Sukovatsyn Leonty Nikolaevich, recipient of the FAI Air Sports Medal, dies.

Yesterday we learnt the sad news of the death of the Russian, Sukovatsyn Leonty Nikolaevich.  Below are the notes of condolence sent to the Russian Federation by our current President and previous President, both of whom had the pleasure of knowing Leonty and express their sorrow on behalf of the skydiving community.

Dear Bernadeta, dear friends in the Parachuting Community in Russia,

please receive my heartfelt condolences and send it to the family of Leonty, to members of the Board of the Parachuting Federation of Russia and to his many friends, who mourn over the unexpected loss of a friend for many, many years, always calm, always friendly, always open minded and giving me the feeling of being like a brother. On behalf of the International Parachuting Commission please let me extend my condolences to include all the members of the IPC Bureau, all members in the Parachuting Community, who will keep Leonty where he had been for long, in our hearts and in our minds, forever.

EXI

IPC President

Dear Bernadetta,

Firstly, please excuse this email - I would much prefer to send a more formal letter, but am unable to in a timely manner.

I am both surprised and deeply saddened to hear this news about Leonty, a man I have known and respected for a very long time. I found Leonty to be a man of distinction and of excellent character who served his country well in the field of parachuting, particularly in the international arena. This service has been well recognised with the FAI Air Sport Medal. Your letter outlined a very impressive set of achievements by this very likeable and diligent man.

I recall fondly our time together at the World Air Games in Dubai last December and later at the Plenary Meeting of the International Parachute Commission at Frankfurt in February. He appeared to be in fine condition on those occasions, hence my surprise.

I would be most grateful if you could pass on my personal condolences to Leonty's family, friends and colleagues.

Thank you also for the pictures of Leonty, which I shall add to my library.

With best regards,

Graeme Windsor

President of Honour

FAI International Parachute Commission

The Russian Federation have issued the following summary of the extraordinary life of service to our sport by Sukovatsyn Leonty Nikolaevich.

July 2, 2016 died our faithful friend and comrade, Vice-President of the Federation of parachuting sports of Russia Sukovatsyn Leonty Nikolaevich.

Skydivers express deep condolences to the families and friends of Leonty Nikolayevich . He remains forever in our hearts a true friend and a wise counselor, always ready to help

in any situation.

Sukovatsyn L. N. born May 28, 1938 in the Kemerovo region.

Finished flying club DOSAAF at the rate of pilots on Yak-18, he entered the Chernigov Aviation School. He served in the Air Force. At the same time engaged in parachuting. Since 1955, he performed 5579 jumps with various aircraft day and night,

of them - 363 test, 2 jump to the North Pole, 5 demonstration ejection jumps from the aircraft MiG-15 UTI.

Master of Sports of the USSR (1971), International Judge.

Since 1971, he held staff positions at Airborne School service, associations, the central inspection for the safety of the Ministry of Defense.

Over 37 years of parachute sports work has prepared more than 10 thousand qualified professionals, athletes parachutists and instructors of different categories.

1985 - 1989 years. - Senior inspector of the means of salvation MO Safety Service of the USSR. Military rank - Colonel.

From 1990 he worked in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and in 1994 - headed the department of parachute training and sports in the CA growth (DOSAAF).

1995 - 2005 years - President of the Federation of parachuting Russia.

More than 20 years of continuously elected a delegate to the International Conference parachute Commission FAI, was a member of the subcommittee on the classic FAI Parachuting, was a member and chairman of the jury committee FAI parachute at the world championships, he took an active part in drawing up the rules of competition, contributed to the development and implementation of international parachute certificates.

Since 1997, he introduced parachutists certification system in the Russian Federation.

Actively participated in organizing and holding the world championships, international and national competitions in all kinds of parachuting, and attempts to establish global, national, continental and Russian records in the territory of the Russian Federation, the opening of the faculty for preparing parachute profile in the Russian Academy of Sports in Moscow.

2005 - 2010 years. - Executive Secretary of the Federal Border Service of Russia.

Since 2010 to present - Vice-President of the Federation of parachuting of Russia.

2011 – Sukovatsyn Leonty was awarded the FAI Air Sport Medal.

Sukovatsyn Leonty Nikolaevich and Aliya Ananina - IPC Plenary Frankfurt 2016