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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0864.PDF
May 12th, 1949 schools which contribute to the supply of officers. Although officers are being trained for the air force in sufficient numbers, the standard of train- ing—demonstrated in the second world war—is, excepting the Monino Academy, comparatively low. All flying and administrative training is undertaken with the reserve forces in mind. Numbers again are ample. Of the numerous aviation colleges in the U.S.S.R. those listed here are the most important. The Ordzhonikidze Moscow Aviation Institute (M.A.I.) is the largest of the non-military insti- tutes, and trains specialists in the same subjects as the Zhukovski Academy, though only for the Ministry of Aircraft Production. The institute is very well equipped and staffed. Holding a lower position than the M.A.I, as regards the numbers and standards of pupils, the Moscow Aviation and Technological Institute (M.A.T.I.) instructs engineers and technicians for all branches of the aircraft industry. Also similar to the M.A.I!, but on a smaller scale, are the Aviation Institutes of Kazan, Kharkov and Kiev. Only the second of these offers the high standards of the M.A.I. The Rybinsk Aviation Institute trains engineers, almost exclusively in aircraft-engine construction. Though there will be no lack of industrial engineers for the Soviet aircraft industry in the event of war, the qualifications of these men are comparatively low, and this will continue to be reflected in the effectiveness of the Soviet Air Force. By the 1930s the U.S.S.R. had four aerodynamic insti- tutes, the chief of which were the TsAGI and the Labora- tory of the Zhukovski Air Engineering Academy. In 1938, however, a new TsAGI was constituted, with which no other experimental research centre in the Soviet Union can now compete. The old TsAGI is in Moscow (Ulitsa Radio House 16) and the newer one in the environs. Farnborough. Rivalled The new establishment is first class in all respects and rivals not only Famborough and Chalais-Meudon, but America's N.A.C.A. Prominent in the new TsAGI is a large wind tunnel with an elliptical working section measur- ing 24 x 18 metres and a flow speed of 60 to 70 metres/sec. Tnis has entirely automatic control and measuring system, enabling extremely varied experiments to be undertaken. Also available is a large tunnel, 7 metres in diameter and having two working sections. Flow speeds of up to 120 metres/sec are obtainable, and the control and measuring systems permit experiments with complete power units, fuselages, etc. There are, moreover, a ver- tical tunnel with a working section of about 3 metres, a series of tunnels with elliptical sections (approximately 2.5 x 3.2m), having flow speeds up to 100 metres/sec, and a high-speed aerodynamics laboratory with several tunnels, some of which can be classed among the world's best. The pride of the new TsAGI is its laboratory for static and dynamic strength tests, equipped for experimentation in all types of vibration, under- carriage drop-tests, structural tests, etc. Regula- tions specify that no Soviet aircraft may be accepted for service until it has been tested here, and since the new TsAGI is the only establishment of its kind, it is a serious bottleneck and causes frequent disputes between constructors. During the war ^ak aircraft were in the large wind-tunnel most of the time since* Yakovlev was not only a designer but the Deputy Minister of Aircraft Pro- duction. Among other experimental centres is the aero- dynamics laboratory of the Air Forces Scientific Experimental Institute (N.I.V.V.S.S.), situated in a small place called Chkalovskaya, near Mos- cow. Here is one tunnel of elliptical section (2.5 x 3-5*n approximately) and with a speed of 80-90 m/sec; within this is a. subsonic high-speed A model is mounted for wind-tunnel tests. tunnel. There is a similar type of laboratory at Novosi- birsk, two large tunnels at the M.A.I., one in Kazan, one in Kharkov, and one in Voronezh. Certain aircraft fac- tories have their own tunnels. The aerodynamic laboratory of Junkers at Dessau, and all aerodynamic research equip- ment (apart from the concrete casings of the tunnels) from the D.F.L. and other German centres in the Russian zone of occupation, have been transported to the U.S.S.R. Several new laboratories are being designed, and building has already started, but these will not be ready before I953-6O- The present lack of experimental and research centres seriously limits the development for the air force, and apart from TsAGI and the Zhukovski Academy, the exist- ing centres lack fully qualified aerodynamic workers, equip, ment and resources. Mathematical development in Russia (which plays an important part in aerodynamics) is at a commendably high level. The -most prominent theoretical worker in the field Russia's first wind tunnel, completed by Zhukovski in 1910.
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