during fast-moving demonstrations and helped connect the team’s performances with Russian national representation. At a later stage, Berkuts changed to six Mil Mi-28N combat helicopters. The transition brought a newer attack-helicopter platform into the team’s display program and emphasized the connection between aerobatic performance and the public presentation of Russian military aviation technology. The group’s role was not limited to one recurring air show. Berkuts became associated with major Russian aviation events, including the MAKS air show, and with Moscow victory parades. In this ceremonial and exhibition context, the team operated alongside the Russian Knights, also known as Russkiye Vityazi, and the Swifts, or Strizhi. Those groups form a recognizable set of Russian military display teams, although they are distinguished by their aircraft types and operational identities. On 2 August 2015, a Berkuts helicopter crashed and caught fire at the conclusion of a flight demonstration in Ryazan. One pilot was rescued, while the second pilot died. The reported suspected cause was a malfunction in the hydraulic system. Because the aircraft type involved was the Mi-28, the accident had consequences beyond the display team: the wider Mi-28 fleet was temporarily grounded while the issue was addressed. The incident represents the most significant publicly documented safety event in the supplied reference material. Despite the accident, Berkuts returned to public display activity at the MAKS air show at the end of August 2015. This rapid return indicated that the team’s exhibition and ceremonial role continued after the crash, although the available material does not provide detailed information about changes to its aircraft, personnel, procedures, or command structure. The supplied sources also do not establish a separate legal company, commercial ownership arrangement, financial performance, or current organizational leadership. Berkuts is therefore best understood as a military aviation display identity and team rather than a conventional independent commercial brand. Further research is needed to confirm its present aircraft inventory, activity level, institutional affiliation, and current website status.

• 2015

  Ryazan demonstration accident

  [1]Berkutsen.wikipedia.org

  A Berkuts helicopter crashed at the end of a Ryazan demonstration on 2 August; one pilot died and another survived. The event was associated with a temporary grounding of the Mi-28 fleet.

• 2015

  Return to MAKS

  [1]Berkutsen.wikipedia.org

  The team appeared again at the MAKS air show at the end of August, following the Ryazan accident.

• 1992

  Formation of the helicopter aerobatic team

  [1]Berkutsen.wikipedia.org

  Berkuts was established as a helicopter aerobatic team associated with Soviet and later Russian military aviation.

• Expansion of the Mi-24 formation

  [1]Berkutsen.wikipedia.org

  The team began with four Mil Mi-24 helicopters and later expanded its display formation to six aircraft.

• Transition to Mi-28N helicopters

  [1]Berkutsen.wikipedia.org

  Berkuts changed from Mi-24 helicopters to a six-aircraft formation of Mil Mi-28N combat helicopters.

A military aviation demonstration team presenting coordinated helicopter flying, Russian air-power capability, and ceremonial national representation.

• Military aviation demonstration · 1992

  Mi-24 helicopter displays

  Berkuts originally performed with Mil Mi-24 helicopters, using coordinated formations and aerobatic maneuvers derived from a combat helicopter platform. The aircraft retained camouflage but carried a distinctive Russian-color lightning stripe and team emblem.

• Military aviation demonstration

  Mi-28N helicopter displays

  The team later operated six Mil Mi-28N combat helicopters for public demonstrations. These performances presented the handling and formation capabilities of a newer Russian attack-helicopter type at air shows and ceremonial events.

• 2015

  Resumption of demonstrations after the Ryazan crashOther

  Background

  A Berkuts helicopter crashed during a Ryazan demonstration on 2 August 2015, causing one pilot’s death and a temporary grounding of the Mi-28 fleet.

  Action taken

  The team returned to air-display activity at the MAKS air show later in August.

  Aftermath

  Berkuts continued its public demonstration role despite the accident, but the supplied material does not detail any subsequent changes to procedures or personnel.

  Source

• Change from Mi-24 to Mi-28N helicoptersGeneration change

  Background

  Berkuts evolved from a display formation based on Mi-24 helicopters to one using six Mi-28N combat helicopters.

  Action taken

  The team adopted the Mi-28N as its principal documented demonstration platform.

  Aftermath

  The change aligned the team’s public performances with a newer Russian attack-helicopter type, although the available source does not state the exact transition date.

  Source

1. 1Berkutsen.wikipedia.org