Timur Apakidze
Encyclopedia
Timur Avtandilovich Apakidze (March 4, 1954 - July 17, 2001), Russian major general
, deputy commander of naval aviation
and Hero of the Russian Federation
.
, Georgian SSR into an ethnically Georgian family of the descendants of Georgian princes Apakidze
, but at a very young age moved to Leningrad (Saint Petersburg
) with his family. In 1971 he finished at Leningrad's Nakhimov Naval Academy before finishing flight training in 1975 at Yeyskoye Military Flight Academy http://evvaul.com/
Between 1975 and 1983 Apakidze served in the Soviet Naval Aviation
element of the Soviet Baltic Fleet
gaining reputation as one of its best test pilot
s.
After 1983 Apakidze headed a battle group
centred around the aircraft carrier
Admiral Kuznetsov and flew Sukhoi Su-33
aircraft on numerous missions with the Black Sea Fleet
.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union his naval aviation unit based in Crimea
refused to join the newly created Ukrainian Air Force
and in addition Apekidze also refused an offer to head the Air force
of his native Georgia
. Instead he and his men remained loyal to Russia and were re-deployed to Severomorsk
together with the aircraft carrier Kuznetsov.
Serving with Northern Fleet Apakidze was in charge of Russian Naval Aviation
's only Fleet Defense Interceptor
squadron
in the 1990s.
On August 17, 1995 for his outstanding contributions to the Russian naval aviation, and for courage and heroism in the testing and mastery of new technology Timur Apakidze was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation
.
In 2000, after study at the General Staff Academy
, Apakidze was appointed deputy commander of naval aviation and promoted to the rank of major general.
On July 17, 2001, Apakidze died near the town of Ostrov
in Pskov Oblast
when his Sukhoi Su-33
crashed during an air show. In the last moments of his life he managed to steer his aircraft away from a populated area.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
, deputy commander of naval aviation
Soviet Naval Aviation
Soviet Naval Aviation was a part of the Soviet Navy.- Origins :...
and Hero of the Russian Federation
Hero of the Russian Federation
Hero of the Russian Federation is a Russian decoration and the highest honorary title that can be bestowed on a citizen by the Russian Federation. The President of the Russian Federation is the main conferring authority of the medal, which is bestowed on those committing actions or deeds that...
.
Biography
Timur Apakidze was born in TbilisiTbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
, Georgian SSR into an ethnically Georgian family of the descendants of Georgian princes Apakidze
Apakidze (noble family)
Ap'ak'idze is a Georgian family with noble ancestry. According to a family legend, the Apakidze descend from Arp’a-Khan, "a Tatar of Genghis Khan’s times", who embraced Christianity and settled down in Abkhazia whence his descendants moved to Mingrelia where their princely title was confirmed.The...
, but at a very young age moved to Leningrad (Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
) with his family. In 1971 he finished at Leningrad's Nakhimov Naval Academy before finishing flight training in 1975 at Yeyskoye Military Flight Academy http://evvaul.com/
Between 1975 and 1983 Apakidze served in the Soviet Naval Aviation
Soviet Naval Aviation
Soviet Naval Aviation was a part of the Soviet Navy.- Origins :...
element of the Soviet Baltic Fleet
Baltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
gaining reputation as one of its best test pilot
Test pilot
A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....
s.
After 1983 Apakidze headed a battle group
Carrier battle group
A carrier battle group consists of an aircraft carrier and its escorts, together composing the group. The first naval task forces built around carriers appeared just prior to and during World War II. The Imperial Japanese Navy was the first to assemble a large number of carriers into a single...
centred around the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
Admiral Kuznetsov and flew Sukhoi Su-33
Sukhoi Su-33
The Sukhoi Su-33 is an all-weather carrier-based air defence fighter designed by Sukhoi and manufactured by KnAAPO. It is a derivative of the Su-27 "Flanker" and was initially known as the Su-27K. The aircraft was first used in operations in 1995, aboard the carrier Admiral Kuznetsov...
aircraft on numerous missions with the Black Sea Fleet
Black Sea Fleet
The Black Sea Fleet is a large operational-strategic sub-unit of the Russian Navy, operating in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea since the late 18th century. It is based in various harbors of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov....
.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union his naval aviation unit based in Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
refused to join the newly created Ukrainian Air Force
Ukrainian Air Force
The Ukrainian Air Force is a part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainian Air Force Command and headquarters are located in the city of Vinnytsia....
and in addition Apekidze also refused an offer to head the Air force
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
of his native Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
. Instead he and his men remained loyal to Russia and were re-deployed to Severomorsk
Severomorsk
Severomorsk is a closed town in Murmansk Oblast, Russia, located about north of Murmansk along the Kola Bay. Population: This is the main administrative base of the Russian Northern Fleet. Severomorsk has the largest drydock on the Kola Peninsula....
together with the aircraft carrier Kuznetsov.
Serving with Northern Fleet Apakidze was in charge of Russian Naval Aviation
Russian Naval Aviation
The Russian Naval Aviation , is the air arm of the Russian Navy...
's only Fleet Defense Interceptor
Interceptor aircraft
An interceptor aircraft is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to prevent missions of enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Interceptors generally rely on high speed and powerful armament in order to complete their mission as quickly as possible and set up...
squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
in the 1990s.
On August 17, 1995 for his outstanding contributions to the Russian naval aviation, and for courage and heroism in the testing and mastery of new technology Timur Apakidze was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation
Hero of the Russian Federation
Hero of the Russian Federation is a Russian decoration and the highest honorary title that can be bestowed on a citizen by the Russian Federation. The President of the Russian Federation is the main conferring authority of the medal, which is bestowed on those committing actions or deeds that...
.
In 2000, after study at the General Staff Academy
General Staff Academy (Russia)
The General Staff Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was founded in 1936 in Moscow by Leonid Govorov. It was the senior Soviet and now Russian professional school for officers....
, Apakidze was appointed deputy commander of naval aviation and promoted to the rank of major general.
On July 17, 2001, Apakidze died near the town of Ostrov
Ostrov (air base)
Ostrov is an air base in Pskov Oblast, Russia located 7 km southeast of Ostrov and 57 km south of Pskov. It was a nuclear bomber facility with 15 very large revetments on the east side of the airfield and about 30 small revetments on the west side. As many as 63 Tupolev Tu-16s were based here...
in Pskov Oblast
Pskov Oblast
Pskov Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Pskov Oblast borders the countries of Estonia and Latvia, as well as Belarus. It is the westernmost federal subject of contiguous Russia . Its major cities are the administrative center Pskov and Velikiye Luki . Area: 55,300 km²...
when his Sukhoi Su-33
Sukhoi Su-33
The Sukhoi Su-33 is an all-weather carrier-based air defence fighter designed by Sukhoi and manufactured by KnAAPO. It is a derivative of the Su-27 "Flanker" and was initially known as the Su-27K. The aircraft was first used in operations in 1995, aboard the carrier Admiral Kuznetsov...
crashed during an air show. In the last moments of his life he managed to steer his aircraft away from a populated area.