Aviastroitel
Encyclopedia
Aviastroitel Ltd. is a manufacturer of sailplanes that was originally based in Penza
, Russia
. Since 2010, the company has been known as Glider Air Craft Ltd and based in Moscow
.
with a PhD in aerodynamics
. He later went on to work on the Buran program. The Istra was designed in 1970 and completed in 1974 as part of his sport flying with the Second Moscow Aeroclub and he and club members experimented with it for ten years.
Fedorov's next design was the Baikal, another fibreglass motorglider first flown in 1986. It flew about 30 test flights that year but the engine installation proved problematic and the aircraft was retired.
In 1989 he began work on the "Dream" glider. This was a very small and lightweight design and developed as the Mechta I, Mechta II and Russia I and II prototypes. The 12.6 m (41.3 ft) wing span Russia II was entered in the FAI World Class competition, announced in 1989 to pick a small, inexpensive and easy to fly glider with at least a 30:1 glide ratio for this new one-Design
competition class. To support the bid, a group known as the Aircraft Cooperative Mechta was formed and three hand-made prototypes were built. The aircraft was well-received at the 1993 competition and fly-off held in Oerlinghausen
, Germany
, but the lack of a manufacturing facility behind the design, plus political pressures meant that the "Dream" glider was awarded second place behind the winning Polish Politechnika Warszawska PW-5.
Disappointed with the outcome of the competition, the Mechta group found consolation in the enthusiasm of Americans who attended with their Roberts Cygnet
design. They had great interest in the simple Russian glider and indicated that the North American market was right for such an aircraft for solo training and Club class flying. Known as the "Russia glider' and later simply as the "Russia", production was begun under the designation Aviastroitel AC-4 Russia
. One of the three prototypes was purchased at the competition and imported into the US as a Fedorov Russia and demand quickly appeared. A US distributor, Russia 12.6 was set up to demonstrate the aircraft and sign up dealers. The Russian cooperative was reformed into a production company, taking the name Aircraft Builders, or Aviastroitel in Russian. It was under the Aviastroitel banner that most of the aircraft came to North America and became well-known.
In 1994 US distribution was transferred to Mechta Sailplanes, LLC, which imported 18 Russia gliders into the US. In response Aviastroitel created a second set of molds and started a second assembly line in Penza, giving a total production capacity of 48 AC-4s per year.
In 1997 William Ayd became US distributor under the name Russia Sailplanes, Inc. to market the expanding line of Aviastroitel gliders and motor gliders and the two companies enjoyed a successful partnership.
Aviastroitel continued production of AC-4 Russias and developed the AC-5M
motor glider from the AC-4 and the new AC-6
FAI 15 Metre Class glider. By 2002 the company had produced over 100 gliders, most of them being shipped to the US, with smaller numbers sold in Canada, Greece, Holland and New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The company even developed their AC-5M motor glider into the AC-5MP unmanned aerial vehicle
.
Then, in 2002. the Russian government adopted new standards for industrial production. The company could comply, but it made production non-profitable. The company ceased production and concentrated on a new two-seat touring motor glider model, the AC-7M
, moving future manufacturing off shore. Due to the problems with the new standards the relationship between the US-based Russia Sailplanes and Aviastroitel was ended.
Work on the AC-7M started in 2002 and it first flew in 2005. Development of this model continued though 2009. In 2010 the company was reorganized as Glider Air Craft Ltd and the AC-4, 5, 6, 7 and 7M were returned to production. Development of the AC-8 glider and motor glider was started in 2010.
Penza
-Honors:A minor planet, 3189 Penza, discovered by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh in 1978, is named after the city.-Notable residents:...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Since 2010, the company has been known as Glider Air Craft Ltd and based in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Mission
The company states its mission as:History
The company has a history that can trace its roots back to Vladimir Egorovich Fedorov's first fibreglass motor glider, the Fedorov Istra. Fedorov was born in 1937 and graduated from the Moscow Aviation InstituteMoscow Aviation Institute
Moscow Aviation Institute is one of several major engineering higher education establishments in Moscow .Although the school is currently offering a wide range of majors and research...
with a PhD in aerodynamics
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
. He later went on to work on the Buran program. The Istra was designed in 1970 and completed in 1974 as part of his sport flying with the Second Moscow Aeroclub and he and club members experimented with it for ten years.
Fedorov's next design was the Baikal, another fibreglass motorglider first flown in 1986. It flew about 30 test flights that year but the engine installation proved problematic and the aircraft was retired.
