Valentin Bliznyuk

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Valentin Bliznyuk
Born
Valentin Ivanovich Bliznyuk

12 April 1928
Malorossiyskoe,
Aeronautical Engineering
Employer(s)Tupolev design bureau
Significant designTu-160
AwardsOrder "For Merit to the Fatherland", 4th class
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Order of the Badge of Honour
USSR State Prize
Honoured Aircraft Builder [ru]

Valentin Ivanovich Bliznyuk (Russian: Валентин Иванович Близнюк; 12 April 1928 – 30 December 2019) was a Soviet and Russian aircraft designer who worked chiefly with the Tupolev design bureau over a career spanning almost seventy years.

Born in 1928, Bliznyuk entered the

boost-glider and the proposed Tu-136 orbital manned spacecraft. By the 1960s he was working under the bureau's chief, Aleksey Tupolev, on the design for the Tu-144
supersonic passenger aircraft, and had the title of Deputy Chief Designer.

Using the expertise developed on the production of the Tu-144, Bliznyuk worked to develop the

Soviet Air Force in 1987. He continued to refine and develop the design for the rest of his career. Receiving a number of awards over his career, including the USSR State Prize, the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 4th class, the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, and the Order of the Badge of Honour, as well as the title of Honoured Aircraft Builder [ru], Bliznyuk remained with Tupolev until his death in 2019, serving as a consultant on the company's senior council. In 2006 the Military Council of 37th Air Army
named one of their Tu-160 bombers "Valentin Bliznyuk", in honour of the plane's chief designer.

Early life and design work

A Tu-95 in flight. One of the early designs Bliznyuk worked on.

Born on 12 April 1928 in the village of Malorossiyskoe, in what was then the

Sergey Yeger [ru], Bliznyuk worked on several of the designs drawn up by the bureau during the 1950s; including the Tu-91 turboprop tactical strike aircraft, the Tu-95 and Tu-98 strategic bombers, the Tu-105 prototype for the Tu-22 supersonic long-range bomber, and the Tu-107, a prototype military transport aircraft.[1][4]

Unmanned and experimental vehicles

In the late 1950s the Tupolev bureau formed a new unit under

boost-glider and the proposed Tu-136 [ru].[4][3] The technical breakthroughs involved in this work allowed Tupolev to design and build the Tu-144, an early supersonic passenger aircraft, which first flew in 1968.[1][4]

Tu-144 and Tu-160

Tu-160 RF-94113 "Valentin Bliznyuk", named for Bliznyuk in 2006

The Tu-144's chief designer was credited as Aleksey Tupolev, with Bliznyuk working under him to coordinate the project's development. Bliznyuk started as head of the brigade, and then became head of the General Views department, with the title of Deputy Chief Designer.

Soviet Air Force in 1987.[5] Bliznyuk continued to work on further refinements and developments to the design for the rest of his career.[1][4] Tupolev credited Bliznyuk as a designer who "not only carried out the general management of the project, but also directly supervised the development of the aerodynamic design of the aircraft, its power plant, including many innovative developments."[4]

RF-94113 "Valentin Bliznyuk" at MAKS in 2012

Bliznyuk also led the development of the

Tu-214 commercial designs.[1][3][4] In later life Bliznyuk was a consultant for Tupolev's senior council.[4] Bliznyuk died on 30 December 2019 at the age of 91.[2][4] The Tupolev design bureau announced his death, and recorded that "he was an outstanding aviation designer, a talented organizer, a responsive and attentive leader and friend. Valentin Ivanovich made an invaluable contribution to the development of the domestic aircraft industry. He created projects and put them into practice, investing his energy, knowledge and strength, his sincere love for aviation and faith in its prospects."[4]

Honours and awards

Bliznyuk's name emblazoned on the Tu-160 bomber named for him

Over his career Bliznyuk was awarded the USSR State Prize, and the title of Honoured Aircraft Builder [ru].[2] He also received the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 4th class, the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, and the Order of the Badge of Honour.[3] In 2006 the Military Council of 37th Air Army named one of their Tu-160 bombers, identification number 19, "Valentin Bliznyuk".[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h БЛИЗНЮК В.И. at the Wayback Machine (archived January 10, 2011)
  2. ^ a b c d "Умер создатель Ту-160 Валентин Близнюк, сообщил источник" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 30 December 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Чем известен Валентин Близнюк" (in Russian). Kommersant. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Умер главный конструктор бомбардировщика Ту-160 Валентин Близнюк" (in Russian). Interfax. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d Yachmennikova, Nataliya (31 December 2019). "Умер главный конструктор ракетоносца Ту-160 Валентин Близнюк" (in Russian). Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Retrieved 3 January 2020.