Rostislav Evgenievich Alekseev is an outstanding Soviet designer, creator of hydrofoils and ekranoplanes. He created a high-speed transport fleet, which is still unparalleled in the world. Doctor of Technical Sciences, laureate of the Lenin and State Prizes. He is on a par with the creator of rockets and spaceships Korolev, and the Soviet aircraft designer Tupolev.
Biography
Rostislav Evgenievich Alekseev was born on December 18, 1916 in the city of Novozybkov, Chernigov province (now the Bryansk region).
His father Evgeny Kuzmich is a scientist who made a great contribution to the development of agricultural science in the country. He was engaged in plant growing, headed an experimental station for agriculture. He was a professor and academician of the Belarusian Academy of Sciences.
Rostislav's mother Serafima Pavlovna taught Russian language and literature at school.
The Alekseev family had four children. The elder brother of Rostislav was Anatoly. Parents together with sisters Galina and Margarita affectionately called Rostislav "Rostik".
In 1923, the boy went to first grade at the Novozybkov school, where he studied until he was 13 years old.
At the end of the 20s of the XX century, political repression took place in the country. By order of Stalin, innocent people were arrested. On September 29, 1929, on a denunciation, Rostislav's father was arrested. The boy was expelled from the pioneers as the son of an "enemy of the people."
Rostislav's mother, in order to save the family, sent the children to relatives who lived in different cities of the Soviet Union. Then she went to the place of her husband's exile in Central Asia. Rostislav began to live with his uncle in Nizhny Tagil. There, the young man got a job at a radio installation plant in a locksmith shop.
In 1933, the Alekseev family was reunited. They were allowed to settle in the city of Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod). At this time, Rostislav began to get involved in sailing. With youthful enthusiasm, he took part in races and caught the wind under sails. Together with a friend, they built the Black Pirate yacht. This hobby has become a landmark in his life.
In 1935, Rostislav Alekseev entered the shipbuilding department of the Zhdanov Gorky Industrial Institute. As a student, he headed the yachting section at the institute. The young man dreamed of creating high-speed water transport.
The diploma work of R. E. Alekseeva was called "Glisser on hydrofoils", which he defended in July 1941. The theme of his project during the outbreak of the war was very relevant. Alekseev received a government assignment - to create a high-speed combat boat for the Soviet fleet.
In 1942 the young specialist was assigned to the Krasnoye Sormovo plant in Gorky. There he worked in a workshop where tanks were produced. The world's first hydrofoil ship appeared within the walls of this plant. In 1945, Alekseev completed the task assigned to him. In 1951, the Stalin Prize was awarded to the Alekseev design bureau and its leader for the achievements in shipbuilding.
In 1960, Rostislav Evgenievich received a government task - to create an ekranoplan. The work was carried out in strict secrecy at a test station in the city of Chkalovsk, Gorky Region. The best specialists of the design bureau worked on assembling the SM-1 ekranoplan model (self-propelled model -1).
In 1962, Rostislav Alekseev was awarded the Lenin Prize for the creation of hydrofoils.
In 1965, the talented scientist was removed from the post of chief designer. Anonymous denunciations were brought against him, which contained undeserved accusations. Not long before that Alekseev had invited several designers from Zelenodolsk to work for him. The director of the Zelenodolsk design bureau was appointed Minister of Industry. He forced his former subordinates to write denunciations against Alekseev. The famous designer was left to work in the direction of ekranoplanes.
From 1975 to 1980 R. E. Alekseev developed several models of passenger ekranoplanes: "Volga-2", "Raketa-2", "Whirlwind-2".
In 1980, an ekranoplan weighing one and a half tons was manually lowered onto the river. One of the employees, leaving the ekranoplan, began to correct the hangar gates, which were closed from the wind. The device moved from its place and ran over Rostislav Evgenievich with all its weight. He was admitted to the hospital with peritonitis, which caused complications. He died on the morning of February 9, 1980 without regaining consciousness. R. E. Alekseev was buried in Nizhny Novgorod at the Bugrovsky cemetery.
Posthumously R. E. Alekseev was awarded the State Prize in the field of shipbuilding.
The portrait of Rostislav Alekseev hangs in the gallery of the Hall of Fame of the US Congress among prominent personalities who made a huge contribution to the development of civilization in the 20th century.
The Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University was named after the brilliant designer. One of the squares in Nizhny Novgorod is named after him.
A monument to the outstanding designer was erected in Nizhny Novgorod. In the city of Chkalovsk, Nizhny Novgorod region, there is a "Museum of Speeds", which contains materials about his personality.
Creation
There was always speed in the life of Rostislav Evgenievich. He loved to drive his car, often breaking traffic rules.
After graduating from the institute, Alekseev, together with a team of specialists, worked on the creation of combat hydrofoil boats at the Krasnoye Sormovo plant. In the fall of 1945, Alekseev designed a boat that flew over the surface of the water at an unprecedented speed of 87 km / h.
With the end of the war, the need for warships disappeared. The country needed ships to transport civilians. Alekseev received a new task: to re-equip a military boat for peaceful use.
In May 1957, the "Rocket" with hydrofoils was presented for the first time on the Volga. At this time, the VI International Festival of Youth and Students was held in Moscow. The Raketa traveled from Gorky to Moscow in 14 hours. It took other ships of water transport three days to sail along the Volga from Gorky to the capital. The festival participants greeted Raketa with great enthusiasm. They made walks on it along the Moscow River. First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee N. S. Khrushchev also took a ride on the Raketa with pleasure.
The party leader approved all R. E. Alekseeva. In 1959, the Krasnoye Sormovo plant began serial production of the Rocket. Alekseev's design bureau annually created a new model of the ship. During the first tests of the "Rocket", they were attended by the creator of spaceships S. P. Korolev. All ships were given names that were associated with space. After "Rocket" was launched "Meteor", and then "Comet" and "Sputnik".
"Kometa" became the most successful ship. She walked at a speed of 60 km / h and could carry up to 130 passengers.
Even then, the idea of creating a new high-speed technique did not give the designer rest. He looked far into the future and linked the prospects for the development of shipbuilding with ekranoplanes.
An ekranoplan has a great advantage over an airplane. This aircraft has the speed of an aircraft, but its cargo capacity is much higher. He flies over the surface of the water at a height of 2-3 meters. This is possible due to the screen effect, when a dynamic air cushion is created between the wing and the surface of the water.
It is safer for humans to fly on an ekranoplane than on an airplane. In the event of a failure of the engines, the machine can sink to the water surface, despite the storm. The advantage of ekranoplanes is that they do not need runways.
In 1961, the first tests of the ekranoplan took place on the Trotsa River. The designer managed his "brainchild" himself. He skillfully knew how to drive an airplane, car, yacht.
During the first flight, the ekranoplan developed a speed of 200 km / h. It was a huge breakthrough for the future.
In 1966, the KM ekranoplan (model ship) was tested in the Caspian Sea. Abroad, he was nicknamed the Caspian Monster. Thanks to the successful completion of the tests, Alekseev embarked on further projects.
In 1967, a giant ekranoplan weighing 500 tons was built, which reached 100 meters in length and had 10 motors.
In 1974, when testing the Eaglet ekranoplan, an emergency occurred: its tail section was torn off. R. E. Alekseev was always in the cockpit during all tests. He was able to instantly make the right decision in an emergency. Turning on the engines at full power, he landed the ekranoplan.
Aviation pilots, who witnessed what was happening, said that Alekseev was worthy of the title of hero, because he saved both people and the car. Alekseev, by order of Minister Butoma, was transferred to rank-and-file designers.
The genius inventor was inconvenient for the leadership of the Soviet system. He resolved all issues himself, bypassing the bureaucratic apparatus. Officials could not subdue the talented scientist. At this time, a change of power took place in the country. N. S. Khrushchev was replaced by L. I. Brezhnev. The ministerial authorities took advantage of this to remove R. E. Alekseeva from office.
The persecution of the genius inventor continued. He was banned from testing the aircraft that he created. The famous designer endured humiliation with dignity. He had to endure the betrayal of former friends who did not shake hands with him.
The scientist worked on improving new models of ekranoplanes until the last years of his life.
Personal life
Rostislav met his future wife Marina while studying at the institute. The girl studied at the Faculty of Chemistry a course younger.
They got married just before the war on June 6, 1941. Then they began to live with Marina's mother in her apartment. The beginning of life together was tragic for them. During the difficult war years, two of their children died: in 1942 the first child died in childbirth, and in 1943 the second, due to a serious illness - congenital heart disease. Later they had a son, Eugene and a daughter, Tatiana.
House 45a on the street. Ulyanov, where Alekseev lived and now stands in Nizhny Novgorod. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren live in it.
An outstanding designer, who created equipment for the country that has no analogues in the world, lived in this apartment with his family and mother-in-law until the end of his days. He never asked for material benefits for himself.
Tatyana Rostislavovna, daughter of R. E. Alekseeva, there are sons - Gleb and Mikhail. Gleb's four children and Mikhail's two children are the great-grandchildren of the famous inventor.
