Russian President Vladimir Putin (center background) talks with members of the ornithological station "Kushevat" in Yamal. Vladimir Putin took part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process and two others with the birds. Right: presidential aide Yury Trutnev. 5 September 2012.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (third from right) talks with members of the ornithological station "Kushevat" in Yamal. Vladimir Putin took part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229586

Siberian Cranes at the ornithological station "Kushevat" in Yamal. In the background: a motorized hang glider, at the helm of which Russian President Vladimir Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process and the other two with the birds as part of the "Flight of Hope" project, which aims to show the nursery-reared birds their flying route.

05.09.2012#1229585

Siberian Cranes at the ornithological station "Kushevat" in Yamal. In the background: a motorized hang glider, at the helm of which Russian President Vladimir Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process and the other two with the birds as part of the "Flight of Hope" project, which aims to show the nursery-reared birds their flying route.

05.09.2012#1229584

Russian President Vladimir Putin (center, foreground) with members of the ornithological station "Kushevat" in Yamal. Vladimir Putin took part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229582

Russian President Vladimir Putin (center) talks with members of the ornithological station "Kushevat" in Yamal. Vladimir Putin took part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process and two others with the birds. Right: presidential aide Yury Trutnev. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229581

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of - cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229573

In the sky: a motorized hang glider with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the controls. The head of state is involved in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of the aircraft which the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229572

In the sky: a motorized hang glider with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the controls. The head of state is involved in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of the aircraft which the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229571

In the sky: a motorized hang glider with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the controls. The head of state is involved in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of the aircraft which the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229569

In the sky: a motorized hang glider with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the controls. The head of state is involved in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of the aircraft which the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229568

Russian President Vladimir Putin (foreground) takes part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229562

Russian President Vladimir Putin (foreground) takes part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229561

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) takes part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229560

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229559

In the sky: a motorized hang glider with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the controls. The head of state is involved in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of - cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of the aircraft which the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229543

In the sky: a motorized hang glider with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the controls. The head of state is involved in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of - cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of the aircraft which the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229542

In the sky: a motorized hang glider with President Vladimir Putin at the controls. The head of state is involved in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of - cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of the aircraft which the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229541

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of - cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process, and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229539

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of - cranes. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process, and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229524

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) takes part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of - cranes. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process, and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229523

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) takes part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of - cranes. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process, and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229522

Siberian Cranes at the ornithological station "Kushevat" in Yamal. In the background: a motorized hang glider, at the helm of which Russian President Vladimir Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar with the process and the other two with the birds as part of the "Flight of Hope" project, which aims to show the nursery-reared birds their flying route.

05.09.2012#1229521

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) takes part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229520

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a scientific experiment as part of the "Flight of Hope", which aims to preserve a rare species of cranes, by showing the nursery-reared birds their flying route. At the helm of a motorized hang glider that the birds have taken as their leader, Putin made three flights - the first to get familiar and two others with the birds. 5 September 2012.

05.09.2012#1229519