USSR V-1

In the fall of 1930, TsAGI employees began to develop a small soft-type airship for educational and training purposes. The airship was developed on the basis of the experience gained in the design of the airships “Moscow Rubber Chemist” (“MXR”) and “Komsomolskaya Pravda” (“USSR V-4”). Work was carried out after hours.

The airship gondola frame was made of duralumin profiles. The length of the gondola is 10 meters. Celluloid front lamp, side windows. The stabilizers and steering wheels consisted of a duralumin frame trimmed with fabric.

Details and the airship shell were made in Moscow by the workers of the Airship, the Kauchuk plant and TsAGI, and assembled in March 1932 in a boathouse on the Volkov Field in Leningrad under the leadership of A. N. Flakserman, deputy director of the Airship.

The airship made its first flight on April 9, 1932 . The ship was commanded by V.L. Nizhevsky, the crew also included: assistant commander Volkonsky, second assistant to commander Garakanidze (one of the airship designers), helper student MAI Pankov, second helper Obodzinsky. The airship was in flight for 34 minutes and, despite adverse weather conditions and a completely new design, showed good flying qualities.

On April 10, the airship flew for 58 minutes in Salisi , landing there. The airship was controlled by pilot V. Nizhevsky, A. Flakserman participated in the flight as a passenger.

Initially, the airship was called "First of May", "UK-1 named. May Day ”or simply UK-1 (training ship, first). Subsequently, he became known under the code "USSR V-1."

On April 29, 1932, the USSR B-1 left Leningrad and on May 1 arrived in Dolgoprudny . In Dolgoprudny, the Airship was created, a boathouse and a hydrogen production plant were built. In May 1932, the Airship, in addition to the USSR V-1, created the USSR V-2 Smolny and the USSR V-3 "Red Star. These soft-type airships were intended for campaign flights and training of airship crews.

On November 7, 1932, four Soviet airships flew over Red Square - V-1, V-2, V-3 and V-4.

On April 7, 1937, the USSR V-1 was first controlled by a female crew. The crew commander was V.F. Demina, the wife of S.V. Demin, assistant commander of the USSR airship V-6.

By 1938, the airship had worn out and was taken apart. In 1939, the airship was restored, replacing the shell. The first flight of the restored airship took place on May 1, 1939 . In total, the USSR B-1 was modernized several times. On the basis of the 1939 version , the airship of the USSR V-12 was created.

After the adoption by the USSR government of a decision on the conservation of the airship of the USSR, the B-1 was dismantled in March 1940 . The airship was rebuilt in April 1942 under the name of the USSR V-12.

• Belokrys A. Nine hundred hours of heaven. The unknown story of the airship "USSR-V6" . - M .: Paulsen, 2017 .-- 512 p. - ISBN 978-5-98797-174-1 .
• Belokrys A. “Airship” on Dolgoprudnaya: 1934, one year from life. - M .: Paulsen, 2011. - ISBN 978-5-98797-060-7 .
• Obukhovich V.A., Kulbaka S.P. Airships in the war. - M .: ACT, 2000. - ISBN 5-17-001637-9 .

• Photos of the USSR V-1