FIGHTER JETS WITH SAINTS' PORTRAITS APPEAR IN ARMENIA'S RUSSIAN BASE
11:28, 7 October, 2014
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS: Pilots at a Russian airbase in Armenia
have looked no further than the highest heavens for inspiration,
painting the images of Orthodox saints on their planes in a bid
to strengthen company morale. Armenpress reports, citing The Moscow
Times that the faces of Prince Alexander Nevsky, Prince Dmitry Donskoy
and martyr Mercury Smolensky now adorn the side of three MiG-29 jet
fighters, the Southern Military District said Monday.
"The pilots are certain that having the saints' images on the fuselages
of their military aircraft will not only protect them but will also
boost the battle morale of personnel," the Southern Military District
was quoted as saying.
The military press service also noted that the religious images had
been painted on the right side of the aircraft to make them less
susceptible to wear-and-tear, as pilots ascend the planes from the
left, the report said.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia has continued
to maintain military facilities in a number of foreign countries,
including Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in addition to Armenia.
http://armenpress.am/eng/news/779114/fighter-jets-with-saints-portraits-appear-in-armenias-russian-base.html
11:28, 7 October, 2014
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS: Pilots at a Russian airbase in Armenia
have looked no further than the highest heavens for inspiration,
painting the images of Orthodox saints on their planes in a bid
to strengthen company morale. Armenpress reports, citing The Moscow
Times that the faces of Prince Alexander Nevsky, Prince Dmitry Donskoy
and martyr Mercury Smolensky now adorn the side of three MiG-29 jet
fighters, the Southern Military District said Monday.
"The pilots are certain that having the saints' images on the fuselages
of their military aircraft will not only protect them but will also
boost the battle morale of personnel," the Southern Military District
was quoted as saying.
The military press service also noted that the religious images had
been painted on the right side of the aircraft to make them less
susceptible to wear-and-tear, as pilots ascend the planes from the
left, the report said.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia has continued
to maintain military facilities in a number of foreign countries,
including Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in addition to Armenia.
http://armenpress.am/eng/news/779114/fighter-jets-with-saints-portraits-appear-in-armenias-russian-base.html