Designer of IL -2 Sturmovik 

Sergey Ilyushin, a Soviet aircraft designer, is known for creating the Il-2 strike aircraft and Il-4 bomber, which were the most widely used Soviet warplanes during World War II. Born into a peasant family, Ilyushin went on to become a three-time Hero of Socialist Labor.

In 1914, he was conscripted into military service and initially served in the infantry before becoming a clerk at the local command headquarters due to his literacy. His career took a turn for the better when he was selected, along with six other soldiers, to train as aviators. Ilyushin volunteered for the opportunity and was sent to St. Petersburg, where he started as an engine mechanic's assistant and eventually worked his way up to chief mechanic

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In 1916, Russia was still actively involved in World War I, and the situation on the front lines was dire. As a result, the government agreed to admit lower-class citizens into aviation schools. Ilyushin applied and received his pilot license in 1917. However, he rarely used it, and his son Vladimir later admitted that Ilyushin was not very skilled at flying.

In 1917, the Bolsheviks came to power and the country was thrust into a civil war. Most factories ceased operations, including the airfield, which had to close due to a lack of newly produced aircraft to test. Ilyushin left St Petersburg and relocated to Vologda, where he became the head of the industry department of the National Economy Council. This position had nothing to do with aviation; instead, he was responsible for overseeing local sawmills, mills, and creameries.

Ilyushin was a staunch supporter of the Soviet regime and joined the Communist party in 1918. The following year, he was called to serve in the Red Army and was sent to the Red Air Force headquarters in Serpukhov. Initially intended to participate in the Civil War as a pilot, it turned out that the Bolsheviks did not have enough warplanes. The young Red Army faced a constant shortage of everything, from armor and ammunition to clothing.

As a result, Ilyushin became a mechanic and spent three years repairing Red Army planes while studying enemy aircraft. The monarchists, also known as the "Whites," had formed an alliance with the USA and Great Britain, resulting in foreign aircraft being delivered to Ilyushin's workshop. In 1921, he became the head of the aviation division of the 9th Kuban army on the Caucasus front. After achieving significant victories in Georgia, this division was relocated to Moscow.

While in Moscow, Ilyushin learned about the Red Air Force Engineering Institute and decided to pursue higher education. His request was approved, and on September 21, 1921, he attended his first lecture. Despite his extensive professional experience, Ilyushin struggled with the necessary theoretical subjects and mostly received "C" grades during his entrance exams. In 1923, as a student, Sergey Ilyushin designed his first aircraft.

In 1926, Ilyushin graduated and assumed the position of chairman at the research and technology committee of the Air Force. In this role, he studied global aircraft design technologies and developed mission requirements for Soviet aircraft. Although he enjoyed this job, Ilyushin always aspired to be a designer.

In 1931, his dream came true, and he became the head of the construction department at the Central Aero-hydrodynamics Institute. In 1933, he was transferred to the Menzhinsky Aircraft Factory, where he led the central construction bureau.

In 1935, Ilyushin's bureau successfully built its first plane, an experimental bomber with a wooden body called the CKB-26. The following year, pilot Vladimir Kokkinaki set the first Soviet aviation records with this aircraft, lifting 500 kilograms of cargo to a height of 12,816 kilometers and 2 tons to a height of 11,005 kilometers. However, these records were later surpassed in 1946 by American aviators flying a Boeing B29.

On October 2, 1939, the prototype of the Il-2 attack plane made its maiden flight. Mass production of this aircraft began in February 1941, and on June 22 of the same year, World War II reached the Soviet Union.

The Il-2, often referred to as "The Hunchback" due to the shape of its fuselage, became the most widely used Soviet plane during World War II. While Soviet war pilots considered it less maneuverable, they found it incredibly resilient. Its other nickname, "The Flying Tank," further emphasized its durability. The enemy also gave it various nicknames, including "The Butcher," "The Chopper," and even "The Black Death." A total of 36,000 Il-2 aircraft were produced during the war.

The Il-4, a long-range bomber known as the "brother" of the Il-2, took part in the bombing of Berlin in August 1941. Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's propaganda minister, had made a promise that no bombs would fall on the German capital, but the Il-4 was the first aircraft to prove him wrong and symbolize the downfall of the Third Reich.

In 1943, while the war was still ongoing, Ilyushin's design bureau began working on passenger planes. The Il-18, which was developed a year after the victory in 1946, became the first Soviet aircraft to gain popularity in the global market. Until the 1970s, the Il-18 was the most widely used airliner in the USSR, and it even continued to be used in emergency situations in the 1980s. Several Il-18s were involved in the evacuation of people from Chernobyl and the Armenian city of Spitak, which had been devastated by an earthquake.

The father of Russian weapons

Mikhail Kalashnikov is one of the few people who have had their name turned into a worldwide brand thanks to a single product. He is the designer of the popular assault rifle known as the AK-47. In Africa, children are sometimes named Kalash after the weapon, and its image can be found on the flags of two nations and on the insignia of numerous paramilitary groups.

