10 Facts About Nikolai Polikarpov

Nikolai Polikarpov was the son of a village priest in the Russian Orthodox Church.

Nikolai Polikarpov initially trained for the priesthood and studied at the Oryol Seminary before moving to Saint Petersburg Polytechnical University in 1911, where he became fascinated with the fledgling aviation work being carried out under the shipbuilding department.

Nikolai Polikarpov graduated in 1916 and went to work for Igor Sikorski, the head of production at the Russian Baltic Carriage Factory.

Nikolai Polikarpov stayed in Russia after the Russian Revolution and rose to become head of the technical department Dux Aircraft factory in 1923.

Nikolai Polikarpov was responsible for some of the first indigenous aircraft designs in the Soviet Union during the 1920s, including the I-1 fighter, R-1 reconnaissance plane, U-2 utility biplane, I-3 fighter, R-5 reconnaissance bomber.

In 1928 under provisions of the five-year plan for experimental aircraft design, Nikolai Polikarpov was assigned to develop the primarily wooden I-6 fighter for delivery by mid-1930.

On his return, Nikolai Polikarpov found that his Bureau no longer existed, with his engineers at the new MiG bureau.

Nikolai Polikarpov was appointed professor at the Moscow Aviation Institute in 1943.

Nikolai Polikarpov died on 30 July 1944 from stomach cancer.

Nikolai Polikarpov was a recipient of numerous awards, including the Stalin Prize and Hero of Socialist Labor.