Vladimir Sharpatov

Vladimir Ilyich Sharpatov (Влади́мир Ильи́ч Шарпа́тов, born March 21, 1940, Krasnogorkiy village of Zvenigovsky District, Mari El) — airplane pilot, Hero of the Russian Federation (1996). An Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane under his command made a forced landing at the airfield near Kandahar, Afghanistan. On August 1996 crew successfully escaped from captivity on that plane. This episode was filmed in 2010, Alexander Baluyev played his role.

Biography
Studied in Kazan Aviation Institute on evening classes. Attended local flying club, where he became a glider pilot. After he completed the third year of studies at KAI, he entered the Krasny Kut civil aviation flight school.