The Antonov Design Bureau is situated in Kiev, now the capital of the Ukraine. Named after Oleg Antonov (born February 7th, 1906), the construction bureau became well known for its medium sized to large transport aircraft, most of them being turboprops. They are extensively used both with civil and military operators. Among these aircraft, some outstanding types have been developed, such as the world’s largest turboprop aircraft, the An-22 Antheus, or the six engined An-225 specially designed to carry Buran, the planed Sovjet Space Shuttle.
Except for the biplane An-2, all of Antonov’s aircraft have shoulder wings. This fact may be easily explained given the dual-use nature of most aircraft types developed by Antonov.
Named after Georgi Beriev, born February 13, 1903 in Tiflis (today the Capital of the Georgian Republic), this design bureau specialised in amphibian aircraft and water planes. The bureau developed a commuter aircraft, the Beriev Be-30, in 1966, but the project was stopped in favour of the Czech Let-410. In recent years, Beriev has reworked its initial design of the Be-30 and now offers the Be-32 commuter aircraft to potential customers.
Ilyushin is one of the best known construction bureaus concerning commercial airliners. Named after Sergej Iljushin (born March 30, 1894 in Diljalevo, Vologda, died on February 10, 1977 in Moscow), the bureau is based in Moscow Zhukovsky. The bureau specialised in long range aircraft, and is now also trying to enter the market for commuter airliners.
Named after the Russia pioneering helicopter engineer, Nicolai Kamov (born September 19, 1902 in Irkutsk, died November 24, 1973), the construction bureau almost naturally specialised into the development of helicopters for both military and commercial use. It shares the market with the only other helicopter designer in the CIS, the Mil Construction Bureau. Helicopters with sets of couterrotating rotor blades have become a unique feature of newer Kamov models.
Named after Michail Mil (born November 20, 1909 in Irkutsk, died January 31, 1970 in Moscow), the construction bureau focussed on the production of helicopters of all sizes, from the five seater Mil Mi-2 to the Mil Mi-26 capable of carrying a load of up to 20,000 kg or 70 passengers. Mil helicopters can nowadays be found virtually all around the world, although the majority of them is still based in the former East Bloc countries.
The MiG contruction bureau received its name from the first letter(s) of the family names of its two chief engineers: Artjom Mikojan and Michail Gurjevitch. The construction bureau became one of the Russia main suppliers for military aircraft, mainly jet fighters and bombers.
The Sukhoi construction bureau is the second main supplier for jet fighters in Russia besides MiG. It was formed by Pavel Sukhoi (born 1895, died September 15, 1975) and became well known when it developed several aircraft with astonishing aerodynamical performances in the last years of the USSR.
Well known both for its commercial airliners and its long range tactical bombers, the Tupolev construction bureau has its base in Moscow Zhukovsky. It received its name from Andrey Tupolev (born November 10, 1888 near Tver, died December 23, 1972 in Moscow). The bureau stood in the center of aviation when it unveiled the Sovjet Union‘s first jet airliner, the Tu-104, during the Paris Air Show. Another milestone was the project of the Tu-144, the Sovjet Union‘s answer to the BAe Concorde Super Sonic Transport. Although the Tu-144 failed for various reasons, it earns the recognition of being to date one of only two super sonic airliners ever developed worldwide.
With a number of new airliners, such as the Tu-204/214 family already entering the market and the projected Tu-234 and Tu-334, that make use of Western know-how in key areas, Tupolev hopes to overcome the post-sovjet competitive shock of the industry.
During Sovjet times, the construction bureau headed by Alexander Yakovlev (born March 19, 1906) might has been the least known design bureau for commercial airliners, as it focussed mainly on light aircraft and short range jetliners that were used rarely on international flights to Western Europe. On the other hand, a small number of the Yak 40 could be exported to operators in Italy and Western Germany, a stunt that no other commercial airliner of the URSS ever managed to achieve to the present.
The Yakovlev construction Bureau might well be one of the most experienced construction bureaus of Russia, as it developed all kinds of aircraft over the years. Its products include single engined General Aviation aircraft used in basic training, fighter aircraft, helicopters, commercial airliners and military jet trainers.
Russian Aircraft Museum
