Two Russian air force jets rehearsing aerobatic maneuvers have collided near Moscow, killing one stunt pilot.

The collision also sent one fighter jet crashing into nearby vacation homes. The SU-27 jets were part of the elite Russian Knights flying group preparing to perform at the MAKS-2009 air show, which opens on Tuesday.

An air force spokesman says all three pilots involved in the accident ejected from the planes adding that two survived but the third was killed. Local media says one woman was seriously wounded and up to four other people on the ground may have also been hurt.

Also on Sunday, a Yak-52 single-propeller aircraft crashed southwest of Moscow, killing two people. The plane was on a training operation.