Arkhip Mikhailovich Lyulka
Encyclopedia
Arkhip Mikhailovich Lyul'ka (Ukrainian
: Архип Михайлович Люлька, Russian
: Архи́п Миха́йлович Лю́лька) (1908–1984), was a Soviet scientist
and designer
of jet engines of Ukrainian
origin, head of the OKB Lyulka
, member of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
of Ukraine
. He was educated in the Savarka village school and graduated from the Kiev Polytechnic Institute
(KPI) in 1931 (Mykhailo Krawtchouk was his teacher and mentor in both institutions). He then worked for two years in the Kharkov turbogen factory.
Lyul'ka was a USSR aero-engine design bureau / manufacturer from 1938 to The 1990s when manufacturing and design elements were integrated as NPO Saturn
based at Rybinsk
. The Lyul'ka design bureau had its roots in the Kharkov Aviation Institute where Artem M. Lyul'ka was working with a team designing the ATsN (Agregat Tsentralnovo Nadduva - Centralised supercharger) installation on the Petlyakov Pe-8
bomber. Lyul'ka was responsible for designing the first Soviet gas turbine engines, preferring to steer away from copying captured German equipment, he succeeded in producing home grown engines.
In 1939-1941 Arkhip Lyul'ka elaborated the design for the World's first double jet turbofan
engine, and acquired a patent for this new invention on April 22, 1941. Although several prototypes were built and ready for state tests, Lyulka was forced to abandon his research and evacuate to the Ural mountains as the Great Patriotic War began with the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union
.
In 1941-42, Lyul'ka worked in a tank factory in Chelyabinsk
as a Diesel-engine engineer. However, after the disaster of the Soviet rocket engine project
of 1942, Joseph Stalin
recalled Arkhip Lyul'ka among other scientists working on jet engines to resume their work in Moscow
.
From 1945 onwards, the Soviet jet engine project split into two: the OKB MiG
based their development on German trophy aircraft and Western technology. Lyul'ka, however, refused any foreign influence and continued his own research. In 1945-47 he designed the first Soviet jet engine, TR-1, which passed the whole cycle of state tests with success. Pavel Sukhoy (head of the OKB Sukhoy) immediately proposed to install the new engine on his Su-11 jets, starting a long collaborative work with Lyulka. He later designed the AL-5, AL-7
, AL-21
turbojet engines which were installed on the Su-7, Su-17, Su-20, Su-24, MiG-23 and other Soviet military aircraft. Lyulka also designed the upper stage engines for the Soviet moon rocket N1.
In the 1970s, Pavel Sukhoy asked Arkhip Lyul'ka to design a new engine with uncanny characteristics to install it on the projected Su-27. The challenge was taken, and although Pavel Sukhoy died in 1974, his work was carried on by his successors and colleagues, including Lyulka. The primary difficulty in designing this aircraft appeared to be in the engines, which had to be constantly redesigned and upgraded. Finally, the work on the new engine, Al-31F, was accomplished in the early 1980s, as a result of the intensive work of Arkhip Lyul'ka and his team. Unfortunately, Arkhip Mikhailovich Lyul'ka died on June 2, 1984, probably as a result of the exhaustion he had suffered in his commitment to the project.
and its allies. To this day, the patent for double jet turbofan engines widely used in all sectors of the World's aviation belongs to him. The Al-31
alone has become the cornerstone for various international developments in both civilian and military sectors, now undertaken by NPO Saturn
, the heir to Lyulka's OKB.
Ukrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
: Архип Михайлович Люлька, Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
: Архи́п Миха́йлович Лю́лька) (1908–1984), was a Soviet scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
and designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
of jet engines of Ukrainian
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
origin, head of the OKB Lyulka
NPO Saturn
NPO Saturn is a Russian aircraft engine manufacturer, formed from the mergers of Rybinsk and Lyul'ka-Saturn . Saturn's engines power many former Eastern Bloc aircraft, such as the Tupolev Tu-154. Saturn holds a 50% stake in the PowerJet joint venture with Snecma...
