 |
| Oleg Fedorovich Demchenko. |
| Source: Valery Ageev |
Oleg Fedorovich Demchenko was born on October 13, 1944 in the village of Presnovka in the North Kazakhstan region. In 1968, he graduated from the Kuibyshev Aviation Institute, after which he worked as head of production at enterprises of the Ministry of Aviation Industry, where in 1981-1992 he held a number of responsible positions, including head of the Main Directorate, member of the Board of the MAP. In 1987 O. F. Demchenko graduated from the Academy of National Economy of the USSR.
Since 1992, he has been the first Deputy General Designer, General Director of the OKB plant. Yakovlev, and since 1994 he has been appointed its president (until 2001).
Since 2003, General Director — General Designer of JSC Yakovlev Design Bureau, President of JSC IRKUT Scientific and Production Corporation. Since 2008, Senior Vice President for the MS-21 project, and since 2009 - Senior Vice President for Commercial Aviation.
 |
| Vladimir Putin, Yuri Slyusar and Oleg Demchenko. |
| Source: Valery Ageev |
The Great Three leaders of the Russian aviation industry
Oleg Demchenko and his predecessor as president of Irkut and also one of the founders of the UAC, Alexey Fedorov, as well as the general designer of Sukhoi and Mikhail Pogosyan, who replaced Fedorov at the UAC (now rector of the Moscow Aviation Institute), are without exaggeration the great three leaders of the Russian aviation industry in the 2000s and 2010s, says an expert at the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Konstantin Makiyenko of technology.
 |
| Source: Valery Ageev |
According to him, the very salvation of the domestic aviation industry after the crisis of the 90s and all the implemented programs of the following years are connected with the names of these people. In Demchenko's case, we are talking about such programs as the Su-30MKI multifunctional fighter, which, along with modifications, was built and ordered in an amount of more than 500 units, the first large military aircraft developed from scratch after the collapse of the USSR in Russia – the Yak-130 combat training aircraft, which entered service with the Russian Air Force and half a dozen other countries.
An ambitious and important program
Finally, one of the most ambitious and important programs – to create the MS-21-300 mainline airliner, which has now entered the certification stage of the machine – is also his initiative, Makiyenko noted.
That's what Oleg Demchenko himself recalled about the history of the creation of this aircraft:
And so I began to invite the luminaries of our industry, including the outstanding Ilov designer Heinrich Novozhilov, to join us at the Yakovlev Design Bureau. We discussed, argued, and sometimes swore. As a result, we came to the conclusion that it is necessary to make a composite wing. Only it can significantly improve the aerodynamics of the aircraft.
In 2002, the preliminary design was completed. In 2003, he won the Rosaviakosmos competition. Unfortunately, from 2003 to 2008, we did not receive significant funds for the development of a new aircraft. Nevertheless, they were found.
Irkut Corporation, which combined the potential of the Yakovlev Design Bureau and the Irkutsk Aircraft Factory, had export contracts for the supply of Su-30MKI fighters and Yak-130 combat training aircraft. Part of the proceeds went to the development of the MS-21. But we were able to launch full-scale work only in 2008, when full-fledged government funding began. At the same time, by decree of the President of Russia, Irkut Corporation was appointed the lead executor of the MS-21 program.
We were the first to venture into a carbon fiber wing, but the developers of another new Russian aircraft, the Superjet, decided to stay with the metal one. Naturally, we had doubts. Aviation is all risky, this is, figuratively speaking, a kind of sport. Another thing is that in our tradition it is to carefully calculate everything that is possible even at the design stage.
Some designers told me about the MS-21:
- Oleg, don't take any chances, make an iron wing. But in the best case, such an aircraft would be an improved version of the Tu-154. But it is pointless to enter the market with such a product today.
By Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 369 dated July 16, 2015, the President of PJSC Irkut Corporation Oleg Fedorovich Demchenko was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky for his labor achievements, active social activities and long-term conscientious work.
Su-30SM and Yak-130 fighters
Under the leadership of Oleg Demchenko, Irkut Corporation has achieved significant success in creating the latest aviation technology. He made a great personal contribution to the organization of the development and mass production of the new generation Yak-130 combat training aircraft. In recent years, the company has significantly increased the production of Su-30SM and Yak-130 aircraft under the state defense order.
 |
| Yak-130. |
| Source: Valery Ageev |
For fulfilling all obligations to supply the Russian Ministry of Defense on time and with high quality, the staff of Irkut Corporation was awarded the gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation. For six years in a row (in 2009-2014), the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation awarded Irkut Corporation the title of the best exporter in the Aviation (Aircraft) nomination.
A sociable and business man
That's what Sergey Korotkov, the General Designer and Deputy General Director of PJSC United Aircraft Corporation, said about Demchenko:
- I met Oleg Fedorovich Demchenko for the first time in the 90s of the last century, when he headed the Yakovlev Design Bureau, and I worked at Sukhoi. From the first day I met him, despite the decent age difference, he treated me as an equal, both a person and an engineer.
I attracted him to something and he even offered to go to him as a deputy. However, with one "but". I should have quit the place where I worked (deputy General director of the Sukhoi company), and Oleg Fedorovich, as he put it, would have "picked me up" and made me a big boss! But I stayed in the same place, and still in the aviation circles they periodically ask:
- Well, hasn't Demchenko fired Korotkov yet to take over as his deputy?
We probably have something in common with him, maybe we look at some things the same way. We are probably united by those people, specialists who work around us, and common acquaintances.
Oleg Fedorovich is a sociable man and everyone knows it. In any situation, he gathers listeners around him. These are both engineers and journalists. Demchenko says something himself and at the same time can listen to any opponent. At the same time, he imperceptibly solves some of his questions, moving from a friendly conversation to a business one. And this is a great art.
 |
| Oleg Demchenko and Sergey Korotkov. |
| Source: Valery Ageev |
The collectives led by him and O. F. Demchenko personally maintained close creative ties with the VVIA named after Prof. N. E. Zhukovsky. Candidate in the adjunct program of the VVIA named after prof. N. E. Zhukovsky at the Department of Military Economics and Weapons Programs (2002-2004). He was directly involved in the work of the scientific school "Military-economic analysis of aviation equipment and weapons".
Oleg Fedorovich Demchenko has been awarded many awards, such as the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree, Badge of Honor, various medals, including the Gold Aviation Medal of the International Aviation Federation.
In 2014, Oleg Fedorovich Demchenko became the winner of the Aircraft Manufacturer of the Year competition in the nomination "For his personal Contribution to the development of the aviation industry". The winners in this nomination were determined by the organizing committee of the competition among the heads of the best enterprises and organizations in the industry, taking into account the results of their activities. He is also the recipient of the National Golden Idea Award for his contribution to the development of military products.
Valery Ageev
