Vyugov A-5 Albatross (c/n: –, ЭВС-017, home-built aircraft), exhibited at the Central Air Force Museum (Центральный музей Военно-воздушных сил РФ) in Monino, July 2017.
Vladimir Konstantinovich Vyugov (Владимир Константинович Вьюгов) was born in 1937 in Lysva (Perm Krai). His fascination with aviation began at the age of twelve when he first saw a Polikarpov Po-2 biplane.
During his studies at secondary school and university, Vyugov was an active member of local gliding clubs. After graduating from a technical university, he served in the Pacific Fleet as an onboard radio operator on Ilyushin Il-28 bombers.
After returning to his hometown, Vyugov worked in the local heavy industry. He also resumed his gliding activities and founded a gliding school. In addition, the talented engineer began developing light aircraft.
In the late 1960s, Vyugov and his students designed their first aeroplane, named Аист (Stork). It was a successful amateur construction that was exhibited at national fairs such as the VDNH. The aeroplane reportedly flew for only a few hours, and its later fate is unknown.
In 1973, Vyugov’s initial design was redeveloped into Аист-2. After several years of evaluation, this aeroplane eventually found its way to the Central Air Force Museum in Monino.
In the 2010s, the list of aircraft developed by Vyugov was expanded to include further two interesting designs: the A-5 Альбатрос (Albatross) aeroplane and the motorised glider known as Фрегат (Frigate).
The A-5 was built in 2000. It was a high-wing monoplane with an open cockpit and two seats in a tandem configuration. The aircraft was equipped with fixed, conventional landing gear and was powered by a single, two-stroke, air-cooled РМЗ-640 (RMZ-640) piston engine, generating 34 hp.
Reportedly, the Albatross logged more than 1,500 flights. In 2010, the A-5 was donated to the Central Air Force Museum, where it was displayed in the “Unique Flying Machines” exhibition together with other examples of Vyugov’s work.
Vladimir Konstantinovich Vyugov passed away in 2021 at the age of 84. During his time at the Lysva gliding school, he developed three gliders, five aeroplanes, a motor glider, two speedboats, and an aerosledge.
