L-410 Aircraft Monument in Shepsi

The L-410 aircraft monument is a retired L-410 UVP passenger plane standing at the entrance to the village of Shepsi in the Tuapse district of Krasnodar Krai. It sits by the A-147 Dzhubga–Sochi highway, next to the turn to the Smena sanatorium, and is easy to spot from the road, which has made it one of the recognisable landmarks of the coast between Tuapse and Lazarevskoye.

The L-410 Turbolet

The L-410 Turbolet is a light twin-engine utility aircraft designed by the Czechoslovak company Let Kunovice for local air routes. It can take off from and land on unprepared dirt, grass and snow strips as well as short runways. Series production began in 1969 and more than 1,100 aircraft of various versions were built; most of them went to the USSR and served Aeroflot's local routes. The UVP version has a longer fuselage and improved take-off and landing performance.

History of this aircraft

The Shepsi plane was built in 1980 with the serial number 800405. It flew with Aeroflot's North Caucasus civil aviation directorate under the registration USSR-67139 and was retired in 1997. The registration on the monument has been painted over, so the aircraft's history was traced through its serial number.

According to local accounts, the plane was a gift from the singer Joseph Kobzon, and it has stood by the Smena sanatorium ever since. There was reportedly a plan to turn it into a children's café, but it never materialised.

What to see

The plane rests on a small concrete pad with its tail facing the sanatorium's main gate. Access is free: children often play around it, travellers stop for photos, and the curious climb inside. Visitors say it is far from pristine, as the skin and cabin have suffered from weather and wear, so look around with care.

If you are wondering what else to see around Shepsi, the Shepsi river valley nearby has cascades of waterfalls, caves and old oak trees.

Getting there

The plane stands right by the A-147 Dzhubga–Sochi highway at the entrance to Shepsi, at the turn to the Smena sanatorium. There is free parking next to it, so it is an easy stop on a drive along the coast. Shepsi can also be reached by public transport from Tuapse or Sochi.