There is a popular legend that during the Cold War, NATO intelligence believed Kalashnikov to be a cover name for a secret workshop with many engineers, rather than a real person. Myths and exaggerations surround both Kalashnikov's biography and the story of his invention. Some admirers claim that the AK-47 was a wonder weapon with no equal during its time.

Critics, on the other hand, argue that Kalashnikov's contribution to the creation of the assault rifle was mediocre at best. They suggest that his name was attached to the weapon as a piece of Soviet propaganda, as his family came from a peasant background, while the real work was done by more experienced engineers on his team.

What is certain is that Kalashnikov was conscripted into the Army in 1938 and became a tank driver. He suggested improvements for tank construction and small arms used by crews, which led to him being sent to a tank factory for further education and work on his inventions. His first original weapon design dates back to 1941 when he created a sub-machine gun while recovering from battle wounds in a hospital. This invention helped him secure a position among weapon mechanics working for the Soviet military.

In 1943, the Soviet Union adopted a standard for a 7.62mm intermediate-power cartridge, which was designed to be in-between pistol and rifle ammunition in terms of stopping power and potential range for the weapons using it.

Designers began developing a compact firearm to replace submachine guns (SMGs) on the battlefield, one that would offer automatic fire, a longer range than an SMG, and a moderate weight. Kalashnikov's initial efforts in this direction resulted in an unsuccessful automatic carbine in 1944, but a year later he began working on what would eventually become the Kalashnikov rifle.

The AK-47, named after its creator and the year of its development, is far from perfect - otherwise, all armies around the world would be using it. Compared to contemporary models, it lacked accuracy, had a strong recoil, was noisy, and had a tendency to rise during firing.

However, it was cost-effective to manufacture, highly reliable in the field, and so simple in design that even the least skilled individual could be trained to use and maintain it in just a few days.

Kalashnikov's design studio produced a wide range of firearms, from light machine guns to an underwater rifle to a sniper rifle, with over a hundred different models and modifications. The Kalashnikov brand is also associated with knives and vodka, among other products.

The veteran weapon designer, now over 90 years old, has a passion for classical music but his true love is creating hunting carbines. He and his team were honored with a state award for their artistic achievements in this field.

The Pistol Magnate

Nikolay Makarov, a gun constructor and inventor of the Pistol of Makarov (or simply the “Makarov”), was not a public figure despite the popularity of his invention. His biography remains a mystery to many Russians, unlike that of another well-known gun constructor, Mikhail Kalashnikov.

After completing his studies, Makarov returned to his hometown of Sasovo, which had grown into a town by then. He worked as a mechanic at his father's depot, surprising his former classmates who had gone to Moscow in search of better opportunities. However, Makarov's passion for education led him to enroll in the Mechanical College in Tula at the age of 22, a key area for metal manufacturing and weapons production in the country.

During WWII, Makarov was awarded an engineering degree and sent to a factory near Moscow. When the Nazi troops approached Moscow, his plant was evacuated to Vyatskie Polyany, where he spent years producing PPSh submachine guns. Under the guidance of Georgy Shpagin, one of the greatest Soviet firearms designers, Makarov rose from a workmaster to chief designer.

In 1943, Makarov was allowed to complete his final college paper but instead chose to work on designing a machine gun. Although his design was well-received, it was not put into production as a new PPSh machine gun was already being manufactured. Undeterred, Makarov continued his work and eventually created the iconic Makarov pistol, intended to replace the aging Tokarev TT-33 semi-automatic for officers' self-defense.

The Makarov pistol, known as the PM, was designed to be simple and reliable. It used a unique cartridge and had features that made it difficult to use other ammunition, ensuring NATO forces could not use Soviet ammunition in covert operations. The pistol's design, with a heavy blowback feature, was carefully studied by the Soviet military leadership, and in 1951, it was selected for use in the Soviet Armed Forces. Production of the PM took place in Izhevsk, the same city where Kalashnikov manufactured his guns.

The PM pistol remained in widespread use by both the Soviet military and police until the collapse of the USSR in 1991 and beyond. Various modifications were made to the gun for different purposes, from personal defense gas pistols to sport guns. The PM is still being produced in Russia, China, and Bulgaria, and continues to be a popular handgun for concealed carry in the United States. The total number of PMs produced worldwide has exceeded 10 million.

Nikolay Fyodorovich continued his experiments with other types of weapons, designing the anti-aircraft cannon AM-23 in 1953 with his colleague Nikolay Afanasyev. Despite tough competition from Moscow design bureaus, Makarov won the government tender for the cannon due to his innovative design that reduced backfiring. This success earned him the title of USSR "Hero of Socialist Labor."

In the 1960s, Makarov focused on designing the future of arms development, resulting in the production of the "9K111 Fagot" anti-tank missile system in 1970. This system, which could track and destroy targets moving at 60 kilometers per hour, was user-friendly and used by armies in 30 countries. Makarov also developed the anti-tank missile "9M-113 Konkurs" in 1974, earning him his second title of "Hero of Socialist Labor."

Despite his success, Makarov remained modest and did not seek material rewards for his achievements. After retiring, he served as a deputy for the City Council of Tula and enjoyed fishing in his free time. He passed away in May 1998 in Tula and was laid to rest at the local cemetery.