The Cheboksary-based "Elara", instrumentation research and production company has been proactively cooperating with and assisting the "Russian Knights" aerobatic team Address: 40 Moskovsky Proyezd, Cheboksary, 428034 Russia Tel. (8352) 45-36-50, fax 42-53-03, E-mail: elara@chtts.ru Tel. (8352) 45-15-02, fax 45-20-83, E-mail: iro@elara.chtts.ru

The Cheboksary-based instrument makers know of the "Russian Knights" full well. Parfticipants in all major arms shows worldwide, they both eyeball incredibale aerobatics and worry wheather their equipment operates alright. It is the Su-27's fly-by-wire control system, whose the only manufacturer is the Cheboksary-based "Elara" instrumentation research and production company, enables the pilots showcase their best flying skills. Says the officer commanding (OC) the Russian Knights aerobatics team, Collonel Sergei Klimov: "All laws of aerodynamics seem to have become irrelevant. The aircraft can virtually freeze in midair, pull off a tight turn, perform any aerobatic manoeuvre - all of the above is due to the fly-by-wire control system."
In addition, since1980, Elara has been the manufacturer of the Su-27's flight navigation system to fly and navigate the fighter at all stages of the sortie in all weather. The company also is the manufacturer of the electronic display system displaying data fed by onboard systems, complexes and sensors - "Nartsiss " and "Roza " (Narcissus and Rose respectively).

Elara and the Knights have been good friends. Many a time have Elara's representatives been hosted by the Kubinka-based team, with the "Russian Knights" themselves have been visiting Cheboksary to perform at celebrations of the Day of the Republic. On one of such visits, the pilots signed a poster for the company's museum: "Elara's good job on the ground is the guarantee of our safety in the skies." On his part, the Director General of the Cheboksary-based "Elara" instrumentation research and production company, Gleb Andreyevich Ilyenko, promised to have the team's fly-by-wire control systems and flight-navigation systems fixed out of turn.
Dduring the MAKS 2001 air show, the Knights would often come to Elara's exposition, with Elara's crest occupying a prominent place at the Rusisan Knights stand. The Cheboksary instrument makers and the Russian Knights aerobatic team are intent on maintaining their fruitful cooperation.