Belaya Rus
Belarus’s L-39 display group at Lida, flying five trainers in the national colours over the Minsk parades while doubling as instructors for military academy cadets.
Belaya Rus: how the team came to be and what it flies today
L-39s from Ukraine
The Belaya Rus group grew out of the purchase of ten Aero L-39 Albatros trainers from Ukraine in 2006, five overhauled at Odesa and five at Chuhuiv. The group was formally established by defence minister’s order No. 714 of 4 August 2008 at the 206th air base at Lida, later the 206th Flight Training Centre, and the aircraft were painted in the red, white and green of the Belarusian flag. It is a non-establishment team: the same aircraft and pilots train cadets of the Military Academy’s aviation faculty.
Parades and cadets
Since 2008 Belaya Rus has flown in every air parade held in Belarus, including the Independence Day and Victory Day parades over Minsk. Its first large-scale display came on 4 July 2009 at Borovaya for the opening of an aviation museum, the day after a parade appearance. The original line-up was led by Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Vavrinyuk. Wikipedia gives five aircraft in the current display. In 2008 a second group, Wings of Belarus, was proposed on the Su-27, but there is no confirmation that it was formed.
Belaya Rus in numbers
The team
- Formation
- 5 aircraft
- Five L-39 Albatros
- Non-establishment team
Aircraft also used for cadet training.
המטוס
- Flown
- Aero L-39 אלבטרוס
- L-39 Albatros (2008–)
בַּיִת
- Based at
- Lida
- 206th Flight Training Centre
- Grodno Region
The display
- Aircraft in the display
- 5
- Livery
- Red, white and green, the colours of the Belarusian flag
Every type Belaya Rus has flown
| כְּלִי טַיִס | שנים | Number | פֶּתֶק |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aero L-39C אלבטרוס | since 2008 | 5 | Ten bought from Ukraine in 2006; five fly in the display. |
Belaya Rus, year by year
Ten L-39s bought from Ukraine and overhauled at Odesa and Chuhuiv.
Group established by defence minister’s order No. 714.
First appearances in Belarusian air parades.
Flies in the Independence Day parade.
First large-scale display, at Borovaya, for an aviation museum opening.
The cost of flying this close
Display flying is among the most demanding flying there is. These are the accidents on record, with the findings as published.
Aero L-39 Albatros. Pilot Konstantin Yaborov made a belly landing after a wheel detached on take-off; he received the Order for Personal Courage. No fatalities.
Everything people ask about Belaya Rus
What aircraft does Belaya Rus fly?
Where is Belaya Rus based?
When was Belaya Rus founded?
Where can I see Belaya Rus?
Around Belaya Rus
כל עובדה, נבדקה
- Belaya Rus (demonstration team) — Wikipedia
- Pilotazhnaya gruppa “Belaya Rus” — Belorussky aviadnevnik
- Belaya Rus (pilotazhnaya gruppa) — Russian Wikipedia via Academic
- Pilotazhnaya gruppa Respubliki Belarus “Belaya Rus” na L-39 (desyat_v, LiveJournal)
Verified 2026-10-02.