Boris Lisunov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Boris Lisunov
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Boris Lisunov
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| Born | 19 August 1898 Astrakhan Governorate, Russian Empire
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| Died | 3 November 1946 (aged 48) |
| Nationality | Russian Empire, Soviet Union |
| Education | Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline | Aeronautical Engineering |
| Employer(s) | Myasishchev design bureau |
| Projects | Lisunov Li-2 |
Boris Pavlovich Lisunov (Russian: Борис Павлович Лисунов) was a clever Soviet aerospace engineer. He was born on August 19, 1898, and passed away on November 3, 1946. Lisunov is best known for helping to build a very important airplane called the Lisunov Li-2. This plane was a Soviet version of the famous American Douglas DC-3.
Contents
About Boris Lisunov
His Early Life and Education
Boris Lisunov was born in a place called Durnovskaya. This was in the Astrakhan area of the Russian Empire. His father was a Cossack officer.
In 1918, Boris finished high school in Saratov. After that, he moved to Moscow to study at the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy. While there, he became friends with another important aircraft designer, Sergey Ilyushin.
Working with Airplanes
From 1926, Lisunov worked as an engineer for the Soviet Air Force. He later became the chief engineer at Aircraft Factory No. 39 in Kharkov.
In 1936, Lisunov traveled to the Douglas Aircraft factory in Santa Monica, California. His mission was to learn how to build the Douglas DC-3 airplane in the Soviet Union.
Building the Li-2 Plane
From 1936 to 1939, Lisunov carefully studied every part of the DC-3. He also learned how the planes were made and how to support them after they were delivered. He worked with his boss, Vladimir Myasishchev. Their goal was to redesign the DC-3 so it could be built in the Soviet Union. A big part of this job was changing all the drawings and measurements to the metric system.
In 1938, Lisunov became the technical director of Aviation Plant No. 84 near Moscow. After Myasishchev was arrested, Lisunov took charge of developing the Soviet version of the DC-3. This new plane was named the Lisunov Li-2.
Both military and civilian versions of the Li-2 were made. They were produced by several Soviet factories from 1939 to 1952. This made the Li-2 the most common Soviet airliner during the 1940s.
Moving the Factory During Wartime
In September 1941, during World War II, Nazi forces were getting close to Moscow. Lisunov quickly moved the aircraft factory to a safe place. This new location was Tashkent, the capital of the Uzbek SSR.
Soon, the new factory, later known as the Tashkent Aviation Production Association, began making Li-2s. These planes were very important for the Soviet war effort.
Later Life and Awards
Boris Lisunov passed away in 1946 after having a heart attack. Before he died, he was given a management job at the Ministry of Aviation Industry. He also received important awards like the Order of Lenin and the Order of the Red Star. These awards were for his successful work on the Li-2 project.
Today, the Astrakhan State Archive and the Rassvet secondary school help keep Lisunov's memory alive.
See also
- Lisunov Li-2
- Douglas DC-3
- Tashkent Aviation Production Association
