© Alexander Ryumin/TASS
April 11, the only Russian aviation group “the Eagles”, showing aerobatics at the shock Mi-28N “Night hunter”, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. It is based on the 344-th Center of combat training and retraining of pilots of army aviation of the Russian Federation in Torzhok.
It was formed in 1979 on the basis of the 696-th separate helicopter regiment, 359-th separate battalion of airfield logistics 439-th separate company of communication and RTO, 12th separate research helicopter squadron and 275-th separate squadron of unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.
In March 2011, the centre became a branch of the State center for training of aviation personnel and military trials of the defense Ministry in Lipetsk.
Aviators center for many years, performed the tasks of the government in Russia and abroad in 30 countries. The personnel of the centre participated in the work of the UN peacekeeping force in Cambodia, Angola, Tajikistan, Yugoslavia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Chad.
From 1980 to 1989 helicopter pilots participated in the Afghan war. The parts connection has served more than 500 soldiers-internationalists.
In 1980 my town was established officers ‘ courses, which for all time has trained more than 19 thousand professionals of the flight, engineering, technical and management personnel. Including since 1994 trained more than 1,100 foreign military experts from 27 countries.