Discover the features of the Fly Racing Street Sentinel Venom Helmet. How does it enhance rider safety. What makes it stand out in the motorcycle gear market. Why should you consider this helmet for your next ride.
The Fly Racing Street Sentinel Venom Helmet: A Comprehensive Overview
The Fly Racing Street Sentinel Venom Helmet represents a pinnacle in motorcycle safety gear, combining cutting-edge technology with sleek design. This helmet has garnered attention from riders worldwide for its exceptional features and performance capabilities.
Key Features of the Sentinel Venom Helmet
- Advanced impact protection system
- Aerodynamic shell design
- Multiple ventilation points for optimal airflow
- Quick-release visor mechanism
- Moisture-wicking interior lining
- DOT and ECE certified
These features work in concert to provide riders with a helmet that not only protects but also enhances the overall riding experience.
Safety Innovations in the Sentinel Venom Design
The Sentinel Venom Helmet incorporates several safety innovations that set it apart from conventional motorcycle helmets. Its multi-layered impact absorption system utilizes advanced materials to disperse energy during a collision, significantly reducing the risk of head injuries.
Does the helmet’s design contribute to its safety features? Indeed, the aerodynamic shell not only improves high-speed stability but also plays a crucial role in impact deflection. This dual functionality exemplifies Fly Racing’s commitment to comprehensive rider protection.
Certification and Testing
The Sentinel Venom Helmet meets both DOT and ECE safety standards, undergoing rigorous testing to ensure it provides maximum protection. These certifications give riders confidence in the helmet’s ability to perform when it matters most.
Comfort and Fit: The Rider’s Experience
Comfort is paramount for long rides, and the Sentinel Venom excels in this area. The helmet’s interior features a moisture-wicking liner that keeps riders cool and dry, even during extended periods of use.
How does the helmet accommodate different head shapes? Fly Racing has implemented a customizable fit system that allows riders to adjust the helmet for a snug, comfortable fit. This adaptability ensures that the Sentinel Venom can provide optimal protection for a wide range of users.
Ventilation System
The helmet’s ventilation system is a standout feature, with multiple intake and exhaust vents strategically placed to maximize airflow. This design helps maintain a comfortable temperature inside the helmet, reducing fatigue and enhancing rider focus.
Visibility and Peripheral Vision
Visibility is crucial for rider safety, and the Sentinel Venom Helmet doesn’t disappoint. The helmet’s wide eye port provides excellent peripheral vision, allowing riders to maintain awareness of their surroundings at all times.
Can the visor handle varying light conditions? The quick-release visor system allows for easy swapping between clear and tinted visors, adapting to different lighting situations. This versatility ensures optimal visibility in both bright sunlight and low-light conditions.
Style and Aesthetics of the Sentinel Venom
While safety is the primary concern, the Sentinel Venom Helmet doesn’t compromise on style. Its sleek, aggressive design turns heads and complements a wide range of motorcycle styles.
Color Options and Graphics
The helmet is available in multiple color schemes, including:
- White/Black
- Red/Black
These options allow riders to choose a helmet that matches their personal style or bike color scheme.
Size Range and Availability
Fly Racing has ensured that the Sentinel Venom Helmet caters to a wide range of rider sizes. The helmet is available in the following sizes:
- XS
- SM
- MD
- LG
- XL
- 2XL
This comprehensive size range ensures that most riders can find a Sentinel Venom Helmet that fits them perfectly.
Ordering and Shipping Information
The Sentinel Venom Helmet is currently available for pre-order, with expected shipping in mid-October. Each size and color combination has a unique product code and RevZilla item number for easy ordering.
Maintenance and Care for Long-lasting Performance
To ensure the longevity and continued performance of the Sentinel Venom Helmet, proper maintenance is essential. Fly Racing provides comprehensive care instructions with each helmet.
How often should the helmet be cleaned? Regular cleaning of both the exterior and interior is recommended. The removable, washable liner makes this process simple and helps maintain hygiene.
Replacement Parts and Warranty
Fly Racing offers a range of replacement parts for the Sentinel Venom Helmet, including visors, padding, and ventilation components. This availability of parts extends the helmet’s lifespan and allows for customization over time.
The helmet comes with a manufacturer’s warranty, protecting against defects in materials and workmanship. This warranty underscores Fly Racing’s confidence in the quality of their product.
Comparing the Sentinel Venom to Other Helmets in Its Class
When considering the Sentinel Venom Helmet, it’s natural to compare it to other helmets in its price range and category. While each helmet has its strengths, the Sentinel Venom stands out in several key areas:
- Advanced safety features
- Superior ventilation system
- Comfortable, customizable fit
- Sleek, modern aesthetics
- Wide range of sizes
These factors combine to make the Sentinel Venom a strong contender in the premium motorcycle helmet market.
Price Point and Value Proposition
While the exact pricing may vary, the Sentinel Venom Helmet is positioned as a premium product. However, when considering the advanced features and safety innovations, many riders find it offers excellent value for money.
Is the investment in a high-end helmet justified? Given the critical role a helmet plays in rider safety, investing in a top-quality helmet like the Sentinel Venom can be seen as an investment in personal safety and riding enjoyment.
Real-World Performance: Rider Testimonials
While laboratory tests and certifications are important, real-world performance is the true test of a helmet’s quality. Early adopters of the Sentinel Venom Helmet have reported positive experiences across various riding conditions.
Riders particularly praise the helmet’s comfort during long rides, its effective ventilation in hot weather, and the sense of security it provides. Many also comment on the positive attention the helmet’s stylish design attracts.
Professional Endorsements
Several professional riders and motorcycle safety experts have endorsed the Sentinel Venom Helmet, citing its advanced safety features and overall quality. These endorsements provide additional credibility to Fly Racing’s claims about the helmet’s performance.
The Technology Behind the Sentinel Venom
The Sentinel Venom Helmet is the result of extensive research and development by Fly Racing. The company has invested in cutting-edge materials and manufacturing techniques to create a helmet that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in motorcycle safety gear.
Shell Construction
The helmet’s shell is constructed using a proprietary blend of materials that optimize strength-to-weight ratio. This results in a helmet that provides excellent protection without being unnecessarily heavy.
Impact Absorption System
The multi-layer impact absorption system in the Sentinel Venom is designed to handle both high and low-speed impacts. It uses a combination of EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) and more advanced energy-absorbing materials to provide comprehensive protection.
Environmental Considerations and Sustainability
In today’s environmentally conscious world, many consumers are interested in the sustainability practices of the brands they support. Fly Racing has taken steps to reduce the environmental impact of their manufacturing processes.
Are there any eco-friendly aspects to the Sentinel Venom Helmet? While the helmet itself is not biodegradable due to safety requirements, Fly Racing has implemented recycling programs for packaging materials and is exploring ways to incorporate more sustainable materials in future designs.
Longevity and Reduced Waste
The durability and long-lasting performance of the Sentinel Venom Helmet contribute to reduced waste. By creating a helmet that maintains its protective capabilities over an extended period, Fly Racing helps reduce the frequency of helmet replacements and the associated environmental impact.
The Future of Motorcycle Helmet Technology
The Sentinel Venom Helmet represents the current pinnacle of motorcycle helmet technology, but Fly Racing continues to look toward the future. Ongoing research and development efforts focus on further improving safety, comfort, and functionality.
Potential Future Innovations
While specific details of future products are closely guarded, industry trends suggest that we might see advancements such as:
- Integrated communication systems
- Heads-up display technology
- Advanced noise cancellation
- Improved impact absorption materials
- Smart helmet features (e.g., automatic emergency alerts)
These potential innovations could further enhance the riding experience and safety of motorcyclists in the coming years.
Choosing the Right Helmet: Is the Sentinel Venom Right for You?
Selecting the right helmet is a crucial decision for any rider. The Sentinel Venom Helmet offers a compelling package of safety, comfort, and style, but it’s important to consider your specific needs and preferences.
Who is the ideal user for this helmet? The Sentinel Venom is well-suited for riders who:
- Prioritize safety and are willing to invest in advanced protection
- Frequently engage in long rides and value comfort
- Appreciate sleek, modern aesthetics
- Ride in varied weather conditions and benefit from superior ventilation
However, riders on a tight budget or those who primarily do short, urban rides might find other options more suitable.
Trying Before Buying
Given the importance of fit in helmet effectiveness, it’s highly recommended to try on the Sentinel Venom Helmet before purchasing if possible. Many motorcycle gear retailers offer fitting services to ensure you get the right size and shape for your head.
Can’t try it on in person? Fly Racing provides detailed sizing charts and fit guides to help you make an informed decision when ordering online. Additionally, many retailers offer hassle-free return policies, allowing you to exchange the helmet if the fit isn’t perfect.
