Pyotr Nesterov
Encyclopedia
Pyotr Nikolayevich Nesterov ( in Nizhny Novgorod
- in Zhovkva
, Lviv Oblast
) was a Russia
n pilot, an aircraft technical designer and an aerobatics
pioneer.
and served in the 9th East Siberian artillery
brigade
in Vladivostok
. In 1909, he came into contact with aviation
when he was sent to an aircraft manufacturer to work. He built his first glider
and learned to fly it.
In 1911 Nesterov began formal training as a pilot and graduated on 11 October 1912. A short time later he also passed the examination to be a military pilot. In May 1913 he became leader of a relay in Kiev, completing night flights at that time.
, a feat not previously performed. Despite the doubts of his peers, Nesterov proved his theory on 9 September 1913 (27 August by the calendar then used in Russia) and became the first pilot to fly a loop. This was done in a Nieuport IV
monoplane with a 70 hp Gnome engine over Syretzk Aerodrome near Kiev
, before many watchers. For this he was disciplined with ten days of close arrest, ostensibly "for risking government property". His achievement made him famous overnight and the punishment was reversed; he was promoted to staff captain and later awarded a medal. He founded the practice of aerobatics
, stressing the value of these exercises for a military pilot. Nesterov improved the flight methods and designed new flight models without rudders.
The First World War gave Nesterov the opportunity to test his air war theories in practice. He was particularly adept at controlling the bomb release.
Aircraft were unarmed at this early stage, and Nesterov became the first pilot to destroy an enemy airplane in flight in the history of military aviation. On 25 August 1914, using a Morane-Saulnier
Type G monoplane (s/n 281), he rammed
an Austria
n reconnaissance plane Albatros B.II
of Observer Baron
Friedrich von Rosenthal and pilot Franz Malina from FLIK 11 after firing unsuccessfully at them with a pistol. Eager to destroy enemy aircraft, he probably intended to hit it with a landing gear
of his Morane-Saulnier
monoplane
, but he hit it with his plane's propeller
instead. As a result, both planes crashed. Nesterov, who had not strapped himself in, fell from his plane to his death. The Austrian pilot and Observer also died. The town of Zhovkva
(currently in Lviv Oblast
, Ukraine
) near the famous air fight was renamed Nesterov in 1951, though it has since reverted to Zhovkva.
, Ukraine. His ramming method was used during the Second World War by a number of Soviet pilots with success and without their loss of life. The air-combat technique of ramming
Nesterov pioneered became known in Russian as "Taran
". In honor of Nesterov the Soviet Union
established the Nesterov's cup for the best aerobatics crew. The cup was donated to the International Aeronautics Federation
in 1962. It is awarded to the Men's World Team Champions of the World Aerobatic Championships.
A minor planet
3071 Nesterov
discovered by Soviet
astronomer Tamara Mikhailovna Smirnova
in 1973 is named after him.
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is, with the population of 1,250,615, the fifth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg...
- in Zhovkva
Zhovkva
Zhovkva is a city in the Lviv Oblast of western Ukraine, north of Lviv. It is the administrative center of the Zhovkivskyi Raion . The current estimated population is 13,500.-History:...
, Lviv Oblast
Lviv Oblast
Lviv Oblast is an oblast in western Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Lviv.-History:The oblast was created as part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic on December 4, 1939...
) was a 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...
n pilot, an aircraft technical designer and an aerobatics
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
pioneer.
Life and career
The son of a military academy teacher, Pyotr Nesterov decided to choose a military career. In August 1904 he left the military school in Nizhny Novgorod and went to the artillery school, considered one of the best of its kind. He became a second lieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
and served in the 9th East Siberian artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
in Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
. In 1909, he came into contact with aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
when he was sent to an aircraft manufacturer to work. He built his first glider
Glider aircraft
Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...
and learned to fly it.
In 1911 Nesterov began formal training as a pilot and graduated on 11 October 1912. A short time later he also passed the examination to be a military pilot. In May 1913 he became leader of a relay in Kiev, completing night flights at that time.
Achievements
Nesterov believed an aircraft could fly a loopAerobatic maneuver
Aerobatic maneuvers are flight paths putting aircraft in unusual attitudes, in air shows, dog fights or competition aerobatics. Aerobatics can be performed by a single aircraft or in formation with several others...
