Are Russions more daring in flying?

Question

Are Russions more daring in flying?

Answer 1

They dared to shoot down a Korean 747. Any more?

Answer 2

In a sense, yes.

The russian military training program has more low level flying than the north american or europeans do.

In that sense yes they are.

Answer 3

That's a very broad question and I can't tell what era or aspect of daring you are asking about.

During the Korean War when they flew North Korean against our Aircraft with superior weapons systems they had to be very daring.

When there Aircraft had poor ejection systems and they had no plane to plane communication other than through the ground controllers they had to be very daring.

They now have fine Aircraft with the best 'Egress' system in the world so they don't have to be as daring as our pilots.

Answer 4

I suppose so, but they are also more unsafe.  You don't get anywhere in aviation by taking stupid risks routinely and the Russians have been playing catch-up for the last century.

Take the Cobra maneuver "patented" in demonstration by the Su-27 for example.  Most, if not all western fighters are probably just as capable, but who's willing to try it and risk a national asset just to prove it can do a maneuver that is useless to fighter combat?  Not me.  So that's why I say they are more daring – because they are stupid.  We'll keep our winning combat record and the Russians can keep their losing air show record.  As a function of their culture, history has shown that the Russians simply don't care as much for their pilots or their equipment and are willing to expend both in the pursuit national pride and identity.