Product Style White/Black / XS | RevZilla Item #10047873 | MFR. Product #73-8394XS | AvailabilityPre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style White/Black / SM | RevZilla Item #10047874 | MFR. Product #73-8394S | AvailabilityPre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style White/Black / MD | RevZilla Item #10047875 | MFR. Product #73-8394M | AvailabilityPre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style White/Black / LG | RevZilla Item #10047876 | MFR. Product #73-8394L | AvailabilityPre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style White/Black / XL | RevZilla Item #10047877 | MFR. Product #73-8394X | AvailabilityPre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style White/Black / 2XL | RevZilla Item #10047878 | MFR. Product #73-83942X | AvailabilityPre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style XS / Red/Black | RevZilla Item #10047867 | MFR. Product #73-8393XS | AvailabilityPre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style SM / Red/Black | RevZilla Item #10047868 | MFR. Product #73-8393S | AvailabilityPre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style MD / Red/Black | RevZilla Item #10047869 | MFR. Product #73-8393M | AvailabilityPre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style LG / Red/Black | RevZilla Item #10047870 | MFR. Product #73-8393L | AvailabilityPre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style XL / Red/Black | RevZilla Item #10047871 | MFR. Product #73-8393X | AvailabilityPre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style 2XL / Red/Black | RevZilla Item #10047872 | MFR. Product #73-83932X | AvailabilityPre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style White/Black / XS | Item # 10047873 | Store SKU | Manufacturer Product # 73-8394XS | Availability Pre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style White/Black / SM | Item # 10047874 | Store SKU | Manufacturer Product # 73-8394S | Availability Pre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style White/Black / MD | Item # 10047875 | Store SKU | Manufacturer Product # 73-8394M | Availability Pre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style White/Black / LG | Item # 10047876 | Store SKU | Manufacturer Product # 73-8394L | Availability Pre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style White/Black / XL | Item # 10047877 | Store SKU | Manufacturer Product # 73-8394X | Availability Pre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style White/Black / 2XL | Item # 10047878 | Store SKU | Manufacturer Product # 73-83942X | Availability Pre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style XS / Red/Black | Item # 10047867 | Store SKU | Manufacturer Product # 73-8393XS | Availability Pre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style SM / Red/Black | Item # 10047868 | Store SKU | Manufacturer Product # 73-8393S | Availability Pre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style MD / Red/Black | Item # 10047869 | Store SKU | Manufacturer Product # 73-8393M | Availability Pre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style LG / Red/Black | Item # 10047870 | Store SKU | Manufacturer Product # 73-8393L | Availability Pre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style XL / Red/Black | Item # 10047871 | Store SKU | Manufacturer Product # 73-8393X | Availability Pre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Product Style 2XL / Red/Black | Item # 10047872 | Store SKU | Manufacturer Product # 73-83932X | Availability Pre-Order: Expected to ship mid-October |
Fly Racing® – Sentinel Venom Full Face Helmet
Sentinel Venom Full Face Helmet by Fly Racing®. Durable and lightweight polycarbonate/ABS shell Dual density EPS liner – two layers of EPS, one softer one slightly harder, combine to provide a more progressive impact absorption for different levels of impact 2 shell sizes. Optically superior clear face shield with anti-fog coating and durable hard coating for scratch resistance Tinted drop down inner sun shield 100% UVA/B protection up to 400 nanometers.
Specifications:
Material: Thermoplastic |
Helmet Shape: Intermediate Oval |
Style: Graphic |
Bluetooth: No |
Face Shield: Yes |
Integrated Sun Visor: Yes |
Peak Visor: No |
Pinlock Ready: No |
Helmet Certification: DOT Approved and SNELL Approved |
Features:
- Meets DOT FMVSS 218 and ECE 2005
- Shield lock provides piece of mind, shield will remain closed in all conditions Easy shield changes – quick, secure and tool – less removal and installation
- Qwick – Dry® comfort liner and cheeks pads Hydrophilic liner absorbs sweat and is perforated to provide plenty of ventilation
- Removable and washable interior
- High-Flow ventilation system 6 adjustable intake vents 5 exhaust vents
- Removable air guide – helps direct airflow upwards across the shield for fog free vision
- Made with the finest materials to offer premium quality
- Unique design to help you show off your personal style
- Built to provide the ultimate in convenience and functionality
- High grade materials for exceptional wear resistance
Includes:
- Sentinel Full Face Helmet
- Removable chin curtain
- Soft fleece helmet bag
Established in 1998, Fly Racing® is one of the fastest growing apparel and hard part brands in the world serving the dirt bike, MTB, BMX, snowmobile, and watercraft industries. It began as a manufacturer of motorcycle handlebars and helmets. Since then, FLY Racing has quickly developed into one of the most progressing and leading powersports apparel brands in the competitive North American market. Today this prosperous Idaho based company offers a striking inventory of premium-grade racewear, luggage, helmets, goggles, and boots in a broad range of design, material, and color options.
Amazon.com: Fly Venom Full Face Helmet X-Small
Currently unavailable.
We don’t know when or if this item will be back in stock.
Size | X-Small |
Color | Black / Green / Silver |
Brand | Fly Racing |
- Make sure this fits
by entering your model number. - This Fly helmet features an aerodynamic shell and exciting graphics with a UV hardened finish.
- The comfortable “Quick Snap” interior is easily removable and washable and the high-flow mouth piece and forced air “flow-thru” ventilation make this helmet highly breathable.
- D.O.T.
See more product details
Venom PowerWingsuit from Phoenix Fly at Rock Sky Market
The VENOM Power is not an “off the shelf” product, but rather a tailor-made suit designed to fit the exact measurements of the pilot. Each suit is unique and customized to fit your body, maximizing comfort and performance.
Due to the large wing surface area the VENOM is not suitable for low experience pilots. We recommend a MINIMUM of 180 to 250 wingsuit jumps before trying the VENOM. After the outstanding success of the first STEALTh3 and VAMPIRE3 wingsuit, Phoenix Fly proudly introduces the hybrid evolution of both designs called VENOM.
The VENOM brings several new features to the experienced wingsuit pilot who is looking to spend longer in the air and achieve super low free fall speeds, while still maintaining a good forward speed.
The suit features a superfast start in the B.A.S.E. environment. Flying almost instantly from exit, similar to the v4.
With our newly designed easy reach escape sleeve, your risers are also instantly accessible. With special stretching geometry on the back of the sleeve creating a nice closed sleeve that opens up, without the need to lift knees, regardless of clothing worn underneath.
Features:
• Air locked inlets on the front and back (back fly inlets optional) for solid pressurization.
• Thin wing profile, made of low drag Zero P ensures maximum air flow
• Large arm wings that extend to the knee and wide leg wing provide stable, high lift flight.
• Fast & Simple assembly thanks to sturdy over the shoulder zips.
• Improved zipper locking mechanism to prevent unzipping due to MLW
• New cable cut away system, positioned on the arm sleeve.
• Ergonomic wing tip grippers allow for straight or curved arm flying position.
• Foam lining on arm sleeves and knee area.
• Sturdy 1.9 Oz Balloon ZP and Parapack construction, reinforced in the critical areas.
• Deep cut booties made from specialized rubber material.
Venom features our new ‘3 wing release’ system, a 3 stage design built to give you freedom whatever the situation:
• If everything goes to plan, simply unzip your wings as normal and fly your canopy.
• For instant access to the risers, our new custom designed sleeve release system will let your arms reach up safely, regardless of type of clothing worn underneath.
• For ultimate peace of mind, the suit features our proven cable release system completely freeing the arms if required.
In addition, VENOM features:
• Clean shaped leading edge for optimal airflow
• Optional preformed foam leading edge insert
• Easy and intuitive to fly with outstanding performance
• PF pioneered ram-air inlets for super-fast inflation
• Quick start: flying as soon as you leave the exit point or aircraft
• Magnetic Wing tabs to prevent dragging on the floor
The VENOM was designed with experienced wingsuit skydivers in mind. In the flock it has an unmatched range. When maxed out the suit seems to hang in the air for an eternity, with a good forward speed but an extremely slow vertical speed.
If you are after the longest freefall times then the VENOM is for you! Or if you are a heavier pilot you may find the suit improves your vertical range. Click Here to download the Phoenix Fly Measuring Guide
*This item does not qualify for free shipping. The shipping fee that is applied in your cart is the charge to have the suit imported from Croatia. There is a slight chance that Customs and Duties may apply and is not billed through us, but through the shipping carrier.
Fly Racing Venom Full Face Helmet BLACK/ YELLOW/ SILVER Size L Helmets Helmets & Headwear
Fly Racing Venom Full Face Helmet BLACK/ YELLOW/ SILVER Size L Helmets Helmets & Headwear
Fly Racing Venom Full Face Helmet BLACK/ YELLOW/ SILVER Size L
L Fly Racing Venom Full Face Helmet BLACK/ YELLOW/ SILVER Size, washable liner, Adjustable flow-through visor, 35mm quick snap cheek pads, Model: Venom, D,O,T, approved,Model Venom, DOT approved, Exciting UV clear coated graphics, Quick snap plush absorbent, removable. Full Face Helmet BLACK/ YELLOW/ SILVER Size L Fly Racing Venom,Fly Racing Venom Full Face Helmet BLACK/ YELLOW/ SILVER Size L, Vehicle Parts & Accessories, Clothing, Helmets & Protection, Helmets & Headwear, Helmets.
Skip to content
Fly Racing Venom Full Face Helmet BLACK/ YELLOW/ SILVER Size L
Fly Racing Venom Full Face Helmet BLACK/ YELLOW/ SILVER Size L. Model Venom. DOT approved. Exciting UV clear coated graphics. Quick snap plush absorbent, removable, washable liner. Adjustable flow-through visor. 35mm quick snap cheek pads. Model: Venom. D.O.T. approved.. Condition:: New without tags: Size: : Large , Manufacturer Part Number: : 73-3434L 0804304: Displayed Make: : Venom , Brand: : Fly Racing: Color: : White/Blue/Silver , UPC: : na , 。
Fly Racing Venom Full Face Helmet BLACK/ YELLOW/ SILVER Size L
Gemstone: Genuine Labradorite Gemstone Size: 5x7mm Oval, Biomechanically designed to hug your arches. US Large=China X-Large:Length:18. Citroen NEW Service History Book. USE—these balloons are suitable for wedding party, Content:Synthetic upper and sole, SHIPS FROM THE UNITED STATES — All Sac Silver distributors ship from the United States to ensure quality. REAR BRAKE CALIPER RIGHT SIDE FOR VAUXHALL ZAFIRA B 2005 ON 93183697 5542452, Buy uxcell LM25UU 25mmx40mmx59mm Double Side Rubber Seal Linear Motion Ball Bearing Bushing: Linear Ball Bearings – ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases. RkBao Mens Plus-Size Small Plaid Long Sleeve Cotton Lapel Western Shirt at Men’s Clothing store. 2x LED Daytime Running Fog Lights Lamp DRL For Ford Fusion Mondeo 2013-2016. PLEASE NOTE THIS:BeautyVan suggest you according to the Size chat pic and select a bigger size, perfect For Sports And Daily Dress. 7 Rib Multi V Drive Belt 7PK1035 Gates 11281704719 11288672072 5801946823 New. you can rely on the high quality and effectiveness of the product without having to guess if it will work with your Hyundai, The inside of the die cut frame is coated with adhesive to ensure a solid bond at all points of contact with the media pack. 4x PDC PARKING AID SENSOR ULTRASONIC FOR AUDI A6 C7 A8 4H Q3 8U Q7 4L R8, Our boho pillows are multi colored and made with superior quality. Our wide selection is elegible for free shipping and free returns, C Dacia Duster 2010-2017 Rear Bumper Protector Lip Vinyl & Logo, A stone monument bearing the inscription “Ko- kiln ruins” stands quietly in a clearing. 4-inch light-duty fixed plate caster, FORD ESCORT 1986-1990 MK4 1.3 1.4 PETROL FRONT SUSPENSION STRUT 2 POINT FIXING. Give us a call (855)236-1100 or send us a message. *** This Amazing Mother of God chain is 22 INCH and can easily fit around anyones neck. ROSE GOLD OIL SLICK ATTENTION seeker Car sticker decal show VDUB JDM Drift euro. a very big board and an eaven bigger chopper for real use or for a perfect country kitchen. but you can come up with your own individual print for the case on Apple Airpods, Additional information: For more information.
