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Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev developed over 100 types of aircraft, 70 of which were mass-produced.

On Tupolev's aircraft, 78 world records were won, 28 unique flights were completed, including the rescue of the crew of the Chelyuskin steamship on ANT-4, non-stop flights to the USA through the North Pole by the crews of V.P. Chkalov and M.M. Gromov on ANT-25 , landing of the scientific expedition "North Pole" led by I. D. Papanin.

Andrei Nikolaevich was born on October 29 (November 10), 1888 in the village of Pustomazovo, Tver province (now Kalinin region), Korchevsky district, Suvorov volost, in the large family of Nikolai Ivanovich and Anna Vasilievna Tupolev. Anna Vasilievna, nee Lisitsyna (1850-1928), daughter of a judicial investigator, was born in Tiflis, graduated from the Tver gymnasium. She spoke French and German fluently, played the piano, taught children and ran the household herself.

Nikolai Ivanovich Tupolev (1842-2911), according to the memoirs of Andrei Nikolaevich, was from the Siberian Cossacks, from Surgut.

In the fall of 1908, he became a student at the mechanical faculty of the Moscow Technical School.

In October 1909, N. E. Zhukovsky began giving a course of lectures on aeronautics at IMTU. He also became the honorary chairman of the Aeronautical Circle, formed on the initiative of students. Andrei Tupolev appeared in the Aeronautical Circle in December 1909, when an exhibition was being prepared for the XII Congress of Naturalists and Doctors with an aeronautics subsection chaired by Nikolai Yegorovich.

Already in his second year, Tupolev developed a wind tunnel and built a biplane glider made of wood and canvas, on which he flew across the Yauza with his comrades from the circle.

The magazine "Library of Aeronautics" reported: "Particularly interesting is the model of the Antoinette airplane of the latest design (the work of engineering student Tupolev), very well made with all the smallest details."

In 1911, A.N. Tupolev was arrested for participating in gatherings and distributing leaflets. The student was soon released, but expelled from MTU for an indefinite period.

Even Zhukovsky could not help him. Andrei Nikolaevich returned to study only in 1914.

In 1915, he was invited to head the hydroplane department of the Dux aircraft manufacturing plant, and in 1917, he was invited to head the calculation department of the Air Force Management Bureau. He continues to collaborate with N.E. Zhukovsky and becomes his closest student and assistant.

Since 1918 he has been working at TsAGI under the leadership of N.E. Zhukovsky. In 1919, Andrei Nikolaevich also worked on the commission for the construction of snowmobiles as deputy chairman of prof. N. R. Brilling.

On April 5, 1921, at a meeting of TsAGI scientists, Andrei Nikolaevich was unanimously elected as a fellow director of the institute.

At the same meeting, it was decided to introduce heads of all departments to the TsAGI board.

Andrei Nikolaevich, as the head of the department, was a member of the board until 1930 - the beginning of the reorganization of TsAGI.

Since the beginning of the 20s, A. N. Tupolev has been fighting for the introduction of light metal - duralumin - into domestic aircraft construction in order to move on to the construction of all-metal aircraft in the coming years. The first thing that needed to be done was to start producing a domestic lightweight and durable aluminum alloy suitable for aircraft construction, to study its properties, to develop new design principles, to create a range of profiles used and the technology for their production, etc. A discussion of this issue at TsAGI ended with the fact that The TsAGI board, convinced by Andrei Nikolaevich’s arguments, submitted to the Scientific Committee of the Air Force Fleet (NK, UVVF) a proposal to organize the production of domestic duralumin.

After the snowmobile, TsAGI received the task of building a glider - a high-speed vessel capable of conducting reconnaissance on shallow rivers.

Since there was no such experience in shipbuilding, I had to turn to D.P. Grigorovich’s experiments on a flying boat. In mid-1921, the first GANT 1 was ready.

"Perbornets" became the first engineering structure built entirely of duralumin and intended for work at sea.

It had a displacement of 9 tons, was armed with a 450 mm torpedo and one 7.62 mm machine gun. Two 600 hp engines. With. made it possible to reach a maximum speed in calm water of up to 54 knots (JOO km/h), and with economical speed up to 30 knots (55.6 km/h).

The range was 200 miles (370 km) and 340 miles (630 km), respectively. It was equipped with a night sight and a transceiver radio station.

