What would we do without airplanes, how would we conquer the vast expanses of the Fatherland,
how would we get to its most hidden and most beautiful corners? Thanks to
these iron birds, we can get to know our country. For the centenary of civil
aviation, which is celebrated on February 9th, we decided to recall its history.
Powerful Ilyushins and Boeings, comfortable business jets and good old "turntables"
of the Mi family - they are all descendants light, ventilated and rattling "shelves",
the first flying machines. Then, at the beginning of the 20th century, even they were a miracle, because
human thought had once again made a breakthrough, and flights had become not
dreams, but reality.
Photo by: Alexander D., Udachny
The aviation industry was quickly filled with sky romantics. Talented designers, brave pilots, resourceful mechanics - people in love with aviation contributed to the development of aircraft and helicopter manufacturing. In Russia, one of the most outstanding representatives of the generation was Igor Sikorsky. His planes set speed records, were equipped with the heating and electric lighting systems that we are already familiar with. Sikorsky's special pride was the Ilya Muromets, a giant aircraft for those times that fought in the skies over the fronts of the First World War, and was the first prototype of modern capacious airliners. The ideas and developments of Sikorsky, who left for the United States after the revolution, formed the basis for the civil aviation that was emerging in the USSR. It officially appeared in 1923 with the creation of the Main Directorate of the Air Fleet, the Council for Civil Aviation, and the Russian Society of Voluntary Air Fleet Dobrolet - the "great-grandfather" of Aeroflot. Soon the first regular flight was launched, it became an air corridor between Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod.
Author of the picture: Roman Z., 12 years old, Mirny
True, civil aviation aircraft of those years were still not very suitable for comfortable travel. In addition, the cold, strongly vibrating cabins
could accommodate a maximum of ten people. Despite the efforts of domestic
designers, including the legendary Andrei Tupolev and Nikolai Polikarpov,
these planes were intended rather for the reputation of the Soviet Union - they
set speed and range records, and made outstanding flights. Nevertheless,
the foundation of a powerful civil aviation gradually expanded. By the 1930s,
the planes of our designers began to fly further and further, and in 1929, the ANT-4
produced by the Tupolev Design Bureau made a trip from Moscow to New York.
By the time of the Great Patriotic War, the planes had already entered mass
use, primarily due to their increased carrying capacity. Sergey Ilyushin and Oleg Antonov made a great
contribution, the latter paying special
attention to the reliability of his inventions - it is to him that the polar
explorers and travelers of the 20th century should thank. Antonov's
planes made daring flights to the most inaccessible corners of the
country, where scientists and industrialists needed fuel, provisions, and
tools. Helicopter manufacturing is also developing. "Helicopters"
are becoming especially relevant for regional transportation in those same remote
territories. In the conditions of the Far North and the
absence of a developed aviation infrastructure, unpretentious and hardy
helicopters of Soviet designers have become indispensable. The
line of Mi helicopters has achieved special recognition. And in our time,
representatives of this legendary family, mainly the Mi-8 and its various
modifications, are used in various industries in Russia and many other
countries.
After World War II, the aviation industry received an even greater boost. With the development of engine building, machines are becoming larger, they can now lift huge loads and fly very long distances. The civil aviation fleet is replenished with modern jet and supersonic aircraft. Tontsu
Soviet period Russia already has a developed airfield infrastructure,
only in Moscow there are three airports: Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo.
However, in the 90s of the last century a new stage begins in the industry. First of all, a large number of private airlines appear, by 1994 there were 413 of them, and the diamond mining company ALROSA also acquired its own.
The "flight" structure was created on the basis of the Mirny aviation enterprise, which carried out cargo and passenger transportation in Yakutia. Since 2012, "ALROSA Airlines" has become an independent entity, while significantly expanding its influence - the company's planes fly beyond the diamond region, mastering new routes.
Over the past ten years, ALROSA Airlines has become one of the largest
carriers in Russia. Largely due to its solid fleet, which allows
to ensure passenger comfort and safety. These include medium-haul
Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737-700, and modern regional
type aircraft An-38-100, An-38-120, while the company retains its special, "northern"
specificity, therefore, the aircraft in service are specially equipped for Siberia and the Far North
An-24RV, An-26-100, helicopters of the Mi-8T family,
Mi-8MTV-1, Mi-171. ALROSA owes a lot to the aircraft of the Tupolev design bureau: thanks to them, the airline's rapid growth in the 90s began.
Flight performance characteristics make it possible to use them at a wide variety of airports at any time of the year.
Photo by: Evgeniya B., Moscow
Every year, the company expands the range of its services. In 2022, the year of the decade, a loyalty program for legal entities was launched, hotel booking was launched, and passenger insurance appeared. The transformation continues every day – and this transformation is currently taking place throughout the entire civil aviation of Russia, which continues to be a reliable companion for all those who want to travel around the country. Author of the text "Aviation for PEOPLE" -
Mikhail Poliev,
flight magazine
ALROSA air traveler, winter 2022-2023
Terms of the "Promo Code" promotion for the 100th anniversary of domestic civil
aviation https://www.alrosa.aero/100-promo-rules
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