…
Fly Racing Venom Full Face Helmet BLACK/ YELLOW/ SILVER Size L
washable liner, Adjustable flow-through visor, 35mm quick snap cheek pads, Model: Venom, D,O,T, approved,Model Venom, DOT approved, Exciting UV clear coated graphics, Quick snap plush absorbent, removable.
HJC RPHA 11 Pro Full Face Helmet Venom 2
- Manufacturer: HJC Helmets
- Advanced P.I.M. Plus (Premium Integrated Matrix Plus) Fiberglass aerodynamic shell structure for extreme performance at maximum speeds
- Fiberglass composite shell made from a blend of carbon fiber, fiberglass, and aramid to create a unique woven blend that is both strong and noticeably lighter
- Wider eye port provides better peripheral vision for riders
- Optimized shell design for air flow ventilation system
- Max airflow top vent six-stage variable airflow is adjusted by glove-friendly dials on each intake vent
- ACS Advanced Channeling Ventilation System full front-to-back airflow flushes heat and humidity out of the interior
- MultiCool Interior advanced anti-bacteria fabric provides enhanced moisture wicking and quicker drying function than previous generation
- Crown and cheek pads are fully removable and washable
- Eye glasses and sun glasses friendly EPS shape
- Rapidfire II Shield Replacement System is a simple and secure shield ratchet system that provides ultra-quick, tool-less removal and installation for efficient operation
- RPHA 11 Pro cheek pads are interchangeable throughout all shell sizes
- Pin-Prepared HJ-26 Shield is optically superior 2D face shield and provides 95% UV protection
- Center one-touch open/close locking system is a superior automatic shield locking system with spring-controlled lever
- Enhanced shield dual lock system for high speed racing conditions
- Emergency cheek pads for safe and quick rescue in and emergency situation
- Built-in communication speaker pockets
- Breath guard and chin curtain included
- Includes both clear and dark smoke shields and anti-fog insert lens
- DOT and ECE approved
- Official licensed Marvel product
The HJC RPHA 11 builds upon the hugely successful RPHA 10, creating an even more finely tuned helmet for sport and track-day enthusiasts. A more aerodynamically refined shell, improved rear spoiler design, ACS “Advanced Channeling Ventilation System”, an added forehead vent, greater field of view, a redesigned face shield gasket system and both clear and smoke tinted optically-superior Pinlock-ready 2D flat-racing shields round out the features of this helmet.
HJC Helmet Sizing Chart
Helmet Size | Centimeter | Hat Size | Inches |
XXS | 51-52 | 6 3/8 – 6 1/2 | 20- 20 1/2 |
XS | 53-54 | 6 5/8 – 6 3/4 | 20 7/8 – 21 1/4 |
Small | 55-56 | 6 7/8 – 7 | 21 5/8 – 22 |
Medium | 57-58 | 7 1/8 – 7 1/4 | 22 1/2 – 22 7/8 |
Large | 59-60 | 7 3/8 – 7 1/2 | 23 1/4 – 23 5/8 |
Extra Large | 61-62 | 7 5/8 – 7 3/4 | 24 – 24 3/8 |
XX-Large | 63-64 | 7 7/8 – 8 | 24 3/4 – 25 1/4 |
XXX-Large | 65-66 | 8 1/8 – 8 1/4 | 25 5/8 – 26 |
XXXX-Large | 67-68 | 8 3/8 – 8 1/2 | 26 3/8 – 26 3/4 |
XXXXX-Large | 69-70 | 8 3/4 – 8 3/4 | 27 1/4 – 27 5/8 |
Investigation and court: Power structures: Lenta.
ru
Sixty years ago, on May 1, 1960, an American U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, piloted by pilot Francis Powers, was shot down in the skies over the USSR. It was the culmination of a chapter in the history of the Cold War: the Soviet military managed to shoot down a plane that was dubbed the “all-seeing eye” because of its incredible intelligence capabilities at the time. Prior to that, U-2s quietly flew over Soviet territory, obtaining valuable information for the American CIA.The air defense systems that were then in service with the Soviet army could not reach such a target. But after Powers was shot down and taken prisoner, Nikita Khrushchev enthusiastically declared that the USSR wiped its nose with US President Dwight Eisenhower. The details of that story were recalled by Lenta.ru.
It all started in 1954, when the unique Soviet strategic jet bomber M-4, developed by the Myasishchev design bureau, was demonstrated to the whole world at a military parade on Red Square. The winged brainchild of Soviet engineers was greeted with a jubilant “Hurray!”
Related materials
00:01 – December 10, 2019
00:17 – November 28, 2019
Callsign Anita
She thwarted the assassination attempt on Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill. And all her life she secretly served the USSR
A new achievement of Soviet aircraft manufacturers was announced as an essential element of the country’s security, which should cool the hot heads of those Western politicians who were seriously considering a future war with the Soviet Union. Military experts of the NATO bloc appreciated the car.It was clear that the M-4 was a bomber capable of long flights and carrying nuclear weapons. In NATO he was given the nickname “Bison”.
The United States understood that the arms race was taking a dangerous turn. Now the United States is no longer safe, and in the event of a third world war, American cities will be within the reach of Soviet nuclear weapons. But how many of these planes does the USSR have?
Observers from the embassies of Western countries in the USSR first reported about twenty copies of the “Bizon”, which were in service with the Soviet Air Force, but later intelligence reported: the Red Army has hundreds of such machines.The Pentagon did not understand: the production of the M-4 had just begun – where did this figure come from?
The Americans were bewildered by a little trick. Sequential numbers were written on all machines. Some trickster at the headquarters suggested that some two-digit numbers be forwarded to three-digit ones. And in the Pentagon there were many analysts who, relying on data on the economy, industry and other intelligence information, guessed that the USSR was bluffing.
US President Dwight D. Eisenhower said that he could not assume – he needed accurate data on the number of strategic Soviet bombers.He stated: “Pearl Harbor must not happen again”
Soviet strategic bomber M-4
Photo: UAC_Russia_eng / Globallookpress. com
Development of a new reconnaissance aircraft, invisible to Soviet air defenses and capable of monitoring enemy airfields, began as soon as possible. The development was carried out in absolute secrecy.
To confuse the KGB, the letter U was introduced into the name – this was the serial name that denoted “general purpose” military aircraft, while reconnaissance aircraft were designated by the letter R.
The Lockheed company, which was entrusted with the project, was in a hurry: the contract promised to be too profitable. This haste cost the lives of three test pilots, who received the unfinished vehicles. But in the shortest possible time, already in 1955 – less than a year after the parade in Moscow – the Americans got the first copy of the “all-seeing eye”.
The U-2 plane broke records in every test, quickly gained an altitude of 19.5 kilometers – unattainable for Soviet air defense systems and fighters.He was equipped with ultra-modern photographic equipment. In fact, it was supposed to produce images comparable in quality to those that are given today by satellite photos. And most importantly, this plane could make long-distance flights for many hours.
This was achieved by the fact that the U-2 climbed to a certain height and actually glided. To demonstrate the capabilities of the aircraft, the Americans photographed cows on the site of Eisenhower himself – and he gave immediate permission to operate aircraft
Andrey Vedyaev
historian of special services
American reconnaissance aircraft U-2
Photo: National Aeronautics & Space Adm / Globallookpress.com
As a former military man who went through the Second World War, the President of the United States was well aware of all the possible consequences. And he suddenly began to doubt: what if the Russians perceived the U-2 reconnaissance flight as an act of aggression?
Then the representatives of the developer company proposed to test the aircraft spy over Soviet Europe. The military bases of the two blocks were located close to each other. Berlin was generally divided in half: if discovered, it was always possible to say that the Americans had simply gone astray and “had the wrong address.”
On June 20, 1956, U-2 flew over Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia. High-quality images have become invaluable information for NATO intelligence officers and military. Started flights over the USSR
On July 4, US Independence Day, President Eisenhower was presented with the best gift. U-2 took pictures of airfields near Leningrad and Moscow. Even the type of aircraft at the airfields could be identified from the photographs.
Looking at the photographs of the Soviet “Bison” standing in a row, the Americans understood: the Soviets were bluffing about the number of winged machines.Champagne was opened at the Pentagon on the occasion of success and a public holiday. But in the USSR, an aerial spy was noticed – he was calculated by radar stations. Interceptors were even raised to intercept, but they did not reach the goal.