In 1989 he began work on the "Dream" glider. This was a very small and lightweight design and developed as the Mechta I, Mechta II and Russia I and II prototypes. The 12.6 m (41.3 ft) wing span Russia II was entered in the FAI World Class competition, announced in 1989 to pick a small, inexpensive and easy to fly glider with at least a 30:1 glide ratio for this new one-Design
One-design
One-Design is a racing method where all vehicles or boats have identical or very similar designs or models. It is also known as Spec series. It is heavily used in sailboat racing. All competitors in a race are then judged based on a single start time...
competition class. To support the bid, a group known as the Aircraft Cooperative Mechta was formed and three hand-made prototypes were built. The aircraft was well-received at the 1993 competition and fly-off held in Oerlinghausen
Oerlinghausen
Oerlinghausen is a city in the Lippe district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany located between Bielefeld and Detmold in the Teutoburger Wald. It has c. 17,200 inhabitants.-Geography:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, but the lack of a manufacturing facility behind the design, plus political pressures meant that the "Dream" glider was awarded second place behind the winning Polish Politechnika Warszawska PW-5.
Disappointed with the outcome of the competition, the Mechta group found consolation in the enthusiasm of Americans who attended with their Roberts Cygnet
Roberts Cygnet
|-See also:-External links:*...
design. They had great interest in the simple Russian glider and indicated that the North American market was right for such an aircraft for solo training and Club class flying. Known as the "Russia glider' and later simply as the "Russia", production was begun under the designation Aviastroitel AC-4 Russia
Aviastroitel AC-4 Russia
|-See also:...
. One of the three prototypes was purchased at the competition and imported into the US as a Fedorov Russia and demand quickly appeared. A US distributor, Russia 12.6 was set up to demonstrate the aircraft and sign up dealers. The Russian cooperative was reformed into a production company, taking the name Aircraft Builders, or Aviastroitel in Russian. It was under the Aviastroitel banner that most of the aircraft came to North America and became well-known.
In 1994 US distribution was transferred to Mechta Sailplanes, LLC, which imported 18 Russia gliders into the US. In response Aviastroitel created a second set of molds and started a second assembly line in Penza, giving a total production capacity of 48 AC-4s per year.
In 1997 William Ayd became US distributor under the name Russia Sailplanes, Inc. to market the expanding line of Aviastroitel gliders and motor gliders and the two companies enjoyed a successful partnership.
Aviastroitel continued production of AC-4 Russias and developed the AC-5M
Aviastroitel AC-5M
|-See also:-External links:**...
motor glider from the AC-4 and the new AC-6
Aviastroitel AC-6
|-See also:...
FAI 15 Metre Class glider. By 2002 the company had produced over 100 gliders, most of them being shipped to the US, with smaller numbers sold in Canada, Greece, Holland and New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The company even developed their AC-5M motor glider into the AC-5MP unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
.
Then, in 2002. the Russian government adopted new standards for industrial production. The company could comply, but it made production non-profitable. The company ceased production and concentrated on a new two-seat touring motor glider model, the AC-7M
Aviastroitel AC-7M
|-See also:-External links:**...
, moving future manufacturing off shore. Due to the problems with the new standards the relationship between the US-based Russia Sailplanes and Aviastroitel was ended.
Work on the AC-7M started in 2002 and it first flew in 2005. Development of this model continued though 2009. In 2010 the company was reorganized as Glider Air Craft Ltd and the AC-4, 5, 6, 7 and 7M were returned to production. Development of the AC-8 glider and motor glider was started in 2010.
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC-4 Aviastroitel AC-4 Russia |-See also:... |
1993 | 60 | Glider Glider (sailplane) A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the sport of gliding. Some gliders, known as motor gliders are used for gliding and soaring as well, but have engines which can, in some cases, be used for take-off or for extending a flight... and motor glider Motor glider A motor glider is a fixed-wing aircraft that can be flown with or without engine power. The FAI Gliding Commission Sporting Code definition is: A fixed wing aerodyne equipped with a means of propulsion ,... |
| AC-5M Aviastroitel AC-5M |-See also:-External links:**... |
1999 | 35 | Motor glider |
| AC-6 Aviastroitel AC-6 |-See also:... |
Glider | ||
| AC-7 Aviastroitel AC-7 |-See also:... |
glider | ||
| AC-7M Aviastroitel AC-7M |-See also:-External links:**... |
2006 | motor glider | |
| AC-8 | under development (2010) | glider and motor glider | |