Guess by the name of the aircraft who created it Andrey Nikolaevich Tupolev. Andrey Nikolaevich Tupolev. Great aircraft designer of Russia

Tupolev Andrey Nikolaevich (1888-1972).

He was born on October 29 (November 10), 1888 in the estate of Pustomazovo (now does not exist) in the Korchevsky district of the Suvorov volost of the Tver province in the family of a provincial notary. Russian. By origin from the mother from the nobility, from the father from the raznochintsy. In 1906 he graduated from the Tver gymnasium.

In 1908 he entered the Imperial Technical School (later the Moscow Higher Technical School), in 1918 he graduated with honors. The long period of study is due to the fact that for participation in student unrest, by order of the police, Tupolev was expelled from the school in 1911 and sent to his homeland under police supervision for two years. In the period of study since 1909 - a member of the aeronautical circle of Professor N.E. Zhukovsky, one of his favorite students. Participated in the construction of a glider, on which he independently made the first flight (1910). In 1916-1918, Tupolev participated in the work of the first aviation settlement bureau in Russia, designed the first wind tunnels at the school.

After the October Revolution, together with N.E. Zhukovsky, he was the organizer and one of the leaders of the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI). In 1918-1936, he was a member of the TsAGI board and deputy head of the institute for experimental all-metal aircraft construction.

Since 1922 - Chairman of the Commission for the construction of metal aircraft at TsAGI, initiator and one of the organizers of the production of the first Soviet aviation alloy - chain-aluminum. From this year, an experimental design bureau formed and headed by him for the design and production of all-metal aircraft of various classes began to operate in the TsAGI system. Since 1922 - Chief Designer of this design bureau. In 1922-1936 he 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, the country's first pilot plant for the construction of all-metal aircraft.

In 1923, Tupolev created his first light aircraft of mixed design ANT-1, in 1924 - the first Soviet all-metal aircraft ANT-2, in 1925 - the first combat all-metal reconnaissance aircraft ANT-3, which was built in series (over 100 copies) and received into service as a reconnaissance R-3. For the first time in world practice, Tupolev scientifically substantiated the rationality of the scheme of a cantilever all-metal monoplane with a wing profile of a large construction height, with engines located in its toe. He also created such an aircraft, which had no analogues in the world of ANT-4 in 1925, over 200 aircraft were built, and was produced as a TB-1 bomber.

Hero of Labor of the RSFSR (1926).

As the head of the design bureau, Tupolev developed and put into practice the technology of large-scale production of light and heavy metal aircraft. Under his leadership, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, fighters, passenger, transport, marine, special record-breaking aircraft, as well as snowmobiles, torpedo boats, gondolas, power plants and the plumage of the first Soviet airships were designed. He introduced into the practice of domestic aircraft construction the organization of branches of the main design bureau at serial plants, which significantly accelerated the production of machines, the creation of their own flight development bases at the design bureau, which reduced the time for both factory and state tests of experimental machines. Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1933).

Since 1930 - 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. An outstanding achievement of design thought was the ANT-7 aircraft (reconnaissance R-6, more than 400 vehicles were produced), the heavy bomber TB-3 (ANT-6, more than 800 vehicles were produced, was used in all pre-war conflicts and in the Great Patriotic War), high-speed bomber SB (ANT-40, more than 6600 vehicles were produced) and a number of other types that remained experimental or were produced in small series. Of great importance for the development of the Soviet aviation industry was the creation of unique propaganda aircraft such as the ANT-4 "Country of the Soviets", ANT-14 "Pravda", ANT-20 "Maxim Gorky", ANT-37bis "Motherland".

In 1936, at the suggestion of the People's Commissar of Heavy Industry of the USSR Sergo Ordzhonikidze, Tupolev was appointed first deputy chief and chief engineer of the Main Directorate of the Aviation Industry of the People's Commissariat of Heavy Industry, at the same time he headed a design bureau separated from the TsAGI system with an experimental design plant (Aviation Plant No. 156).

On October 21, 1937, the outstanding aircraft designer A.N. Tupolev was unreasonably arrested on charges of sabotage and espionage. He and aircraft designer V.M. Petlyakov were charged with organizing and leading the "Russian Fascist Party", as well as with espionage in favor of France.

On May 28, 1940, the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR was convicted under Art. 58-6, 58-7, 58-9 and 58-11 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR to 15 years in prison with disqualification for 5 years. By decree of December 27, 1940, he was deprived of all state awards. While imprisoned, he worked in a special TsKB-29 (“Special Technical Bureau of the NKVD of the USSR”), which later became known as the “Tupolev Sharaga”. Here he created a front-line bomber "103" (Tu-2).

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 19, 1941, A.N. Tupolev was released ahead of schedule from further serving his sentence with the removal of a criminal record. State awards were returned by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of November 28, 1941. He was rehabilitated only by the Determination of the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR of April 9, 1955.

At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, he was evacuated to Omsk, where he was appointed chief designer of plant No. 166 of the People's Commissariat of the Aviation Industry of the USSR, and managed to restore the design bureau.

The main task during the war years was the refinement and serial production of the Tu-2 bomber. Over 2500 copies of this aircraft were built. In total, the TB-1, TB-3, SB, TB-7 (Pe-8), MTB-2, Tu-2 bombers created by Tupolev, TB-1, TB-3, SB, TB-7 (Pe-8), Tu-2, reconnaissance R-6, torpedo boats G-4, G-5 .

In 1943, Tupolev returned to Moscow and was appointed chief designer and responsible head of plant No. 156, where the main base of the Design Bureau of A.N. Tupolev was created. Major General of the Aviation Engineering Service (08/19/1944).

Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the SSR of September 16, 1945 "for outstanding services in organizing the production of aircraft, tanks, engines, weapons and ammunition, as well as for the creation and development of new models of military equipment and their provision of the Red Army and Navy in the years Great Patriotic War" in the group of leaders of the defense industry and weapons designers Tupolev Andrey Nikolaevich was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor with the Order of Lenin and the gold medal "Hammer and Sickle".