All attempts by MiGs to intercept the U-2 were unsuccessful: the fighters desperately rushed to the height, where their engines stalled – and they fell down. Several MiGs were unable to restart their engines and fell to the ground
Curtis Peebles
American explorer of the history of aviation and astronautics
The next day, the American ambassador in Moscow was handed a note of protest.The Soviet government called the flights of the “all-seeing eye” a provocation against the world. But besides the diplomatic component, there were details that were intended for the US military leadership.
It was described in detail that the plane penetrated the USSR to a depth of 320 kilometers, stayed within the country for one hour and thirty-two minutes and flew over Minsk, Vilnius, Kaunas and Kaliningrad. The American military got the message – it turned out that the USSR was seeing American planes. It was unpleasant, but gladdened that the Soviets had nothing to bring them down.This means that it is possible not only to count the planes at the airfield, but also to identify the location of other military facilities.
The aerial photography department of the CIA made one discovery after another. Accurate and absolutely fresh data on the military and industrial potential of the USSR were obtained. What the emigres and German prisoners of war who returned from the Soviet Union told were hopelessly outdated. CIA officers enjoyed what they were able to prove: aerial photography is superior to any other intelligence source in the accuracy of information
Curtis Peebles
American researcher of the history of aviation and astronautics
In the USSR, U-2 reconnaissance flights were perceived as a political step and an attempt to show their technical superiority.Nikita Khrushchev, the head of the Soviet government, believed that the Americans could use this situation as an argument in the upcoming negotiations on many world problems: from the issue of divided Germany to the situation with a rapid build-up of the nuclear arsenal.
Realizing that passions are heating up, the US President ordered to temporarily stop flights over the USSR in order to avoid new scandals. The Soviet government was told that no NATO military aircraft had flown over its territory, and was asked not to pressurize.
Flights of the American “all-seeing eye” resumed in January 1957 from Pakistani territory. U-2 flew into the territory of the USSR at least 20 times, photographing air defense positions and military facilities in Siberia and Kazakhstan. Radar systems recorded flights, but did not open fire.
When U-2 flew over Kiev a year earlier, anti-aircraft artillery batteries opened fire, but it was useless – they could not shoot down an aircraft flying at such an altitude. Khrushchev ordered no more fire to be opened: “We are only showing our people that we are powerless and that we can do nothing with the intruder flying over our cities.”
Curtis Peebles
American researcher of the history of aviation and astronautics
On June 27, 1958, an incident took place, the impact of which on the further development of events is still debated by historians studying the activities of the special services.
Early in the morning, a CIA Douglas (C-118) US military transport plane inadvertently flew into Soviet airspace. At the same time, everything points to the fact that the representatives of the American special services really got lost. It would hardly have occurred to them to conduct reconnaissance on a transport ship. They flew from Germany to an airfield in Turkey, but cloudiness and bad weather played a role. As a result, the Americans flew to Armenia.
The pilots were greatly surprised when Soviet fighters emerged from the clouds to them: they indicated their presence and ordered to land with swaying wings.
CIA Colonel Branon ordered to leave.The plane tried to escape, and then one of the MiGs damaged the engine with a machine-gun burst. The “American” started to smoke, but thanks to the pilot’s skill, he did not fall into a tailspin, but was able to land at a Soviet airfield near Lake Sevan.
To the luck of the Soviet secret services, Branon had a folder with U-2 flight routes. After 11 days of communication, the Americans were allowed to go home. Colonel Branon had to answer to his colleagues. Everyone in the CIA was interested in only one thing – whether the map with the routes of the reconnaissance plane got to the Russians.He swore that he managed to destroy the documents: he tore something up, ate something.
While the CIA was trying to understand if this was so, the Soviet command urgently deployed the latest radar stations in southern Tajikistan and was completing the re-equipment of air defense systems. The latest C-75 surface-to-air missile systems were widely adopted.
C-75 surface-to-air missile system
The new Soviet system was capable of hitting aircraft at an altitude of over 30 kilometers.In those days, her battle path was just beginning. In the future, it will prove itself during the Cuban crisis, during the Vietnam War and will become one of the best-selling Soviet air defense systems in the world. But then the S-75 was just preparing for its debut.
The end of 1959 was marked by an important political event. For the first time in history, the head of the Soviet Union paid an official visit to the United States. Meetings, all movements and every word of Nikita Khrushchev were watched by about five thousand journalists from all over the world, which was an absolute record of that time.
The Soviet leader met with senators, traveled to several states and held talks with Dwight D. Eisenhower, visited shopping malls and watched how American production works.
We discussed many of the problems then faced by the leaders of the two countries. But most importantly, they were deciding how to keep the peace. At the end of the visit, Nikita Khrushchev addressed the UN, where he called for disarmament. For the first time since the end of World War II, they started talking about international detente. US President Dwight D. Eisenhower received an invitation to pay a return visit to the USSR.It was tentatively scheduled for the new 1960.
Meanwhile, the CIA was in a hurry – it was necessary to consolidate the success and collect data while there is a possibility. As part of the operation, codenamed Grand Slam (“Big Impact”), it was decided to make a long flight for detailed photographic documentation of the Soviet territory.
The new route U-2 started from the Pakistani airbase Peshawar, then through Afghanistan over Soviet territory along the route Stalinabad – Aral Sea – Chelyabinsk – Sverdlovsk – Kirov – Arkhangelsk – Severodvinsk – Kandalaksha – Murmansk, after which the plane was to land at the NATO airbase in Norway.
The aircraft was to be piloted by Francis Harry Paeurs, a 30-year-old native of Virginia. Francis’s career began ten years before the events described. In October 1950, he joined the United States Air Force. He graduated with honors from the flying school and two years later began flying fighters.
Powers is from a simple, poor American family. My father was a shoemaker. And for him, a military career was a good opportunity to break out to the top, into a better life
Andrey Vedyaev
historian of special services
After five years of service, Francis married a stenographer Barbara, who worked at the Marine Corps base.He received the rank of first lieutenant, but the salary of a junior officer did not allow the Powers couple to live as they dreamed. The wife did not hide that she was disappointed with their standard of living. In 1956, at the headquarters of the unit, he and several colleagues who had hundreds of flight hours were offered to work for the CIA.
I was offered a job for which they paid a lot. I thought that I was just lucky … As a result, I lived well financially, my wife and I did not deny ourselves anything and at the same time had the opportunity to make savings
Francis Powers
from the minutes of the court session of the Supreme Court of the USSR
The increase in income was significant.Before that Powers was paid $ 700, but now $ 2500 at once. The American pilot was aware of the danger of the work that had to be done. Piloting an airplane at an altitude of 20 kilometers resulted in severe overloads of the body. Each time before departure, the pilot had to breathe oxygen for two hours.
Francis Harry Powers
However, the operation itself, during which it was to fly through half of the USSR, caused concern, but Powers, according to his own recollections, was reassured by the words of Colonel Shelton, who was preparing the newcomer for the flight.Shelton recalled that Soviet interceptors do not rise to such a height, which means that there is nothing to worry about.
Powers took off in the night, quickly gained altitude, unnoticed by anyone, flew over Afghanistan and at 5:36 Moscow time invaded Soviet airspace.
Francis stuck to course and drove according to route. Objects important to the command were marked on his map with a red pencil. Flying over them, he pressed a lever that turned on special reconnaissance equipment – a camera developed by Perkin-Elmer.It was capable of filming a strip 150 kilometers wide and 3000 kilometers long from a height of more than 20 kilometers, and objects less than a meter in size were distinguishable in the image.
Immediately after crossing the USSR border, Paeurs was noticed by Soviet radar systems installed in southern Tajikistan. Reported to the command. An order was received – to shoot down the intruder. The latest air defense systems have not yet been tested, and therefore MiG-19 and Su-9 fighters were sent to intercept.
The “drying” pilot flew by – he was in the air, as he was ferrying the plane from the repair plant.He didn’t even have weapons. He must have been surprised to receive the order to ram, but he did not hesitate. His only option was to accelerate the plane and try to overcome the maximum altitude in order to hit the intruder on the side or wing. But the maneuver failed.
The pilot Igor Mentyukov had a problem with reaching the target. And for the second run he did not have enough fuel
Andrey Vedyaev
historian of special services
The pilot of the MiG-19 aircraft, Senior Lieutenant Sergei Safronov, also went to intercept.But his car technically could not rise to a height of 20 kilometers. Then the 57th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade entered the business, which was just in the way of Powers.
True, on May 1, one of the main public holidays was celebrated in the Soviet Union – the Day of International Workers’ Solidarity. Therefore, the command was almost completely absent. Only an elderly Major Voronov was on duty. He was going to retire in a couple of days. He had only two young officers at his disposal, but despite all the difficulties, the S-75 missiles were quickly put on alert, and soon the first of them went to the target.
In the Sverdlovsk region, at about sixty-eight thousand feet, I made a turn and flew for about one minute on a straight course. Then I heard, or maybe even felt some kind of dull explosion. It seemed to me that this explosion happened somewhere behind
Francis Powers
from the minutes of the court session of the Supreme Court of the USSR
Model of damage to U-2 shot down by a Soviet missile
Photo: z03 / ZumaPress / Globallookpress.com
Fragments of the rocket tore off the tail of the “all-seeing eye” and damaged the engine. The plane began to fall. The wreckage of the plane was taken by Soviet radars as targets. The neighboring divisions were also involved. Including the 4th division of the air defense missile system: the military serving there mistook the wreckage for an aircraft and also fired missiles.
These additional launches cost the life of the MiG-19 pilot, Sergei Safronov, who was still following Powers’ U-2. One of the missiles hit his plane. Later, the commission will take a long time to understand why this happened and why the “friend or foe” recognition system did not work.
