Oleg Antonov

Antonov 225 - The world’s largest airplane

photo from here

Oleg Konstantinovich Antonov was born on Feb. 8, 1906 in Troitskoe, W Russia (d. in Kiev on April 4, 1984).

He was a Soviet aircraft designer and painter, the founder of Antonov ASTC, a world-famous aircraft company in Ukraine, later named in his honour. Without him, the Antonov 225 (see image above) wouldn't exist [or it would have other nome]. Antonov's AN-225 "Mriya" is currently the biggest aircraft operational (bigger than even the Airbus A-380).

Oleg Antonov studied at the Antonov graduated from the Kalinin Polytechnical Institute in Leningrad, became head of the experimental design department in 1946, and designer in general for the aircraft industry in 1962. He received the Lenin Prize in 1962 and the Order of Lenin twice. After Second World War he became senior designer with the ministry of aviation (until 1963). The author of over 50 books on glider and aircraft design, his name is perpetuated in the AN-225 six-engined super heavylift aircraft which carried the Soviet shuttle orbiter Buran above its fuselage, shown at the Paris Airshow in 1989.

A street in Kiev city is named after Oleg Antonov. A coin was minted of Copper Nickel Alloy in 2006 by the National Bank of Ukraine honoring Antonov. In addition, a silver proof coin was issued by the Bank of Russia to commemorate 100 years since Antonov's birth.