Legendary Soviet female pilot passes away

Marina Popovich, the legendary Soviet female test pilot nicknamed "MiG lady", has died at the age of 86.

Marina Popovich, nicknamed "MiG Lady". Photo: RT.

Ms Popovich died yesterday in the Mostovsky district of the Krasnodar region and her body was flown to the capital Moscow by a military plane, according to Tass.

During her career, test pilot first class Popovich tested more than 40 types of aircraft and helicopters. She was the first female pilot in the world to break the sound barrier in a MiG-21 fighter jet at a speed of 2,320 km/h. She set 102 world records, including 10 records in the Antonov An-22.

Mrs. Popovich is a Soviet sports grandmaster, doctor of technical sciences, professor, member of the Russian Writers' Union. She has been awarded many orders and medals for her achievements.

She retired in 1984, after flying nearly 6,000 hours. After retirement, Popovich focused on her lifelong passion: searching for evidence of extraterrestrial life. She claims to have seen UFOs three times, the first in 1962, and has collected eyewitness accounts from around the world. Popovich also claims to have encountered “bigfoot” on a trip to the Pamir Mountains in 1982.

According to VNE