Aviant
Encyclopedia
“Antonov” production aircraft plant was established by decision of the War Industry Council on September 9, 1920 under the name of "State Aircraft Plant 12" (GAZ-12). It consisted of small uncoordinated workshops and until the war was located on Garmatna Street.
The plant performed overhaul of foreign aircraft models used by the military. It had no aerodrome of its own, and aircraft were tested at Post-Volynsky aerodrome (Zhuliany). In 1922 the plant was renamed “Remvozdukh-6”. In 1925 the first domestic aircraft, the K-1, was designed and built under guidance of the designer Konstyantyn Kalinin. The maiden flight was July 26, 1925. In 1931 the plant was renamed “Plant 43”. In 1932 the facilities produced the first domestic gyroplane “4-EA” TSAGI
. That same year, production of the first domestic high-speed 6-seater aircraft began, the KHAI-1. It had a speed of 324 km/h, a ceiling of 7000 m and a range of over 1000 km with a payload of up to 1000 kg. It was the first in European airplane with retractable landing gear. The maiden flight was on October 8, 1932 . A total of 43 KHAI-1 were manufactured. In 1937 the works manufactured the OKO-1.
In 1939-1941 the facilities began assembly of MiG
aircraft. When the plant was bombed on June 25, 1941, the works were evacuated to Novosibirsk , to V.P. Chkalov Facilities where it produced the fighters Yak-3, Yak-6 and Yak-9 designed by Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev
.
After Kiev
was liberated
from the Germans, the plant was returned there, where until the end of the war it overhauled PO-2 aircraft and assembled Yak-3 and Yak-9 fighters from parts manufactured elsewhere. In 1944 the plant was renamed "Plant 473", or "Organization Mailbox 11". After the end of the war the plant was moved to the present location in Sviatoshin, which it had started to develop before 1941.
In 1947-1948 the plant manufactured a pilot batch of five helicopters Mi-1
designed by Mikhail Mil
, but the series production was transferred to another enterprise.
In 1948 the works started production of the An-2, the ancestor of the great Antonov
family, designed by Oleg Konstyantynovych Antonov
. The plant produced 18 modifications of the An-2: transport, passenger, agricultural, water bomber for fighting forest fires, a version for fish shoals exploration, a version for scientific and rescue operations in Arctic conditions, etc. The “Aviant” plant manufactured 3,320 An-2s.
Between 1954 and 1956 the Aviant produced the prototype of the military transport aircraft An-8, a twin-engine turboprop. It was the first of a long line of Antonov aircraft with high wings and rear loading cargo ramps. Between 1959 and 1978 the plant manufactured the An-24 (1,028 airplanes produced). It is in 1967 that the plant was renamed “Kyiv Aircraft Plant”, or “Organization Mailbox M-5249”.
From 1969 to 1985 the plant manufactured the transport An-26 (1,402 airplanes produced). In 1973 an aerial photography aircraft was produced, the An-30 (123 airplanes produced). On April 30, 1974 the plant was renamed once again to be baptised “Kyiv Aviation Production Association”.
Between 1976 and 1979 the plant manufactured a pilot batch of the An-72 (5 airplanes produced). Series production of the An-72 was transferred to Kharkiv
facilities, and “Aviant” was charged with mastering production of the unique An-124 "Ruslan", the world's biggest aircraft. Between 1979 and 2004 the plant produced 19 An-124s.
Since 1979 the plant has been manufacturing the An-32 (as of May 1, 2004, 361 had been produced.
From 1985 to 1988 the plant participated in the manufacture of parts for the An-225 "Mriya", designed to carry the shuttle Buran. Yet, as the space program was suspended, only one An-225 "Mriya" was produced.
On August 5, 1992 the plant was yet again renamed “National Enterprise Kyiv Aviation Plant”before being renamed one more time, on August 27, 1995, to its present name, “ Kyiv Aviation Plant Aviant”.
The plant performed overhaul of foreign aircraft models used by the military. It had no aerodrome of its own, and aircraft were tested at Post-Volynsky aerodrome (Zhuliany). In 1922 the plant was renamed “Remvozdukh-6”. In 1925 the first domestic aircraft, the K-1, was designed and built under guidance of the designer Konstyantyn Kalinin. The maiden flight was July 26, 1925. In 1931 the plant was renamed “Plant 43”. In 1932 the facilities produced the first domestic gyroplane “4-EA” TSAGI
TsAGI
TsAGI is a transliteration of the Russian abbreviation for Центра́льный аэрогидродинами́ческий институ́т or "Tsentralniy Aerogidrodinamicheskiy Institut", the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute....
. That same year, production of the first domestic high-speed 6-seater aircraft began, the KHAI-1. It had a speed of 324 km/h, a ceiling of 7000 m and a range of over 1000 km with a payload of up to 1000 kg. It was the first in European airplane with retractable landing gear. The maiden flight was on October 8, 1932 . A total of 43 KHAI-1 were manufactured. In 1937 the works manufactured the OKO-1.
