With apologies to Ian Fleming and a
certain Mr. J. Bond - our main theme for SMW08 : A history of display teams
from the Russian Federation and the former Soviet Union.
Due to the secrecy of the Cold War and the
"Iron Curtain", relatively little was known about Soviet display teams, apart
from the fact that they are reported to have existed. But even that was
misleading, as many so-called "teams" were little more than formation flypasts
or even solo displays of (sometimes) specially decorated aircraft at Military
Parades, etc.
But in recent years, much more information
has begun to surface about those teams (or not "teams"...) and although
many "facts" still remain somewhat "sketchy", with careful research it is now
possible to piece together more tangible evidence about Soviet display teams
and their activities.
Therefore, our display represents - to the
best of our current knowledge - a view of such Soviet teams, from the earliest
up to the present day.
The whole display was presented on an area
of approximately 18 feet x 4.5 feet (5.8m x 1.5m) of table space. There are a
total of 170 models on the entire display - five in 1/48th scale and everything
else in 1/72nd scale..
