50-year-old Kulesh, who achieved the amazing maneuver in his Dragonfly aircraft in August 2014, released a brief statement Monday confirming that Guinness had recognized his record-setting stunt, accompanied by a screenshot of his letter from the company confirming the record.
"Dear Leonid Kulesh, We are thrilled to inform you that your application for Most flat spins in an aircraft has been successful and you are now the Guinness World Records Title Holder!" the email reads.
Kulesh's stunt was captured on video, and shows his plane ascending to 1,300 meters before beginning its vertical corkscrew descent, which lasts for literally several minutes. Upon landing, the pilot is seen smiling as he walks, apparently unfazed from all the spinning, from his aircraft.
A local celebrity of sorts, Kulesh and his father are the creators of Chita's Coat of Arms. The man is also known for his work to create a monument to Kievan Rus' leader Alexander Nevsky. The monument is installed on the square overlooking Chita's railway station in the center of the city.