The crew included a helmsman, a machine gunner, a mechanic, and a spare.

Glider ANT-2, 1927. On the right is G.M. Musinyants, A.N. Tupolev, Yu.N. Flaxerman, A.A. Boykov, A.A. Arkhangelsky, N.I.Petrov

In April 1922, under the leadership of A.N. Tupolev, the design of a single-seat aircraft AHT-I began. It was a small sports cantilever monoplane with a wingspan of 7.2 m, a mixed design - like the first snowmobile, like the first glider.

In 1926, the plane successfully flew through the capitals of Europe in 4 days (Moscow – Berlin – Paris – Vienna – Prague – Moscow).

Another ANT-3 flew 20,000 kilometers from Moscow to Tokyo and back.

In the 20s, Andrei Nikolaevich reviewed and took an indispensable part in the consideration by the TsAGI board of aircraft projects proposed by other organizations.

He always put state, rather than departmental or personal interests, at the forefront, even if it concerned himself.

Two light single-engine all-metal aircraft have been created, experience has been accumulated, and Andrei Nikolaevich begins to realize his main goal - the creation of heavy aviation.

In November 1924, the Special Technical Bureau for Military Inventions (Ostekhbyuro), on the basis of these studies, gave TsAGI the task of designing a heavy twin-engine bomber.

A strict construction period has been set - nine months. He persevered despite all the difficulties.

On November 26, 1925, pilot A.I. Tomashevsky took the ANT-4 into the air for the first time. State tests of the ANT-4 continued until July 15, 1926. During the tests, pilot A.I. Tomashevsky set two world records for loaded flight duration on the ANT-4: the first flight with a payload of 2054 kg lasted 4 hours 15 minutes, and in the second - in 12 hours the plane flew 2000 km with a load of 1000 kg.

The TsAGI aviation department, under the leadership of Andrei Nikolaevich, designed and built three aircraft - ANT-1, ANT-2 and ANT-3.

An order was received for the construction of two more aircraft. TsAGI has become a recognized center for the design and production of all-metal aircraft.

The volume of Air Force assignments for new, more complex aircraft has increased. The capabilities of the MVTU laboratories no longer corresponded to the tasks facing TsAGI.

In July 1929, the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks adopted a resolution “On the State of Defense of the USSR.” It, in particular, provided for a radical technical reconstruction of aviation.

The Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR approved a program for creating new aircraft; the main attention was paid to heavy bomber aircraft.

The heavy four-engine bomber ANT-6 (TB-3), developed at TsAGI since the end of 1925 on the initiative and under the leadership of Andrei Nikolaevich, fully corresponded to the task. The main idea that Andrei Nikolaevich laid as the basis for ensuring the efficiency of heavy aircraft - wing unloading and a thick profile at the wing root - found its brilliant embodiment in the design of the ANT-6.

General information (part 2)

In December 1930, the world's first four-engine all-metal cantilever monoplane ANT-6, built in the new AGOS building, under the leadership of A.N. Tupolev, began to undergo flight tests.

In a report at a meeting of the Scientific and Technical Council of TsAGI on August 15, 1933, A. N. Tupolev, talking about the work related to the modification and re-equipment of TB-3 carried out in the first half of the year, noted that “.. at the moment at TB-3 we have covered three world records: flight with a large load on range, duration and speed of flight. In other words, ... in the person of TB-3 we have a completely modern, powerful and heavily armed vehicle, quite modern even today." .

By creating only this machine, a milestone for the world aircraft construction, Andrei Nikolaevich would immortalize his name in the history of aviation.

At the end of 1932, the 40th anniversary of A. M. Gorky’s literary activity was celebrated. The editor of the Ogonyok magazine, the famous journalist Mikhail Koltsov, proposed building a huge, unprecedented propaganda plane, a giant plane, in honor of Gorky. The idea was supported by a meeting of workers of the magazine and newspaper association.

Fundraising began for the construction of a multi-engine aircraft, the All-Union Committee for the construction of "Maxim Gorky" was elected, which included more than 70 representatives of figures in technology, art, and literature, among them A. N. Tupolev, V. E. Meyerhold, Mate Zalka, V. . And Kachalov.

Such a complex technical task, which has no analogues in the world aircraft industry, is capable only of the TsAGI team under the leadership of A. N. Tupolev.

