Imperial Russian Air Service
| Imperial Russian Air Service | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1912 to 1917 |
| Country |
 Russian Empire
|
| Allegiance | Tsar Nicholas II |
| Role | Air Force |
| Part of | Engineer Corps (to 1912) Stavka (from 1915) |
| Engagements | World War I |
| Disbanded | 1917 |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel (one of several geometric variations) |
 |
| Fin flash |  |
The Imperial Russian Air Service (Императорскiй военно-воздушный флотъ, literally Emperor's Military Air Fleet) was an air force founded in 1912 for Imperial Russia. The Air Service operated for 5 years. It only saw combat in World War I before being reorganized and renamed in 1917 following the creation of Soviet Russia. It formed what would later become the Soviet Air Forces.
The origins of Russian aviation go back to theoretical projects of the 1880s by pioneer Russian scientists such as Nikolai Kibalchich and Alexander Mozhaysky. During the 1890s aviation innovation was further advanced by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.
In 1902-1903 during military maneuvers in the Kiev Military District, the Imperial Russian Army used several aerostats for reconnaissance and coordination of artillery fire. The Aeronautical company (Отдельная воздухоплавательная рота) was under the command of Colonel A.M. Kovanko.
In 1904 Nikolai Zhukovsky established the world's first Aerodynamic Institute (Аэродинамический институт) in Kuchino near Moscow.
One aeronautical battalion (учебный Восточно-Сибирский воздухоплавательный батальон) with 4 aerostats took part in the Russo-Japanese War.
In 1908, the Russian Aeroclub (Всероссийский Аэроклуб) was established.
In 1910, the Imperial Russian Army sent several officers to France for training as pilots. Later in the same year the Imperial Russian Army purchased a number of French and British aeroplanes and began training its first military pilots.
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Wikipedia