The crew of the Russian Ka-52 "Alligator" reconnaissance and attack helicopter first demonstrated a new aerobatic maneuver at the international Dubai Airshow-2025. The pilots prepared it specifically for the show and practiced for months.
Crew commander and 1st class test pilot Alexander Cherednichenko noted that it is a 540° turn on a hill. This figure has not been shown at air shows before.
That is, we perform a hill, and at the top of this hill, when the helicopter freezes, we make a turn in one plane. That is, the helicopter makes a full revolution, then turns some more and goes down.
According to him, the crew selected such elements for the program so that the performance would resemble figure skating. Then one figure smoothly transitions into another without stopping.
1st class test navigator Maxim Bespaly added that a number of the elements shown could not be performed on a fighter jet even if desired. As a reminder, the Ka-52 is the only helicopter performing as part of the flight program in Dubai.