In March 1933, the All-Union Committee entered into an agreement with TsAGI. According to the contract, an aircraft that met the accepted technical requirements had to be presented for factory testing, that is, transported to the airfield in an unprecedentedly short time (a year and two months), by May 1, 1934.

The transition to such colossal machines required solving a number of scientific and purely engineering problems.

Andrei Nikolaevich believed that the basis for this was the experience gained during the creation of the ANT-25.

It was shown that with a large elongation, vibration can be avoided and, as Andrei Nikolaevich said, “revolutionary unloading” can be achieved.

He called revolutionary unloading his idea of ​​placing cargo-engines, fuel tanks, rifle installations, and service spaces in a wing with a large aspect ratio along its span, like on the Maxim Gorky. This made it possible to increase the wing span without increasing bending loads at its root in flight.

In the first half of the thirties, the A. N. Tupolev Design Bureau for the class of bombers became a leading world-class aircraft manufacturing company with experience in large-scale production of heavy aircraft. Thanks to this, the domestic aviation industry has received powerful development.

The task of winning the world distance record - one of the main indicators for heavy vehicles - became real.

In 1931, a special commission was formed under the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR to build a record aircraft for long-distance non-stop flight.

Andrey Nikolaevich prepared a preliminary design of the aircraft; The government decided to build an aircraft designed by Tupolev - ANT-25 (RD-1 - "Range Record") with an M-34 engine to fly to a designed range of 13,000 km and a guaranteed range of 10,000 km.

On June 22, 1933, the first flight of the new aircraft took place. And on September 10, his backup took off. The chief pilot who tested the ANT-25 aircraft was M. M. Gromov.

The last planes were produced without Tupolev. In 1937, the aircraft designer was suspended from work and arrested.

At first he was kept in Lubyanka, then transferred to Butyrka prison. The investigator tried to get the aircraft designer to confess that he had sold the aircraft’s drawings abroad.

At the end of 1938 and the beginning of 1939, the arrested specialists were gathered in Bolshevo to be used for their intended purpose.

Among them was A.N. Tupolev, around whom several people grouped and became the core of the future design bureau.

It was behind bars that Tupolev and his associates formulated a proposal for the ANT-58 (TU-2).

In the fall of 1940, the aircraft began to be tested. A speed of 643 km/h was reached - more than that of modern fighters.

For the development of the Tu-2, Andrei Nikolaevich was awarded the State Prize of the first degree in 1943.

In August 1944, he was awarded the rank of Major General of the IAS, and at the same time he was awarded the Order of Suvorov, II degree.

On September 16, 1945, by decree of the Supreme Council “For work in the field of national defense during the Great Patriotic War against the Nazi invaders,” Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor with the Order of Lenin and the Hammer and Sickle gold medal.

This award was recognition of all the work of Andrei Nikolaevich in organizing Soviet aircraft manufacturing and creating heavy aircraft.

Throughout the entire 1,418 days of the Great Patriotic War, crews of Air Force units fought on aircraft created by the design bureau of A. N. Tupolev.

For organizing the production of the Tu-4, A.N. Tupolev was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1947 and given the rank of lieutenant general of the engineering and technical service.

In January 1951, a four-engine strategic bomber Tu-85 weighing more than 100 tons was tested. The combat range was 12,000 km.

The creation of the Tu-85 aircraft, which embodied all the best achievements of aviation science and technology, was the result of work on heavy aircraft with straight wings and piston engines.

Serial construction of the aircraft was not started. The research and experimental developments carried out by this time under the leadership of A. N. Tupolev by the teams of the Design Bureau, TsAGI and other institutes showed the fundamental possibility of creating long-range jet aircraft with high cruising speed, so the Air Force’s interest in the Tu-85 aircraft disappeared.

A. N. Tupolev was confident in the possibility of creating a heavy transonic aircraft, to control which the normal physical efforts of the pilot would be sufficient.

He managed to inspire and organize many scientists and engineers to solve this and many other equally important problems for mastering high flight speeds.

Facilitating this work, he creates a number of aircraft that allow him to confirm the recommendations of science and gain the experience necessary for designers to create a heavy transonic aircraft.

On June 27, 1947, the Tu-12 plane took off pilot L. D. Perelet). Andrei Nikolaevich jokingly remarked after the flight;

In the winter of 1952, testing of the multi-ton Tu-16 jet machine began. Stalin suggested that Tupolev add two more engines and create an intercontinental bomber capable of flying to America and back.