In the post-war period, under the leadership of Tupolev, a family of military aircraft was created. Among them are the Tu-4 strategic bomber (1947), the first Soviet jet bomber Tu-12 (1947), the Tu-95 turboprop strategic bomber (1956), and the Tu-16 long-range bomber bomber (1953). ), Tu-22 supersonic bomber (1959) and many others. Lieutenant General of the Aviation Engineering Service (08/08/1947).

In 1956, A.N. Tupolev was appointed General Designer of the aviation industry of the USSR. Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR since 1953.

In 1956-1957, a new division was created at the Tupolev Design Bureau, whose task was to develop unmanned aerial vehicles. Cruise missiles "121", "123", ZUR "131", unmanned reconnaissance aircraft Tu-123 "Yastreb" were developed. Work was underway on the planning hypersonic vehicle "130" and the rocket plane "136" ("Zvezda").

Since 1955, work has been carried out on bombers with a nuclear power plant (Yasu). After the flights of the Tu-95LAL flying laboratory, it was planned to create an experimental Tu-119 aircraft with YaSU and supersonic bombers "120".

For outstanding merits in the creation of new aviation equipment and the labor heroism shown at the same time, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 12, 1957, Tupolev Andrey Nikolaevich was awarded the second gold medal "Hammer and Sickle" (No. 48 / II).

At the same time, civil aviation industry also developed widely, although Tupolev took the first steps in this direction back in the early 1930s. On the basis of the Tu-16 bomber in 1955, the first Soviet jet passenger aircraft Tu-104 was created. It was followed by the first turboprop intercontinental aircraft Tu-114 (1957), short and medium-range aircraft Tu-110 (1957), Tu-124 (1960), Tu-134 (1967), Tu- 154 (1970), as well as the Tu-144 supersonic passenger aircraft (together with A.A. Tupolev).

Tupolev's planes became the basis of the fleet of the largest aviation company in the world, Aeroflot, and were operated in dozens of countries.

Over 100 types of aircraft were designed under Tupolev's leadership, 70 of which were mass-produced. On his aircraft, 78 world records were set, about 30 outstanding flights were made. Creator of an outstanding school of domestic aircraft construction, from which dozens of outstanding designers came out.

For outstanding success in the creation of new aviation technology and the labor heroism shown at the same time, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of November 22, 1972, Andrey Nikolayevich Tupolev was awarded the Order of Lenin and the third gold medal "Hammer and Sickle" (No. 12 / III).

Lived in the hero city of Moscow. Died December 23, 1972. He was buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.

Colonel General of the Aviation Engineering Service (October 25, 1967). Awarded 8 Orders of Lenin (02/21/1933, 09/16/1945, 1947, January 1949, December 1949, 1953, 11/9/1958, 1968), Orders of the October Revolution ( 1971), Suvorov 2nd degree (08/19/1944), Patriotic War 1st degree (06/10/1945), 2 orders of the Red Banner of Labor (1927, 12/22/1933), orders Red Star (08/18/1933), "Badge of Honor" (1936), medals, foreign award - the Order of Georgy Dimitrov (1964, Bulgaria).

Honorary citizen of Paris (1964) and New York, as well as the city of Zhukovsky, Moscow Region (1968).

Member of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR since 1929. Member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR since 1950.

Honorary Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society of Great Britain (1970) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (1971). He was awarded the N.E. Zhukovsky Prize of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1958), the Gold Aviation Medal of the FAI (1958), the Leonardo da Vinci Prize (1971), the Gold Medal of the Society of the Founders of French Aviation (1971).

The bronze bust of the Hero was installed in the city of Kimry, Tver Region. An embankment in Moscow, streets in St. Petersburg, Kyiv, Ulyanovsk, Kimry and Zhukovsky are named after A.N. Tupolev. On the buildings in Moscow and Omsk, in which A.N. Tupolev worked, and in Tver, on the building where he studied, memorial plaques were installed.

Tupolev's name is given to the Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex in Moscow (which continues the traditions of the legendary Design Bureau of A.N. Tupolev), the Kazan Aviation Institute, an island in the Ob Bay of the Kara Sea.

Three times Hero of Socialist Labor (1945, 1957, 1972),
- eight orders of Lenin (02/21/1933, 09/16/1945, 1947, 1949, 1949, 1953, 1958, 1968),
-Order of the October Revolution (1971),
- Order of Suvorov 2nd degree (1944),
- Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class (1943),
- two Orders of the Red Banner of Labor (1927, 1933),
-Order of the Red Star (1933),
-Order "Badge of Honor" (1936),
-Georgy Dimitrov Order (People's Republic of Bulgaria, 1964);
- FAI gold aviation medal (1958);
-Gold medal of the Society of the founders of French aviation (1971).
-medals.
Laureate of the Lenin Prize (1957), four Stalin Prizes of the 1st degree (1943, 1948, 1949, 1952) and the State Prize of the USSR (1972).
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).

Andrei Nikolaevich was born on October 29 (November 10), 1888, in a large family in the village of Pustomazovo, located on the territory of the modern Kalinin region. His mother, Anna Vasilievna, was the daughter of a judicial investigator from Tiflis. She was well educated, knew several languages, played the piano beautifully, took care of all the housework, and independently gave the children a primary education. Father, Nikolai Ivanovich Tupolev, was from the Siberian Cossacks, originally from Surgut. He worked as a notary of the district court, but did not like his job, and therefore he acquired a small plot of land, settled on it and began to farm.

Andrei Tupolev later recalled: “We lived modestly. I had older brothers Sergei and Nikolai, as well as sisters Natalia, Tatyana, Vera and Maria. Mother gave us all her strength, her whole soul. Our family was very large and friendly. Not patriarchal, but certainly progressive.”

Since 1901, Andrei Nikolaevich studied at the Tver gymnasium, about which he later wrote: “In order for the children to study, the whole family had to move to Tver. Our class was friendly, however, it was not accepted to study well. I just tried to keep up with my peers. I didn't have any toys in Pustomazovo. They were expensive and I made them myself out of wood. And in the gymnasium there were lessons of manual labor. Here I could engage in carpentry, some of my things even got to the exhibition. While studying at the gymnasium, I realized that I love technology, I realized that I need to go in this direction. In the autumn of 1908, Andrei Tupolev successfully passed the exams in two educational institutions in Moscow: the Institute of Railway Engineers and IMTU. He chose IMTU.

