AEROSPACE ENGINEERING STUDY IN RUSSIA People always dreamt about flying. Already in III – IV century in China some first kites were made and in VI century the Chinese attempted to raise a human in the air with its help. Some efforts to create a flying vehicle have probably been made in the Middle Ages. There are no accurate information because people believed that if the human has no wings he shouldn’t fly. Only in blueprints of the great scientist and artist Leonardo da Vinci were found some drafts of parachute and “ornithopter” (a flying device equipped with wings). The great Russian scientist and inventor Mikhail Lomonosov has also worked on creation of an “aerodynamic vehicle”. He built a prototype in 1754 and though it has never flew to the sky, a lot of his solutions has become a basis for aerodynamic theory. The first plane made its flight in Russia in 1910 and already in 1914 the plane named “Ilya Muromets” (the hero of Russian folk tales) set a record in the flight distance with 1200 km. That plane was a real world sensation and there were no analogues anywhere at all. After such success Russian aviation had a lot of famous names, for example such engineers as I. Sikorsky, A. Tupolev, A. Yakovlev, P. Sukhoi and many others. Their influence on the world aircraft engineering is incomparable. Many of their discoveries are still being used in a modern aviation. Today Russia is a second largest producer in military aircraft industry in the world and the third largest producer of helicopters. Russia also has a strong partnership with such giants as Boeing, performing the pilot training and high quality details manufacturing for the company. The other important partner is an Airbus group which also purchases details and components in Russia for its planes. The history of Russian space industry speaks for itself. For example, the first rocket was constructed by K. Tsiolkovsky in 1903 and already in 1957 the new space-era has began after the first satellite developed by famous engineer S. Korolev was sent to open space. But of course, the legend was born at the 12th of April in 1961 when Yuri Gagarin wrote his name down in the history of humankind forever after performing the first ever man-piloted space flight. The other milestone of Russian space industry is well-know international orbital station “Mir” which successfully served as a main base for the astronauts from all-over the world for more than 15 years. Today Russian spacecraft continues to play a global key role performing different scientific researches and developing new technologies. Nowadays professional engineers and designers are trained at Moscow Aviation Institute which history is closely tied to the history of aviation industry in the USSR and Russia, and at K. Tsiolkovsky Russian State University of Aviation Technology “MATI” which is named after the creator of the first rocket. Today both MAI and MATI are well-established educational centers and leading universities of the country and Europe in its industry. Only here it is possible to obtain education in the whole range of programs and qualifications for aerospace industry. The range of educational programs includes both solely engineering and technological professions directly related to production and theoretical humanities necessary for adequate development of industrial enterprises and specialized commercial companies. Engineering students also have an opportunity to learn piloting at the MAI aerodrome. Due to pro-active research activity of MAI branches and their close cooperation with production and businesses, senior students may obtain practical skills prior to graduation from the Institute. A high level of MAI graduates are known worldwide. They work at many research institutes, aircraft engineering and aerospace companies, R&Ds, mission controls, commercial enterprises, etc. Moreover, a substantial part of Russian space crews has graduated from MAI. The students are welcome to study Aircraft engineering; Automation and control; IT and computer sciences; Telecommunications; Radio technologies; and Economics and Management as well. Another key university in aviation sphere in Russia is a Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation (MSTUCA). Nowadays the MSTUCA is the leading national civil aviation university. It is dedicated to foster advanced personnel mastering safety management in aviation, maintenance of aircrafts, flights control and management in airports development. The University owns Aircraft Maintenance Base, Aero Engine Maintenance Training Center, Simulator Training Center, Aircraft Maintenance Factory and other line maintenance bases which all are for students practice. Due to joint programs current students and graduates may continue their education in Airbus maintenance centre in France. The University also has cooperation with all three international airports in Moscow and all the major airlines. The University simulates the real work of the air crew, including the emergency and extreme situations as a part of educational process. Students are free to access the simulators on equal terms with the working crews of air companies of different countries, who are glad to share their real-life experience with trainees. We are glad to say that Russia awaits students and young scientists who are eager to join the rich and glorious history of aircraft and who are willing to keep making the humankind dreams about sky and space come true!
Posted on: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 06:07:28 +0000
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