The aircraft designer refused to solve the problem with the existing engines, but the range of the Tu-16 was increased by using tanker aircraft.

The Tu-16 was produced not only in the USSR, but also in China and is still in service. In NATO military circles, the Tu-16 received the nickname “Badger” - a badger, an angry, unyielding beast, capable of giving a fierce rebuff. Of the foreign aircraft of this class, the American B-47 was in operation for only a few years, and serial production of the British Valiant, Victor and Vulcan bombers began later than the Tu-16, and they were produced in small batches.

1956 Tu-104 has already flown abroad. In London he caused surprise and delight.

For success in the production of Tu-16 and Tu-104, A.N. Tupolev was awarded the 1st degree state prize in 1949 and 1952.

On October 23, 1953, the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences approved his election as an academician.

A.N. Tupolev nevertheless decided to follow Stalin’s instructions and launched the Tu-95 long-range heavy bomber into development.

Tu-16 and Tupolev-95 became the first bomber and then missile-carrying systems in Soviet aviation, which included not only the aircraft and missiles, but also a number of technical services located outside the aircraft.

In the fall of 1968, Andrei Nikolaevich’s 80th birthday was celebrated. And on December 31, newspapers reported the first flight of the world's first supersonic passenger airliner, Tu-144.

Until the fall of 1970, the aircraft flew 100 hours, reaching a maximum speed of 2430 km per hour. Passenger flights began on November 1, 1977.

The era of the birth of heavy jet aviation, the development of transonic and supersonic flight speeds is grandiose. Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev was its leader, the only aviation designer in our country who solved the problems of creating heavy supersonic aircraft for all purposes, as well as the first aviation complexes. Success was achieved thanks to A. N. Tupolev’s ability to involve many thousands of scientists and engineers from all interrelated fields of science and technology, his persistence in overcoming difficulties and confidence in success.

His ideas contributed to the creation of new and expansion of old research and design institutes.

Andrei Nikolaevich died on December 23, 1972. his son took over the post of chief designer. In honor of the aircraft designer, the USSR Academy of Sciences established a medal named after A.N. Tupolev.

Andrey Nikolaevich Tupolev(October 29 (November 10), 1888, village of Pustomazovo, Kimry district, Tver region, - December 23, 1972, Moscow) - Russian and Soviet aircraft designer, academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Colonel General Engineer (1968). Hero of Labor (1926). Three times Hero of Socialist Labor (1945, 1957, 1972).

Under the leadership of Tupolev, over 100 types of aircraft were designed, 70 of which were built in series. His planes set 78 world records and performed about 30 outstanding flights.

Tupolev trained a galaxy of prominent aviation designers and scientists who headed aircraft design bureaus. Among them are V. M. Petlyakov, P. O. Sukhoi, V. M. Myasishchev, A. I. Putilov, V. A. Chizhevsky, A. A. Arkhangelsky, M. L. Mil, A. P. Golubkov , I. F. Nezval, A. A. Tupolev, S. A. Lavochkin

Childhood

Born on October 29 (November 10), 1888, in the village of Pustomazovo (now Kimry district) of the Tver province, in the family of a provincial notary.

Of course, you can make candy out of shit. But it will be shit candy.

Tupolev Andrey Nikolaevich

Higher education

Even while studying at the gymnasium, he showed great interest in exact sciences and technology. In 1908 he entered the Imperial Moscow Technical School (later MVTU). At school I became seriously interested in aerodynamics. Since 1909 - member of the aeronautical circle. He participated in the construction of a glider, on which he made his first flight (1910). In 1911, successful studies and active scientific work were interrupted when, for participating in unrest and distributing illegal literature, he was arrested and administratively expelled from Moscow to his homeland under the secret supervision of the police. Only on the eve of the First World War did he manage to return to school, from which he graduated with honors in 1918.