Andrey Nikolaevich recalled about the first years in Moscow: “Money was constantly lacking. Once it got really bad, and then I decided to pawn my inferior coat in a pawnshop. I was looking for a pawnshop, and it seemed to me that everyone was looking at me, at the coat under my arm. I was never able to find a pawnshop and returned hungry that day. Fortunately, the next day, three rubles came from home.”

In October 1909, lectures on aeronautics at IMTU began to be read by N.E. Zhukovsky, who also headed the Aeronautical Circle, formed on the initiative of students. In December of the same year, Tupolev joined the circle, for whom his acquaintance with Nikolai Yegorovich was of crucial importance. He himself said that "from that moment my aviation life began." Just four months later, Andrei Tupolev became one of the most active members of the circle. His works - a flat wind tunnel and a model of an aircraft - attracted the attention of people at the aeronautical exhibition that took place.

After the end of the exhibition, the students began testing the balancing glider they had created. And the funds raised from ticket sales, together with a number of private donations, made it possible for the circle to start developing its own airplane. However, in the spring of 1911, Andrei's studies were unexpectedly interrupted. Having received from an unknown source information about Tupolev's political unreliability, a search was made in his room, and he himself was detained. One of the first to try to help out the future designer Zhukovsky, who announced that his student was busy in the circle and had no time for "extraneous" things. An attempt to release Tupolev from custody was also made by the director of IMTU Gavrilenko. Despite all the petitions, Andrei Nikolaevich was released only in April due to the death of his father. He was also forbidden to live exactly one year in any cities with higher educational institutions.

Tupolev spent about two and a half years in his native village, doing things far from aviation. He wrote: “When I returned home, I had the difficult task of burying my father. Things were not going well for our family. But I was young and strong. Having cultivated the land well, I planted vegetables. Gradually, things began to improve.”

On February 6, 1913, police supervision of A.N. Tupolev was canceled, and in the fall of this year he managed to recover at the ITU, continuing to work in the aerodynamic laboratory, built on the basis of the old circle. Over the next year, he quickly became one of Zhukovsky's most active students, showing the ability of both a scientific researcher and a designer.

After the outbreak of the First World War, the military department turned to Nikolai Yegorovich on the issues of purging and examining the details of the aircraft in service. A sharp increase in the volume of work made it possible, with the support of the military, to organize the first Russian Aviation Design and Test Bureau in the summer of 1916. Professor Zhukovsky headed it, and Tupolev became one of his assistants in the position of head of laboratory facilities. In parallel with his research work, Andrey Nikolayevich managed to do aerodynamic calculations. In 1916, he calculated the Anatra airplane and the fighter of the Kosyanenko brothers. On the recommendation of Zhukovsky, student Andrey Tupolev was involved in work in the commission developing the strength standards for airplanes, in which, in addition to him, professors A.P. Van der Fleet, G.A. Botezat, S.P. Timoshenko.

In 1916, Andrei Nikolaevich for some time led the design of a hydroplane at the Duks plant. Here is what he himself wrote about this: “I had a meager experience, but I really wanted to try. Created a design bureau, began to create a seaplane. But the technical director of the plant, returning from France, brought a patent for the construction of the French model. They didn’t call me, they just informed me through people that they would build a foreign aircraft, and not one designed by me. I was young at that time, offended, took the drawings and left. However, later the drawings still came in handy, becoming the basis of Tupolev's diploma.

The revolution in Russia did not interrupt the work of the Design and Test Bureau; at the end of the summer of 1918, A.N. Tupolev headed the direction of aerodynamic calculations and instrument design. In the same year, he received the title of mechanical engineer, defending with honors a project entitled "Experience in creating a hydroplane according to wind tunnel tests." In 1920, Tupolev tried himself as a teacher, giving a course of lectures "Fundamentals of Aerodynamic Calculation" at the Moscow Higher Technical School. The following year, he was already entrusted with the "Theory of Airplanes", "Theory of Hydroplanes", "Normal and Special Design of Hydroplanes", as well as the course "Hydroaviation" at the Institute. NOT. Zhukovsky.

Soon, Nikolai Yegorovich and a number of his closest associates came to the conclusion that the further development of aircraft manufacturing in the country was possible only if there was a powerful research base. The idea to create a scientific aerohydrodynamic institute was personally supported by V.I. Lenin and in December 1918 he began his activities. The Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI for short) was headed by Zhukovsky, while Tupolev became the head of the aviation department. From the very beginning, he set before his employees completely non-aerohydrodynamic tasks aimed at developing a whole range of scientific developments necessary in the future for aircraft construction. The institute studied aviation alloys and their protection against corrosion, aircraft engines, the strength of aircraft structures, flight test methods, and much more. After the death of Zhukovsky, Tupolev continued his work on the further development and expansion of TsAGI. To solve emerging issues, he widely attracted specialists and scientists from various fields of science.

In the life of Andrei Nikolaevich, a goal appeared - to create a whole new industry, the aviation industry, capable of mass developing and producing aircraft. In 1924, thanks to Tupolev's proposal, the country's top leadership decided to create a metallurgical base for aircraft construction, which made it possible to produce special aviation materials in large quantities. At the insistence of Tupolev, light magnesium alloys were developed in the 30s, and high-strength aluminum alloys for high-speed aircraft in the late 40s. At the end of the 60s, new aluminum-based heat-resistant alloys for supersonic aircraft appeared. It was Tupolev who first began to use high-strength chromansil steel, fiberglass and some other non-metallic materials. A special laboratory was organized to create and study them.

In 1923, Tupolev created the all-metal highly reliable snowmobile ANT-P, the experience gained later allowed him to develop new designs of gliders and marine torpedo boats, mass-produced during the Great Patriotic War. And in 1924, flight tests of the first all-metal aircraft ANT-2 ended in success.

