Uploaded January 2010 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
After winning the 2007 World Aerobatic Championship in the female category for the 6th consecutive time, Svetlana Kapanina keeps on demonstrating she is the best female aerobatic pilot of all times.
She has won a total of 38 gold medals in World Aerobatic Championships. The FAI (International Air Sports Federation), added to that impressive collection, by presenting her with the FAI medal for Best Pilot of the Century.
In 1987 Svetlana graduated from medical school, speciality - pharmacist. The following year she started flying in Kurgan, by 1991 she was a member of the Russian Aerobatic Joint Crew and by 1995 she had graduated from Kaluga Pilots School. Although she believed she would never devote her life to flying, what started out as a hobby has turned into serious work as a professional aerobatic pilot.
It didnt take her very long to join the world's elite aerobatic pilots. Perhaps her training as a gymnast and many hours on the trampoline has contributed to her success, without requiring so many flight hours.
In 1991, she was Absolute Champion of Russia and in 1993 she won silver at the European Aerobatic Championships, her first international aerobatic contest. She was awarded the medal For Service to the Motherland in 1995 and Award of Honor in 2002.
Even with her busy schedule she still had time to start her family, giving birth to a son in 2002 and a daughter in 2004. She trains within the Russian National Team structure and attends the 24 hour daily residence training camp at Borki Airport, not far from Moscow.
Nationality: Russian
Date of birth: 28 Dec 1968
Place of birth: Schuchinsk, Republic of Kazakhstan
Resident: Moscow, Russia
Marital Status: Married, 2 children
Interests: Spending a great time with family & friends
Aircraft:
Sukhoi 26
After winning the 2007 World Aerobatic Championship in the female category for the 6th consecutive time, Svetlana Kapanina keeps on demonstrating she is the best female aerobatic pilot of all times.
She has won a total of 38 gold medals in World Aerobatic Championships. The FAI (International Air Sports Federation), added to that impressive collection, by presenting her with the FAI medal for Best Pilot of the Century.
In 1987 Svetlana graduated from medical school, speciality - pharmacist. The following year she started flying in Kurgan, by 1991 she was a member of the Russian Aerobatic Joint Crew and by 1995 she had graduated from Kaluga Pilots School. Although she believed she would never devote her life to flying, what started out as a hobby has turned into serious work as a professional aerobatic pilot.
It didnt take her very long to join the world's elite aerobatic pilots. Perhaps her training as a gymnast and many hours on the trampoline has contributed to her success, without requiring so many flight hours.
In 1991, she was Absolute Champion of Russia and in 1993 she won silver at the European Aerobatic Championships, her first international aerobatic contest. She was awarded the medal For Service to the Motherland in 1995 and Award of Honor in 2002.
Even with her busy schedule she still had time to start her family, giving birth to a son in 2002 and a daughter in 2004. She trains within the Russian National Team structure and attends the 24 hour daily residence training camp at Borki Airport, not far from Moscow.
Nationality: Russian
Date of birth: 28 Dec 1968
Place of birth: Schuchinsk, Republic of Kazakhstan
Resident: Moscow, Russia
Marital Status: Married, 2 children
Interests: Spending a great time with family & friends
Aircraft:
Sukhoi 26