, a feat not previously performed. Despite the doubts of his peers, Nesterov proved his theory on 9 September 1913 (27 August by the calendar then used in Russia) and became the first pilot to fly a loop. This was done in a Nieuport IV
Nieuport IV
-External links:**...
monoplane with a 70 hp Gnome engine over Syretzk Aerodrome near Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, before many watchers. For this he was disciplined with ten days of close arrest, ostensibly "for risking government property". His achievement made him famous overnight and the punishment was reversed; he was promoted to staff captain and later awarded a medal. He founded the practice of aerobatics
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
, stressing the value of these exercises for a military pilot. Nesterov improved the flight methods and designed new flight models without rudders.
The First World War gave Nesterov the opportunity to test his air war theories in practice. He was particularly adept at controlling the bomb release.
Morane-Saulnier
Aéroplanes Morane-Saulnier is a French aircraft manufacturing company formed in October 1911 by Raymond Saulnier and the Morane brothers, Leon and Robert...
Type G monoplane (s/n 281), he rammed
Ramming
In warfare, ramming is a technique that was used in air, sea and land combat. The term originated from battering ram, a siege weapon used to bring down fortifications by hitting it with the force of the ram's momentum...
an Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n reconnaissance plane Albatros B.II
Albatros B.II
|-See also:-References:...
of Observer Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
Friedrich von Rosenthal and pilot Franz Malina from FLIK 11 after firing unsuccessfully at them with a pistol. Eager to destroy enemy aircraft, he probably intended to hit it with a landing gear
Landing Gear
Landing Gear is Devin the Dude's fifth studio album. It was released on October 7, 2008. It was his first studio album since signing with the label Razor & Tie. It features a high-profile guest appearance from Snoop Dogg. As of October 30, 2008, the album has sold 18,906 copies.-Track...
of his Morane-Saulnier
Morane-Saulnier
Aéroplanes Morane-Saulnier is a French aircraft manufacturing company formed in October 1911 by Raymond Saulnier and the Morane brothers, Leon and Robert...
monoplane
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
, but he hit it with his plane's propeller
Propeller (aircraft)
Aircraft propellers or airscrews convert rotary motion from piston engines or turboprops to provide propulsive force. They may be fixed or variable pitch. Early aircraft propellers were carved by hand from solid or laminated wood with later propellers being constructed from metal...
instead. As a result, both planes crashed. Nesterov, who had not strapped himself in, fell from his plane to his death. The Austrian pilot and Observer also died. The town of Zhovkva
Zhovkva
Zhovkva is a city in the Lviv Oblast of western Ukraine, north of Lviv. It is the administrative center of the Zhovkivskyi Raion . The current estimated population is 13,500.-History:...
(currently in Lviv Oblast
Lviv Oblast
Lviv Oblast is an oblast in western Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Lviv.-History:The oblast was created as part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic on December 4, 1939...
, 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...
) near the famous air fight was renamed Nesterov in 1951, though it has since reverted to Zhovkva.
Legacy
Nesterov was buried in KievKiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, Ukraine. His ramming method was used during the Second World War by a number of Soviet pilots with success and without their loss of life. The air-combat technique of ramming
Ramming
In warfare, ramming is a technique that was used in air, sea and land combat. The term originated from battering ram, a siege weapon used to bring down fortifications by hitting it with the force of the ram's momentum...
Nesterov pioneered became known in Russian as "Taran
Ramming
In warfare, ramming is a technique that was used in air, sea and land combat. The term originated from battering ram, a siege weapon used to bring down fortifications by hitting it with the force of the ram's momentum...
". In honor of Nesterov the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
established the Nesterov's cup for the best aerobatics crew. The cup was donated to the International Aeronautics Federation
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautics and astronautics world records. Its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland. This includes man-carrying aerospace vehicles from balloons to spacecraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles...
in 1962. It is awarded to the Men's World Team Champions of the World Aerobatic Championships.
A minor planet
Minor planet
An asteroid group or minor-planet group is a population of minor planets that have a share broadly similar orbits. Members are generally unrelated to each other, unlike in an asteroid family, which often results from the break-up of a single asteroid...
3071 Nesterov
3071 Nesterov
3071 Nesterov is an outer main-belt asteroid discovered on March 28, 1973, by T. Smirnova at Nauchnyj. It is named for Pyotr Nesterov, a pilot of the Imperial Russian Air Force, and the first pilot to perform many classic aerobatic maneuvers....
discovered by Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
astronomer Tamara Mikhailovna Smirnova
Tamara Mikhailovna Smirnova
Tamara Mikhailovna Smirnova was a Russian astronomer.From 1966 to 1988 she was a staff member of the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy at Leningrad. She co-discovered the periodic comet 74P/Smirnova-Chernykh, along with Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh. She has also discovered various asteroids...
in 1973 is named after him.
External links
- Biography of Pyotr Nesterov - in Russian