Leave the Legendary Klementyeva Mount to the pilots!

Dear friends!

The birth place of Soviet and Ukrainian aviation, one of the largest centers of free flight and one of the main sightseeing places of Crimea, Klementyeva (Uzun-Syrt) mountain is in serious threat.
The local authorities (Kirovsky District of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea) are about to hand about a half of the Uzun-Syrt mountain and nearby territories to private owners for constructing and further resale. If the plans come true, the unique natural and historical landscape is going to be lost, and the place, holy to many people related to aviation, is going to disappear.
An initiative group was organized by Ukrainian and Russian pilots in order to draw public attention to the problem and to request the Ukrainian authorities to stop the seizure of the unique historical, cultural and aerial site.
We are receiving support from different parts of the world from people of varios backgrounds and occupations. Among them - many prominent pilots, aircraft designers.
A petition has been written in order to highlight the role of Uzun-Surt in the development of aviation, the names of the greatest pilots and aircraft designers who worked at different flying schools and research centers based at Uzun-Surt since 1920s, the significance of the mountain these days as an international center of non-powered flights, and the most suitable place in Ukraine for international paragliding and hang-gliding competitions, as well as contribution into the growth of the tourism industry in Crimea. It’s further claimed in the address that the Crimean’s agricultural and building sector can successfully progress without breaking the ecology balance, without ruining the historical heritage, and without harming aviation, sport and tourism. The group asks the authorities to stop the takeover of Uzun-Syrt and to assign to it a special status preventing such cases in the future to save Uzun-Syrt for future generations.
An appeal to the Ukranian leaders (only in Russian yet, sorry) may be signed here.
Passing the word further will be more than welcome!

Russian TV reports on Mount Klementyeva problem. Subtitled version is a courtesy of Jane Moroz