Alexei Tupolev

Alexei Andreyevich Tupolev (Russian: Алексе́й Андре́евич Ту́полев; May 20, 1925 – May 12, 2001) was a Soviet aircraft designer who led the development of the first supersonic passenger jet, the Tupolev Tu-144. He also helped design the Buran space shuttle and the long-range heavy bomber Tu-2000, both of which were suspended for lack of funding.

Alexei Tupolev
Алексе́й Андре́евич Ту́полев
The Tupolev Tu-144 (NATO reporting name: "Charger") was one of the world's only two supersonic transport aircraft (SST) to enter civilian service, along with the Concorde, and was constructed under the direction of the Soviet Tupolev design bureau headed by Alexei Tupolev.
Born(1925-05-20)May 20, 1925
DiedMay 12, 2001(2001-05-12) (aged 75)
NationalityRussian
EducationMoscow Aviation Institute
Parent(s)Andrei Tupolev
Engineering career
DisciplineAircraft design
InstitutionsTupolev Design Bureau
ProjectsBuran space shuttle
Significant designTupolev Tu-144
Signature

Tupolev was the son of the famed Soviet aircraft pioneer Andrei Tupolev. He graduated from the Moscow Aviation Institute in 1949 and began working with his father at the Tupolev Design Bureau. During Soviet leader Khrushchev's visit to the U.S. in September 1959, he insisted on taking Tu-114 despite that its maiden long-distance flight only occurred in May. In order to guarantee the safety, Alexei Tupolev was sent by his father Tupolev, along as a sign of his confidence in the plane. Khrushchev later said, "We didn't publicize the fact that Tupolev's son was with us" for "to do so would have meant giving explanations, and these might have been damaging to our image".[1] He became chief designer in 1963 and general designer in 1973.

References
  1. Taubman, William (2003). Khrushchev: The Man and His Era. W.W. Norton & Co. p. 422. ISBN 978-0-393-32484-6.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.