Volga-Dnepr Group today celebrates the 80th
birthday of Victor Tolmachev, the legendary Chief Designer of the An-124
‘Ruslan’ and An-225 ‘Mriya’ transport aircraft, to mark his ‘outstanding
contribution’ to the world of aviation.
Mr Tolmachev, who continues to serve the
industry as Technical Director of Volga-Dnepr and as an advisor to the Group’s
President, Alexey Isaikin, is a Doctor of Engineering Science, a Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, and a
Member of the International Academy of Authors of Scientific Discoveries and
Inventions.
His successful aviation career, spanning more
than 50 years, began in 1959 when he graduated with high honours from the
Kharkiv Aviation Institute and joined Antonov Design Bureau (now Antonov State
Enterprise) in Kiev .
At Antonov, he participated in the development, creation and modification of
almost every Antonov aircraft, such as the An-2, An-14, An-8, An-10, An-12,
An-24, An-22, An-26, An-32 and An-28.
In Soviet aircraft industry history, Victor
Tolmachev is best known as one of the designers of the giant An-124 ‘Ruslan’
and An-225 ‘Mriya’ freighter aircraft. In 1971 he was assigned as Lead Designer
of the An-124 project and later, in 1985, the USSR Ministry of Aircraft Production appointed him to the position of Chief
Designer of both the An-124 and An-225.
The maiden flight of the An-124 ‘Ruslan’
military transport aircraft was performed on December 24, 1982. More than 500
enterprises of the Soviet Union were involved
in the production process and the aircraft went on to set 27 world records. As
the world’s largest series produced freighter, the An-124 is considered to be
the most successful domestic transport aviation project.
In 1989, state financing stopped and the An-124
serial production programme was terminated. The unique operating capabilities
of the ‘Ruslan’ aircraft were to be preserved in the global commercial market,
however, through the creation of Volga-Dnepr Airlines, and Victor Tolmachev joined
Volga-Dnepr as Technical Director in 1991. It took just three months in 1992
for Volga-Dnepr, the Aviastar Production
Plant and Antonov Design Bureau to obtain certification of the An-124, which
received the factory name of An-124-100.
The outstanding performance characteristics of
the ramp loading An-124-100 enabled Volga-Dnepr to create an entirely new
market for the global transportation of unique, outsize and heavyweight air
cargo. Today, the aircraft remains highly respected for its operating
capabilities and performs an indispensable role in international air
logistics.
Victor Tolmachev also personally initiated and controlled
the development of special loading equipment systems that continue to enable
both An-124-100 and the IL-76 freighters to provide transport and logistics
solutions beyond the capability of other aircraft.
Victor Tolmachev was awarded the State prize of
Ukraine
for his design of the An-124. He is also the author of more than 100 scientific
publications and inventions.
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