The Kazan Aviation Plant named after S. Gorbunov celebrates its 90th anniversary: the enterprise is included in the Book of Honor

(KZN.RU, November 16, Alsu Safina). The Kazan Aviation Plant named after S. Gorbunov, the branch of the PAO “Tupolev”, celebrates its 90th anniversary. The solemn event dedicated to the anniversary of the enterprise was held today in one of the hangars. The culmination of the holiday was the roll-out to the flight test station of a deeply modernized airplane Tu-160.

Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT, Sergey Kobylash, the commander of the Long-Range Aviation of the Russian Air Force, Oleg Bocharov, the deputy minister of Industry and Trade of the RF, Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, Yury Slyusar, the President of the United Aircraft Corporation, Alexander Konyukhov, the general director of the PAO “Tupolev”, Albert Karimov, the deputy prime minister of the RT and the minister of Industry and Trade of the RT, Ravil Zaripov, an assistant to the President of the RT for Aircraft Complex, Nikolay Savitskih, the first deputy general director of the RT PAO ”Tupolev” and the director of the KAZ, congratulated the management and workers of the enterprise.

There are not so many enterprises in Tatarstan that managed to maintain their production and remain the flagship of the economy of the republic for so many years, said Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT, in his speech. “The history of the plant is a bright page in the history of domestic aircraft construction”, he marked. The head of the republic added that 90 years of the enterprise's work means 90 years of progress, constant introduction of new technologies into production, and a thoughtful social policy.

The President of the RT drew attention to the fact that the biography of a large number of scientists, aircraft designers, test pilots, talented organizers of production, many thousands of workers’ army and engineers and technicians is connected with the history of the enterprise.

The head of the republic reminded that the history of the enterprise starts since May 14, 1927. The plant was tasked to ensure the production of domestic all-metal reconnaissance aircraft ANT-3. During the Great Patriotic War, the plant produced dive bombers for the front.

“Today the plant is actively working on the technical re-equipment of the program for the reproduction of the strategic missile carrier Tu-160. As part of it, the reconstruction has been completed and the world's largest installation of electron beam welding and vacuum annealing has been put into operation. Also, it is a significant event today: the transfer of the upgraded Tu-160to the flight test station. This is the first new aircraft produced as part of the modernization program”, said the President and expressed special gratitude to the veterans of the enterprise for their personal contribution to the development of the country's defense capability.

Oleg Bocharov, the deputy minister of Industry and Trade of the RF, noted the labor merits of the staff. Sergey Kobylash, the commander of the Long-Range Aviation of the Russian Air Force, expressed his hope that the technology that leaves the shops of the Kazan aircraft plant will be a reliable shield for our Motherland.

The achievements of the aviation plant entered the golden page in the history of the 1000-year-old Kazan, believes Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of the city. “Veterans today convey their experience, skills, and traditions to a new generation, and this is worthy of the highest praise”, he said.

The Mayor reminded that the Presidium of the Kazan City Duma in honor of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the enterprise decided to make the Kazan Aviation Plant named after S. Gorbunov, the branch of the PAO “Tupolev” in Kazan's Book of Honor for its significant contribution to the development of domestic aircraft construction. Ilsur Metshin presented Nikolay Savitskih, the director of the plant, a badge and a letter of gratitude.

At the solemn event, the ceremony of awarding workers of the Kazan Aviation Plant named after S. Gorbunov also took place. At the end of the celebration, Nikolay Savitskih, the director of the plant, presented the model of the white swan to the President of the RT.

For reference

The plant has produced 22 types of aviation equipment for the years of its existence totaling more than 20 thousand pieces. In addition to the Pe-2 and Pe-8, they include the world-famous aircraft Tu-16, Tu-104B, Tu-22MZ, Tu-160, IL-62M.