, member of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
Biography
Arkhip Lyulka was born on March 23, 1908 in Savarka village in Kiev OblastKiev Oblast
Kyiv Oblast, sometimes written as Kiev Oblast is an oblast in central Ukraine.The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Kyiv , also being the capital of Ukraine...
of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. He was educated in the Savarka village school and graduated from the Kiev Polytechnic Institute
Kiev Polytechnic Institute
The National Technical University of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” is a major university in Kiev, Ukraine.-History:The institute was founded in 1898. At that time it had four departments: Mechanical, Chemical, Agricultural, and Civil Engineering. The first enrolment constituted 360 students...
(KPI) in 1931 (Mykhailo Krawtchouk was his teacher and mentor in both institutions). He then worked for two years in the Kharkov turbogen factory.
Lyul'ka was a USSR aero-engine design bureau / manufacturer from 1938 to The 1990s when manufacturing and design elements were integrated as NPO Saturn
NPO Saturn
NPO Saturn is a Russian aircraft engine manufacturer, formed from the mergers of Rybinsk and Lyul'ka-Saturn . Saturn's engines power many former Eastern Bloc aircraft, such as the Tupolev Tu-154. Saturn holds a 50% stake in the PowerJet joint venture with Snecma...
based at Rybinsk
Rybinsk
Rybinsk is the second largest city of Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, which lies at the confluence of the Volga and Sheksna Rivers. Population: It is served by Rybinsk Staroselye airport.-Early history:...
. The Lyul'ka design bureau had its roots in the Kharkov Aviation Institute where Artem M. Lyul'ka was working with a team designing the ATsN (Agregat Tsentralnovo Nadduva - Centralised supercharger) installation on the Petlyakov Pe-8
Petlyakov Pe-8
The Petlyakov Pe-8 was a Soviet heavy bomber designed before World War II, and the only four-engine bomber the USSR built during the war. Produced in limited numbers, it was used to bomb Berlin in August 1941. It was also used for so-called "morale raids" designed to raise the spirit of the Soviet...
bomber. Lyul'ka was responsible for designing the first Soviet gas turbine engines, preferring to steer away from copying captured German equipment, he succeeded in producing home grown engines.
In 1939-1941 Arkhip Lyul'ka elaborated the design for the World's first double jet turbofan
Turbofan
The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
engine, and acquired a patent for this new invention on April 22, 1941. Although several prototypes were built and ready for state tests, Lyulka was forced to abandon his research and evacuate to the Ural mountains as the Great Patriotic War began with the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
In 1941-42, Lyul'ka worked in a tank factory in Chelyabinsk
Chelyabinsk
Chelyabinsk is a city and the administrative center of Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, located in the northwestern side of the oblast, south of Yekaterinburg, just to the east of the Ural Mountains, on the Miass River. Population: -History:...
as a Diesel-engine engineer. However, after the disaster of the Soviet rocket engine project
Bereznyak-Isayev BI-1
Soviet research and development of rocket-powered aircraft began with Sergey Korolev's GIRD-6 project in 1932. His interest in stratospheric flight was also shared by Marshal Mikhail Tukhachevsky who supported this early work...
of 1942, Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
recalled Arkhip Lyul'ka among other scientists working on jet engines to resume their work in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
From 1945 onwards, the Soviet jet engine project split into two: the OKB MiG
Mig
-Industry:*MiG, now Mikoyan, a Russian aircraft corporation, formerly the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau*Metal inert gas welding or MIG welding, a type of welding using an electric arc and a shielding gas-Business and finance:...
based their development on German trophy aircraft and Western technology. Lyul'ka, however, refused any foreign influence and continued his own research. In 1945-47 he designed the first Soviet jet engine, TR-1, which passed the whole cycle of state tests with success. Pavel Sukhoy (head of the OKB Sukhoy) immediately proposed to install the new engine on his Su-11 jets, starting a long collaborative work with Lyulka. He later designed the AL-5, AL-7
Lyulka AL-7
|-Specifications :-Bibliography:* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9-External links:...
, AL-21
Lyulka AL-21
|-References:*...
turbojet engines which were installed on the Su-7, Su-17, Su-20, Su-24, MiG-23 and other Soviet military aircraft. Lyulka also designed the upper stage engines for the Soviet moon rocket N1.
In the 1970s, Pavel Sukhoy asked Arkhip Lyul'ka to design a new engine with uncanny characteristics to install it on the projected Su-27. The challenge was taken, and although Pavel Sukhoy died in 1974, his work was carried on by his successors and colleagues, including Lyulka. The primary difficulty in designing this aircraft appeared to be in the engines, which had to be constantly redesigned and upgraded. Finally, the work on the new engine, Al-31F, was accomplished in the early 1980s, as a result of the intensive work of Arkhip Lyul'ka and his team. Unfortunately, Arkhip Mikhailovich Lyul'ka died on June 2, 1984, probably as a result of the exhaustion he had suffered in his commitment to the project.