ANT-2

Step by step, using the example of foreign models and our own experience, production and design teams were formed at TsAGI, production facilities and workshops were expanded, and new buildings were built. Becoming in 1936 the chief engineer of the Main Directorate of the Aviation Industry, A.N. Tupolev begins to rebuild old and build new aircraft factories for the mass production of aircraft. To do this, he makes extensive use of advanced imported equipment, and also follows the principles used in the US automotive industry, which he had the opportunity to learn during a number of business trips. Thanks to Andrei Nikolaevich, technological processes developed abroad, including cladding and anodizing, were introduced. These events helped to organize the mass production of aircraft during the war years. Also, Tupolev was one of the first to understand the need to use computers to improve calculation methods and increase the number of factors taken into account, creating one of the first computing centers.

Each new Tupolev aircraft was an event in technology. Based on the experience gained, he included in each project only the most minimal amount of new, using the path of a consistent structure of aircraft. For example, the aircraft "77", "73" and "82" served as the stages for the creation of the Tu-16 twin-engine jet bomber. Among the aircraft created by Tupolev were not mass-produced models, but there were no unfinished, unable to fly.

Tu-16

After the end of the war, Tupolev launched the construction of new laboratory and production buildings, specialized workshops and branches, and founded a flight development base. Not forgetting about his employees, he sought the construction of new houses and recreation centers for them, garden cooperatives and kindergartens.

Tupolev is the author of many unique technical solutions, such as a prototyping method capable of solving spatial layout problems on wooden models, or the creation of entire flying laboratories for testing engines and other aircraft systems. Eyewitnesses said that wherever Andrei Nikolayevich was, no matter what he did, his head constantly thought - what of what he had read, heard or seen could be applied to the development of aircraft construction.

The great designer has always been able to correctly interpret the tasks assigned to the future aircraft. When developing the ANT-31 in 1932, Tupolev was the first to understand the main task of a new generation of fighters - to catch up with the enemy. By the beginning of the war, the monoplane scheme had become the standard for all fighters in the world. And in 1950, he realized the advantage of heavy jet bombers over piston-engine aircraft, starting to design the Tu-16, which later amazed many specialists.

Tupolev loved well-detailed preliminary layouts. He said: "The more details they drew, the more problems they thought about." He spoke about careless layouts: "They smeared it without thinking." Tupolev also did not tolerate speculative conclusions. Wherever, at whatever level the meeting took place, he made decisions only on the basis of experimental results or those obtained in the course of careful calculations.

To eliminate the defects identified at the stage of flight tests, Tupolev organized a wide technical process with the participation of specialists from various industries. He devoted a lot of time to working with aircraft crews, contributing to the improvement of their theoretical and practical training. For this, aerobatic training stands for pilots were created. Before the first flight, Tupolev talked for a long time with the pilots, told them about the creation of the aircraft, thereby instilling his confidence in the apparatus. And after the flight, he asked for detailed stories about what the pilots had learned and felt. Of course, the designer had to witness the catastrophes and accidents of his test and production aircraft. People were dying, and, feeling his responsibility to their families, Andrei Nikolaevich used all his authority and influence to help the families of the victims, seeking pensions and benefits. In addition, he conducted a thorough search for the causes of what happened, eliminated all defects and defended the need to continue testing this model in disputes with management. As a rule, his arguments were accepted, and then the aircraft was successfully operated for a long time (for example, this was the case with the Tu-134). Later, Tupolev came up with a service for the operation of mass-produced aircraft. Based on the data she collected, decisions were made on the further modernization of the aircraft.

Tu-134

In total, under the leadership of Andrei Nikolaevich, more than fifty original aircraft and about a hundred different modifications were created. His aircraft set more than a hundred world records for range, flight speed and payload. The main line of Tupolev's work was heavy aircraft with a high payload. In 1958, under his leadership, a unique passenger aircraft Tu-114 was created, which was far ahead of its time. The reliable ultra-long-range airbus has won long-haul lines for many years, having no analogues in terms of economic efficiency. Tu-114 worked on international lines, flying across the ocean to Cuba and America. During the years of operation, thirty-two world records have been set by aircraft of this series and there are no data in the flight accident column. And the supersonic passenger liner Tu-144, which appeared in 1968, became famous not only in the USSR, but throughout the world.

Tu-114

Tupolev, soberly assessing the importance of money, always stated: “The creation of a small aircraft requires little money and a lot of work. A big plane means a lot of work, and a lot of money, too.”

Andrei Nikolaevich was a well-known statesman and public figure - a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the Moscow City Council, a member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. His speeches were always distinguished by emotionality and breadth of judgments, they expressed hopes for a brighter future for mankind. Tupolev was three times Hero of Socialist Labor, laureate of many State Prizes, holder of numerous orders and medals. What is especially curious is the famous scientist was awarded the Leonardo da Vinci Prize and the gold medal of the society of the founders of aviation in France. He was elected an honorary member of the Royal Society of Aeronautics of Great Britain and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

According to eyewitnesses, Tupolev had an almost supernatural ability to accurately guess the place where the aircraft took off from the ground during acceleration and the place where the aircraft would end its run after landing. Tupolev showed such a gift more than once or twice, even in unusual situations like taking off an extremely overloaded aircraft.

As a talented scientist and designer, head of a huge team of many thousands of engineers, technologists, test pilots, technicians and workers, Andrey Nikolayevich always remained a very simple and friendly person, adored his family, nature, company of friends, delicious food. In everyday life, Tupolev was extremely conservative, preferring to wear old but comfortable jackets, trousers, and shoes. It was very difficult to get him to buy a new thing. Andrei Tupolev met his wife while still a student and all his life he loved only her. Yulia Nikolaevna accompanied him wherever possible: on business trips abroad, at scientific conferences, solemn and friendly open receptions. Often in a large company, she was the only woman. Knowing foreign languages ​​well, Yulia Nikolaevna helped Tupolev in negotiations with foreigners.

It is known that Andrei Nikolayevich involved his wife in the design of the passenger compartments of the Tu-70 and Tu-104 aircraft. Yulia Nikolaevna enthusiastically chose the colors of the material for the salon and armchairs, the equipment of the interior and kitchen, being a supporter of the Russian traditional style. It is safe to say that she was one of the first designers of the OKB.

Andrei Tupolev loved to travel. As part of official delegations and on business trips, he visited many countries, where he studied not only science and technology, but also nature, people, and local customs. On vacation, he preferred to hunt, fish, play volleyball. I was especially happy when I managed to go with my family and closest friends to nature, sit by the fire, cook fish soup. He went to the theater and cinema, listened to music, but due to being busy, and in recent years due to illness, he could not devote much time to this. But regularly, before going to bed, I read works of art. In his home library, in addition to numerous technical books and magazines, books by A.S. Pushkin, L.N. Tolstoy, A.T. Tvardovsky, D. Galsworthy, Plutarch. Tupolev remembered many poems and quoted them from time to time. In general, his speech was distinguished by brevity and capacity, many phrases became aphorisms.

Andrei Nikolaevich had one habit. He always brought home something tasty from guests or from an official reception: a cake, an apple, a pie. Many colleagues, knowing this, specially wrapped Tupolev treats "for the house."

When grandchildren appeared - first Yulia, and later Andryusha and Tanya - Andrei Nikolaevich began to spend all his free time with them. Tupolev often picked up carpentry tools and carved wooden toys for his grandchildren.

Unfortunately, Yulia Nikolaevna was in poor health, and in the post-war years, Andrei Nikolaevich was accompanied by his daughter, Yulia Andreevna, on numerous trips. After the death of his wife in 1962, Tupolev lost weight, became more withdrawn and thoughtful, but did not work less. His daughter was at home with him most of the time. Tupolev held her medical expertise in high regard, not taking any medication or medical procedure without her daughter's approval.

Andrei Nikolaevich maintained friendly relations with I.V. Kurchatov, A.P. Vinogradov, A.T. Tvardovsky, M.V. Keldysh, P.L. Kapitsa and many other prominent people of that time. S.P. often came to talk to him. Korolev, who later said that he studied the style of work with Andrei Nikolaevich. Under the guidance of Tupolev, Korolev made his graduation project, and also worked a little in his assembly shop.

Until the last days of his life, Tupolev retained a firm memory and a clear mind, was interested in everything and participated in the most important affairs of his Design Bureau. Talking in the MGTS hospital on December 22, 1972, with his son and daughter who visited him, eighty-four-year-old Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev laughed and joked, made plans for a trip to the Crimea. When they left late in the evening, he fell asleep and did not wake up again.

Andrei Nikolaevich was born on October 29, 1888, in a large family in the village of Pustomazovo, located on the territory of the modern Kalinin region. His mother, Anna Vasilievna, was the daughter of a judicial investigator from Tiflis. She was well educated, knew several languages, played the piano beautifully, took care of all the housework, and independently gave the children a primary education. Father, Nikolai Ivanovich Tupolev, was from the Siberian Cossacks, originally from Surgut. He worked as a notary of the district court, but did not like his job, and therefore he acquired a small plot of land, settled on it and began to farm.

Andrei Tupolev later recalled: “We lived modestly. I had older brothers Sergei and Nikolai, as well as sisters Natalia, Tatyana, Vera and Maria. Mother gave us all her strength, her whole soul. Our family was very large and friendly. Not patriarchal, but certainly progressive.”

Since 1901, Andrei Nikolaevich studied at the Tver gymnasium, about which he later wrote: “In order for the children to study, the whole family had to move to Tver. Our class was friendly, however, it was not accepted to study well. I just tried to keep up with my peers. I didn't have any toys in Pustomazovo. They were expensive and I made them myself out of wood. And in the gymnasium there were lessons of manual labor. Here I could engage in carpentry, some of my things even got to the exhibition. While studying at the gymnasium, I realized that I love technology, I realized that I need to go in this direction. In the autumn of 1908, Andrei Tupolev successfully passed the exams in two educational institutions in Moscow: the Institute of Railway Engineers and IMTU. He chose IMTU.

Andrey Nikolaevich recalled about the first years in Moscow: “Money was constantly lacking. Once it got really bad, and then I decided to pawn my inferior coat in a pawnshop. I was looking for a pawnshop, and it seemed to me that everyone was looking at me, at the coat under my arm. I was never able to find a pawnshop and returned hungry that day. Fortunately, the next day, three rubles came from home.”

In October 1909, lectures on aeronautics at IMTU began to be read by N.E. Zhukovsky, who also headed the Aeronautical Circle, formed on the initiative of students. In December of the same year, Tupolev joined the circle, for whom his acquaintance with Nikolai Yegorovich was of crucial importance. He himself said that "from that moment my aviation life began." Just four months later, Andrei Tupolev became one of the most active members of the circle. His works - a flat wind tunnel and a model aircraft - attracted the attention of people at the held aeronautical exhibition.

After the end of the exhibition, the students began testing the balancing glider they had created. And the funds raised from ticket sales, together with a number of private donations, made it possible for the circle to start developing its own airplane. However, in the spring of 1911, Andrei's studies were unexpectedly interrupted. Having received from an unknown source information about Tupolev's political unreliability, a search was made in his room, and he himself was detained. One of the first to try to help out the future designer Zhukovsky, who announced that his student was busy in the circle and had no time for "extraneous" things. An attempt to release Tupolev from custody was also made by the director of IMTU Gavrilenko. Despite all the petitions, Andrei Nikolaevich was released only in April due to the death of his father. He was also forbidden to live exactly one year in any cities with higher educational institutions.

Tupolev spent about two and a half years in his native village, doing things far from aviation. He wrote: “When I returned home, I had the difficult task of burying my father. Things were not going well for our family. But I was young and strong. Having cultivated the land well, I planted vegetables. Gradually, things began to improve.”

On February 6, 1913, police supervision of A.N. Tupolev was canceled, and in the fall of this year he managed to recover at the ITU, continuing to work in the aerodynamic laboratory, built on the basis of the old circle. Over the next year, he quickly became one of Zhukovsky's most active students, showing the ability of both a scientific researcher and a designer.

After the outbreak of the First World War, the military department turned to Nikolai Yegorovich on the issues of purging and examining the details of the aircraft in service. A sharp increase in the volume of work made it possible, with the support of the military, to organize the first Russian Aviation Design and Test Bureau in the summer of 1916. Professor Zhukovsky headed it, and Tupolev became one of his assistants in the position of head of laboratory facilities. In parallel with his research work, Andrey Nikolayevich managed to do aerodynamic calculations. In 1916, he calculated the Anatra airplane and the fighter of the Kosyanenko brothers. On the recommendation of Zhukovsky, student Andrey Tupolev was involved in work in the commission developing the strength standards for airplanes, in which, in addition to him, professors A.P. Van der Fleet, G.A. Botezat, S.P. Timoshenko.

In 1916, Andrei Nikolaevich for some time led the design of a hydroplane at the Duks plant. Here is what he himself wrote about this: “I had a meager experience, but I really wanted to try. Created a design bureau, began to create a seaplane. But the technical director of the plant, returning from France, brought a patent for the construction of the French model. They didn’t call me, they just informed me through people that they would build a foreign aircraft, and not one designed by me. I was young at that time, offended, took the drawings and left. However, later the drawings still came in handy, becoming the basis of Tupolev's diploma.

The revolution in Russia did not interrupt the work of the Design and Test Bureau; at the end of the summer of 1918, A.N. Tupolev headed the direction of aerodynamic calculations and instrument design. In the same year, he received the title of mechanical engineer, defending with honors a project entitled "Experience in creating a hydroplane according to wind tunnel tests." In 1920, Tupolev tried himself as a teacher, giving a course of lectures "Fundamentals of Aerodynamic Calculation" at the Moscow Higher Technical School. The following year, he was already entrusted with the "Theory of Airplanes", "Theory of Hydroplanes", "Normal and Special Design of Hydroplanes", as well as the course "Hydroaviation" at the Institute. NOT. Zhukovsky.

Soon, Nikolai Yegorovich and a number of his closest associates came to the conclusion that the further development of aircraft manufacturing in the country was possible only if there was a powerful research base. The idea to create a scientific aerohydrodynamic institute was personally supported by V.I. Lenin and in December 1918 he began his activities. The Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI for short) was headed by Zhukovsky, while Tupolev became the head of the aviation department. From the very beginning, he set before his employees completely non-aerohydrodynamic tasks aimed at developing a whole range of scientific developments necessary in the future for aircraft construction. The institute studied aviation alloys and their protection against corrosion, aircraft engines, the strength of aircraft structures, flight test methods, and much more. After the death of Zhukovsky, Tupolev continued his work on the further development and expansion of TsAGI. To solve emerging issues, he widely attracted specialists and scientists from various fields of science.

In the life of Andrei Nikolaevich, a goal appeared - to create a whole new industry, the aviation industry, capable of mass developing and producing aircraft. In 1924, thanks to Tupolev's proposal, the country's top leadership decided to create a metallurgical base for aircraft construction, which made it possible to produce special aviation materials in large quantities. At the insistence of Tupolev, light magnesium alloys were developed in the 30s, and high-strength aluminum alloys for high-speed aircraft in the late 40s. At the end of the 60s, new aluminum-based heat-resistant alloys for supersonic aircraft appeared. It was Tupolev who first began to use high-strength chromansil steel, fiberglass and some other non-metallic materials. A special laboratory was organized to create and study them.

In 1923, Tupolev created the all-metal highly reliable snowmobile ANT-P, the experience gained later allowed him to develop new designs of gliders and marine torpedo boats, mass-produced during the Great Patriotic War. And in 1924, flight tests of the first all-metal aircraft ANT-2 ended in success.

ANT-2

Step by step, using the example of foreign models and our own experience, production and design teams were formed at TsAGI, production facilities and workshops were expanded, and new buildings were built. Becoming in 1936 the chief engineer of the Main Directorate of the Aviation Industry, A.N. Tupolev begins to rebuild old and build new aircraft factories for the mass production of aircraft. To do this, he makes extensive use of advanced imported equipment, and also follows the principles used in the US automotive industry, which he had the opportunity to learn during a number of business trips. Thanks to Andrei Nikolaevich, technological processes developed abroad, including cladding and anodizing, were introduced. These events helped to organize the mass production of aircraft during the war years. Also, Tupolev was one of the first to understand the need to use computers to improve calculation methods and increase the number of factors taken into account, creating one of the first computing centers.

Each new Tupolev aircraft was an event in technology. Based on the experience gained, he included in each project only the most minimal amount of new, using the path of a consistent structure of aircraft. For example, the aircraft "77", "73" and "82" served as the stages for the creation of the Tu-16 twin-engine jet bomber. Among the aircraft created by Tupolev were not mass-produced models, but there were no unfinished, unable to fly.

Tu-16

After the end of the war, Tupolev launched the construction of new laboratory and production buildings, specialized workshops and branches, and founded a flight development base. Not forgetting about his employees, he sought the construction of new houses and recreation centers for them, garden cooperatives and kindergartens.

Tupolev is the author of many unique technical solutions, such as a prototyping method capable of solving spatial layout problems on wooden models, or the creation of entire flying laboratories for testing engines and other aircraft systems. Eyewitnesses said that wherever Andrei Nikolayevich was, whatever he did, his head constantly thought - what of what he had read, heard or seen could be applied to the development of aircraft construction.

The great designer has always been able to correctly interpret the tasks assigned to the future aircraft. When developing the ANT-31 in 1932, Tupolev was the first to understand the main task of a new generation of fighters - to catch up with the enemy. By the beginning of the war, the monoplane scheme had become the standard for all fighters in the world. And in 1950, he realized the advantage of heavy jet bombers over piston-engine aircraft, starting to design the Tu-16, which later amazed many specialists.

Tupolev loved well-detailed preliminary layouts. He said: "The more details they drew, the more problems they thought about." He spoke about careless layouts: "They smeared it without thinking." Tupolev also did not tolerate speculative conclusions. Wherever, at whatever level the meeting took place, he made decisions only on the basis of experimental results or those obtained in the course of careful calculations.

To eliminate the defects identified at the stage of flight tests, Tupolev organized a wide technical process with the participation of specialists from various industries. He devoted a lot of time to working with aircraft crews, contributing to the improvement of their theoretical and practical training. For this, aerobatic training stands for pilots were created. Before the first flight, Tupolev talked for a long time with the pilots, told them about the creation of the aircraft, thereby instilling his confidence in the apparatus. And after the flight, he asked for detailed stories about what the pilots had learned and felt. Of course, the designer had to witness the catastrophes and accidents of his test and production aircraft. People were dying, and, feeling his responsibility to their families, Andrei Nikolaevich used all his authority and influence to help the families of the victims, seeking pensions and benefits. In addition, he conducted a thorough search for the causes of what happened, eliminated all defects and defended the need to continue testing this model in disputes with management. As a rule, his arguments were accepted, and then the aircraft was successfully operated for a long time (for example, this was the case with the Tu-134). Later, Tupolev came up with a service for the operation of mass-produced aircraft. Based on the data she collected, decisions were made on the further modernization of the aircraft.

Tu-134

In total, under the leadership of Andrei Nikolaevich, more than fifty original aircraft and about a hundred different modifications were created. His aircraft set more than a hundred world records for range, flight speed and payload. The main line of Tupolev's work was heavy aircraft with a high payload. In 1958, under his leadership, a unique passenger aircraft Tu-114 was created, which was far ahead of its time. The reliable ultra-long-range airbus has won long-haul lines for many years, having no analogues in terms of economic efficiency. Tu-114 worked on international lines, flying across the ocean to Cuba and America. During the years of operation, thirty-two world records have been set by aircraft of this series and there are no data in the flight accident column. And the supersonic passenger liner Tu-144, which appeared in 1968, became famous not only in the USSR, but throughout the world.

Tu-114

Tupolev, soberly assessing the importance of money, always stated: “The creation of a small aircraft requires little money and a lot of work. A big plane means a lot of work, and a lot of money, too.”

Andrei Nikolaevich was a well-known statesman and public figure - a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the Moscow City Council, a member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. His speeches were always distinguished by emotionality and breadth of judgments, they expressed hopes for a brighter future for mankind. Tupolev was three times Hero of Socialist Labor, laureate of many State Prizes, holder of numerous orders and medals. What is especially curious is the famous scientist was awarded the Leonardo da Vinci Prize and the gold medal of the society of the founders of aviation in France. He was elected an honorary member of the Royal Society of Aeronautics of Great Britain and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

According to eyewitnesses, Tupolev had an almost supernatural ability to accurately guess the place where the aircraft took off from the ground during acceleration and the place where the aircraft would end its run after landing. Tupolev showed such a gift more than once or twice, even in unusual situations like taking off an extremely overloaded aircraft.

As a talented scientist and designer, head of a huge team of many thousands of engineers, technologists, test pilots, technicians and workers, Andrey Nikolayevich always remained a very simple and friendly person, adored his family, nature, company of friends, delicious food. In everyday life, Tupolev was extremely conservative, preferring to wear old but comfortable jackets, trousers, and shoes. It was very difficult to get him to buy a new thing. Andrei Tupolev met his wife while still a student and all his life he loved only her. Yulia Nikolaevna accompanied him wherever possible: on business trips abroad, at scientific conferences, solemn and friendly open receptions. Often in a large company, she was the only woman. Knowing foreign languages ​​well, Yulia Nikolaevna helped Tupolev in negotiations with foreigners.

It is known that Andrei Nikolayevich involved his wife in the design of the passenger compartments of the Tu-70 and Tu-104 aircraft. Yulia Nikolaevna enthusiastically chose the colors of the material for the salon and armchairs, the equipment of the interior and kitchen, being a supporter of the Russian traditional style. It is safe to say that she was one of the first designers of the OKB.

Andrei Tupolev loved to travel. As part of official delegations and on business trips, he visited many countries, where he studied not only science and technology, but also nature, people, and local customs. On vacation, he preferred to hunt, fish, play volleyball. I was especially happy when I managed to go with my family and closest friends to nature, sit by the fire, cook fish soup. He went to the theater and cinema, listened to music, but due to being busy, and in recent years due to illness, he could not devote much time to this. But regularly, before going to bed, I read works of art. In his home library, in addition to numerous technical books and magazines, books by A.S. Pushkin, L.N. Tolstoy, A.T. Tvardovsky, D. Galsworthy, Plutarch. Tupolev remembered many poems and quoted them from time to time. In general, his speech was distinguished by brevity and capacity, many phrases became aphorisms.

Andrei Nikolaevich had one habit. He always brought home something tasty from guests or from an official reception: a cake, an apple, a pie. Many colleagues, knowing this, specially wrapped Tupolev treats "for the house."

When grandchildren appeared - first Yulia, and later Andryusha and Tanya - Andrei Nikolaevich began to spend all his free time with them. Tupolev often picked up carpentry tools and carved wooden toys for his grandchildren.

Unfortunately, Yulia Nikolaevna was in poor health, and in the post-war years, Andrei Nikolaevich was accompanied by his daughter, Yulia Andreevna, on numerous trips. After the death of his wife in 1962, Tupolev lost weight, became more withdrawn and thoughtful, but did not work less. His daughter was at home with him most of the time. Tupolev held her medical expertise in high regard, not taking any medication or medical procedure without her daughter's approval.

Andrei Nikolaevich maintained friendly relations with I.V. Kurchatov, A.P. Vinogradov, A.T. Tvardovsky, M.V. Keldysh, P.L. Kapitsa and many other prominent people of that time. S.P. often came to talk to him. Korolev, who later said that he studied the style of work with Andrei Nikolaevich. Under the guidance of Tupolev, Korolev made his graduation project, and also worked a little in his assembly shop.

Until the last days of his life, Tupolev retained a firm memory and a clear mind, was interested in everything and participated in the most important affairs of his Design Bureau. Talking in the MGTS hospital on December 22, 1972, with his son and daughter who visited him, eighty-four-year-old Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev laughed and joked, made plans for a trip to the Crimea. When they left late in the evening, he fell asleep and did not wake up again.

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Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev was born on November 10 (October 29, old style) 1888 in the village of Pustomazovo near the city of Kimry, Tver province (region) in a large family. His mother was from the nobility, his father was from commoners.

In 1906, Andrei Tupolev graduated from the gymnasium in the city of Tver.

In 1908 he entered the Imperial Moscow Technical School (later MVTU). While studying under the guidance of Nikolai Zhukovsky, he began to study in an aeronautical circle. In 1910 he made the first flight in a glider, in the construction of which he participated.