I am reporting that your order to destroy the aircraft – the violator of the state border of the USSR, invaded the borders of our Motherland on May 1, 1960 – was executed at 8.53, Moscow time. When the aircraft entered the fire zone at an altitude of over 20 thousand meters, one missile was launched, the explosion of which destroyed the target. The defeat of the target was observed using devices
Major Voronov. May 1, 1960
Francis Powers was lucky: he survived and left the falling plane at an altitude of ten kilometers.In his own words, he was sandwiched between the dashboard and the seat, because of which he could not eject. Before leaving the plane, he had to press a special self-destruct lever, but supposedly did not have time to do this.
According to another version, he knew from his mechanic that if he started the ejection mechanism, the explosion would happen immediately. A comrade warned him that the CIA had thought of everything so that U-2 did not fall into the hands of the Soviets. So he disconnected the broken cockpit canopy, removed the catapult belts and jumped out with a parachute.
Part of a flight map found on the downed U-2 of Francis Powers
The first Soviet people the downed pilot had a chance to talk to were residents of a local collective farm. One, hearing the explosion and running out into the street, saw a parachutist descending in the sky, and the second was just driving from a neighboring village in a car. Both decided that there was a plane crash, and rushed, as they thought, to the aid of the Soviet pilot.
When they took the helmet off the parachutist, he said something, but we didn’t understand anything.He spoke in a language incomprehensible to us. We asked him who he was, but he doesn’t seem to understand. Then we realized – a foreigner. This alerted us. Cheremisin saw a long-barreled pistol hanging from his belt in a leather holster and quickly removed it. Then we gestured to him if he was alone. He also gestured that he was alone. We decided to detain him
Leonid Chuzhakin
witness in the case of Francis Powers
Soon the pilot found himself in the hands of local police officers and an employee of the district KGB.Security officials found a pistol with a silencer, a hunting knife, a signal pistol with light flares, a compass, Soviet rubles, gold rings, several gold watches and even a folded inflatable boat on the intruder’s possession. In addition, he had a hollow $ 1 coin.
Looking at it, the Chekist realized that it was just a case – there was a needle inside. To the question “what is this?” Powers replied that it was just a useful thing in the household. As it turns out later, there was poison in the needle. And Powers was supposed to use it in order not to betray state secrets, but he ignored the instructions.
He also had a rolled up silk poster on which in several languages of the world, including Russian, there were the words: “I do not bring evil to your people. If you help me, you will receive a reward. ” Upon learning of the capture of the American air spy, Nikita Khrushchev joyfully exclaimed: “We wiped our nose at the haughty Eisenhower.”
As soon as the Soviet government announced the downed spy, Dwight D. Eisenhower made an official statement. The President of the United States said that the object destroyed by the Russians was a meteorological service plane that took air samples in the area of the Soviet-Turkish border, got lost and accidentally crossed the border.
Eisenhower was sure he was telling the truth. The CIA did not inform him about the operation being carried out: the heads of the special services hoped to the last that the plane had been blown up, the pilot had died, which means that nothing could be proved.
But soon Soviet television showed a living and healthy Francis Powers, who testifies to the investigation team. The wreckage of his plane was placed in a Moscow exhibition complex. There were also exhibited items confiscated from Powers and even a map with Soviet military objects marked on it in red pencil.Representatives of foreign delegations were also willingly acquainted with the results of the work of the new anti-aircraft missile system.
Items found during the search of Francis Powers
Francis Powers actively cooperated with the investigation; however, even without his words on the wreckage of the U-2 and the photographic equipment, which was perfectly preserved, everything was clear. Ten days later, President Eisenhower had to admit the fact that, contrary to international law, intelligence was being conducted over Soviet territory, including with his permission.He attributed the incident to US national security issues.
Nikita Khrushchev, in turn, poured accusations against NATO about aggression and a threat to world security and did everything to make the process as open as possible. He even sent a personal telegram inviting the defendant’s father, Oliver Powers, to come to the USSR.
I must inform you that your son will be tried according to the laws of the Soviet Union. The law is the law, I am not in a position to interfere in matters that are fully within the competence of the court.If you want to come to the Soviet Union to see your son, I am ready to help you in this matter
Nikita Khrushchev. May 31, 1960
The pilot’s wife and relatives flew to the USSR. The investigators did not deny them visits. The court hearings were held from 17 to 19 August 1960 in the Column Hall of the House of the Unions. Hundreds of journalists from different countries, including the United States, were accredited for the trial. At this show trial, the state prosecution was personally represented by the Prosecutor General of the USSR, Roman Rudenko.
He was a world famous person, as he supported the accusation from the USSR at the famous Nuremberg trials, where Nazi criminals of the Third Reich were tried. And although Powers was tried in Moscow, in his speech and questions, Attorney General Rudenko accused the US government and its NATO allies of fomenting the war.
Trial of Francis Powers in the Hall of Columns of the House of the Unions
Powers had every reason to fear that the sentence would be as severe as possible.So, according to the recollections of the employees who worked with him, even during the preliminary investigation, the pilot was introduced to the text of the law providing for imprisonment for espionage for a period of 7 to 15 years, and under especially aggravating circumstances – the death penalty. After reading it, Powers said: “In my opinion, this maximum [for me] will be.” In his closing speech, he was filled with desperate remorse.
I appeal to the court with a request to judge me not as an enemy, but as a person who is not a personal enemy of the Russian people, a person who has never appeared before the court on any charges and who deeply realized his guilt, regrets her and deeply regretted
from the last word of Francis Powers at the trial
Contrary to expectations, the verdict of the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR turned out to be the mildest possible at that time: years, serving the first three years in prison.The term of serving the sentence for the convicted person, taking into account the pre-trial detention, shall be calculated from May 1, 1960 ”.
A few days after the verdict, Francis Powers was transferred to Vladimirsky Central. His cellmate was the Latvian nationalist Zigurds Krumins, who fought on the side of the Wehrmacht in the Great Patriotic War, and later worked for the NATO special services. According to Powers, the Latvian was fluent in English and taught him Russian. In the central station, the convicted pilot whiled away the time reading classical literature: he could not get other books in English.
The American’s imprisonment was short-lived. In 1962, he was traded at the famous Glinik Bridge over the Havel River (it divides Berlin and Potsdam) for an illegal Soviet intelligence agent, Rudolf Abel. The reality was far from what director Steven Spielberg had portrayed in The Spy Bridge. Powers was driving home in a fawn hat, a warm coat and a large suitcase of typical Soviet gifts: vodka, caviar and Khokhloma souvenirs.
Gliniki Bridge
At home, he immediately fell under the tribunal for violating official instructions.Powers was accused of the failure of the entire operation, and it came to charges of treason. The pilot was saved by the Senate Armed Forces Subcommittee, which dropped all charges against him.
Out of work, Powers soon joined the same military company Lockheed that created the U-2 as a test pilot. There he worked for about ten years until he took up writing. In 1970, Powers published Operation Flight: A Flashback of the U-2 Incident.In our country, it was published only once: in 1972 and in a limited edition.
This [USSR] was a beautiful country … Just like Virginia
Francis Powers
from the book “Operation Flight: Memories of the U-2 Incident” not tortured or deprived of sleep. On the contrary, they were well fed, delivered books and given enough time to sleep.Powers wrote about daily interrogations, emphasizing that they were carried out at a strictly defined time – and he recalled them as a fight with an intelligent enemy.
From the book by Francis Powers “Operation Flight: Reminiscences of the U-2 Incident”:
“During the trial, I stated that I did not feel any hostility towards the Russian people. It was true. Although I had no love for my investigators in the Lubyanka and I felt contempt for Prosecutor Rudenko and lawyer Grinev, most of the people I met in Russia – from the farmers who detained me in the field to my guards in Vladimir – were friendly and gentle. …
Ordinary people, they were as curious about me as I was about them. Perhaps a few of the guards were sullen, but they were sullen towards everyone. And the officer whom I called Little Major to myself, on the contrary, was always cheerful. I could honestly say that, having become an uninvited guest for Russians, I have never met anyone whom I could hate. ”
After the publication of the book, Powers fell into disgrace again: he was accused of creating a positive image of the enemy. He soon left the company.But he did not sit out of work for long. At first he tried himself as a radio host, but it did not work – and he returned to his usual business, went to work in the news, becoming a helicopter pilot for the KNBC radio and television news agency.
Francis Powers with his wife in London. April 1971
Photo: Len Trievnor / Getty Images
In 1977, while filming a fire in the vicinity of Santa Barbara, his helicopter began to run out of fuel. Powers tried to land the helicopter, but suddenly saw the children at the site of the intended landing.He began to drive away the car, and soon it collapsed to the ground. Francis Powers and news agency operator George Spears were killed instantly.
The pilot was buried at the famous Arlington cemetery. In 2000, he was posthumously presented with honorary US military awards. His son opened a Cold War Museum in Lorton, Virginia. Among the exhibits there are a flight suit, a helmet, and also a rug that my father made from a potato sack while in the Vladimirsky Central.
Quite unnoticed by the general public in 1960, at the Yegoshikhinskoye cemetery in Perm, the funeral of the Soviet pilot Sergei Safronov, who was shot down during the pursuit of Powers, took place.Later, one of the Permsky streets will be named in his honor, and his family will be posthumously awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
Powers’ interrupted flight had enormous political and military consequences. In May 1960, a summit of the leaders of the USA, USSR, France and Great Britain was planned to discuss the issues of a divided Germany and reduce tensions between the countries. Eisenhower’s visit to the USSR was also due.
But all these events fell through because of the spy scandal. The level of tension and mistrust between NATO leaders and the Soviet bloc increased.Nuclear tests became more frequent, and in subsequent years their delivery vehicles were perfected.
As for the U-2 plane, it will once again have its say in the Cold War when it discovers Soviet ballistic missiles in Cuba in 1962, after which humanity will be closer than ever to death. The S-75 anti-aircraft missile systems will be adopted by many countries of the Soviet bloc and will be used in many military conflicts both during the Cold War and after it.
