In 1990 the flight of six planes Yak-18T and An-2 on a route Moscow - Seattle - Moscow was organized and successfully carried out with participation and support of the International fund of aviation safety (MFAB), DOSAAF and Aircraft fans federations of (FLA). The flight sponsor was production association Podolskshveimash. The basic purpose of flight was acquaintance with experience of development of general-purpose aircraft in the USA and Canada, an establishment of friendly attitudes between pilots of Canada, the USA and the USSR, and also maintenance of prestige of the Soviet aircraft.
The MFAB President Valery Georgievich Shelkovnikov was appointed the head of flight. One of the first USSR amateur-pilots Komarenko Grigory Alekseevich became the general director. The general - major of aircraft, head of the DOSAAF management Novikov Yuri Fedorovich, executed duties of the flying services chief of flight. The founder of Russian Aircraft fans federation Nikolay Vyacheslavovich Gromtsev was the soul and the main driving force.
The known pilot who has mastered more then 250 types of aircrafts, the former Manager of the USA Federal aviation Administration admiral Donald D. Engen, carried out the organization of flight from the American side.
The flight, which was taking place above the territory of Russia, Canada, the USA caused a live interest of the aviation public and was widely reviewed by mass media of these countries. Flight lasted one month and a half; there were 158 hours of flight time, 48 rises and landings.
The air flight carried out more then 10 years ago gave the first push to the development of the general-purpose aircraft that is so advanced in Europe and America and only arising in Russia. They say: "One mile of a road leads nowhere; one mile of a runway leads anywhere ".
In 1990 our aeroclub accepted the most direct participation in the first international air flight of our amateur-pilots in America up to Seattle. Five Yaks of seven belonged to our club.
Route of flight Moscow - Seattle:
Moscow - Kazan - Saransk - Ulyanovsk - Bugulma - Ufa - Chelyabinsk - Petropavlovsk - Omsk - Kuibyshev - Tomsk - Krasnoyarsk - Bratsk - Kirensk - Lensk - Olekminsk - Yakutsk - UstMaya - Ohotsk - Magadan - Kamenskoe - Markovo - Anadyr - Providenie - Уэлен - Nome - Galena - Fairbanks - Tanacross - Whitehorse - - Watson Lake - Fort Nelson - Fort St. John - Williams Lake - Victoria - Seattle.
On July 28th, 1990 six Yak-18T and An-2 have soared up in the sky from Tushino airfield to land in America one fine August day. There were both flowers and smiles of charming beauties, and readiness number one of crews, and dialogue with the president of Aircraft fans federation cosmonaut-pilot Igor Volk, his assistant Nikolay Gromtsev and other brave guys.
Why was Yak-18Т chosen for a flight? These are the perfect, reliable, checked up easy planes familiar to all pilots, capable to maintain overloads.
There were many stops on the way: Ryazan, Ulyanovsk, Ufa, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Providence bay... And welcoming, warm reception expected us everywhere.
The leader of the American amateur aircraft the pilot Milord Harmon who has established 155 world records met us on Alaska.
The governor of State Alaska mister Steve Cooper
The diploma
Recognizing, that the general-purpose aircraft has arisen in Soviet Union only one month ago;
Recognizing, that the Fund of aviation safety is created in Soviet Union for development of general-purpose aircraft;
Recognizing, that the Fund of aviation safety carries out historical flight of advantages and potential of general-purpose aircraft;
Recognizing, that during this demonstration flight his participants will do a way to an equal half of circle of the Earth and will cross thirteen time belts from Moscow up to Seattle through Alaska and will return on the same route;
Recognizing, that for the first time in a history general-purpose aircrafts of Soviet Union carry out flight to Alaska;
And recognizing, that the given flight shows to the world, that Soviet Union joins other countries of the world developing general-purpose aircraft.
I, the governor of state Alaska, congratulate the president of Fund of aviation safety of the USSR Valery Shelkovnikov and members of Fund with historical flight both the courage shown by them and stability. Allow me welcome you in Alaska State; I invite you to arrive in our state once again for the further strengthening of the remarkable friendly attitudes with Soviet Union.
The present document is sealed in Alaska State on August 13, 1990.
Steve Cooper Governor of Alaska State
Return air flight Seattle-Moscow passed practically on the same route:
Seattle - Victoria - Prince George - Fort Nelson - Watson Lake - Whitehorse - Tanacross - Fairbanks - Galena - Nome - Providenie - Anadyr - Markovo - Kamenskoe - Magadan - Ohotsk - UstMaya - Yakutsk - Olekminsk - Lensk - Kirensk- Bratsk - Krasnoyarsk - Tomsk - Kuibyshev - Omsk - Petropavlovsk - Chelyabinsk - Ufa - Bugulma - Ulyanovsk - Saransk - Kazan - Moscow.
In 2000 in commemoration of the 10-anniversary of historical flight of planes Yak-18T and Аn-2 on a route Moscow - Seattle - Moscow the participants of the flight were awarded with honorable diplomas
Markalov Anatoly Maksimovich
Markalov Vyacheslav
Markalov Alexander
