Piloted by one of Russia's top certified test pilots, you will have a breathtaking take-off with afterburners blazing, and travel at more than twice the speed of sound. From the cockpit you will be able to observe the Earth from a tremendous altitude, up to 25 km, and look directly into the depths of space. Confirm for yourself that the Earth really is a sphere, and touch the stars for an instant! You will be astonished to see the distinct boundary between the sky and space, the curvature of the Earth with a layer of white around it, then a blue band on the horizon and the sky becoming gradually darker. Feel the adrenaline rush as you reach the Edge of Space at supersonic speeds!

Flights by Russian MiG-31 or MiG-29 military jets up into the stratosphere according to the Edge of Space program to an altitude of 65,000 feet (21-22 km) are officially organized and have been carried out by our Sokol aviation air base for a long time for both Russians and foreigners alike. This branch of V.I.P. recreation is very popular and well known among our foreign partners and customers who have flown to the border of outer space on the Edge of Space program in a MiG 25 jet at the Flight Research Institute named after M.M. Gromov in Zhukovsky, but now, all flights in MiG 31s are performed here... at the Sokol air base in Nizhny Novgorod.

The MiG-25 flights were discontinued due to the obsolescence and removal of the Foxbat aircraft from service. Jet flights from the Zhukovsky airbase were also stopped three years ago!! That is why you can only fly a jet from one place in Russia - at Sokol airbase close to Nizhny Novgorod. In the past, the possibility of looking at the Earth from the stratosphere to see the same views as cosmonauts or astronauts could were only military pilots’ prerogatives; nowadays, any ‘man-of-means’ may see the Earth from the edge of space. We guarantee that having seen black space, bright Sun and a revolving Earth, you will not remain indifferent or disappointed, and the flight itself will become an experience of a life-time.

Despite the fact that the MiG-31 Foxhound or MiG-29 Fulcrum flights to the stratosphere as part of the Edge of Space program is fairly expensive, our customers have many reasons to partake of the flight in the fighter jets at Sokol airbase – the desire to challenge yourself, gain first-hand experience and marvellous impressions (recorded to a video camera) thus distinguishing yourself from people around you.

The unique combat fighter-interceptor MiG 31 (a more modern version of MiG 25 fighter) gives you an opportunity to fly it to the border of space, and as the practice of these flights arrangement shows you will not experience G-load and will be overwhelmed by the variety of impressions and pleasure. Flights to the stratosphere in Russian fighter-interceptors MiG-25, MiG-31 and MiG-29 have been legally performed for over 10 years.

It does not take much time for a tourist to prepare for and enjoy the flight to the stratosphere by MiG 29 or MiG 31 – all necessary pre-flight preparations and the flight itself require about 3 hours at our Sokol air base.

The preparation for the flight to Edge of Space flight program itself lasts for half an hour. Tourists may discuss the flight’s program with the pilot, talk to the doctor about the state of their health, change into a high altitude suit and don special equipment (oxygen mask, helmet, etc.). Customers will be instructed on the MiG-31 or MiG-29 fighter jet, and they will to inspect the main components and parts of the plane. Then they will be led to the cockpit for the second pilot, familiarized with the main control instruments and briefed upon how to act in an emergency.

The flight itself to stratosphere lasts for about 40-45 minutes from the moment of taking off till landing. During the flight you will fly to the altitude of 21-22 km and you will take run to the hypersonic speed of 2400-2500 km per hour. During descending some figures of high aerobatic will be demonstrated. The package is quite flexible and can be re-designed by the pilot depending on your experience of the flight. You will have constant intercom connection with you pilot. Please do not think that these flights are only for physically strong young men. We have substantial experience of organizing such flights for 65-year old men, as well as for women of all ages, all who have coped well with all the different G-loads and loved the experiences.

Upon landing successfully, you will be given personalized Certificate commemorating the flight and your participation, along with a photo-session with the pilot. If you have a flight book it will be recorded describing the flight in a MiG-29 military fighter jet.