The search for in-service Soviet and Russian aircraft has fast become a challenge during the last few years. Paul Filmer visited Moscow three times in 2015 and reports on the activity here.
If you’re prepared to put in the work to travel around the capital and endure sometimes long hours of no activity, you can still be rewarded with in-service aircraft photos. This report only contains Russian aircraft over the course of three visits during 2015, but of course you’ll see many movements of Western hardware, which are not covered here.
Domodedovo these days has the least movements, but you can still find Red Wings Tu-204s and a couple of Yak-42 operators.
Red Wings Tu-214 at Domodedovo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Transaero has of course gone out of business, so those Tu-214s are no longer seen and Alrosa’s Tu-154s are in danger as when I departed in November there were a pair of Boeing 737s parked on the ramp in their new colour scheme.
Transaero Tu-214 at Domodedovo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Alrosa Tu-154M at Domodedovo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Sheremetyevo is hit and miss, but you can always see almost the entire fleet of Aeroflot SSJ Superjets on any one day in their smart colour scheme.
Aeroflot Superjet at Sheremetyevo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Air Koryo Il-62M at Sheremetyevo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
I was lucky during a trip in August to catch a pair of Air Koryo Il-62Ms flying in on a special charter.
Air Koryo Il-62M at Sheremetyevo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Air Koryo Il-62M at Sheremetyevo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Chkalovsky is almost exclusively Russia hardware, and although I would regard the effort to get there and around the airfield as high, the rewards can make it all worthwhile.
Russian Air Force Tu-134UBL at Chkalovsky – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Russian Air Force An-26 at Chkalovsky – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Roshydromet Yak-42D at Chkalovsky – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Russian Air Force An-72 at Chkalovsky – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
During my last trip I happened to see my first Il-22M flying!
Russian Air Force Il-22M-11 on the go-around at Chkalovsky – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Roscosmos L-39C at Chkalovsky – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Russian Air Force Il-76MD (medivac) at Chkalovsky – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Russian Air Force Tu-154B-2 at Chkalovsky – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Vnukovo is always a good bet for movements and is very easy to get to and travel around which is a benefit, especially as they seem to change runways on a regular occurrence.
Gazpromavia Yak-42D at Vnukovo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Russian Air Force Il-76MD at Vnukovo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Russian Air Force Il-76MD at Vnukovo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
With a mix of Air Force, scheduled carriers and business jets, you’re always guaranteed to catch something.
Syrian Air Force Il-76T at Vnukovo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Vologda Air Yak-40 at Vnukovo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Rossiya Il-96-300 at Vnukovo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Motor Sich with their daily flights have, however, stopped for now after being banned by the Russian government in a tit-for-tat move after the Ukrainian government banned Russian airlines from flying there.
Motor Sich Yak-40 at Vnukovo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Motor Sich An-74TK-200 at Vnukovo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Kosmos An-12B at Vnukovo – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
It’s always hit and miss visiting any of these airfields, but with patience and perseverance you can still come away having shot some nice movements.
