Soviet Acrobats

[Chap]

FINISHED!
Backstory:

     In 1921, the German built DELAG zeppelin LZ 120, named "Bodensee", was handed over to Italy as part of war reparations. When she arrived in Italy, she was renamed "Esperia" and used to shuttle passengers throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. However, on October 12, 1925 while on a flight to Bucharest the "Esperia" was blown off course and crash landed in Soviet territory. The Soviets brought the wreckage to Zagi (near Moscow) and rebuilt the airship for military service. Designated BV-1 and renamed "Mukhtar Avezov", she was modified to include a trapeze setup to be able to launch and retrieve aircraft. The "Mukhtar Avezov", was launched on February 23, 1926 and began active service the very next day. On March 16, 1926, Captain Vasilii Sgibnev became the first ever Soviet pilot to successfully land aboard an airship. In recognition of this achievement, he was awarded Hero of the Soviet Union and a stamp was created in honor of the event.

[Chap]

Photo 1:

[Chap]

Photo 2:

[Chap]

Photo 3:

[jcf]

Absolutely bloody marvelous.



Jon

[Ed S]

Brilliant and superbly executed.

Ed

[sotoolslinger]

Must agree very well done

[John Howling Mouse]

Wonderfully innovative.  A real eye-catcher, especially if you take it to a show anywhere.  Would be the center of attention, I'm sure.   

[Brian da Basher]

I am completely in awe of your talent, skill and vision Chap! This is one of my favorites and the backstory along with the pic of the stamp is a perfect capper to this marvelous work of art!

Brian da Basher

[BlackOps]

Coolness factor is off the charts!

[Chap]

Thank you gentlemen, I really do appreciate it. I enjoyed this one a lot and will definitely be on the look out for another IL-400b to put back into the stash.

~Steve

[Daryl J.]

Had this been shown as 100% real on Hyperscale, I'd have completely believed it.

Well done!  Well done.


Daryl J.