Feedback from the “Power Structures” department:
If you have witnessed an important event, you have news or an idea for a material, write to this address: [email protected]
St. Petersburg | Putin will be dressed up in a white robe, helmet and beak for flying with cranes
For flying with cranes, Vladimir Putin will be given a white robe, helmet and beak. The president will need such equipment for the birds to recognize him as the leader of the flock, Yuri Markin, ornithologist, director of the Oka State Nature Biosphere Reserve, where the Siberian Cranes are raised, told RSN.
“There is such a phenomenon – the imprinting of parents from a young age. In this case, for cranes, the parent is a man in a white coat. They remember not a specific person, but a white robe with a hood, a white helmet on a hang glider. A special beak that is held in the form of a head. Another irritant is the sounds, the contact cries of the Siberian Cranes, ”he said.
It is noted that the flight with cranes is Putin’s initiative. The ornitholags were just recently told that the president would like to get acquainted with the project.
Markin added that cranes are not specially prepared for the flight with the head of state. This will be one of the planned flights as part of the activities to prepare birds for natural migration. At the same time, the cranes may refuse to fly under the leadership of Putin. The flight can spoil the strong wind or the poor health of the birds, the expert said. “ It happens, this is a normal thing. They do not always refuse, on some days the weather does not coincide. These are living organisms, someone can get sick , ”the ornithologist emphasized.
At the same time, Markin believes that Putin is sufficiently prepared for the role of the leader of a flock of cranes. “ You must be able to fly. We must also be able to adjust, adjust, make the same turns that the cranes do. We know that Vladimir Vladimirovich knows how to do this. He took lessons, he has flight practice , ”he said.
As a reminder, Putin intends to visit Yamal on his way to the APEC summit in Vladivostok. Weather permitting, he will take part in the Flight of Hope project, which is aimed at preserving a rare species of cranes, the Siberian Crane.IA Rosbalt
This material was published on the BezFormata website on January 11, 2019,
below is the date when the material was published on the original site!
More news about event:
Pterodactyl Day
History repeats itself twice: as a tragedy and as a farce
The last song that the great Mark Bernes performed and recorded in his life is “Cranes”.
12:24 06.09.2012 Novaya Gazeta in St. Petersburg – St. Petersburg
Boris Vishnevsky: The day will come, and in a flock of cranes …
History repeats itself twice: as a tragedy and as a farce. The last song that the great Mark Bernes performed and recorded in his life is “Cranes”.
22:17 05.09.2012 Nedelya.Ru – Saint Petersburg
“The day will come, and in a flock of cranes… “
History repeats itself twice: as a tragedy and as a farce.
The last song that the great Mark Bernes performed and recorded in his life is “Cranes”.
20:04 05.09.2012 Party Apple – St. Petersburg
What costume will Putin be dressed up in so that the cranes will mistake him for their own?
For flying with cranes, Putin will be given a white coat, helmet and beak.The president will need such equipment for the birds to recognize him as the leader of the flock, the ornithologist told the Russian News Service,
18:34 05.09.2012 Gorod812 – St. Petersburg
“Putin on a hang-glider will appear in the new part of Angry Birds” – a reaction to a possible flight of the president at the head of a school of Siberian Cranes
Internet users compete with each other in wit and composing anecdotes on this topic.
18:31 05.09.2012 GAZETA.SPb – St. Petersburg
Drozdov considers the upcoming flight of Putin with cranes “great happiness”
TV presenter Nikolai Drozdov called the forthcoming flight of Russian President Vladimir Putin with cranes “great happiness”.
16:12 05.09.2012 Nedelya.Ru – Saint Petersburg
Putin will be dressed up in a white robe, helmet and beak for flying with cranes
For flying with cranes, Vladimir Putin will be given a white coat, helmet and beak.The president will need such equipment for the birds to recognize him as the leader of the flock, the ornithologist told RSN,
16:11 09/05/2012 Echo of Moscow in St. Petersburg – St. Petersburg
The director of the Oka Nature Reserve confirmed that Putin will become the leader of a flock of rare cranes
Russian President Vladimir Putin will take part in the rescue of a rare species of Siberian Cranes on a hang glider, becoming the “leader” of their flock,
16:10 05.09.2012 Echo of Moscow in St. Petersburg – St. Petersburg
For flying with cranes on a hang glider, Putin will be given a beak
Vladimir Putin will be given a white coat, helmet and beak for a hang-glider flight with a flock of captive cranes raised in captivity,
16:01 09/05/2012 Leningradskaya Pravda – St. Petersburg
Putin will lead a school of cranes and fly south with them
The President will try himself in the role of the leader of a flock of captive Siberian Cranes.
14:54 05.09.2012 Gazeta.SPb – St. Petersburg
Putin will try himself as the leader of a flock of rare cranes
On the way to the APEC summit in Vladivostok, Vladimir Putin will stop by Yamal and take part in the Flight of Hope project, the Vedomosti newspaper writes, citing its sources in the presidential administration.
14:32 05.09.2012 Echo of Moscow in St. Petersburg – St. Petersburg
A presidential spokesman confirmed that Putin is flying with cranes
Russian President’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Vladimir Putin intends to take part in the Flight of Hope project in Yamal, aimed at preserving a rare species of cranes, the Siberian Crane.
14:31 05.09.2012 Echo of Moscow in St. Petersburg – St. Petersburg
Putin will lead a flock of cranes to winter on a hang glider
Moscow, September 5. Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Vladimir Putin intends to take part in the “Flight of Hope” project in Yamal, Interfax reports.
“Yes, indeed,
11:57 05.09.2012 BaltInfo – St. Petersburg
Putin hang-glider will become the leader of the crane flock
Russian President Vladimir Putin will try himself in an unusual role – he will become the leader of a flock of cranes.
11:44 05.09.2012 G-Stpetersburg.Ru – St. Petersburg
Putin hang-glider will become the leader of the crane flock
Russian President Vladimir Putin will try himself in an unusual role – he will become the leader of a flock of cranes.
10:04 05.09.2012 My district – Saint Petersburg
Vladimir Putin intends to take part in the Flight of Hope project
Vladimir Putin intends to take part in the Flight of Hope project dedicated to the preservation of a rare species of cranes – the Siberian Crane.
09:42 05.09.2012 Komsomolskaya Pravda – St. Petersburg
90,000 10 reasons why it is profitable to fly from Kaluga international airport – News from companies in Tula and the region
Photo: https: // klf.aero.
The airport opened just a few years ago, but has already won the trust of not only Kaluga residents, but also residents of neighboring regions.
Just think about these numbers: in 2020, the Kaluga international airport received more than 130 thousand passengers, including transit ones. 3100 flights were served.
This proves the efficiency and relevance of the airport route network not only by residents of the Kaluga region, but also by neighboring regions. Even despite the pandemic, passenger traffic grew by 10% compared to 2019.
The airport also won the trust of the Tula. What’s the secret?
10 reasons why it is profitable for residents of the Tula region to fly from Kaluga:
- A modern building, , which has everything for a comfortable flight waiting: a cafe, free wi-fi, coffee machines, a vending machine with snacks, a mother and child room, toilets. The airport is equipped with everything necessary for people with disabilities.
- It takes only an hour and a half to get to the airport. The distance from the center of Tula to Kaluga airport is about 100 km. It will take you a little over an hour on the road. Plus, no traffic jams. In the direction of Kaluga, the traffic, of course, is less than to Moscow.
- Free parking. Territory is illuminated around the clock by searchlights, video surveillance is conducted on it. You can leave your car in the parking lot at any time.
- Reliable airlines. Kaluga Airport cooperates with RusLine, Azimut.
- There are no queues, which saves time. The airport is small, there are many flights, but they do not take off at the same time. You are unlikely to find queues for entrance and registration. Therefore, you do not need to come here three hours in advance, it is enough to arrive at the airport at least twenty hours before departure.
- Popular destinations. In particular, these are Sochi, Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Kaliningrad, Mineralnye Vody, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Kirov.
- Flight safety is an absolute priority in the activities of JSC Kaluga International Airport.
- VIP service. VIP-lounge is intended for passengers who value time, comfort and individual approach to service.
The range of services includes: individual entrance and parking for guests’ vehicles, meeting passengers at the entrance to the VIP-hall, individual check-in of passengers and luggage, etc.
Medical assistance. At the health center, passengers can get free emergency medical assistance at any time of the day. The health center is located in the right wing of the terminal on the ground floor.
Service. Convenience and comfort of passengers is a priority for Kaluga airport employees.
Welcome to Kaluga International Airport!
Kaluga, st.Takeoff, 46.
Inquiry: +7 (4842) 770-007.
Site
90,000 Fighter squad leader. The sky starts from the ground. Life Pages
Fighter Squad Leader
I received the rank of pilot! For ten years I have been walking towards this moment – and now it has come. Identity card in your pocket.
I really wanted to fly, fly a lot, perform some extraordinary feat. “Will they give me some first assignment? I wondered.- Let the most difficult, the most impossible – I will lay down my life, but I will do it!
And now the solemn moment has come: the newly-made pilot Vodopyanov was appointed commander of a fighter squad to fight … against locusts!
There were only two planes in my squadron: mine and Osipov’s. These small planes, nicknamed the “hunchbacked horse,” [7 had engines of only seventy-five horsepower, like the Volga car.
The flight route ran along the Kuban River, to the village of Petrovskaya – only one hundred and twenty kilometers.We agreed to fly in formation, I am the leader. But on the way, they got into such a thick fog that they immediately lost each other. Radio was not yet on airplanes, and we could not keep in touch with each other. They flew as best they could, on their own. I decided to walk under the fog without losing sight of the land. I was afraid to rise above the fog – you can easily get lost. And I wanted to make my first, and even such a tiny flight without incident. But still, it was not without them.
In front of the village of Slavyanskaya I was so pressed to the ground that I decided to sit down and wait until the fog clears.But where to sit? I see a large meadow on the left. The place for planting is suitable, but it is already taken – cows are grazing in the meadow. I turned around and flew over the meadow. Hearing the noise of the engine, the cows began to scatter. “Oh, they were scared! – I thought. – Well, I’ll walk one more time! ” The calculation was correct: the landing site was cleared, and I landed safely.
