V.G. Sakseltzev as a mode aircraft engineer, designer and scientist

The article presentsthe basic results of research and production in the field of space and missile systems achieved by a prominent Russian aircraft engineerVictor Gavrilovich Sakseltsev. His ancestors, being serfs of Saratov province, were known from the 17th century according to the 1st Censusin 1720. After finishing school he entered Rostov aircraft college where he took great interest in aviation. V. Sakseltsev combined study andwork of a designer in the directorate " Stroiput' " (People's Commissariat of Railway Communication - PCRC) where he displayed his talentin designing. His military service was in the aircraft shops of North-Caucuses military district (NCMD) and here he ran into poor quality ofaircrafts as well as the deficiency of the required equipment complexes necessary for aircraft pilots training. New military equipment elaboratedby V. Sakseltsev and reduced to practice on bombers of NMCD attracted K. Voroshilov's attention while one of his visits to the district.Soon V. Sakseltsev was sent to Air Force Academy in Moscow and since 1935 he worked his way up from an assistant chief of a SpecialDesign Office (SDO) to the head of an assembly shop at the aircraft plant. During the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) V. G. Sakseltsevproved himself to be a skilful organizer and was appointed the head of production and technical department of the USSR Ministry of Armament.In 1950 he was awarded the Stalin prize. After the war V. G. Sakseltsev was engaged in the production of missile complexes togetherwith S. P. Korolev, M.K. Yankel, A.A. Blagonravov and N.M. Isaev. He enjoyed the USSR government confidence. In 1958 V. G. Sakseltsevwas sent to China with technical documentation to organize the output of one of the military facilities specimens. On his returning he wasappointed the head of the Central Administrative Board of Armament. In 1960 V.G. Sakseltsev was seriously injured in Baikonur whenrocket exploding. After recovering he worked at Moscow High Technical School in honour of Bauman. His production activities were carriedout alongside with the pedagogical and research work. In 1953 he defended a Candidate thesis and became an assistant professor in 1956and a professor in 1960. Having received the Doctor degree in 1973 he became an honored Scientist in 1978. From 1962 to 1982 he wasappointed the head of the space and rocket mechanical engineering department and the director of the research institute of mechanical engineeringproblems. V. G. Sakseltsev was honoured a lot of government awards, orders and medals. He died in Moscow in 1984.

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