Professional activity

In 1916-1918, Tupolev participated in the work of the first aviation settlement bureau in Russia; designed the first wind tunnels at the school. Together with N. E. Zhukovsky, he was the organizer and one of the leaders of TsAGI, where the vocation of the young engineer was finally determined. In 1918-1936 he was a member of the board and deputy head of the institute for experimental all-metal aircraft construction. He experimentally proved that chain mail aluminum (originally named after the Kolchuginsky plant in the Vladimir region, where duralumin was made for the first time in Soviet Russia) is a worthy replacement for fragile wood, on the one hand, and heavy iron, on the other, for aircraft construction

On October 21, 1937, A. N. Tupolev was arrested on charges of sabotage and belonging to a counter-revolutionary organization. Along with him, many leading specialists from TsAGI and the Design Bureau, directors of most aircraft factories, were arrested. On May 28, 1940, he was sentenced by the USSR Higher Military Command to 15 years in labor camp. He was accused of creating a sabotage organization that transferred aircraft drawings to foreign intelligence. The verdict was absolutely absurd. According to the testimony of Air Chief Marshal A.E. Golovanov, in a conversation with him, Stalin said that he did not believe that Tupolev was guilty. The compromising facts considered by the investigation had nothing to do with the content of the verdict. (the case was led by Gabitov, an employee of the 2nd investigative department of the NKVD). Exactly, January 5, 1936. By order of the NKOP, Tupolev (on the recommendation of the People's Commissar of the NKTP Ordzhonikidze) is appointed first deputy and chief engineer of the NKOP Main Directorate. In the same year, a delegation of aviation industry workers was sent to the United States to purchase equipment and licenses. Tupolev (PSU) and Kharlamov (TsAGI) were appointed heads of the delegation.

The trip to the USA was Tupolev’s second. The first time he visited Germany and the USA was in 1930, when he was the head of the AGOS on the issue of airship construction. This time the delegation’s route passed through France, where they inspected the products of the French aviation industry. Knowledge of the French language helped Tupolev find common ground in the area of ​​purchasing aircraft engines. While in the USA, Tupolev violated the accepted rule of placing orders through the consulting and trading company AMTORG. This company was created by the Soviet government in the early 20s with the aim of placing orders at the Ford, Christie and Curtiss factories. Tupolev, having met with the American designer A. N. Seversky (Prokofiev-Seversky emigrated to the USA in 1917), placed orders at his own discretion (Prokofiev’s influence). Between Tupolev and the head of the OsTekhBuro brigade commander P.I. Grokhovsky (was part of the delegation, self-taught, when he was in the 3rd grade of primary school, he was able to make 63 inventions in the field of aviation, artillery and armored vehicles, knew two foreign languages, in 1937 he was arrested in the Tukhachevsky case, died in 1946, while in OTB-172), a scandal arose that was difficult to extinguish. In addition, Tupolev was on a business trip with his wife Yulia Nikolaevna, who had nothing to do with aviation. As a result of the trip, licenses were purchased for the production of aircraft Valti V-IA, Consolidated PBY-1 (built in the USSR in limited numbers, they were very difficult to manufacture) and a Seversky 2RA fighter, which did not meet the strength standards adopted by the Red Army Air Force. Thanks to Petlyakov, who was also part of the delegation, it was possible to acquire a license for a modern Douglas DC-3 aircraft at that time. While in prison, he worked in the closed NKVD design bureau - TsKB-29 (“Tupolev Sharaga”).

In July 1941, he was released from further serving of his sentence with his criminal record expunged. Tupolev was completely rehabilitated on April 9, 1955.

Aircrafts

In 1925, Andrei Nikolaevich created the all-metal twin-engine aircraft TB-1, which was distinguished by high flight performance and was considered one of the best bombers in the world. In 1932, an improved TB-3 aircraft was designed, with the help of which the expedition landed at the North Pole in 1937. Also in 1932, under the leadership of Tupolev, the ANT-25 aircraft was designed by P. O. Sukhoi’s brigade. In 1934, a multi-engine aircraft of the Maxim Gorky model appeared. It had eight engines, a usable area of ​​more than 100 m² and a passenger capacity of up to 60 people.

After World War II, the Tupolev Design Bureau developed and produced a new model - the Tu-16 jet bomber. It was capable of speeds of more than 1000 km/h. The first domestic jet civil aircraft, the Tu-104, also appeared.

In 1957, the Tu-114 turboprop intercontinental passenger aircraft was developed.

Member of the USSR Central Executive Committee. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (1950-72).

