7 February 1906 – Oleg Antonov is born

On 7^th February 1906, Oleg Konstantinovich Antonov (Олег Константинович Антонов), the world-known aviation engineer, aviation designer and the founder of the Antonov construction bureau (OKB-153), was born in Troitsa village, in the Moscow region of Russia.

Antonov´s family was known for its contribution to the national industry. His great-grandfather was chief manager of the state metallurgical plant, Antonov´s grandfather built bridges and his father was a well-known civil engineer.

From his early years, Oleg Antonov was interested in aviation. In 1921, he applied to the Red Air Fleet and then to its aviation academy, but he was refused due to young age.

Three years later, during his study at the University of Saratov, Antonov founded an Aviation enthusiasts´ club (Кружок любителей авиации) and built his first glider, named ´Pigeon´ (Голубь), later also known as OKA-1. It was not only the initial Antonov´s aircraft development but also his first national success – during the 2^nd All-Soviet Glider Test (II Всесоюзные планерные испытания) competition, was awarded a jury diploma.

In 1925, Antonov began his studies at the First Polytechnic Institute (aka Kalinin Polytechnical Institute) in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). He graduated in 1930 and shortly after became the head of technical department of the Higher Flight and Gliding School (Высшая лётно-планерная школа) at Koktebel, Crimea. Then, Antonov joined the Central Bureau of Glider Designs of Osoaviakhim (Центральное бюро планерных конструкций Осоавиахима) in Moscow, where he later became the chief designer and worked on development of approximately thirty glider designs, including the OKA and US (УС – Учебно-серийный / training-serial) series.

*Oleg Antonov (photo: San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive, BIOA00151, via Flickr Commons)*

Antonov continued his career as glider designer for more than ten years. In 1943, he became the first deputy chief designer at Yakovlev construction bureau, where he was responsible for improving the series of Yak fighters. In 1946, Oleg Antonov became a head of the new, top-secret aviation research and design bureau established in Novosibirsk and designated OKB-153.

The first task of the new construction plant was to develop an agricultural aircraft, intended to replace the then popular ´workhorse´ of the Soviet aviation – Polikarpov Po-2 (U-2) utility biplane.

On 31^st August 1947, the new aircraft designed by Antonov successfully completed its maiden flight and shortly after was approved for serial production. In a short time An-2, as the aeroplane was designated, the first development of the OKB-153 became an icon of the Soviet aviation and has achieved a legendary status.

During more than 70 years of operation the An-2 proved its durability and indispensability in military and civil service all over the world. Production of the aircraft was continued to the early 2010s and there were more than 18,000 examples of the An-2 built in the Soviet Union, Poland and China.

Nowadays, several hundred examples of the Antonov´s biplane are still in operational service. Moreover, the An-2 remains without an official, mass-produced successor, and still provides the only connection to the outside world for many isolated settlements in the Russian Far East (more about the aeroplane and its history in our article from February of 2020 – In search of the successor – An-2 for the 21^st century).

In 1952, the OKB-153 was moved to Kiev, in now Ukraine.

During his further years as aircraft designer, Oleg Antonov created several popular military and civil aeroplanes, such as An-12 and An-22 heavy military airlifters, An-24/26/30/32 family of civilian and military transport aircraft, An-28 turboprop transport aeroplane and An-72/74 transport jets.

However, what made the name Antonov famous throughout the world were the biggest cargo aeroplanes in history of aviation – An-124 Ruslan and An-225 Mriya, the latter being for many years the largest flying aircraft in the world.

Development of the An-225 began in 1984 and was led by P.V. Balabayev and V.I. Tolmachev. Initially it was believed that the aircraft would be created under Oleg Antonov´s supervision, however death of the ingenious aviation engineer made it impossible.

Oleg Konstantinovich Antonov died on 4^th April 1984 in Kiev, at the age of 78.

Additional information about the Antonov-designed aircraft can be found in our articles listed below: