Andrey Nikolaevich Tupolev. Great aircraft designer of Russia
From 1901, Andrey 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. In Pustomazov I did not have any toys. They were expensive, and I made them myself from wood. And in the gymnasium there were lessons of manual labor. Here I could do carpentry, some of my things even got to the exhibition. Studying in the gymnasium, I realized that I love the technique, I realized that I need to go in this direction. ” In the autumn of 1908, Andrey Tupolev successfully passed the exams at two educational institutions in Moscow: the Institute of Railway Engineers and IMTU. He chose IMTU.
In October 1909, N.E. began to give lectures on aeronautics at IMTU. Zhukovsky, who also headed the Aeronautical Circle, formed at the initiative of students. In December of the same year, Tupolev joined the circle, for whom acquaintance with Nikolai Egorovich had a fateful significance. He himself said that “from this moment my aviation a life". After only four months, Andrey Tupolev became one of the most active members of the circle. His work - a flat wind tunnel and an airplane model - attracted people's attention at the aeronautical exhibition.
After the end of the exhibition, the students began to test the balance glider they had created. And the funds raised from ticket sales, in conjunction with a number of private donations, made it possible to start developing a private airplane in a circle. However, in the spring of 1911, Andrei’s school was unexpectedly interrupted. After receiving information about the political unreliability of Tupolev from an unknown source, a search was conducted in his room, and he himself was detained. One of the first tried to help out the future designer Zhukovsky, who declared that his student was in the circle and had no time for "outside" matters. The director of IMTU Gavrilenko made an attempt to release Tupolev from custody. Despite all the petitions, Andrei Nikolayevich was released only in April because of the death of his father. He was also forbidden to live for exactly one year in any cities with higher education institutions.
6 February 1913 year police supervision over A.N. Tupolev was canceled, and this fall he managed to recover at the ITU, continuing work in the aerodynamic laboratory, built on the basis of the old circle. Over the next year, he quickly became one of the most active students of Zhukovsky, demonstrating the abilities 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 blowing and investigating the details of the aircraft in service. With the support of the military, a sharp increase in the scope of work allowed the first Russian Aviation Settlement and Testing Bureau to be organized in the summer of 1916. He was headed by Professor Zhukovsky, and Tupolev became one of his assistants as the head of laboratory facilities. In parallel with the research work, Andrei Nikolaevich managed to do aerodynamic calculations. For the 1916 year, he calculated the Anatra airplane and the Kosyanenko brothers fighter. On the recommendation of Zhukovsky, a student, Andrey Tupolev, was recruited to work in a commission that develops strength standards for airplanes, in which, apart from him, Professor A.P. Fan der Fleet, G.A. Botezat, S.P. Tymoshenko.
The revolution in Russia did not interrupt the work of the Calculation and Testing 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, with honors defended a project called “Experience in creating a hydroplane from wind tunnel tests”. In the 1920 year, Tupolev tried himself as a teacher, reading in the Moscow Higher Technical School a course of lectures "Fundamentals of aerodynamic calculation." The following year, he was already assigned 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 Egorovich and a number of his closest associates came to the conclusion that further development of aircraft construction in the country is possible only with a powerful research base. The idea to create a scientific hydrodynamic institute was supported personally by V.I. Lenin and in December 1918 th he began his activities. The Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (abbreviated TsAGI) headed Zhukovsky, while Tupolev became the head of the aviation department. From the very beginning, he set before the staff not at all aero-hydrodynamic tasks aimed at the development of the whole complex of scientific developments necessary in the future for aircraft construction. The institute studied aircraft 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 address 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 branch, the aviation industry, capable of massively developing and producing airplanes. In the 1924 year, thanks to the proposal of Tupolev, the top leadership of the country made a decision to create a metallurgical base for aircraft manufacturing, which made it possible to produce special aviation materials in large quantities. At the insistence of Tupolev, light magnesium alloys were developed in 30, and at the end of 40, high-strength aluminum alloys for high-speed aircraft. At the end of the 60s, new heat-resistant aluminum-based alloys for supersonic aircraft appeared. It was Tupolev who first began to use high-strength steel, chromedic, glass fiber and some other non-metallic materials. A special laboratory was organized to create and research them.
In the 1923 year, Tupolev created ANT-P all-metal highly reliable snowmobiles, the experience gained further allowed him to develop new designs for gliders and marine torpedo boats, mass-produced during the Great Patriotic War. And in 1924, the flight tests of the first all-metal ANT-2 aircraft ended in success.
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, new buildings were built. Becoming in 1936-th year, the chief engineer of the General Directorate of the aviation industry, A.N. Tupolev begins to rebuild old and build new aircraft factories for mass production of aircraft. To this end, he makes extensive use of advanced imported equipment, and also follows the principles used in the US auto industry, which he had the opportunity to study during a series of business trips. Thanks to Andrei Nikolaevich, technological processes developed abroad, including cladding and anodizing, were introduced. These events helped in the war years to organize the mass production of aircraft. Tupolev was also 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 engineering. 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 77, 73 and 82 aircraft served as stages for the creation of the Tu-16 jet twin-engined bomber. Among the airplanes created by the Tupolev were not commercially produced models, but there were no unfinished ones unable to fly.
After the end of the war, Tupolev launched the construction of new laboratory and production buildings, specialized workshops and branches, and he founded a flight-development base. Not forgetting about his employees, he sought to build for them new homes and recreation centers, garden cooperatives and kindergartens.
Tupolev is the author of many unique technical solutions, such as the prototyping method, capable of solving spatial layout tasks on wooden models, or creating entire flying laboratories for testing engines and other aircraft systems. Eyewitnesses said that wherever Andrei Nikolayevich would be, so that he would not do, his head was constantly thinking that from what was read, heard or what he saw could be applied to the development of aircraft construction.
The great designer always knew how to correctly interpret the tasks assigned to the future aircraft. When developing in the 1932 year, ANT-31, Tupolev was the first to understand the main task of the fighters of the new generation - to overtake the enemy. By the beginning of the war, the monoplane scheme had become the standard for all the fighters in the world. And in 1950, he realized the advantage of heavy jet bombers over piston-engined airplanes, starting to design the Tu-16, which later hit many specialists.
To eliminate the defects revealed at the flight test stage, Tupolev organized a broad technical process with the participation of specialists from various industries. He devoted much time to working with the crews of airplanes, contributing to the improvement of their theoretical and practical training. To this end, piloting training stands for pilots were created. Before the first flight, Tupolev spent a long time talking with the pilots, telling them about the creation of the aircraft, thus instilling his confidence in the vehicle. And after the flight I asked for detailed stories about what the pilots knew and felt. Of course, the designer had to witness accidents and accidents of his test and serial aircraft. People died, and, feeling their responsibility to their families, Andrei Nikolayevich used all his authority and influence to help the families of the deceased, seeking pensions and benefits. In addition, he conducted a thorough search for the causes of the incident, eliminated all defects and defended the need to continue testing this model in disputes with management. As a rule, his arguments were accepted, and the aircraft was then successfully and successfully exploited (for example, this was the case with the Tu-134). Later, Tupolev invented the service of operating a mass-produced aircraft. On the basis of the data collected by her, decisions were made to further modernize the aircraft.
In total, more than fifty original aircraft and about a hundred different modifications were created under the leadership of Andrei Nikolaevich. His planes set more than one hundred world records for range, flight speed and payload. The main line of creativity Tupolev were heavy aircraft with high payload. In 1958, under his leadership, a unique passenger aircraft Tu-114 was created, far ahead of its time. A reliable ultra-long-haul Airbus has won leadership on long-haul lines for many years, having no analogues in economic efficiency. Tu-114 worked on international lines, making flights across the ocean to Cuba and to America. During the years of operation, the aircraft of this series set thirty-two world records and there are no data in the flight incident column. And the supersonic passenger airliner Tu-1968, which appeared in 144 year, became famous not only in the USSR, but throughout the world.
Andrei Nikolaevich was a well-known state and public figure - a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the Moscow Council, a member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. His performances have always been distinguished by emotionality and breadth of judgment, expressed hopes for a bright future for mankind. Tupolev was three times the Hero of Socialist Labor, the winner of many State awards, the owner of numerous orders and medals. What is particularly curious is the famous scientist was awarded the Leonardo da Vinci Prize and the gold medal of the French Aviation founders society. He was chosen to be honorary member of the Royal Aeronautics Society of Great Britain and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Being a talented scientist and designer, the leader of a huge, many thousands team of engineers, technologists, test pilots, technicians and workers, Andrey Nikolaevich 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. Making it buy a new thing managed with great difficulty. Andrey Tupolev met his wife while still a student and only loved her all his life. Yulia Nikolaevna accompanied him wherever it was possible: on business trips abroad, at scientific conferences, solemn and friendly open receptions. Often in a big company, she was the only woman. Knowing foreign languages well, Yulia Nikolaevna helped Tupolev in negotiations with foreigners.
Andrey 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 it turned out to go with my family and closest friends to nature, sit by the fire, cook soup. He went to the theater and cinema, listened to music, but because of employment, and in recent years and because of illnesses, 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 journals, books were kept by A.S. Pushkin, L.N. Tolstoy, A.T. Tvardovsky, D. Galsworthy, Plutarch. Tupolev remembered many poems and quoted them occasionally. In general, his speech differed in brevity and capacity, many phrases became aphorisms.
When the grandchildren appeared - first Julia, and later Andryusha and Tanya - Andrei Nikolayevich began to spend all his free time with them. Often, Tupolev took in his hands carpentry tools and carved wooden toys for grandchildren.
Unfortunately, Yulia Nikolaevna had poor health, and in the post-war years, Andrei Nikolaevich was accompanied in numerous journeys by his daughter, Yulia Andreyevna. After the death of his wife in 1962, Tupolev lost weight, became more withdrawn and thoughtful, but did not work less. Daughter was with him at home almost all the time. Tupolev highly appreciated her medical experience without taking any medicine or medical procedure without the approval of her daughter.
Andrei Nikolaevich maintained friendly relations with I.V. Kurchatov, A.P. Vinogradov, A.T. Tvardovskim, M.V. Keldysh, P.L. Kapitsa and many other prominent people of the time. S.P. often came to him to talk. Korolev, who later said that he had studied the style of work with Andrei Nikolaevich. Under the leadership of Tupolev Korolev made his graduation project, and also worked a little in his assembly shop.
Until the last days of his life, Tupolev maintained a firm memory and a clear consciousness, was interested in everything and participated in the most important affairs of his OKB. Speaking at the MGNS 22 hospital on December 1972 of the year with visiting his son and daughter, 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 never woke up.
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