List of military test pilots heroes of the USSR. Seven outstanding Soviet test pilots. And you still decided to fulfill the dream

Test pilots are people whose fearlessness is to be envied. They deserve to be called heroes for the work they do. Read about the most famous test pilots who lived in different countries in the article.

What do aircraft testers do?

To get this profession, you need to measure your abilities and desires. A test pilot must have good health and such character traits as composure, courage, responsibility, courage. The intelligence of people in this profession should be high. In addition, without love for technology, there is nothing to do in the place of a person who has chosen this path.

Test pilots test the latest aircraft such as helicopters and airplanes. These people evaluate the quality of the aircraft, and if something is designed incorrectly, they return the iron birds for revision. However, this profession can be dangerous: possible errors of designers can lead to tragedy up to the death of the tester.

Who was the first test pilot?

You always have to start somewhere. When the described profession was not yet as widespread as it is today, people still conducted experimental flights on the first created aircraft and helicopters.

The Wright brothers were engineers and testers of their own aircraft, who made their first flight in the early twentieth century, namely on the eve of Christmas 1903. This test was captured in a photo, and the airplane itself can be seen as an exhibit of the National Air and Space Museum of the United States of America.

Alexander Fedorovich Mozhaisky became famous for testing an aircraft that he designed on his own, inspired by the work of French pilots, back in 1882. However, in one of the notes, compiled within the walls of the War Department in 1884, it is indicated that this device never took off. At present, there is no other evidence that could help us answer the question of whether the tests of Mozhaisky's aircraft were really unsuccessful.

It is believed that the first test pilots of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - Mikhail Mikhailovich Gromov and Andrei Borisovich Yumashev, who became famous in the thirties of the last century - assembled a "Gromov" set of military pilots before the start of World War II. Those who were included in their number tested a huge number of attack aircraft, bombers and fighters.

The first French aircraft testers

French test pilots are rightfully considered the pioneers of aviation. Since the end of the nineteenth century, many engineers have not only designed their own aircraft, but also tested them. The most famous Frenchmen who contributed to the development of aviation technology were:

• Clement Ader. The first flight of this test engineer took place on October 9, 1890 and was documented. Despite the fact that the design created by Ader obviously did not have sufficient potential for development, the name of this person is known all over the world, because it was he who first outlined the ideas of how aviation technology could be used for combat purposes.
• Louis Blériot became the first Frenchman to cross the English Channel in a self-designed aircraft without the use of catapults and railroads. He did so in July 1909. The scheme of the aircraft, which he proposed more than a hundred years ago, is used to this day. Only the capabilities of the components of the aircraft are improving, but the iron birds still correspond to the Louis Blériot scheme.

Soviet test pilots

Listing the outstanding test pilots from different countries, one cannot fail to mention the people of this profession who lived in the USSR. Our country can boast that it has nurtured such outstanding aviators as Valery Chkalov, Mikhail Gromov, Vladimir Averyanov (the photo is presented just above), Ivan Dziuba and others.

• Valery Chkalov is the owner of a dizzying career as an aviator. He has tested many aircraft, helicopters, fighters and bombers. In addition, he became the creator of several figures that were called aerobatics. These include "ascending corkscrew", "slow barrel". He took part in the creation of the latest aircraft, set several records for the duration of flights.
• Mikhail Gromov was a diversified person. He showed outstanding abilities in music and drawing, medical practice. He served not only as a test pilot, but also as a military doctor. Gromov set two international records in the field of aviation, more than once performed flights across Europe, China and Japan. For setting several records and courageously fulfilling his duty to the Fatherland, he was awarded the Order of Lenin.
• Many test pilots Soviet Union held high positions in military service. Among them is Vladimir Averyanov, a colonel who tested both jet bombers and passenger planes. He has a huge number of awards.
• Ivan Dziuba became a participant in the Great Patriotic War. In these scary times he proved to be an outstanding test pilot. On his account - more than two hundred and thirty-eight sorties and twenty-five air battles. He shot down six enemy planes personally, as well as two in the group. For services to the Fatherland, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and awarded the order Lenin, as well as the Gold Star medal.

Honored Aircraft Testers

Of course, the fearlessness of test pilots should be rewarded. In order to express appreciation and gratitude to these people, they are not only awarded various medals and orders, but also give a high rank. These are the Honored Test Pilots.

In the USSR and Russia, such aviators as Vladimir Averyanov, Sergey Anokhin, Alexander Fedotov and others wear it. Today there are 419 of them.

Pilot writers

One of the most famous pilots who had a talent for writing is the American Jimmy Collins. From his pen came out a collection of short stories called "Test Pilot". In this book, the author wrote short stories about what could happen to a person of his profession. Everything would be fine, but shortly before his death, he wrote the short story "I'm Dead" with the comment that it was prepared "in case he breaks." Unfortunately, it was published by his friend, journalist Winsten Archer.

