at Kleine-Brogel and Sanicole Air Shows

The Sukhoi Su-27 heavy air superiority fighter - codenamed 'Flanker' by NATO - was designed during the Cold War as a Soviet counter to potential Western opponents such as the US Air Force's F-15 Eagle and first flew in 1977.

Service entry began during 1985, and when the 'Flanker' started appearing at Western air displays in the hands of Sukhoi test pilots, starting at Paris in 1989, it astounded spectators with its manoeuvrability.

In the post-Soviet era, the original Su-27 series has continued to equip the Russian armed forces, and carried on serving with the Ukrainian Air Force as well as other former Soviet states and several export customers.

These Ukrainian Su-27s (one P model and one UB model) are on the strength of the 831st Guards Tactical Aviation Brigade, based at Myrhorod in central Ukraine.

The team's groundcrew and equipment are transported by a Ilyushin Il-76MD from the 25th Transport Aviation Brigade, based in Molitopol, near the Krim.

The Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 Flanker solo display pilot was Colonel Oleksandr Oksanchenko, widely known by his call sign "Grey Wolf".

Col. Oksanchenko served as the primary display pilot for the Ukrainian Air Force between 2013 and 2018.

After retiring from active display flying in 2018, he remained with the team as a reserve coach and advisor, training subsequent display pilots like Colonel Yuriy Bulavka, who was the Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 Flanker solo display pilot in 2019.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Col. Oksanchenko came out of retirement to return to active combat duty.

On 25 February 2022, he was tragically killed in action during the Battle of Kyiv when his aircraft was shot down by a Russian S-400 missile system while he was distracting enemy aircraft.

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