We initially had a free half day until, just before lunch, we were asked if we wanted to visit the DOSAAF facility at Oyak. Not wanting to turn down any aviation activity of course the answer was a yes. A private minibus arrived and we were driven until we arrived at a locked and screened gate. Our driver blew his horn, and, as if by magic, the gate opened for us.
Oyok DOSAAF airfield is about 30 minutes outside of Irkutsk between the towns of Oek and Turskaya and is very difficult to find on a map. DOSAAF literally means “Voluntary Society of Assistance to the Army, the Air Force and the Navy”, and used to be the name of a paramilitary society in the old Soviet Union. It is/was a way to prepare young reserves for the armed forces, operating their own airfields, radio clubs, parachute towers and firing ranges - the equivalent of a military basic flying training school.
As soon as we disembarked we were given an overwhelming welcome. We were met by the base commander (Andrey) and immediately given an option to go and fly in an An-2 and a Yak-52. Six of us took up the offer to fly for 1000 Rubles (approx $32 / £19) but no one wanted to take up the offer for the more expensive Yak-52 flight. While waiting for the flight we were given free rein to explore and take photos on the airfield. I couldn't help but wonder that if we had tried this a decade ago we would not have been seen again! It was full of Yak-52s and An-2s, with a bunch of stored Mi-2s in one corner; there was even a Mi-2 crop-spayer.
I had a chat with our new friend Andrey via Olga our interpreter to see if I would be allowed to actually fly the An-2 - luckily I had my pilot's licence in my wallet and once many of the pilots on the field had pawed over the never seen before credit card type FAA licence, it was decided that this would be no issue at all. Soon after this, Andrey decided that someone really should fly some aerobatics in a Yak-52 for free; such was his desire to show off their aircraft. Even with the chance of a free trip there were still only three of us that were prepared to do some aerobatics. Andrey made a short quiz up on the spot and, via Olga, my Swiss room-mate Walter was the lucky person to be picked.
So after 30 minutes exploring we boarded our mount, Russian Air Force An-2 RF-00733 in the colours of ROSTO. I was ushered in to the right seat of the tall cockpit and, after trying to sort out the seat belt arrangement for all of five seconds, the pilot motioned, in typical relaxed Russian style, not to worry. The Russians, it seems, are very much like the French in their outlook on rules and authority. This would also be an interesting flight as the pilot didn’t speak English, so I wasn’t sure if I’d be allowed to actually fly.
Our pilot taxied the largest biplane ever built very fast to the end of the grass runway and we were off the ground in no time at all. He flew for a couple of minutes to the east of the airfield where I was allowed to take the controls. After five minutes of me bumbling around he took back control, warned our passengers to hold on as the bench seats in the rear don’t have seat belts, and flew a 180 degree steep turn to the left to show off the agility of the aircraft.
I was then motioned to take the controls back and gestured to perform the same manoeuvre. So I flew a steep turn to the right followed by a steeper turn to the left after gaining a better feel for the controls and what the aircraft was capable of doing. I found that although the controls were heavy the aircraft was extremely agile and a real joy to fly. I’m sure the smile on my face was stretched across the whole width of the cockpit! I then flew back towards the airfield and lined up for a final approach over the trees. Our pilot then took control, swooped down low to tree-top height and gunned it towards the people on the ground next to the runway, breaking off for a left downwind to land. Superb stuff! Steve decided to stay on terra-firma and shot some photos of us landing. Next up Walter went for his aerobatic Yak-52 ride - luckily he was all smiles coming back as well! The place could not have been more hospitable and it was really nice to see some grassroots flying in another country.
On the way back to the hotel we headed for a couple of preserved aircraft in the Komsomoletz area. We eventually found that the park we were told they resided in really was a park with trees and paths etc. Not content with parking outside the fence and walking in, our driver insisted on driving though the tight gates that were obviously meant only for pedestrians and along the pavement before parking between the roots of a nearby tree; there’s that Russian disregard for rules again! Here we found a Tu-124 and a Mi-4 with the helicopter definitely looking very much worse for wear. The Tu-124 however was a first for me, as was a Yak-28 which was spectacularly displayed to great effect.
GAR wants to interact with its readers so if you have a question for the author or a comment to make on this feature, please click on the button below. The best comments will appear right here on GAR.
If you would like to discuss using any of our imagery or feature content please contact us.