I was very worried about where Osipov was. Indeed, in such a fog, one can easily perish. As soon as the fog cleared, I flew out in search of a comrade. Soon I found him behind the village of Slavyanskaya.He sat down on the high road, but the wheel hit the ditch and bent the axle. Together we quickly straightened the axle and safely completed our first flight.
The next day they set to work with great zeal. I wanted to show that it was not in vain that they received the title of pilots. It was necessary to dust five thousand hectares infested with locusts.
Locusts are a terrible enemy of fields and vegetable gardens. She looks like a large grasshopper. Locusts originate in floodplains, swamps, where they lay their eggs in autumn. It is necessary to destroy it when its wings have not yet grown, and if it has flown, then it is almost impossible to fight it.There is so much of it that it, like a huge black cloud, covers the sun.
I remember that one of the pilots almost died in such a cloud of locusts. The earth disappeared from him, the water in the radiator boiled, as the locusts clogged the radiator honeycomb, and the engine stopped. the pilot was forced to sit down and broke the car. [7 It’s good that the landing site turned out to be flat, otherwise a person would have died.
And such a cloud settles on the fields. The gluttonous locust, laying bare the fields, eats more in a day than it weighs itself!
We were ready to fly for whole days in order to quickly destroy the locusts, but pollination can be done only in the morning and in the evening – with dew.If you fly during the day, when there is no dew, then the poison from the reeds will crumble to the ground. And on wet stems, the fine powder sits in a thin, even layer. The locust eats the plant along with the poison and perishes.
There were signalmen with white and orange flags in the contaminated field. The flags were clearly visible, and we flew from one to the other.
A special device was installed on the plane – an airplane; poisonous powder was sprayed from it. During the day, the plane covered a huge area with dust. Three thousand people could hardly cope with this work manually.
We flew so low that more than once we brought reeds on wheels. Local residents joked that we, they say, not only poison the locusts, but also crush them with wheels.
We flew our prescribed one hundred hours, dusty five thousand hectares, and there are still many locusts. We would still have to work, but the motor, according to the law, cannot be used for more than a hundred hours – it must be cleaned up. The cleaning is done in the workshop. This means that the motors must be sent to Moscow. But the locusts won’t wait! Although pilots are not supposed to do this work, we decided to recall the “old thing”.They took off the motors and cleaned them with our flight mechanics in two days.
After that we flew another hundred and four hours and destroyed the locusts on eleven thousand hectares. We got into such excitement that we could not calm down until we were convinced that we had finally driven out our enemy. In my impulse to complete the task as best and quickly as possible, I sometimes did things that I would not recommend anyone to repeat now.
Once I went from one flag to another, I opened the airplane, but the poison did not pour in: it was caked.I had to go back to the airfield, stir the powder, but I was sorry for the time. I was then young, hot, and came to a stupid and very risky decision: to knock my wheels on the ground and thereby shake the caked poison. I saw [7, in my opinion, a fairly solid road and did this trick. The calculation was justified: the poison fell. I was so pleased with my “discovery” that I even advised Osipov to do the same if necessary.
We completed the task more than twice and, proud of our successes, were going to return to Moscow.On the eve of our departure, a delegation from the villagers came to us with a request to show us how we destroyed locusts.
– Tomorrow is a holiday – the Day of Cooperation, the delegates said. “There will be a big meeting in the square. We will give you lime, and you will spray over the square and over the bazaar. Then everyone will see how it’s done. And then come visit us – the Cossacks want to meet you!
The next day the chairman of the village council announced at the meeting that we would go on a demonstration flight and dust with lime.But he forgot to tell the bazaar, and Osipov and I decided to start with the bazaar. He flew first. As if it were a sin, our landlady was at the bazaar. As soon as the plane appeared and began to gather dust, she screamed with all her might:
– After all, this is our pilot! He is poisoning locusts, and now, apparently, he does not know what has fallen from his plane … He will poison us all!
When my plane appeared over the bazaar, there was already a real panic. Not suspecting anything, I sank very low, flew over the very tents.Then he made a circle over the square, put the engine on low throttle and began to glide. When my plane was very low above the ground, I loudly congratulated the villagers on the holiday.
But they understood me differently: disperse, they say, I will sit down! A few minutes later there was not a single soul below: the frightened villagers fled to their homes … So our idea ended unsuccessfully to show how the plane exterminates the terrible enemy of the fields – the locusts.
When we returned to Moscow, they already knew about our victory over the locusts and about the failed “propaganda flight”.For the first, we received gratitude, and for the fact that the second was poorly organized – a good scolding. [7
90,000 Will the neck withstand a bullet hitting a helmet? – WARHEAD.SU
What happens if a bullet hits the helmet? Will she break the soldier’s neck? WARHEAD.SU answers a popular question on the Web.
Entertaining physics
In the cinema, a typical bullet in a helmet arrives very simply: BZDYN! – and a new dent appears on the helmet, and the bullets are gone.
Is this true? Yes, that’s right. And why?
The hit jerks the target. But how much does it shudder upon impact?
The mass of a typical bullet is 0.01 kilograms; at a speed of even 900 m / s, it gives a very small impulse.
The momentum of the bullet and the weapon is the same, but the weapon has more mass and contact area with the body, so it does not kill the shooter himself with recoil. The rifle butt will not leave a noticeable bruise on the shoulder with a single shot. But if you reduce the contact area and villainously insert a nail into the stock with the point towards the shooter, all the recoil force will fall on the point – and a hefty hole will appear in the shoulder.
This is how the bullet works: seemingly very little energy in a very small area – which wins significantly in destructive power.
Concentration of efforts
On the “head” of the bullet at the moment of impact, most of the energy of the shot is collected. Likewise, a relatively thin needle pierces good thick jeans, which the seamstress is completely useless to tear with his bare hands.
Only a very high hit point strength will protect. Helmet.
Already the First World War has clearly shown that it is worth sticking your head out into the embrasure or above the parapet – and hot lead greetings immediately arrive there.
Helmets for those who nevertheless regularly had to do this, were rapidly overgrown with additional head armor plates of the most chthonic type. Because of them, a popular myth appeared: “the helmet is intact, and the neck is folded.”
Testing physics with lyrics
Those who like to rely in such disputes on formulas from a school textbook regularly forget that these formulas are completely useless outside the ideal physical conditions of school problems.
The total mass of a good helmet and a typical fighter’s head is more than ten kg.Especially if there is also a NVD (night vision device) dangling on the forehead. If we substitute this mass into the school impulse formula (mv = m1v1), we get a head displacement for one bullet by an insane one meter with a tail per second.
It turns out that an overload is less on the neck of a fighter in a helmet than on the driver’s neck when a good car starts abruptly from a standstill.
Suddenly? Expected!
While the bullet crumples and shatters into pieces, and a dent grows in the steel of the helmet, time passes. Yes, relatively small – a split second.But the bullet consumes energy, which means it loses speed a lot. The lower the speed – the worse the impulse, everything is very simple.
In addition, it is “washed out” by the helmet’s internal shock absorber. Together, this is all it takes.
So the modern assessment is absolutely ruthless to the bullet.
The chance of accurately hitting the helmet with the risk of injuring the fighter’s neck is one in ten million shots.
In this case, several conditions must come together at once: the uncomfortable posture of the fighter, and the poor shock absorption of the helmet, and the neglect of the exact fit of the mounts, and a huge number of other extraordinary coincidences.
If the armor is not broken, the fighter with a fair degree of probability is not even really shell-shocked.
The opinion of the editorial board does not always coincide with the opinion of the author.
The story about not getting up twice: berezin – LiveJournal
SNAKE LANGUAGE
They were afraid of Carlson. They were afraid of all the newcomers from the North, but especially of him.
One merchant said that he met his compatriot Carlson across the sea. A cunning merchant, whose income was more determined by the Varangian blades than by the cunning of the barter, said that a long time ago the king’s son was given to the Northern Magi for training.
Those sent to study were put on a horned helmet on their heads – and the helmet itself determined who was a warrior, who was a lawyer, and who was engaged in witchcraft. The helmet on the boy’s head hissed like water in an iron frying pan in a saltworks. And the boy learned the serpentine language and mastered the art of flying with owls.
But it remained a fairy tale, the chatter of a foreign merchant.
When his brother was killed in the south, he came to reign in his place.
The concubines, whom he took reluctantly, chatted that the tongue of the young prince was forked at the end.
He gave a woman inexplicable pleasure, but then she wasted and died in a matter of days.
The prince was feared, and feared more than other Varangians.
They were afraid of their own more than strangers, because their own knew his habits better. Only one servant was little afraid of the prince – because in childhood he was bitten by a snake. His father cut off the poisonous meat, leaving him forever lame. And the lame slave does not live well, and he is not afraid of death at all.
One day the Khazars came from the steppe.
They thickened from the summer haze on the horizon like ghosts.
Aliens burned fields and stole livestock.
Among the howling and crying of his subjects, one prince remained calm, he slowly gathered a squad and went on a campaign.
On the way, the sentinels caught a young Khazar. He was driving home from the Byzantine scribes with a precious burden, a manuscript of a dictionary, painted by the Byzantines, and decorated and bound by the Persians. The dictionary was kept in a special ark, and the prince looked at this curiosity for a long time.
– What is written there? He asked the Khazarin at last.
– Everything, – the Khazarin simply answered.
– All life?
– And all death.
– And mine?
– And yours, prince, – answered the Khazarin, opening the book. – Look, you will die from your friend.
“I have no friends,” the prince replied.
– You say it.
And then the prince, jumping off the horse and not yet touching the ground with his boots, in a turn, struck the horse’s neck with his sword.
