There are no trifles in aviation. This conclusion was reached by one of the leading creators of combat and transport aircraft, Sergei Ilyushin. Before taking up the post of chief designer, he worked as a worker, mechanic and mechanic for the maintenance of winged machines.
Starting conditions
Sergei Vladimirovich Ilyushin was born on March 30, 1894 in a large peasant family. Parents lived in the village of Dilyalevo in the Vologda region. The child was the youngest of nine children. The Ilyushins did not live well. Sergey from an early age provided all possible help with the housework. Grazing geese. I went to the forest to pick mushrooms and berries. Participated in the preparation of firewood for the winter. When the guy turned fifteen, according to the tradition established in the village, he went to work in the people.
In 1914, the war broke out, and Sergei was drafted into the army. Ilyushin was assigned to serve on the airfield and aircraft maintenance team. For more than two years he was engaged in the repair and preparation of aircraft for flights. The engines and control system were of particular interest to the future designer. In parallel with the performance of his official duties, Ilyushin was trained in a soldier's pilot school and received a pilot's license.
Army and aviation
In the spring of 1919, Sergei was drafted into the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army. A couple of months later, he was appointed commander of an aircraft train. Such trains ran in different directions and carried out maintenance of aircraft that took part in hostilities. In 1921, Ilyushin returned to Moscow and entered the Institute of Engineers of the Red Air Fleet. As a student, he designed and assembled a glider, which he called "Rabfakovets". This glider has taken part in international competitions.
After graduation, Ilyushin was appointed to the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Air Force. This committee formulated technical requirements for each type of aircraft. A few years later, Sergei Vladimirovich headed a special design bureau. The experimental bomber TsKB-26 became the first product created in the design bureau. On this machine, test pilot Vladimir Kokkinaki set the first world record, which was registered by the International Aviation Federation.
Flying tank
Shortly before the start of the war, the Ilyushin Design Bureau began testing the IL-2 front-line bomber. This attack aircraft was nicknamed the "flying tank" among the troops. Due to bureaucratic delays, the attack aircraft got to the front with a slight delay. According to statistics, this aircraft turned out to be the most massive in history. In total, more than 36 thousand copies were released. This record has not yet been broken.
In peacetime, the Ilyushin Design Bureau developed passenger aircraft. The legendary IL-14 was used in the Arctic for several decades. Turboprop IL-18 became the first long-haul liner on domestic lines. The IL-62 liner was used on international routes. Sergey Vladimirovich Ilyushin left a worthy legacy to his native country. The ingenious designer died in February 1977.
