Today in aviation history – 7th February

On 7th February 1906 a Soviet aerial constructor – Oleg Antonow was born. During his youthful years Antonow was constructing mainly gliders. He built the first one when he was 18 years old. In 1926 Antonow started higher education at technical university in Leningrad, at the same time he continued his passion for gliders construction. After graduating from the university Antonow started work at the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, where he became general engineer. Shortly before World War II began, he was working on construction of two different aircrafts: STOL OKA-58 Aist and A-7 (glider). Antonow died in April 1984.