Sky-high: like nothing on earth

Colonel Vadim Kirilyuk, commander of the 50th combined air base that is situated in the village of Machulischy near Minsk, likes the smell of a lime-tree in bloom and fresh-cut grass. Early autumn is his favourite season and he likes blue of all colours, the colour of a clear sky in summer
Colonel Vadim Kirilyuk, commander of the 50th combined air base that is situated in the village of Machulischy near Minsk, likes the smell of a lime-tree in bloom and fresh-cut grass. Early autumn is his favourite season and he likes blue of all colours, the colour of a clear sky in summer.

One can see everything from above

This year he celebrated the Independence Day at home, he had a day-off.
Previously, when Belarus marked the 60th anniversary of its liberation from fascist invaders, the sky above Minsk was turned into a parade-place for an enormous IL-76 steered by Kirilyuk. He also participated in the May parade dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Victory in WWI.

He is likely to remember these magnificently performed parades for a very long time, as the flights aroused unforgettable feelings.

Manoeuvring over Independence Square, he saw huge numbers of people crowding beneath; he has never seen so many people in his “air” life.

It was a wonderful view; all resembled an immeasurable colourful flower-bed with elements of modern landscape design.

— I do not think I will ever forget this, — Vadim Anatolyevich admitted. — I had the same feeling when I carried out a dual-flight steering a compact L-29, my first plane. I was a student then and performed various pilot tricks, like a basic loop, a roll and nose-spin. Now I pilot a very “intelligent” aircraft. I love the IL-76; it is a beautiful and progressive plane. Its capacities remain second to none and it is only logical that this aircraft, a brilliant example of force and reliability, rounds off air parades of the Armed Forces.

It is not by chance that Kirilyuk was granted a role of a file-closer in the air parade. He is an experienced flyer with over 4,000 hours spent in the air.

As a son of the flyer, who was raised in a military station, he chose his vacation when little and did not have to consider any options. First he graduated from Minsk Suvorov College, later — Air Force College in Tambov, Russia. Then he honed his skills in Moscow Air Force Academy named after Gagarin, where he received a diploma of a military and transport aviator.

— It must be difficult to navigate at a height of 150 metres above the city? — I asked.

— Technically, the task is a very complicated one. High precision is required to fly the aircraft at a maximum speed of 600 km/h at a low height. By the way, the pilots of jet fighters, attack and army aircraft agree that for military and transport aviation it is far more difficult to perform a flight like this. Interestingly, I had a chance to witness “the dress rehearsal” of the flight in May: the house I live in stands right along the flying line of the chosen route. I should admit, I was very proud to realise that I will soon be on board of that jumbo-sized plane (that was navigating accompanied by two jet fighters).

When dreams come true

The dimensions of the IL-76 “parked” at the fly ground are rather impressive: it looks like a model of a 5-story flying building.

On board I got familiar with the so-called performance characteristics; I have tried a commander’s seat on the second floor and the pilot one — on the first one. I learned that the IL-76 can speed up to 670 km/h and rise at 12000 km above the earth. According to my guide, Major Alexander Dolgiy, a board technician, a second deck fits the aircraft to shelter 225 passengers. I also had a chance to smell aviation fuel. Kirilyuk and his crew have long adapted to the smell: it tunes them in and can be confused with any other smell.

I had to “kill” it in the canteen open for summer airborne personnel. Military pilots stick to the rule that says that dinner should be served on time and guests should be fed for the sake of having a pleasant company.

The dinner was perfect. Refreshing beet-root soup came in first followed by pobegol (meat with new potatoes) and a warm flaky pastry with cranberry jam. The service was impeccable and of good quality. I told the commander: “It looks like you are good in handling things on earth too.”

He nodded in agreement and complimented Tamara Matyunina, head of the summer canteen, on the dinner. It is a tribute to her efforts that carps are rowing in the pond, and fresh herbs and vegetables, including tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, parsley, dills, etc. find their way to the table. The commander is only happy to have employees marked with creative initiative. The canteen for regular soldiers and technicians, where I sneaked in for a couple of minutes, had a nice interior and tantalising aroma.

After a short excursion around the air base, the commander invited me to continue our talk in his office.

Kirilyuk talks about his colleagues and the crew with warmth and respect. Some of them fought in Afghanistan. The whole regiment, who participated in the military action in Afghanistan, was transferred to the Harrison in Machulischy. The names of those perished and their photographs are kept in the museum of the air base. The history of the air base is traced down to its inception.

My interlocutor is sure that not a single CIS member-state, apart from Russia and Ukraine, can boast of such a rich history of Air Force.

Colonel Vadim Kirilyuk has new parades, holidays (the Day of Belarusian Air Force is held in August) and routine domestic chores ahead of him. More flights as well. Sky is his work.

Five features of Vadim Kirilyuk’s “off-service” portrait

1. I like people, who know what to do to make the dreams come true. It’s real.

2. I got tired of killjoys, who see life in dull colours.

3. Life is the supreme value.

4. I have never doubted the existence of the Supreme Power. I do not rule out the presence of outer civilisations, though I have never had a close encounter with “flying saucers”. My relations with the sky are quiet, mystic excluded.

5. I see fidelity as the most important quality in woman.

Valentina Zhdanovich
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