In 1911, Tupolev was expelled from the school for participating in student unrest and sent home 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 he was a member of the TsAGI collegium.

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

In 1922-1936, Andrey Tupolev was one of the founders of the TsAGI scientific and technical base, 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 - chain-aluminum, 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 combat all-metal aircraft (ANT-3), which was built in series, as well as the first all-metal monoplane bomber (ANT-4, 1925).

Andrei Tupolev developed and put into practice the technology of large-scale production of light and heavy metal aircraft. Under his leadership, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, fighters, passenger, transport, marine, special record-breaking aircraft, as well as snowmobiles, torpedo boats, gondolas, power plants and the plumage 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 Experimental Construction Sector, since 1933 - Deputy Head of TsAGI for the Experimental 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 the Aviation Industry of the People's Commissariat for Heavy Industry (NKTP), formed the strategic direction for the development of Soviet aviation, science and technology.

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

While imprisoned, he worked at TsKB-29 ("Special Technical Bureau of the NKVD of the USSR"), later called "Tupolev Sharaga". Here Tupolev created the front-line bomber "103" (Tu-2).

On July 19, 1941, he was released ahead of schedule from further serving his sentence with the removal of a criminal record. He was rehabilitated by the decision of the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR of April 9, 1955.

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

In 1943, he returned to Moscow and was appointed chief designer and responsible head of the aircraft plant No. 156, where the main base of the design bureau (OKB) A.N. 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 aircraft set 78 world records, performed 28 unique flights, including the rescue of the crew of the Chelyuskin steamer on ANT-4, non-stop flights to the United States over the North Pole by the crews of Valery Chkalov and Mikhail Gromov on ANT-25, the landing of the scientific expedition Severny pole" headed by Ivan Papanin.

A large number of bombers, 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 in 1941-1945.

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

Tupolev's planes became the backbone of Aeroflot's aircraft fleet and were operated in dozens of countries.

Andrei Tupolev had the military rank of colonel general of the engineering service, was elected a full member of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1953), an honorary member of the Royal Society of Aeronautics of Great Britain (1970) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (1971); he was awarded a prize and a 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 and 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 Andrey Tupolev. Memorial plaques have been installed on the buildings in Moscow and Omsk where Andrei Tupolev worked.

In the city of Kimry, Tver region, a bronze bust of Tupolev was installed. In 2005, a memorial composition was opened on the site of the Tupolevs' estate in Pustomazovo and a memorial stone was erected.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources

He was born on November 10 (October 29 according to the old style), 1888 in the village of Pustomazovo near the city of Kimry, Tver province (region) in a large family. His mother was from the nobility, his father was from commoners.

In 1906, Andrei Tupolev graduated from the gymnasium in the city of Tver.

In 1908 he entered the Imperial Moscow Technical School (later MVTU). While studying under the guidance of Nikolai Zhukovsky, he began to study in an aeronautical circle. In 1910 he made the first flight in a glider, in the construction of which he participated.

In 1911, Tupolev was expelled from the school for participating in student unrest and sent home 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 he was a member of the board of TsAGI.

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

In 1922-1936, Andrey Tupolev was one of the founders of the TsAGI scientific and technical base, 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 - chain-aluminum, 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 combat all-metal aircraft (ANT-3), which was built in series, as well as the first all-metal monoplane bomber (ANT-4, 1925).

Andrei Tupolev developed and put into practice the technology of large-scale production of light and heavy metal aircraft. Under his leadership, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, fighters, passenger, transport, marine, special record-breaking aircraft, as well as snowmobiles, torpedo boats, gondolas, power plants and the plumage 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 Experimental Construction Sector, since 1933 - Deputy Head of TsAGI for the Experimental 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 the Aviation Industry of the People's Commissariat for Heavy Industry (NKTP), formed the strategic direction for the development of Soviet aviation, science and technology.

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

While imprisoned, he worked at TsKB-29 ("Special Technical Bureau of the NKVD of the USSR"), later called "Tupolev Sharaga". Here Tupolev created the front-line bomber "103" (Tu-2).

On July 19, 1941, he was released ahead of schedule from further serving his sentence with the removal of a criminal record. He was rehabilitated by the decision of the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR of April 9, 1955.

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

In 1943, he returned to Moscow and was appointed chief designer and responsible head of the aircraft plant No. 156, where the main base of the design bureau (OKB) A.N. 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 aircraft set 78 world records, performed 28 unique flights, including the rescue of the crew of the Chelyuskin steamer on ANT-4, non-stop flights to the United States over the North Pole by the crews of Valery Chkalov and Mikhail Gromov on ANT-25, the landing of the scientific expedition Severny pole" headed by Ivan Papanin.

A large number of bombers, 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 in 1941-1945.

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

Tupolev's planes became the backbone of Aeroflot's aircraft fleet and were operated in dozens of countries.

Andrei Tupolev had the military rank of colonel general of the engineering service, was elected a full member of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1953), an honorary member of the Royal Society of Aeronautics of Great Britain (1970) and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (1971); he was awarded a prize and a 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 and Sports Federation (FAI). He was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor three times (1945, 1957, 1972).

He was awarded eight Orders of Lenin, two Orders of the Red Banner of Labour, Orders of the October Revolution, Orders of Suvorov 2nd Class, Patriotic War 1st Class, Red Star, "Badge of Honor", medals, as well as foreign orders. Honorary citizen of Paris (France), New York (USA) and the city of Zhukovsky, Moscow Region.

Tupolev was married to Yulia Nikolaevna Tupoleva (1894-1962). The family had two children. Son - Alexei Tupolev, professor, general designer of the Tupolev Design Bureau (1973-2001). Daughter - Yulia Tupoleva, doctor

The name of Andrey Tupolev is carried by the continuer of the traditions of the A. N. Tupolev Design Bureau - Tupolev OJSC, which is part of the United Aircraft Corporation OJSC, 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 Andrey Tupolev. Memorial plaques have been installed on the buildings in Moscow and Omsk where Andrei Tupolev worked.

In the city of Kimry, Tver region, a bronze bust of Tupolev was installed. In 2005, a memorial composition was opened on the site of the Tupolevs' estate in Pustomazovo and a memorial stone was erected.

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