At 12:59 26 April 2015, Chris Rollings wrote :-

They'll probably send you to the Gulag just for asking.


I realise that was 'tongue in check' humour, Chris, however, in the last
decade have found myself with a large Russian addition to to the family and
also Uk based and Moscow friends, and have found them wonderful people. A
lovely Dual Nat grandaughter, Babooshka (grandmother) visits UK and the
(late) other grandfather very high in the Russian military. We are
delighted with the outcome.

Don't forget that prior to going solo in Russia the student has to aerotow
a Blanik, edge out a couple of metres on a wing (from the rear seat) roll
forward and complete a paracute jump. A man of your calibre would no doubt
take this in his stride, but I would have serious reservations, espesially
as I consider this a totally pointless exercise (In difficult situations I
usually just jump, pull the string, and accept a broken ankle upon landing)
. No UK pilot has ever been lost jumping from a stricken glider (which is
more than can be said of many who stayed aboard struggling with the
contols) . . therefore, the official BGA statistically based advice is . .
"If in doubt, jump" (you know it makes sense, lol).

..