Andrei Tupolev

Andrei Tupolev
Tupolev in Omsk (1942).
Born	Andrei Nikolayevich Tupolev November 10, 1888 Pustomazovo, Tver Governorate, Russian Empire
Died	December 23, 1972(1972-12-23) (aged 84) Moscow, USSR
Nationality	Soviet Union, Russia
Engineering career
Discipline	Aeronautical Engineering
Employer(s)	Tupolev design bureau
Significant design	Tu-95, Tu-104
Awards

Andrei Nikolayevich Tupolev (Russian: Андрей Николаевич Туполев; November 10, 1888 – December 23, 1972) was a pioneering Soviet aircraft designer.

During his career, he designed and oversaw the design of more than 100 types of aircraft, some of which set 78 world records. In recognition of his work, he was made an honorary member of Britain's Royal Aeronautical Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

He was honoured in his own country by being made an academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1953), Colonel-General (1968), and three times a Hero of Socialist Labor (1945, 1957, 1972).

Tupolev was born in the village of Pustomazovo (Russian: Пустомазово), near the city of Kimry, Tver region, Russia.

Tupolev was the sixth of seven children born to his parents. After first being educated at home, he studied at the Gymnasium in Tver and finished in 1908. He then applied for courses at two Russian universities and was accepted at both: Imperial Moscow Technical School (IMTU Russian: ИМТУ) and the Institute of Railway Engineers. He accepted the place at IMTU.

In 1909, Tupolev began studying aerodynamics under the Russian aviation pioneer N.E. Zhukovski. During this time he built one of the world's first wind tunnels which led to the formation of an aerodynamic laboratory at IMTU.

In 1911, Tupolev was accused of taking part in revolutionary activities, including demonstrations and distribution of subversive literature, and was arrested. He was later released on condition that he return to his family home in Pustomazovo and was only allowed to return to IMTU in 1914. He completed his studies in 1918 and was awarded the degree of Engineer-Mechanic when he presented his thesis on the development of seaplanes.