Valentin Fedorovich Kovalev ( 1914 - 1972 ) - test pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union ( 1960 ).
| Valentin Fedorovich Kovalev | |||||||||
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| Date of Birth | July 29, 1914 | ||||||||
| Place of Birth | Baku | ||||||||
| Date of death | November 30, 1972 (aged 58) | ||||||||
| Place of death | Moscow | ||||||||
| Occupation | |||||||||
| Awards and prizes |
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Biography
Valentin Kovalev was born on July 16 (in a new style - 29 ) on July 1914 in Baku . In 1931 he graduated from a glider school in Mineralnye Vody , in 1933 - from a factory-apprenticeship school and flying club, in 1934 - from the Higher Glider School. He worked as a glider instructor in the Baku flying club. In 1937, Kovalev graduated from the Batay school of pilots of the Civil Air Fleet, after which he was a pilot, flight commander in the training squadron of the Yenisei Aviation Unit [1] .
In September 1942, Kovalev was called up for service in the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army . Participated in the battles of World War II , made 194 sorties. In 1946, with the rank of captain, Kovalev was transferred to the reserve. He lived in the city of Essentuki , worked at a local power station [1] .
Since 1947 - on flight test work at the Research Institute of the USSR Ministry of Radio Industry. In 1949, Kovalev graduated from test pilot courses. In 1950, he joined the Flight Research Institute in the city of Zhukovsky, Moscow Region , and in 1955, at the Tupolev Design Bureau . He participated in the tests of the Tu-16R , Tu-98 , Tu-22B , Tu-104 , Tu-16 aircraft . In 1957 - 1960, Kovalev set 22 world aviation records of speed, flight range and payload on various varieties of the Tu-104 [1] .
By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of October 5, 1960 for “courage and heroism shown in testing new aviation equipment”, Valentin Kovalev was awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the award of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal number 11120 [1] .
In 1962, Kovalev left the flight test work, worked as an engineer in the Tupolev Design Bureau. The last years of his life he lived in Moscow . He died on November 30, 1972, was buried at the Vagankovsky cemetery in Moscow [1] .
Honored Test Pilot of the USSR . He was awarded two orders of Lenin, orders of the Red Banner and Red Star , two orders of the “Badge of Honor” , and a number of medals [1] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kovalev, Valentin Fedorovich . Site " Heroes of the country ".
Literature
- Heroes of the Soviet Union: A Brief Biographical Dictionary / Prev. ed. collegium I. N. Shkadov . - M .: Military Publishing , 1987.- T. 1 / Abaev - Lyubichev /. - 911 p. - 100,000 copies. - ISBN comp., Reg. RCP No. 87-95382.
- Abbasov M. G. On the wings of courage. - Baku, 1975.
- Vasin V.P., Simonov A.A. Testers LII. - Zhukovsky, 2001.
- Heroes of the Soviet Union and Russia, full holders of the Order of Glory of the Northern AO of Moscow. - M. , 2003.
- Golden Stars of Azerbaijan. - Baku, 1975.