Family

Son Alexey Andreevich Tupolev is a famous Soviet aircraft designer.
Daughter Yulia Andreevna Tupoleva - Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation, head of the therapeutic department of the Moscow State Clinical Hospital named after S. P. Botkin, personal physician of Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev
Son-in-law Vladimir Mikhailovich Vul - leading designer of the Tupolev Design Bureau, deputy general designer

Memory

• Streets in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Voronezh, Rostov-on-Don, Donetsk, Kyiv, Prague, Bratislava, Omsk, Ulan-Ude, Ulyanovsk, Tver, Krivoy Rog, Zhukovsky, Kimry, Tyumen are named after A. N. Tupolev.
• In 1973, the Kazan Aviation Institute was named after Tupolev (since 1992 - Kazan State Technical University named after A. N. Tupolev).
• In the city of Kimry, on Mayskaya Square, on September 7, 1979, a bust of A. N. Tupolev (sculptor Kh. B. Gevorkyan) was erected.
• In 1988, a USSR postage stamp dedicated to Tupolev was issued.
• In 1979, a biography film was made dedicated to two great aircraft designers A. N. Tupolev and I. I. Sikorsky - “Poem about Wings.”
• A memorial was erected on the site where Tupolev’s native village of Pustomazovo was located. Now the territory of the Ustinovsky rural settlement of the Kimry district of the Tver region.

Awards and titles

• Hero of Labor (1926).
• three times Hero of Socialist Labor (1945, 1957, 1972).
• eight Orders of Lenin (2/21/1933, 9/16/1945, 7/8/1947, January 1949, December 1949, 1953, 1958, 1968)
• Order of the October Revolution (1971)
• Order of Suvorov, II degree (1944)
• Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree (1943)
• two Orders of the Red Banner of Labor (1927, 12/22/1933)
• Order of the Red Star (17.8.1933)
• Order of the Badge of Honor (1936)
• Order "Georgi Dimitrov" (People's Republic of Bulgaria, 1964)
• medals
• Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the RSFSR (8.8.1947)
• Lenin Prize (1957) - for the creation of a high-speed jet passenger aircraft Tu-104
• Stalin Prize of the first degree (1943) - for the creation of a new type of combat aircraft
• Stalin Prize, first degree (1948) - for the creation of new combat aircraft
• Stalin Prize (?) degree (1949)
• Stalin Prize, first degree (1952) - for work in the field of aircraft construction
• USSR State Prize (1972) - for the creation of the high-speed passenger aircraft Tu-134 and its modifications
• Prize named after N. E. Zhukovsky (1958)
• FAI Gold Aviation Medal (1958)
• Leonardo da Vinci Prize (1971)
• Gold medal of the Society of the Founders of Aviation of France (1971).
• Honorary member of the Royal Aeronautical Society of Great Britain (1970) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (1971).
• Honorary citizen of Paris (1964), New York and the city of Zhukovsky, Moscow region (1968).

Andrey Nikolaevich Tupolev - quotes

Only beautiful planes fly well.

I don't write, I do.

In 1911, for participating in student unrest, Tupolev was expelled from the school and exiled to his homeland for two years under police supervision.

In 1916-1918, he participated in the work of the first aviation settlement bureau in Russia; designed the first wind tunnels at the school.

In 1918, Tupolev graduated with honors from the Moscow Higher Technical School and, together with Zhukovsky, became the organizer and one of the leaders of the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI). In 1918-1936 - member of the TsAGI board.

Since 1922 - Chairman of the Commission for the Construction of Metal Aircraft at TsAGI. From that time on, an experimental design bureau (OKB) formed and headed by him began to operate in the TsAGI system, whose activities were related to the development of heavy land, naval combat and civil aircraft, torpedo boats and snowmobiles. Tupolev was the chief designer of this design bureau.

In 1922-1936, Andrei Tupolev was one of the creators of the scientific and technical base of TsAGI, the developer of projects for a number of laboratories, wind tunnels, an experimental hydraulic channel, and the country's first pilot plant for the construction of all-metal aircraft. He was the organizer of the production of aluminum alloy - aluminum chain mail, and semi-finished products from it.

In 1923, he created his first light aircraft of mixed design (ANT-1), in 1924 - the first Soviet all-metal aircraft (ANT-2), in 1925 - the first all-metal combat aircraft (ANT-3), built in series, and also the first all-metal monoplane bomber (ANT-4, 1925).

