FROM ANATRA TO “ODESSA AVIATION PLANT” THERE IS AN AGE-OLD WAY
110 years ago, at the dawn of the development of world and domestic aviation, it was on the land of Odessa that the age-old dream of man to create aircraft heavier than air was successfully realized.
The first Aeroclub in the territory of the Russian Empire was founded in Odessa, where they began to be mass-produced.
The airfield near it became known as Shkil’niy.
On April 27, 1911, the first airplane built in local aircraft workshops and piloted by pilot Nikolai Kostin took to the skies of Odessa.
This day became the historical date of formation of the Odessa aircraft-building plant.
The sources of creation and formation of the enterprise were such legendary people of their time as Mikhail Yefimov, Sergei Utochkin, Vasily Khioni, Alexander Berbeko.
The plant underwent a particularly rapid development during the First World War: in 1917, for example, the company produced up to 100 aircraft per month, becoming the largest aircraft manufacturer in the Russian Empire.
It was during this period that Anatra-D, Anatra-VI, Anatra-Anasal, Anatra-Claire and other airplanes were produced on the basis of our own design developments.
In different years with the aircraft plant at the School Airport of Odessa collaborated: a novice aircraft model, in the future – the General Designer of spacecraft SP Korolev, a prominent pilot KK Artseulov, a great military pilot, the founder of aerobatics PM Nesterov and others.
The Odessa Aircraft Repair Company and the country have repeatedly gone through difficult times: the revolution and the civil war practically led to the company’s demise, and by the early 1920s it had been completely suspended.
But a few years later, like the Phoenix Bird, the plant came to life again: in 1923, several aircraft of the original design “Humpback Horse” (aircraft designer – VM Hioni) were assembled in the workshops of aircraft design workshops № 7 (the company had such a name at the time). .
The Great Patriotic War was a difficult test for the Odessa Aviation Plant.
Named “256 stationary aircraft repair shops”, the plant repaired aircraft:
Immediately after the troops, the company was relocated from Odessa to Stalino (Donetsk), then to Armavir, then – to the Volga, in Kamyshen, and again – to Ukraine – Voroshilovograd (Lugansk), and then – to the North Caucasus, to the city of Beslan. Then – in the Caucasus, near the city of Baku, again in the Kuban, in Armavir.
Finally, in June 1944, the aircraft workshops returned to their native Odessa.
Years of frontline life, deprivation, loss, work in intolerable conditions, sometimes – in the open air, under bombings, in the cold, on a half-starved ration …
We survived and overcame these difficulties.
The enterprise destroyed in Odessa was practically restored from scratch.
Began to repair aircraft.
A truly revolutionary event for the factory workers was the development of repair of jet aircraft – MiG-15, MiG-17.
Odessa Aircraft Repair was the first in the country to overhaul the MiG-19 and its engines.
In 1967, one of the first residents of Odessa began repairing new generation MiG-21 aircraft and engines for them.
every year the plant grew, expanded, new shops were built. Its production capabilities also grew, and the technology of aircraft repair was improved.
In the late 80’s the company mastered the overhaul of third-generation aircraft: MiG-23, MiG-27.
The team had a hard time during the transition period of becoming an independent Ukrainian state.
But even in the difficult economic conditions of the early 90’s Odessa Aircraft Repair Plant was able not only to maintain but also strengthen its production and economic potential.
During this period, the company mastered the repair of training jet L-39, aircraft engines AI-25TL, 95Sh, boxes of aircraft units KSA-2 (3) for MiG-29 aircraft and many other aircraft.
In the late 80’s the company mastered the overhaul of third-generation aircraft: MiG-23, MiG-27.
The flight continues over the years. Nowadays LLC “Odessa Aviation Plant” is on the rise.
He has the richest history and a confident, wonderful prospect.
So, as is customary in aviation, we wish everyone a happy flight!