Achievements
Overall, the achievements of Arkhip Lyulka have become decisive for RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and its allies. To this day, the patent for double jet turbofan engines widely used in all sectors of the World's aviation belongs to him. The Al-31
Lyulka AL-31
-See also:-External links:* - AL-31 F aircraft turbofan engine* *...
alone has become the cornerstone for various international developments in both civilian and military sectors, now undertaken by NPO Saturn
NPO Saturn
NPO Saturn is a Russian aircraft engine manufacturer, formed from the mergers of Rybinsk and Lyul'ka-Saturn . Saturn's engines power many former Eastern Bloc aircraft, such as the Tupolev Tu-154. Saturn holds a 50% stake in the PowerJet joint venture with Snecma...
, the heir to Lyulka's OKB.
Engines
| Model name | Date | Type | Thrust (kg) / Power (eshp) | Fitted to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTD-1/VDR-2 | 1938 | Two-stage centrifugal compressor Turbojet | 500 kg estimated | Test-bed only |
| S-18/VDR-3 | 1945 | Axial flow compressor Turbojet | 1,250 kg | Gu-VRD project |
| TR-1 | 1946 | 8-stage Axial flow compressor Turbojet | 1,300 kg | Alekseyev I-21, Ilyushin Il-22 Ilyushin Il-22 For the 1970s Airborne Command Post aircraft of the same designation, see Ilyushin Il-18For the 1970s Airborne Command Post aircraft of the same designation, see Ilyushin Il-18... , Sukhoi Su-10 Sukhoi Su-10 |-See also:... , Sukhoi Su-11 Sukhoi Su-11 |-See also:-External links:***... |
| TR-1A | 1947 | 8-stage Axial flow compressor Turbojet | 1,500 kg | |
| TR-2 | 1947 | projected growth version of TR-1 | ||
| TR-3 and AL-5 | 1949 | 7-stage Axial-flow Turbojet | 4,600 kg (at qualification in 1950) | Il-30, Il-46, Lavochkin Aircraft 190 Lavochkin Aircraft 190 -See also:-References:*Gunston, Bill. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995. London:Osprey, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.*Gordon, Yefim. Lavochkin's Last Jets. Midland Publishing. Hinkley. 2007. ISBN 1 85780 253 3... , Tu-86, Yak-1000, Su-17(1949), "Aircraft 150 Aircraft 150 The OKB-1 150 was a jet bomber designed and produced in the USSR from .- Development :At the end of World War II many German engineers were 'seconded' by the Soviet government to continue their advanced research under direct supervision of the USSR... " |
| TR-7 | 1950s | supersonic compressor prototype of the AL-7 | Prototype for AL-7 | |
| AL-7 Lyulka AL-7 |-Specifications :-Bibliography:* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9-External links:... |
1954 | 9-stage supersonic compressor Turbojet | 6,500 kg | Il-54, Su-7B, Tu-98, Su |
| AL-21 Lyulka AL-21 |-References:*... |
1961 | Axial Turbojet | 11,000 kg | Yak-38, Tu-28/Tu-128, Su-17, Su-24 |
| AL-31 | 1976 | Twin-spool Turbofan 0.6 bypass ratio. | 13,300 kg | Su-27, Su-30, Su-34, Su-35, Su-47 Berkut |
Awards
- Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences (since 1960)
- Hero of Socialist LaborHero of Socialist LaborHero of Socialist Labour was an honorary title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries. It was the highest degree of distinction for exceptional achievements in national economy and culture...
(1957) - Lenin Award (1976)
- Order of LeninOrder of LeninThe Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
(on 3 occasions) - Order of the October RevolutionOrder of the October RevolutionThe Order of the October Revolution was instituted on October 31, 1967, in time for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was awarded to individuals or groups for services furthering communism or the state, or in enhancing the defenses of the Soviet Union, military and civil...
- Order of the Red Banner of LabourOrder of the Red Banner of LabourThe Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
(on 2 occasions)
External links
- http://www.ctrl-c.liu.se/misc/ram/