Michael Stroukoff
Encyclopedia
Michael Stroukoff was a Russian-born aircraft designer, who served in the White Army before emigrating to the United States
. After spending some time as an architect
, he joined the Chase Aircraft Company and designed a number of transport aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces
and the United States Air Force
, later starting his own company to perform further aeronautical work.
), a city in the Russian Empire
(now part of Ukraine
), Stroukoff attended the Kiev Polytechnic Institute
, graduating in 1908 with a degree in civic engineering. Joining the Russian Army
, he saw service during World War I
, then after the war he served in the White Army during the Russian Revolution, attaining the rank of Major and being awarded the Order of St. George of the Fourth Degree
. With the defeat of the Whites by the Bolshevik
s, he fled Russia and emigrated to the United States in 1922.
and interior design
, before being appointed chief engineer and president of Chase Aircraft
upon its foundation. His first design was the XCG-14, a wooden troop-carrying assault glider, which was developed into the larger CG-18 and CG-20
gliders, the latter being the largest glider ever constructed in the United States.
Following World War II, the assault glider fell out of favour, replaced by powered transports, and Stroukoff modified a YG-18 into the prototype YC-122, and a small number of the aircraft were built. More important was the conversion of the G-20 into the C-123, described as a "Winged Truck" by Stroukoff. While one version of the aircraft was the first jet-powered transport built in America, it was the piston-engined 'assault transport' version of the C-123 that won a contract from the United States Air Force
for production; due to limited capacity at Chase, this was subcontracted to the Kaiser Manufacturing Company
, which purchased a 49% interest in Chase Aircraft. However, following a procurement scandal and political issues, the C-123 contract was awarded to Fairchild Aircraft, and Kaiser bought out Chase Aircraft.
Setting up a new company, the Stroukoff Aircraft Corporation, Stroukoff continued work on improved versions of the C-123, most notably the YC-134
, however none of them would go into production, and in 1959 the company closed down.
in Trenton, New Jersey
on December 22, 1973.
The Larissa Stroukoff Memorial Trophy, awarded by the Soaring Society of America
for the highest speed recorded on a closed course in a glider during the U.S. National Open Class Soaring Championships, was designed by Stroukoff.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. After spending some time as an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, he joined the Chase Aircraft Company and designed a number of transport aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
and the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, later starting his own company to perform further aeronautical work.
Early life
Born 29 January 1883 in Yekaterinoslav (DnipropetrovskDnipropetrovsk
Dnipropetrovsk or Dnepropetrovsk formerly Yekaterinoslav is Ukraine's third largest city with one million inhabitants. It is located southeast of Ukraine's capital Kiev on the Dnieper River, in the south-central region of the country...
), a city in the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
(now part of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
), Stroukoff attended the Kiev Polytechnic Institute
Kiev Polytechnic Institute
The National Technical University of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” is a major university in Kiev, Ukraine.-History:The institute was founded in 1898. At that time it had four departments: Mechanical, Chemical, Agricultural, and Civil Engineering. The first enrolment constituted 360 students...
, graduating in 1908 with a degree in civic engineering. Joining the Russian Army
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
, he saw service during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, then after the war he served in the White Army during the Russian Revolution, attaining the rank of Major and being awarded the Order of St. George of the Fourth Degree
Order of St. George
The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George (also known as Order of St. George the Triumphant, Russian: Военный орден Св...
. With the defeat of the Whites by the Bolshevik
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
s, he fled Russia and emigrated to the United States in 1922.
American career
Following his emigration, Stroukoff started a career in architectureArchitecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and interior design
Interior design
Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
, before being appointed chief engineer and president of Chase Aircraft
Chase Aircraft
The Chase Aircraft Company, founded in 1943, was an aircraft manufacturer of the United States of America, primarily constructing gliders and military transport aircraft. Lacking space for expansion, the company was purchased by Henry J. Kaiser in 1951. Plans to produce the C-123 transport for the...
upon its foundation. His first design was the XCG-14, a wooden troop-carrying assault glider, which was developed into the larger CG-18 and CG-20
Chase XCG-20
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography...
gliders, the latter being the largest glider ever constructed in the United States.
Following World War II, the assault glider fell out of favour, replaced by powered transports, and Stroukoff modified a YG-18 into the prototype YC-122, and a small number of the aircraft were built. More important was the conversion of the G-20 into the C-123, described as a "Winged Truck" by Stroukoff. While one version of the aircraft was the first jet-powered transport built in America, it was the piston-engined 'assault transport' version of the C-123 that won a contract from the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
for production; due to limited capacity at Chase, this was subcontracted to the Kaiser Manufacturing Company
Henry J. Kaiser
Henry John Kaiser was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. He established the Kaiser Shipyard which built Liberty ships during World War II, after which he formed Kaiser Aluminum and Kaiser Steel. Kaiser organized Kaiser Permanente health care...
, which purchased a 49% interest in Chase Aircraft. However, following a procurement scandal and political issues, the C-123 contract was awarded to Fairchild Aircraft, and Kaiser bought out Chase Aircraft.
Setting up a new company, the Stroukoff Aircraft Corporation, Stroukoff continued work on improved versions of the C-123, most notably the YC-134
Stroukoff YC-134
-See also:...
, however none of them would go into production, and in 1959 the company closed down.
Death and legacy
Stroukoff died at the age of 90 in St. Francis HospitalSt. Francis Hospital
St. Francis Hospital may refer to:*St. Francis Hospital *St. Francis Hospital *St. Francis Hospital *St. Francis Hospital of The Sisters Of The Poor Of St...
in Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
on December 22, 1973.
The Larissa Stroukoff Memorial Trophy, awarded by the Soaring Society of America
Soaring Society of America
The Soaring Society of America was founded at the instigation of Warren E. Eaton to promote the sport of soaring in the USA and internationally. The first meeting was held in New York City in the McGraw-Hill building on February 20, 1932. Its first objective was to hold a national soaring...
for the highest speed recorded on a closed course in a glider during the U.S. National Open Class Soaring Championships, was designed by Stroukoff.