XVII Международная студенческая научная конференция Студенческий научный форум - 2025

The technology of aircraft production in Russia has a long history of formation and development. An analysis of various sources has shown that the history of the formation and development of aircraft construction can be conditionally divided into six stages: the period of the birth of aviation (19th century to the beginning of the 20th century), the period of the formation of the base of aerodynamic science (early 20th century), the stage of development of aircraft construction (period 1914 to 1935), the period of improvement of aerodynamic characteristics of aircraft (from 1935 to 1950), the period of development of high-speed aircraft (1950-960), the period of the electronic computing era in aircraft design (from 1960 to the present) [1]. Attempts to create an aircraft were made back in the medieval era of Leonardo da Vinci, then M. Lomonosov tested a prototype model of a modern helicopter, in 1881 A.F. Mozhaisky designed and built the first full-scale aircraft in Russia, which had all the components of modern aircraft.

Nikolai Egorovich Zhukovsky, Boris Nikolaevich Yuryev, Andrey Nikolaevich Tupolev, and Sergey Alekseevich Chaplygin played a special role in the formation of the base of aerodynamic science. At the stage of aircraft construction development in Russia, an air fleet is being created, small enterprises and design bureaus (design bureaus) are merging, and educational institutions for the preparation of scientific research in the field of aerodynamics are being created. The following periods were characterized by significant improvements in the aerodynamic characteristics of aircraft, the development of high-speed aircraft, the appearance of passenger jet and intercontinental aircraft Tu-134, Tu-114, turboprop passenger aircraft IL-18. One of the legendary aircraft designers of our country is Andrey Nikolaevich Tupolev, whose aircraft revolutionized the history of world aviation. Famous Tupolev planes have become participants in many events. Descendants of the whole "family" of Tupolev Design Bureau aircraft are still being produced today.

Aircraft designer Andrey Tupolev went through many life trials, but the purpose of his difficult life was to create and develop the domestic aircraft industry. The most important achievements of Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev, who was one of the founders of Russian aviation, include: "the use of all–metal structures instead of wooden structures; the creation of the domestic aircraft industry; the design of more than 100 types of aircraft - from fighters and reconnaissance aircraft to marine and postal; the launch of large-scale production of civil aviation aircraft, etc." [2]. An analysis of the famous creations of the Andrei Tupolev Design Bureau showed that more than 100 types of aircraft were created under his leadership. Thanks to Tupolev's efforts, large-scale production of metal aircraft began in the country, and technology was developed that accelerated the assembly process. The designer led the production of reconnaissance aircraft, fighters, bombers, transport, passenger, and marine aircraft.

The individual propaganda aircraft Pravda, Maxim Gorky, and Rodina created by Tupolev made a great contribution to aviation construction. Note that even a brief presentation of all the achievements of the renowned aircraft designer will not be able to accommodate the format of this article. Therefore, in the presented table we note the most significant creations of the Tupolev Design Bureau (Table1).

Table 1 – Famous "Tushki" of the Tupolev Design Bureau

The flight of thought and inspiration with which the famous designer worked and created all his life continues to live in his students today. The work of the Tupolev Design Bureau, the founder of Russian aviation, continues with young engineers. Russian scientists are developing new aircraft and technologies to improve the domestic aircraft industry. The branches of the Tupolev Design Bureau are located in Zhukovsky, Ulyanovsk, Samara and Kazan near Moscow. On Tupolev planes, Soviet pilots set the most extreme records, such as landing at the North Pole, a record-breaking flight from Moscow to the United States, performed by Hero of the Soviet Union Valery Chkalov. A student of N. E. Zhukovsky, co-founder of the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI), a powerful aviation research center, "the only person in the history of aviation whose first airplane took off in 1923, and in 1968, almost half a century later, flew his first supersonic passenger liner, Tu-144" [4]. The key to A.N. Tupolev's successful work is his talent and deep knowledge, large-scale thinking and attention to the smallest details, exceptional determination and complete dedication, the ability to lead and make the only right decision under his personal responsibility [5].

Tupolev planes have become firmly embedded in our lives, culture, and cinema. Andrey Tupolev lived a long life and was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor three times. In the memory of the Russian people, Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev will forever remain the patriarch of the Soviet aircraft industry!

REFERENCES

1. The history of the formation of traditions of designing and constructing aircraft. [Electronic resource] https://spravochnick.ru/aviacionnaya_i_raketno-kosmicheskaya_tehnika/istoriya_stanovleniya_tradiciy_proektirovaniya_i_konstruirovaniya_letatelnyh_apparatov / (Accessed 02.08.2025)

2. Alexandra Salivanova. From wooden gliders to the best airliners: 100 years of the Tupolev Design Bureau. [Electronic resource] https://www.5-tv.ru/tabloid/406055/100-let-konstruktorskomu-buro-tupoleva / (Accessed 8.02.2025)/

3. Andrey Pochtarev. Russian aviation. – Rosman, 2016. – p. 75. – 80 p.

4. Bodrikhin N. G. Tupolev. – Molodaya Gvardiya, Moscow, 2011, 456 p. –ZHZL).

5. Adel Nurmukhametova. Andrey Tupolev. Moscow: Komsomolskaya Pravda, 2016. 96 p. (Great Minds of Russia).