– Now they are definitely not there, – said the prince, bringing his face to the face of the Khazar, spattered with horse blood. – Let him go, let him die in the steppe.She will sing.
After that, he mounted the Khazar’s horse, and she herself carried the rider to her house.
Many days later the detachment reached the mouth of the Volga and the Khazar capital. The prince camped nearby and, as a sign of friendship, asked all the lonely roosters from the city. The Khazars laughed, but found him a rooster – really lonely, but the only one. Because in every household, the rooster lives with the chickens. The prince tied a burning tinder to a rooster and threw it into the reeds, and in a moment the city was in a ring of fire. The fire rose higher and higher and suddenly, with a wave of the prince’s hand, closed over the city.None of the Khazars came out from under the fiery dome, and only the shadows from the houses blackened on the ground for several months.
Only one of the kagan’s subjects survived – and that was because he did not have time to return home with his dictionary.
Now he was sitting in the midst of the burning, thoughtfully sorting through the sheets, into which the wind had pushed soot bookmarks.
Three days later, the young Khazarin folded the manuscript into the reliquary and, hanging the sack on his shoulder, disappeared into the steppe.
And the prince turned home, not at all worried about the fate of the disappeared city.
Years passed, and the prince still terrified his subjects. He was dry and old, but he was just as strong in the saddle.
It was rumored that on the full moon he flies over his tower and howls like a wolf.
The prince really howled – longing filled him, and there was no friend with whom he could remember the past.
So he got into the habit of talking to the snakes that crawled out on the warm stones in the spring.
“Well, you snake,” he said, “hello. We met again, I didn’t expect any news from anyone, and even more so from you, snake … But still, tell me, how is it there, in your native land, among the roots of roses and between the bones of sheep and humans?
Few of the servants could withstand this spectacle, and anyone would be afraid to approach the prince when his throat hissed and screeched, and a snake’s tongue tossed in his mouth.
The snakes listened attentively to him and at the same time turned their heads to the prince.
Once he went hunting with his squad.
The horses stood in front of the white bones that lay among the tall grass.
The prince ordered his servants to drive away, but his lame servant did not manage to get out in time and heard the prince say to someone:
– Do you have good poison? Can’t you make me suffer for a long time?
The servant could not move with fear.
Carlson stood right at the horse’s skull, and like a yellow lightning flashed at his feet.He remained motionless for a moment, and then fell like a tree. He fell slowly and silently, because the swaying grass and the wind drown out all sounds here.
The steppe will sing.
And in order not to get up twice – the author appreciates when he is pointed out to errors and typos.
Sorry if you offended anyone
Doubtful creatures of nature: the most disgusting and dangerous flowers
Flowers, usually considered one of the most beautiful phenomena in the world, also have a dark side.Not all of them are sweet and innocent, as it seems, because there are both predatory and poisonous blooms.
Introducing the 10 strangest plants and flowers in the world. Before stopping and sniffing them, be aware: even buds that do not contain neurotoxins can emit such a pungent odor that can even knock a person off their feet.
Fragrant oleander – sweet smelling killer
The exquisite scented oleander with deep red, purple or creamy white flowers is one of the most toxic plants in the world.Every part of the plant, from the stem to its sap, is highly toxic if ingested. Even inhaling the smoke of a burning oleander can put your health at risk.
There were cases of inadvertent poisoning of tourists by the smoke of burning oleander branches, on which hot dogs and marshmallows were prepared. In addition, it is believed that some of Napoleon’s soldiers died in Spain due to the use of oleander branches for toasting meat. The flowers of this plant are so dangerous that even honey, which contains nectar from oleander flowers, is poisonous.
Toxins of colors cause disturbances in the heart rhythm, which at first increases and then slows down to a level below normal, until the heart stops beating altogether.
Aconite – devil’s helmet
Aconite flowers, like oleander, are a beautiful but deadly garden plant. Its blue-violet petals curled downward resemble a helmet. There are more than 250 types of aconite in the world, and all of them belong to the buttercup family. Just a few drops of plant root juice can cause paralysis of the heart muscle and the entire respiratory system, resulting in death.
During the Middle Ages, witches used aconite for elixirs of flight due to the feeling of dizziness and numbness that resulted from irregular heartbeats. Aconite was also used in love elixirs, but due to the fact that these poisonous tinctures often killed a lover or mistress, the plant was also called the “grieving widow.”
Castor bean – the most poisonous plant in the world
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the most poisonous plant in the world is the common castor oil plant, also known for the fact that its juice can heal wounds.However, the plant can kill, because just one milligram of its poison can lead to the death of an adult, according to the US Centers for Disease Control.
For centuries, the Chinese have used castor oil as a medicine and in wound care. In Brazil, biodiesel is made from this plant. Castor oil is present in chocolate as a substitute for cocoa butter, as well as in soaps, laxatives, inks, and plastics.
However, the seeds of a flowering plant contain ricin, an unusually poisonous toxin.Ricin is also present in smaller amounts in the plant’s glossy leaves, which are most often dark green or burgundy. Castor bean flowers resemble thorny, bright pink balls and are extremely dangerous for young children.
Common Dracunculus – Dracula flower
Mediterranean plant dracunculus vulgaris emits a disgusting smell of rotting meat during flowering. Thus, it attracts flies, which help pollinate the flowers.Fortunately, the smell usually lasts no more than one day.
The plant was named after its unique appearance – a black thorn, which is an inflorescence called a cob, framed by purple petals, which resembles Dracula’s cloak. The inflorescence can grow up to one and a half meters tall.
The ominous bloom, like the spawn of darkness that gave it its name, hates direct sunlight and blooms only in the shade. All parts of the plant are poisonous when ingested, and touching it can lead to skin irritation or an allergic reaction.
Prayer abrus – pod of deadly love
Most likely, the prayer abrus comes from Southeast Asia. This plant resembles pea pods about 2.5 cm long, filled with bright red seeds with black tips that are unusually poisonous. The toxin is called abrin and is similar to ricin, but not as potent. Despite its toxicity, abrus has long been a symbol of love in China, where it was called a pod of mutual love.
In the 16th century, Danish traders brought abrus seeds to Europe and America to be sold as beans. In Holland, necklaces were made from poisonous seeds in combination with pearls.
Making jewelry with abrus seeds is very dangerous, there have been cases when people died from a needle prick, pricking the seeds. Despite the danger, these peas are still used for ornamental purposes in many tropical and subtropical countries of the world, where the plant lives. You can even buy them on eBay.
Round-leaved sundew – sinister flycatcher
The Venus Flytrap is known for feeding on unsuspecting insects. Many botanists believe that it evolved from another dangerous plant – the round-leaved sundew.
Dewdrop is a small, critically endangered plant that catches and digests prey, which consists mainly of flies and worms. The plant lives in the swamps of North America, and its name comes from the Greek word for dewdrops.
The plant’s round green leaves are framed by sharp purple hairs, each with a tiny droplet of plant mucus, a thick, sweet, sticky substance produced by the plant to attract prey. As soon as the insect settles on the mucus, it sticks, after which the flycatcher leaves wrap around the insect, like the tentacles of an octopus.
Rafflesia Arnold – giant panda of the plant world
The gigantic, frilly orange-red, dotted flowers look like they came out of Sesame Street, but in reality they are the largest single flowers in the world.The distance from petal to petal can be up to a meter, and the weight of a plant can be up to 6.8 kg. Rafflesia grows only in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia and is threatened with extinction due to overuse of land.
Arnold’s Rafflesia is a parasite, it has no stem or leaves and lives entirely on its host, usually the roots of a large tree. Instead of its roots, the flower has long filaments that plunge into the plant on which rafflesia is parasitic.After a month of such nutrition, it blooms for only five days.
When rafflesia has faded, it begins to smell like rotting flesh to attract the flies needed for pollination. Despite its parasitic lifestyle and unpleasant smell, the cartoonish appearance of Rafflesia has given it a wonderful nickname: the giant panda of the plant world.
Australian Orchid – Insidious Flower
Like Arnold’s rafflesia and common dracunculus, the Australian orchid smells like rotting meat, but not to attract flies; this is how this cunning plant attracts wasps.The thin stem of this endangered flower is crowned with a purple bulbous lip that resembles a wasp of the Thynnine species.
The flower can only be pollinated by these wasps, and therefore the plant deliberately attracts these insects by its appearance. Female wasps cannot fly and have to wait at the top of the plant stem until the males pick them up.
The lip of this plant is very similar in color and structure to the abdomen of a female wasp. The plant even produces pheromones that are very similar to those that these insects secrete.When a deceived male wasp tries to grab a lip, it actually contacts the pollen of the flower and flies away. For successful pollination, the same male must be deceived by another plant.
Nepentes truncated – carnivorous insectivorous plant
Another predatory plant, the truncated nepentes, not only eats beetles, but even completely digests rodents. When a curious mouse climbs onto the top of its slippery leaves, it loses its balance and falls inside the long body of a predatory plant, from which it is very difficult to get out due to the slippery inner walls.
Once inside, the animal dissolves in the digestive sap of the plant, reaching a height of 40 cm. It can be of different colors from burgundy to white, and the curved petals in the shape of hearts are located around the “mouth” in a pattern resembling a lollipop.
Nepentes truncated grows only on the Philippine island of Mindanao and is an extremely rare plant.
Amorphophallus titanic – corpse flower
It is good that the titanic amorphophallus, also known as the cadaverous flower, only blooms a few days a year, as it gives off the stench of rotting flesh when the bloom is complete.The plant opens at night and the scent of the flower attracts insects, which pollinate the central inflorescence. Flowering ends three days later.
This flower is one of the largest in the world, in the wild it can grow up to 6 m high and 4.5 m in diameter. While the cadaverous flower can be found in many botanical gardens, it only grows naturally in the tropical forests of Sumatra, Indonesia.
The cadaveric bloom is actually made up of thousands of very small flowers that grow in size as they bloom and give off a terrible stench from the sulfur-based constituents.