Aircraft Il-78 Demonstrates Aerial Refueling Flying over Red Square

Russian Air Force the Ilyushin Il-78M (NATO reporting name "Midas") aerial refueling tanker demonstrates in-flight refueling of Tu-95MS strategic bomber (NATO reporting name "Bear") during general rehearsal for Victory Day military parade on May 9th.

The first flight of Il-78 took place on June 26, 1983 and the aircraft entered into service in 1984. The aerial refueling tanker can refuel a maximum of four planes simultaneously on the ground. It can also be used as a military transport aircraft for airdrop and air landing of cargo and crew.

Photo #586 taken on May 07, 2015 in two days before upcoming the 70th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.