Russian test pilots also had a talent for writing. Among them is Nikolai Zamyatin, who participated in the Great Patriotic war, and Vasily Ershov, whose works are the textbooks of current cadets.

Books written by test pilots do not lie, just as their authors do not lie, who put everything that they have to experience into their works.

test pilots

The new plane was brought to the airfield.

It stands on a green field, shining in the sun with a varnish of fresh color, the brilliance of metal parts. He's going to be tested. This is the most crucial moment of the birth of a new car. In the air space at different heights and different speeds it will be checked how the designer's intentions were realized.

This will be done by the test pilot. He will be the first to lift a new car into the air.

Perhaps there is no more noble, lofty and heroic profession among aviators than the profession of a test pilot.

Despite the fact that modern aviation science - aerodynamics, the science of aircraft strength, vibration - is a powerful weapon in the hands of a designer, nevertheless, the first flights of a new machine are fraught with many unexpected things. And the task of the test pilot is to identify everything that is not amenable to the calculations of the designer and scientific experiments in the design.

It is not so much the first flight that is dangerous, but the subsequent tests: checking the maximum speed, height, checking the machine for strength, vibration, spin, etc.

The art of a test pilot in this case can be compared with the art of a rider, for the first time driving around a young, restive horse. Only the case of a pilot is much more complex and dangerous than that of a rider. Just as a horse does not want to obey the will of the rider, it strives to throw it off, so the new aircraft stubbornly resists mastering it and seems to be trying to use every mistake of the designer and pilot ...

Therefore, the test pilot listens very carefully to the behavior of the machine, does not relax his vigilance for a minute until the machine has been studied in detail. It is not for nothing that test pilots say that with a new aircraft it is impossible to switch to “you” ahead of time.

Test pilots are inconspicuous, modest heroes who pave the way for new aviation technology.

I have met with many outstanding representatives of this profession - Chkalov, Piontkovsky, Suprun, Stefanovsky, Anokhin, Serov, I am also well acquainted with Gromov.

Each of them has its own distinct personality. But one thing is common to all of them - a deep, special love for aviation. Consciousness of duty to the Motherland, a sense of responsibility for the entrusted car, constant danger in flight left an imprint on them of some kind of extraordinary courageous modesty characteristic of real heroes. These are honest, noble people, people of duty. And personal communication with them fully convinces of this.

I first met Chkalov at an aircraft factory, where I came to work after graduating from the academy. At that time, he did not yet have the fame that came to him later. Getting to know him, I only knew that he was a soul-man, an excellent and recklessly brave pilot. All sorts of legends were already circulating about the courage of Valery Pavlovich.

At the plant, Chkalov showed the qualities necessary for the complex and responsible task of testing new aircraft. He was always burning with the desire to comprehend more fully, deeper and faster, as he said, the soul of a new machine. But Chkalov sometimes unnecessarily risked himself.

Meetings with Comrade Stalin played an exceptional role in his life.

On May 2, 1935, Iosif Vissarionovich arrived at the Frunze airfield. Among other pilots, Comrade Stalin was introduced to Valery Pavlovich. After asking him a few questions, Comrade Stalin asked why Chkalov, in case of danger, does not leave the car, using a parachute, but tries to save the plane.

The pilot replied that he was flying on experienced and very valuable machines, which it would be a pity to destroy. In critical situations, he tries to save the car and himself.

Comrade Stalin objected to this:

Your life is more valuable to us than any car.

These words had a strong effect on Chkalov. They made him fly more disciplined, more calm in the air.

Stalin's instructions were also exceptionally important that "courage and courage are the inalienable qualities of a hero," but that "courage and courage are only one side of heroism. The other side - no less important - is skill. Courage, they say, takes cities. But this is only when courage, courage, willingness to take risks are combined with excellent knowledge.

These instructions of the great leader were a guiding star not only for Chkalov, but for all Soviet pilots, especially for test pilots. They helped them to understand in a new way the meaning and significance of their responsible, heroic work.

Joseph Vissarionovich's paternal care for Chkalov helped him become a great pilot of our time.

Chkalov - stocky, squat, "oblique fathom in the shoulders", reminiscent of a bear, angular, straight in conversation, with a thick juicy voice, with a Volga accent on "o". It was always fun and interesting with him. He could endlessly, with enthusiasm, tell all kinds of cases from his easy life, and he had many such cases.

In contrast to the merry fellow and joker, lively and quick Chkalov, Piontkovsky was slow and laconic, although he also liked a good joke.

Piontkovsky told a lot and interestingly about our aviation in the period civil war, about the old, half-broken trophy "coffins", on which they had to fly for the first time.

Once, for example, Piontkovsky flew out on a combat mission with an observer in an old Sopwith two-seat airplane. After some time, the commander of the detachment receives a telegram from him: "They flew in, sat down firmly, send the platform."

This telegram was deciphered as follows: the engine failed, the pilot was forced to land in a swamp, the car crashed ...

Woe, not flights, - said Piontkovsky, - but did not lose heart ...

That's what surprised me at first in both pilots. We used to sit, have lunch, joke, joke from the heart, laugh, and more than all the Chkals. In an hour and a half, the testers will have a risky flight on a new aircraft. But no dark thoughts, no worries. Over time, I realized that this is how it should be. If the pilot loses his peace of mind, ceases to be confident in himself, in his abilities, he cannot curb the recalcitrant machine, he must finish the flight test work.

Although the designer usually does not know how to fly the aircraft, he needs to know the most subtle features of the behavior of the aircraft in the air. Therefore, mutual understanding between the designer and the test pilot is very important, they need to have a common language and agree without a word.

I look to the test pilot as my best assistant in the design of machines. Even a minute delay when returning from the next test flight is painful. You begin to worry, to build all sorts of assumptions - did something happen to the pilot and the car. And how a mountain falls off your shoulders when you see a rapidly increasing point in the sky - an airplane with a close and dear person returns to the airfield!

This feeling of anxiety is familiar to every designer. I have no doubt that, just as I did for Piontkovsky, Tupolev worried more than once for Gromov when he was the first to take his cars into the air and especially when he carried out the most important tests in preparation for the flight over the North Pole.

I am connected with Piontkovsky not only by long-term joint work on the creation of new aircraft, but also by one more thing. an important event in my life. We joined the party at the same time, and we were received at the same party meeting.

The meeting took place in a large hangar adapted for a club. The hangar was full. And, despite the fact that everyone was familiar, familiar people - workers, mechanics, everyone with whom I met every day in the workshops of the plant, at the airport, in the design bureau - the feeling of excitement did not leave me for a minute.

One by one, the workers and engineers who had submitted applications came out onto the stage, towards the presidium.

Suddenly there was a great noise in the hall, all heads turned towards the exit. There was applause. Turning around, I saw the characteristic tall, stooping figure of a man in a light light coat, with an embroidered skullcap on his head. He was taken to the front row. There was an empty seat next to me, and they put him in that seat. I was so overwhelmed with anticipation of what was to come that at first I did not understand who was my neighbor. And only when he, smiling affably from under his thick moustache, extended his hand to me, I saw that it was Alexei Maksimovich Gorky. You can imagine my surprise...

Alexei Maksimovich was breathing heavily and was smoking all the time. He does not have time to finish smoking one cigarette, he takes out another, lights up from the first one. Looking around the room, he spoke to me in an undertone:

They say you are joining the party today?

I nodded my head.

Are you worried?

I wanted to say that I was not worried, but I did not have the conscience to tell Gorky a lie, and I answered:

I'm very worried, Alexei Maksimovich.

At this time, Julian Piontkovsky, standing on the podium, talked about his life, about how he, a mechanic-mechanic, in 1917, working in one of the aviation detachments, had a burning desire to become a pilot, learned to fly himself, then entered an aviation school, went to the front, became an instructor at a pilot school and, finally, a test pilot ...

Are there any questions? the chairman asked.

Shouts of “we know, we know” and applause were heard from the hall.

And who is this? Gorky asked, pointing at Piontkovsky with a glance.

I answered:

My friend, test pilot Piontkovsky.

Well, you see how your friend is greeted, and you do not worry.

Having said this, Alexei Maksimovich joined the meeting, which greeted with applause the results of the vote for admitting Piontkovsky to the party ...

Only the next day, having calmed down from excitement, I was able to fully appreciate yesterday's event and the amazing meeting with Maxim Gorky on such a significant day in my life ...

The charming, bright image of Serov, Hero of the Soviet Union, test pilot, a former Ural worker, was imprinted in my memory as the image of the legendary Russian hero, aerobatics virtuoso, a man with the soul of an eagle.

Test pilot Mikhail Mikhailovich Gromov is tall, thin, seemingly dry, cold and even impregnable. In fact, this is a very soft and delicate person, an athlete from head to toe, boyishly fond of all sports and especially horses.

Of the test pilots, Gromov is the most technically competent, cultured and meaningful person. He reads a lot, loves music, appreciates beauty in life and writes books himself.

Comrade Stalin shows an example of a careful and loving attitude towards test pilots. We, the designers, have repeatedly heard his demand to take care of the complete safety of test pilots during test flights, to create all conditions for success in their difficult and dangerous work.

Comrade Stalin personally knows our main test pilots. He carefully listens to their voice, and their opinion about this or that aircraft plays an important role in choosing a new machine for mass production.