Christophe

Please, note that his 5th Order of Red Banner has not plate with the "5", and seems very goldish / yellow... Nice photo. Ch.

Hi Fran?ois, These two medals, even if unofficial, have in my opinion a very nice design and very sober, soviet-style, ribbons. I like them in terms of look and feel. Cheers. Ch.

Baikonur's historical center. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Our escort, on the way to the center of Baikonur... Are the cosmonauts escorted in the same way ? Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Close-up pic. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Same hangar. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

This is the hangar where a drama occured exactly 7 years ago, beginning of May 2002. The roof of this hangar collapsed, with 8 dead workers as a consequence. Several reasons have been given for this accident : something falling on one of the massive fuel tanks kept inside the hangar, which would have produced a huge blast of air that caused the roof to swell and collapse, or a design miscalculation when the building, built in the 1960s, was renovated in the 1980s. The hangar was originally built for the Soviet moon exploration program and was later used for assembling Energia booster rockets and the Buran. A full-scale test model of the Buran was trapped beneath debris after the collapse. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Other launch facilities. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Baikonur site map. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Launch pads. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Baikonur airport. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

... Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Flying above Kazakhstan and approaching Baikonur. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Hi Alex, Your turn, now for Question #239... Cheers. Ch.

And, new "Tsarist" awards are back... Interesting... Ch.

Roman, These are excellent pics. Thanks for posting them!! Cheers. Ch.

Hi Roman, Very nice pics of this story : "Five members of a British submarine rescue team were presented with awards by the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin in recognition of their life saving role in the rescue of AS28 Prize, a stricken Russian Submersible. At a ceremony at Number 10 Downing Street at midday on 5 October 2005, Commander Ian Riches of the Royal Navy, leader of the Submarine rescue team and Stuart Gold and Peter Nuttall of James Fisher Rumic Ltd, operators of the remotely operated vessel instrumental in the rescue, were awarded the Order for Maritime Services for their part in the dramatic rescue on Friday 5 August 2005. President Putin also awarded the Order of Friendship to Captain Jonathan Holloway, the British Naval Attache in Moscow and Sqn Ldr Keith Hewitt, the RAF C17 aircraft Captain who flew the rescue mission out. Both men were crucial in getting the rescue team to the stricken Russian crew in time. The crew had limited air supply after becoming trapped in netting and debris in deep water some 205m below the surface, 60 miles off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula (North of Japan). President Putin awarded the medals to the team for "self-sacrifice and high professionalism". Speaking before he presented the medals, President Putin said: "I have a mission of honour today to present you the government awards of the Russian Federation. I would like to thank you for the work done, for the mission accomplished on the rescue of the Russian seamen. The work was done quickly, at a good professional level, and most importantly it succeeded. In reality you have continued the traditions which have been traditional in the relationship between our two countries for many, many years." The ceremony, which was hosted by the Prime Minister, was also attended by Adam Ingram, Minister for the Armed Forces, Admiral Sir Alan West, First Sea Lord, General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue, Chief of Defence Logistics, and Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of the Air Staff. Adam Ingram, Minister for Armed Forces said at the ceremony today: "This is another example of the professionalism, flexibility and teamwork demonstrated by our Armed Forces and the Defence community as a whole. All such operations are incredibly technical and complicated but the preparation and training paid off. We are very pleased that President Putin and the Russian people have recognised the efforts of those directly involved in the rescue, and at the same time all those who contributed to making the mission a success." Sqn Ldr Keith Hewitt piloted the 99 Sqn C17 transport aircraft which ferried the UK's submarine rescue equipment to Russia. Speaking of the mission, and its aftermath, he said: "I was preparing for a routine flight to Iraq from RAF Brize Norton when the call came in. We were airborne within minutes heading for Scotland and started working on the flight plan in the air. Just to go to No 10 was surreal, but to meet President Putin and receive a medal from him was just unbelievable. I think I must be the only serving RAF officer with a Russian medal. I feel I have accepted this medal on behalf of all the RAF units and personnel who all dropped everything to contribute to helping save the lives of those seven Russian submariners." Ch.

I believe so. So many interesting discoveries in this field in today's Russia !!! Ch.

Hi Alex, Fantastic !!! You make my day !! I was really afraid the Quiz was slowly dying, dying... You're the winner !!! Congrats!! Here are the answers : What am I ? 1. What's my name ? Ilyushin Il-80 (NATO reporting name: "Maxdome"). And you're right about its code RA-86149. 2. From which aircraft am I originated ? Ilyushin Il-86 Camber, transport version of the Il-86. 3. What is my main mission ? Used as a command center for Russian officials such as the President, in the event of nuclear war. 4. What is the date of my maiden flight ? Summer 1985. 5. How many aircraft similar to me have been in service in total ? 4, with codes from RA-86146 to RA-86149. 6. How many have been modernised recently ? One has been already modernised, and is back to service : the RA-86148. A second one is currently modernised : the RA-86147. 7. Where did this modernisation take place ? Vaso factory in Voronezh. 8. How many are now in service ? 4 are officially in service. One is currently modernised. So 3 are in service. Alex, your turn, now!!! Cheers. Ch.

... Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

3 of the 7 Sisters of Moscow. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

And, now a view of Moscow from the new restaurant on top of the 59th floor at "Moscow City", the new currently being built business district of the city. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

A good pic used for the promotion booklet of the organisers of the visit... Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

On the way back / out... Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

... Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection