In Russia, the Aircraft Manufacturer's Day is celebrated on August 15. This is a professional holiday for all specialists of the aviation industry — from designers to fitters. When the celebration appeared and how it is celebrated — in the material of Izvestia.
Aircraft Manufacturer's Day in Russia – 2023: the history of the holiday
The aircraft industry is a large and very important industry. It includes both industrial enterprises that produce aircraft, take-off and landing devices, radio navigation equipment, and scientific organizations that develop various aviation equipment.
The work of aircraft manufacturers is important both in peacetime and in wartime. That is why their work is always held in high esteem and enjoys great respect. In 1991, at the initiative of trade unions and aviation enterprises, the Aircraft Manufacturer's Day was established in Russia in recognition of the merits of industry workers.
Although the history of the holiday is big. Aircraft manufacturers were annually honored in the Soviet Union. Officially, the celebrations took place from 1956 until the collapse of the USSR.
Aircraft Manufacturer's Day in Russia – 2023: who is being congratulated
On this day, everyone who is somehow connected with aviation is usually congratulated. These are directly developers of various models of airplanes and helicopters, engineers, scientists, locksmiths, pilots and technical personnel. Teachers and students of specialized educational institutions also receive congratulations on the holiday.
Choosing a gift for the Aircraft manufacturer's Day, as a rule, does not cause difficulties. You can please the culprits of the celebration with original gifts that are related to their profession. For example, you can give aircraft models, aviation gadgets and accessories, a ticket to an air show.
Books, magazines, posters and paintings with aviation themes will also be a good gift. They can decorate a room or workspace.
Aircraft Manufacturer's Day in Russia – 2023: how to celebrate
Celebrations are held all over the country. At aircraft factories, awards and certificates of honor are presented to the leaders of production. Words of gratitude are addressed to aviation veterans and representatives of family professional dynasties. There are a lot of such people in this environment. After all, the love of heaven manifests itself early and remains for life, being passed on to new generations.
The festive celebrations are accompanied by concerts with the participation of famous artists, exhibitions, seminars and master classes. Aircraft screenings and aerobatic performances are also held to show the beauty and power of aviation technology.
On this day, many aircraft factories open their doors to everyone. Thus, open days are traditionally held at the country's largest enterprise Aviastar in Ulyanovsk. The exhibition area houses Boeing, IL-76, AN-2, Tu-204, which can be viewed, touched and even go inside. This year, in addition to the aircraft exhibition, the organizers promise a kite festival, a flight of aviation and a performance of parachutists.
Aircraft Manufacturer's Day in Russia – 2023: interesting facts
The first aircraft manufacturing plants appeared in Russia in 1910-1915. And by 1917 there were 15 such enterprises in the country. The aircraft industry was actively developing in the difficult post-revolutionary years.
So, in 1924, the ANT-2, built under the leadership of the outstanding aircraft designer Andrei Tupolev, first took to the air. This aircraft was in no way inferior to the German Junkers and served as the basis for the creation of a number of modifications: ANT-2bis, ANT-3, ANT-4 and others.
During the Great Patriotic War, the famous Yak-9, named after their creator Alexander Yakovlev, as well as the Il-2 attack aircraft, which was designed by Sergei Ilyushin, came off the assembly lines. The entire Soviet Union flew on his machines, and the IL-62 received international recognition at all. A few years later, no less famous MiGs took to the air — abbreviated from the names of aircraft designers Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich.
Today, the design bureaus founded by these outstanding engineers continue their work. In addition, there are new modern Sukhoi Superjet-100 and its fully import-substituted version Sukhoi Superjet New (SSJ New). These are the first passenger aircraft developed in Russia after the collapse of the USSR. The Superjet-100, in particular, is in the Aeroflot fleet. It will be possible to make a flight on SSJ New in the near future.
Earlier, Izvestia wrote that Moscow will create a megacomplex for the production of parts for aircraft engines.