Guards colonel Sergei Nikolayevich Klimov, the leader of "Russian Knights"
aerobatic team died on May 29, 2002 after long-time hard sickness.

The Russian Federation lost one of the best military pilots, we are all in sorrow of the loss of a grand man, a good friend and a reliable comrade. His life was short but undoubtedly bright, really heroic and clearly honest. The fortune guarded him against death in Afghanistan, in the Kam-Ranh tragedy etc., but did not protect him from the awful disease.

Let the eternal memory of the hero be always in our hearts.

SERGEI KLIMOV
Guards Colonel.

He was born on March 4, 1962. In 1983 he graduated from Borisoglebsk Air Force Academy named after Valery Chkalov. He served at Moscow military district, he took part in the battle operations during the Afghanistan war. During his service with the Air Force, he flew L-29, MiG-21, MiG-23 and Su-27 aircrafts, logged more than 1800 hours. He possesses the "Military pilot-sniper" qualification. He has been flying formation aerobatics since 1990. Since 1995 he flew as the right wingman in the "Russian Knight" team. All his life was devoted to the sky, aviation duty and service for Motherland.