Test pilots are the heroes of our time, the most courageous representatives of their nation, possessing leadership qualities, intelligence, responsibility, composure and good he alth. Each flight may be the last, and yet they must experience the pleasure of flying, this is the main condition for admission to the ranks of these brave guys. They sit at the helm of their car so that the designers can modify or improve the aircraft.
Legendary Test Pilots
The former USSR is simply full of heroes. Some remained unknown in the history of the country, but not test pilots. The names of these brave guys were immediately recognized by the political elite of the country. Almost all of them received the title of Hero of the USSR.
One of these people, whose name went down in the history of the domestic aircraft industry, is Valery Chkalov. Valery Pavlovich started as a welder at an aviation plant in Nizhny Novgorod. And already in 1931 he tested brand new I-15 and I-16 fighter planes.
For his tricks in the air, he even received a term and was sentenced to a year in prison, which was later replaced with a suspended sentence. After allValery's "recklessness" was recognized as new aerobatics. In 1935, Chkalov was awarded the Order of Lenin. Chkalov's crew was the first to fly from the capital to the Far East. And two years later he flew over the North Pole and landed in Vancouver. After such merits, Stalin offered Chkalov the post of People's Commissar of the NKVD, but Valery Pavlovich refused and continued to fly. Test pilots who die in flight are doubly heroes. In December 1938, Valery Chkalov made his last flight. He died while testing the new I-180 fighter.
Military pilots
Test pilots during the Second World War played an important role in military aviation. Despite the harsh conditions of the war, the Soviet Union was building up its military power. Design aviation enterprises produced new improved machines that required testing. One of these heroes of the military sky was Sergei Nikolaevich Anokhin. In 1931 he graduated from the Higher Glider School. And already in 1933 he set a record in his country. On one glider I stayed in the sky for almost 16 hours. Before the war, he tested experimental gliders.
During the war, he tested aircraft and gliders. He was the first to test an interceptor fighter with a liquid-propellant rocket engine. In May 1945, during the tests of the Yak-3 fighter, the aircraft broke down, the pilot was seriously injured and lost an eye, but did not stop flying. Conducted test flights on such aircraft as Yak, Mig, Su. In 1959, among the top ten, he received the title of Honored Test Pilot. Last oneflew at the age of 73.
Test Pilot Awards
Until 1958, test pilots were not awarded all kinds of orders for services to the Motherland, many retired without a single medal. Many received the title of "Hero of the USSR" only in 1957. And in 1958, by decree of the Presidium of the Armed Forces, the honorary titles "Honored Test Navigator of the USSR" and "Honored Test Pilot of the USSR" were established. Only pilots of the 1st class could receive such a title and the corresponding order.
In total, 419 test pilots were awarded this title during the Soviet period.
Post-war period
The development of the aircraft industry in the USSR became a top priority in the post-war period. The Cold War between the USSR and the USA led to an arms race. There was also space exploration ahead.
Another outstanding test pilot is Yuri Petrovich Sheffer. Since 1977 he was the leading tester of the Tupolev plant. Was in the detachment of the VKS Buran. Participated in tests of Su-25 and MiG-25 fighters.
Volk Igor Petrovich - Hero of the USSR, Honored Test Pilot, Test Cosmonaut. He has been testing domestic aircraft of all types since 1965. Performed aerobatic maneuvers, showed special skill by performing "cobra" and "corkscrew".
Viktor Vasilyevich Zabolotsky - Soviet test pilot, in flight test work since 1975. During his work, he mastered more than 200 types of aircraft.
Modern period
After the collapse of the Union and the loss in the Cold War, Russia asthe successor of the USSR did not curtail its aviation programs. And today ultra-high-speed aircraft, fighters, and the latest helicopters capable of conquering the sky are being designed.
Bogdan Sergey Leonidovich - Hero of the Russian Federation and Honored Pilot of the Russian Federation. Conducted testing of Su and MiG fighters. Since 2000 he has been a test pilot at the P. O. Sukhoi Design Bureau.
Magomed Tolboev - since 1981, a test pilot, received the title of Hero of the Russian Federation and Honored Test Pilot of the Russian Federation. Tested Su and MiG fighters. For the first time, he took to the air several types of ultralight aircraft.
This list can be continued for a long time, because many people of our country are capable of a feat, but the profession of a test pilot is fate for the elite. In the modern period, the latest supersonic aircraft, bombers, airliners are being developed and tested, only thanks to these brave people, many models will see the world.