In 1939-1941 the facilities began assembly of MiG
Mikoyan
Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG , or RSK MiG, is a Russian joint stock company. Formerly Mikoyan-and-Gurevich Design Bureau , then simply Mikoyan, it is a military aircraft design bureau, primarily designing fighter aircraft...
aircraft. When the plant was bombed on June 25, 1941, the works were evacuated to Novosibirsk , to V.P. Chkalov Facilities where it produced the fighters Yak-3, Yak-6 and Yak-9 designed by Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev
Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev
Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev was a Soviet aeronautical engineer. He designed the Yakovlev military aircraft and founded the Yakovlev Design Bureau. -Biography:...
.
After Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
was liberated
Battle of Kiev (1943)
The 1943 Battle of Kiev describes three strategic operations by the Soviet Red Army, and one operational counterattack by the Wehrmacht which took place in the wake of the failed German offensive at Kursk during World War II...
from the Germans, the plant was returned there, where until the end of the war it overhauled PO-2 aircraft and assembled Yak-3 and Yak-9 fighters from parts manufactured elsewhere. In 1944 the plant was renamed "Plant 473", or "Organization Mailbox 11". After the end of the war the plant was moved to the present location in Sviatoshin, which it had started to develop before 1941.
In 1947-1948 the plant manufactured a pilot batch of five helicopters Mi-1
Mil Mi-1
The Mil Mi-1 The Mil Mi-1 The Mil Mi-1 ( (USAF/DoD reporting name "Type 32", NATO reporting name "Hare") was a Soviet three- or four-seat light utility helicopter. It was the first Soviet helicopter to enter serial production. It is powered by one 575 hp Ivchenko AI-26V radial. It entered...
designed by Mikhail Mil
Mikhail Mil
Mikhail Leontyevich Mil ; 22 November 1909 - 31 January 1970 was a Soviet aerospace engineer. He was founder of the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, which is responsible for many well-known Soviet helicopter models.-Biography:...
, but the series production was transferred to another enterprise.
In 1948 the works started production of the An-2, the ancestor of the great Antonov
Antonov
Antonov, or Antonov Aeronautical Scientist/Technical Complex , formerly the Antonov Design Bureau, is a Ukrainian aircraft manufacturing and services company with particular expertise in the field of very large aircraft construction. Antonov ASTC is a state-owned commercial company...
family, designed by Oleg Konstyantynovych Antonov
Oleg Antonov
Oleg Konstantinovich Antonov was a Soviet aircraft designer, the founder of Antonov ASTC, a world-famous aircraft company in Ukraine, later named in his honour.-Early life:...
. The plant produced 18 modifications of the An-2: transport, passenger, agricultural, water bomber for fighting forest fires, a version for fish shoals exploration, a version for scientific and rescue operations in Arctic conditions, etc. The “Aviant” plant manufactured 3,320 An-2s.
Between 1954 and 1956 the Aviant produced the prototype of the military transport aircraft An-8, a twin-engine turboprop. It was the first of a long line of Antonov aircraft with high wings and rear loading cargo ramps. Between 1959 and 1978 the plant manufactured the An-24 (1,028 airplanes produced). It is in 1967 that the plant was renamed “Kyiv Aircraft Plant”, or “Organization Mailbox M-5249”.
From 1969 to 1985 the plant manufactured the transport An-26 (1,402 airplanes produced). In 1973 an aerial photography aircraft was produced, the An-30 (123 airplanes produced). On April 30, 1974 the plant was renamed once again to be baptised “Kyiv Aviation Production Association”.
Between 1976 and 1979 the plant manufactured a pilot batch of the An-72 (5 airplanes produced). Series production of the An-72 was transferred to Kharkiv
Kharkiv
Kharkiv or Kharkov is the second-largest city in Ukraine.The city was founded in 1654 and was a major centre of Ukrainian culture in the Russian Empire. Kharkiv became the first city in Ukraine where the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed in December 1917 and Soviet government was...
facilities, and “Aviant” was charged with mastering production of the unique An-124 "Ruslan", the world's biggest aircraft. Between 1979 and 2004 the plant produced 19 An-124s.
Since 1979 the plant has been manufacturing the An-32 (as of May 1, 2004, 361 had been produced.
From 1985 to 1988 the plant participated in the manufacture of parts for the An-225 "Mriya", designed to carry the shuttle Buran. Yet, as the space program was suspended, only one An-225 "Mriya" was produced.
On August 5, 1992 the plant was yet again renamed “National Enterprise Kyiv Aviation Plant”before being renamed one more time, on August 27, 1995, to its present name, “ Kyiv Aviation Plant Aviant”.