Andrey Tupolev developed and put into practice the technology for large-scale production of light and heavy metal aircraft. Under his leadership, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, fighters, passenger, transport, marine, and special record-breaking aircraft, as well as snowmobiles, torpedo boats, gondolas, power plants and the tail of the first Soviet airships were designed.

Since 1930 he was the chief designer of TsAGI. Since 1931 - Deputy Head of the Central Design Bureau of TsAGI, since 1932 - Head of the design department of the TsAGI pilot construction sector, since 1933 - Deputy Head of TsAGI for the pilot construction sector.

Since 1936, Andrei Tupolev combined the leadership of the Design Bureau, separated from the TsAGI system, with the position of chief engineer of the Main Directorate of Aviation Industry of the People's Commissariat of Heavy Industry (NKTP), and formed the strategic direction for the development of Soviet aviation, science and technology.

On October 21, 1937, Tupolev was unfoundedly accused of sabotage and espionage and arrested. On May 28, 1940, he was sentenced to 15 years in forced labor camps.

While in prison, he worked at TsKB-29 (Special Technical Bureau of the NKVD of the USSR), which later became known as the Tupolev Sharaga. Here Tupolev created the front-line bomber "103" (Tu-2).

On July 19, 1941, he was released early from further serving of his sentence with his criminal record expunged. Rehabilitated by the ruling of the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR dated April 9, 1955.

At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Tupolev was evacuated to the city of Omsk and appointed chief designer of aircraft plant No. 166.

In 1943, he returned to Moscow and was appointed chief designer and responsible manager of aircraft plant No. 156, where the main base of the design bureau (OKB) A.N. was created. Tupolev.

In 1956, Andrei Tupolev was appointed General Designer of the USSR aviation industry.

Andrei Tupolev developed over 100 types of aircraft, 70 of which were mass-produced. His planes set 78 world records, carried out 28 unique flights, including the rescue of the crew of the steamer "Chelyuskin" on ANT-4, non-stop flights to the USA through the North Pole by the crews of Valery Chkalov and Mikhail Gromov on ANT-25, the landing of the scientific expedition "Northern" pole" led by Ivan Papanin.

A large number of bomber aircraft, torpedo bombers, reconnaissance aircraft designed by Tupolev (TV-1, TV-3, SB, TV-7, MTB-2, TU-2) and torpedo boats G-4, G-5 were used in combat operations in the Great Patriotic War. Patriotic War in 1941-1945.

In the post-war years, military and civilian aircraft developed under the leadership of Tupolev included the Tu-4 strategic bomber, the first Soviet jet bomber Tu-12, the Tu-95 turboprop strategic bomber, the Tu-16 long-range missile carrier-bomber, and the Tu-22 supersonic bomber; the first jet passenger aircraft Tu-104 (based on the Tu-16 bomber), the first turboprop intercontinental passenger airliner Tu-114, short- and medium-haul aircraft Tu-124, Tu-134, Tu-154, as well as the supersonic passenger aircraft Tu-144 ( together with Alexey Tupolev).

Tupolev aircraft became the basis of the fleet of the Aeroflot aviation company and were operated in dozens of countries.

Andrei Tupolev had the military rank of Colonel General of the Engineering and Technical Service, was elected a full member of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1953), an honorary member of the Royal Aeronautics Society of Great Britain (1970) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (1971); he was awarded the prize and gold medal named after N.E. Zhukovsky, the Lenin Prize (1957), five State Prizes of the USSR (1943, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1972), the highest award of the International Aviation Sports Federation (FAI). He was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor three times (1945, 1957, 1972). OKB A. N. Tupolev - JSC Tupolev, part of the JSC United Aircraft Corporation, Kazan Technical University, an island in the Ob Bay of the Kara Sea.

An embankment in Moscow, streets in Kyiv (Ukraine), Ulyanovsk, Kimry, Zhukovsky and other cities are named after Andrei Tupolev. Memorial plaques were installed on buildings in Moscow and Omsk in which Andrei Tupolev worked.

A bronze bust of Tupolev was erected in the city of Kimry, Tver Region. In 2005, on the site of the Tupolevs’ house-estate in Pustomazovo, a memorial composition was opened and a memorial stone was installed.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev (1888 - 1972) was an outstanding Russian and Soviet aircraft designer, academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, three times Hero of Socialist Labor. He led the creation of more than a hundred types of both civil and military aircraft. It was on the aircraft designed by Andrei Tupolev that more than a hundred world records and unique flights were set.

The early years of A. Tupolev

Andrey Tupolev was born in the village. Pustomazovo, Tver province in 1888 in the family of a provincial notary. Andrei was first educated at home, and soon entered the gymnasium. After graduating from high school in 1908, A. Tupolev entered the Imperial Moscow Technical School. During his studies, he became an active member of the aeronautics circle. It was there that his interest in aerodynamics strengthened, and in addition, he was able to gain additional knowledge and skills in design. Just two years after entering the school, he was able to make his first independent flight on a glider, in the construction of which he took an active part. But in 1911, Andrei Tupolev’s studies suddenly stopped due to his arrest and deportation from Moscow to his home. He was placed under surveillance for reading prohibited literature and participating in student unrest. Only before the start of the First World War, supervision was lifted and A. Tupolev was able to continue his studies. In 1918 he graduated from college with honors.

Professional activity of Tupolev A.N.

A. Tupolev’s professional activity began with the design of the first wind tunnels. Under the leadership of N.E. Zhukovsky, whom he had known since his college days, he began working in the Russian aviation accounting bureau. Together they organized TsAGI (Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute), in which A. Tupolev was the head of the aviation department, and after the death of N. Zhukovsky in 1921, he was the deputy director of Sergei Chaplygin. All this time until 1936, A. Tupolev conducted experiments with duralumin in aircraft construction. Then this material was called chain mail aluminum, and A. Tupolev was able to prove that it was much stronger and safer for aircraft construction than the iron and wood used. In 1936, A. Tupolev led a delegation that was sent to the United States to purchase a license and equipment for the aircraft industry.

Arrest and imprisonment of Tupolev

In October 1937, A. Tupolev, together with a group of aircraft design scientists, was arrested on charges of sabotage. The prosecution alleged that A. Tupolev created an organization that collaborated with foreign intelligence services and provided them with aircraft drawings. Despite the absurdity of the charges, in May 1940 A. Tupolev was sentenced to 15 years in forced labor camps. All the time while A. Tupolev was under investigation and in the camps, he did not stop working. He became a designer in the bureau of the NKVD, in a closed institution called TsKB-29. A. Tupolev was released early in the summer of 1941, and his criminal record was cleared. However, he was able to fully rehabilitate himself only in 1955.

Aircraft of Tupolev A.N.

In 1925, A. Tupolev created one of the best aircraft of his time - the two-meter all-metal bomber TB-1. By 1937, the aircraft designer improved his model. It was the TB-3 that was used to land Soviet scientists at the North Pole. A. Tupolev also led the creation of the ANT-25 in 1932. After the war, he designed the TU-16 jet bomber and the first Russian civil aviation jet, the TU-104. In addition, the designer developed a turboprop intercontinental passenger aircraft, which took off in 1957.

Andrey Nikolaevich Tupolev (1888-1972),

aircraft designer, academician.

Born in the village of Pustomazovo, Tver province. He received his primary education at home, graduated from the Tver Classical Gymnasium and entered the mechanical department of the Higher Moscow Technical School.
In 1909 he entered the aeronautical circle. He worked on the construction of gliders and flew them.

ANT-1 being tested.

A.N. Tupolev (in the center) at ANT-1

Student and employee of Nikolai Zhukovsky. In 1918, together with Zhukovsky, he founded the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute.
In 1918-1935 Tupolev is the deputy head of the institute, heads an experimental design bureau, whose activities are related to the design of aircraft, torpedo boats and snowmobiles.

In total, under his leadership, more than 100 types of military and civil aircraft were created, 70 of which were mass-produced, including ANT-25, Tu-104 (the first passenger jet), Tu-114, Tu-144 (supersonic passenger).

Tupolev aircraft set 78 world records, 28 unique flights were completed, including by V. Chkalov and M. Gromov on the ANT-25 across the North Pole to the USA.
Tupolev became an academician and general designer.

The Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex in Moscow, the Kazan Aviation Institute, and an island in the Ob Bay of the Kara Sea are named after Tupolev. In the city of Kimry, Tver region, a bust of Tupolev was erected.
Tupolev's son, Alexander Andreevich Tupolev, is also a famous aircraft designer and academician.

Photo gallery of TU aircraft:

TU - 134

TU - 144

TU - 154

TU - 204