Engels Air Force Base | military airbase, 1950s construction

 military airbase, 1950s construction

Engels airbase located at 121-th Guards Sevastopol and the 184-th Guards Red Banner Order of Lenin Poltava-Berlin's heavy bomber aviation regiments (both included in the 22 th Guard Red Banner Donbass heavy bombing aircraft division), are armed with strategic bombers Tu-160 and Tu-95MS, respectively.

In 1930, at 1,5 km from Engels, in the wasteland, began construction of a military school pilots. About 10 thousand people worked on a construction site. February 16, 1932 took off the first plane U-2 design of NN Polikarpov.

By 1936, Engels military aviation school was one of the best flight schools in the country. Education of students took place on the aircraft type U-2, P-5, USB. Before the Great Patriotic War, the school released a few thousand airmen. Many of them fought in Spain on the River Halhin Gol, participated in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940 years. For participation in hostilities seven inmates have been awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

At the beginning of the war in the armament of the school were planes Po-2, SB, Pe-2 and others. Only during the war flying Engels has been sent to the front 14 of aviation, including three women, who formed a major Marina Raskova. 190 pupils of school for fighting feats have been awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

After the war Engels military pilot school was renamed the school, which has continued to train personnel for the Air Force country.

Prior to the 1951 flight occurred on piston aircraft, and more - on jet bomber Il-28.

In early 1950 construction began on the airfield with concrete strip over a length of 3 km and a width of 100 m, so by September 1954 the School of Engels was moved to the city of Tambov. December 15, 1954 was a part of the aircraft - 201-I heavy bombing aircraft division. Its membership includes 79 th, 1096 th and 1230 th TBAP. Acquisition of Connection personnel was carried out by the best specialists of strategic aviation, graduates of military schools and academies.

The first F-4 arrived at Engels February 28, 1955. In May 1957, received the first 3M.

In 1957, 79 th TBAP was transferred to the airfield Ukrainka and included in the 73rd TBAD.

Gradually bombers F-4 and 3M were converted into tanker aircraft, refueling in the air as providing an opportunity to impact on the likelihood of the enemy. In the early 1970's, 1230 th heavy bombing Aviation Regiment received the title of 1230 th Aviation Regiment aircraft tankers (dec 1230 st APSZ).

3M Bombers were armed with strategic aviation until 1985, then destroyed in accordance with the treaty on the reduction of offensive weapons. Aircraft refuellers 3MS-2 and 3MD-2 were in service before the end of 1993.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union's 201-TBAD I was transformed into the 22 th Guard Red Banner Donbass heavy bombing aircraft division.
At the beginning of 1992, the range aviation has not been in any of its Tu-160 - all 19 built missile based on the Ukrainian Air Priluki. In Kazan in KAPO them. Gorbunova at this point was in the process of construction of 13 aircraft. Three were in March-May 1992, passed in 1096 on TBAP, two more - in 1993, and another - in early 1994. In this case, and stopped because of lack of funding. In the 1995-m 4, it was decided to disassemble the aircraft as being the low level of preparedness, and the remaining three - finish, but a long time, the aircraft could not get into the Air Force - plans for the completion of not implemented. On the base were transferred Priluki pilots, technical specialists, served earlier Tu-160. Not wanting to take the oath a second time, they expressed a desire to serve in the Armed Forces of Russia.

In 1994, from Belarus (airfield Baranovichi) Engels was transferred to the 203rd Aviation Regiment of the Guards Orlovskiy. In 2000, aviation regiment moved to Ryazan, on the airfield Diaghilev. Since then, the regiment moved into the 37 th air force SHAPE (CH) and was named the 203rd separate Guards Aviation Regiment Orlovskiy (aircraft tankers).

In 1995, based on based aircraft 3MD (121 th TBAP), aircraft refuellers 3MS-2 (1230-nd APSZ) squadron of TU-160, there are 6 fixed-wing aircraft (1096-nd TBAP). However, in the same year, 1096-th Guards TBAP was disbanded. His successor was the 121-th Guards TBAP receiving all aircraft Tu-160.

Since 1993, Russia conducted negotiations with Ukraine on the purchase of strategic bombers, which had become a heavy burden on the economy of Ukraine and does not fit into a defensive military doctrine of Ukraine. Such an agreement was reached only in 1999. 20 October 1999 to receive 8 Tu-160 and 3, TU-95 in Priluki team of specialists and 37 air force headed by Vice-range aviation commander, Major General Peter Kazazaevym.

By 1 September 2000, was formed by 184-th Guards TBAP (since the creation of a member of the 22 th TBAD). This regiment became the successor of the 184 th TBAP, which after the collapse of the Soviet Union left Ukraine, Priluki. Polk was not able to get the banners and regalia from Ukraine (despite the fact that the Ukrainian aviation has already been disbanded), and therefore received a military banner of Presidential Decree on 17 October 2005. Aviation strategic missile is equipped with a Tu-95MS.

As of 2007, Engels air base - the only one where the strategic bombers Tu-160. Six cars were built Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, another eight were flown under its own power in November 1999 - January 2000 from the Ukrainian base in Priluki in the debt of Ukraine for gas. Another bomber was built and handed over to the Air Force in 2000, he received the title of «Alexander Molodchy». After the death in 2003, the airplane «Mikhail Gromov» Tu-160 bombers left a total of 14.

At this time, the total number of strategic missile Tu-160, in the service of strategic aviation, is 16 units. The question of continuing the construction of aircraft.
The number of strategic bombers, Tu-95 is about 20 units.

At the airbase constant alert. 17 August 2007, after the formal declaration, the public became aware that the strategic bombers will have a permanent military duty in remote areas. However, 27 August 2007, the commander of 37 th Army air Pavel Androsov said that the planes have a range aviation duty without nuclear weapons on board. In addition, Maj. Gen. Androsov said that the patrol routes have not changed from 1960-1980 - patrolled the northern and north-western part of the Atlantic Ocean, coast of Canada, Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, as well as other strategic areas.

Regularly appears on the information they are accompanied by NATO fighter aircraft of Russian bombers over the waters of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, as well as off the coast of Alaska.
At the end of 2007 airbase attended by over 200 representatives of foreign media and more than 1500 representatives of Russian mass media.

In 2008, the scheduled flights have continued.
29 April 2008 at the ceremony of transfer KAPO new aircraft by the Air Force of Russian Federation. Kazan Aviation Association was passed by the Russia Air Force's new strategic bomber Tu-160. The new aircraft was given the name «Vitaly Kopylov» and included in the 121-th Guards tbap. Planned that in 2008, will upgrade three combatant Tu-160.

Engels airbase located at the Museum range aviation. This unique museum was opened on 6 September 2000. Each year it has more than 5000 people.
In the museum are:
Aircraft: IL-62, LSGA-2, AN-2 Antonov 12, Antonov-24, Tu-95 Tu-22 Tu-134, L-29 L-39;
cruise missiles: the X-55 X-22NA, X-20M, CEB-2UD;
bombs: 9000M-FAB, FAB, 5000m, 3000m, FAB, FAB-1500m, FAB-500m, 250m, FAB, FAB-250TS, SAB-250T, OFAB-250, NOSAB-100TK, DOSAB-100TK;
historically valuable objects: attributes of strategic aviation of Russia, memorable photographs, fragments of rare aircraft.