All Aero

Alexandr Moscaliov was born on 16 of November of 1904 in the city Valuiki, the governor of Voronezh, Russia. In 1913 his family moved to Voronezh where at the age of 10 he started school. Previously his education had been at home.

In 1922 entered the physical-mathematical faculty of the Voronezh University, but it was closed two years later, so Moscaliov was forced to move, first to the Kazan branch and later to Leningrad. In 1928 he finished his studies at the physical-mathematical faculty of the Leningrad State University.

After graduating, he enrolled in a job board from which he was sent to work at Factory No. 23 (formerly “Krasni Liotchik”). His first important work was the development of tests of 12 types of radiators to be located in the I-2bis fighter developed by Grigorovich. Applying his university knowledge Moscaliov managed to make a good selection and propose methods to improve radiators. In this period, externally, he took examinations at the Leningrad Technical Institute, which was soon reflected in his work.

In 1930 Moscaliov entered the competition to develop a fighter-interceptor with the new M-34 engine. His project was selected, but delays in tuning the engine prevented its construction. In 1931 at the “Krasni Liotchik” his first aeronautical design would see the light: the MU-3 training hydrofoil, a development of DP Grigorovich’s MU-2.

Due to health problems, Moscaliov left Leningrad and returned to his native Voronezh where a large aviation factory had begun to be built. From 1932 he began to work as a substitute for the head of the serial construction department (SKO) of the Voronezh Aviation Factory No. 18. From 1933 he began his teaching activity at the Voronezh State University and from 1936 he became a substitute for the director of the Voronezh Aviation Technology.

In 1932 – 1933 Moscaliov led a group of enthusiasts who designed and built one of the first all-metal light aircraft, the SAM-5, in response to a request from the Osoaviajim. This aircraft was the first of the family of aircraft with the acronym SAM designed as high-wing cantilever monoplanes for 5 passengers.

With the help of the facilities of the Voronezh State University, Moscaliov began to develop a research project to achieve a supersonic configuration. As a result of his research, in 1933 he developed a project, not so ambitious, of an interceptor fighter capable of approaching 1000 km / h using two paired tandem engines moving counter-rotating propellers that was called SAM-4 and known as “Sigma”.

The project turned out to be too innovative and received a rather cold reception until a few years later it became known that in the United States experiments were being carried out on a similar configuration and it was urgently requested to create a scale demonstrator, which was launched as SAM-9 “Stelá” in 1937.

By 1936 Moscaliov’s work volume had grown, for which the Main Directorate of the Aviation Industry (GUAP) decided to allow him a bureau of his own design, which became known as OKB-31, in Factory No.18. In 1939 the construction workshop was built and in 1940 the independent building on the airfield was completed. This OKB would be responsible for the creation of a score of new projects.

Moscaliov belongs to that group of enthusiastic designers who stood out for their aeronautical productions despite the absence of regular financial support and their own production base. His aeronautical design and production work included more than 35 models of which 23 were built between 1930 and 1945. Moscaliov’s planes set several records for range and flight duration.

With the start of the war, OKB-31 was evacuated to Siberia, near the city of Yalutorovska, Tyumen Oblast. The decision was made to unify with OKB of P. Grojovski and a small factory Muscovite creating the new factory No.499. Moscaliov was selected as principal director and constructor.

This factory prepared the serial production of the first Soviet reactive fighter, the Bereznyak / Isayev BI, produced the landing cabins for the Ilyushin DB-3 bombers and built different types of gliders. For his contribution in the construction of the AM-14 aircraft for the support of the guerrilla groups in Belarus, Moscaliov received the 1st level “Guerrilla of the Great Patriotic War” medal.

On his return to Leningrad in 1945 the OKB of Moscaliov designed the project supersonic fighter PM-1 with reactive engines Dushkin. This aircraft was also known as SAM-29 RD-2P-3V and maintained the same general scheme of the Sigma project of 1933.

This time the project was studied in depth at the TsAGI and its construction was proposed, but changes in the direction of the MAP led to the closure of the project, the replacement of Moscaliov and the liquidation of the OKB.

From 1948 Moscaliov began working as a professor at the Leningrad Military Aeronautical-Engineering Academy named after AF Mozhaiski (LKVVIA), sharing his experience with new generations of aeronautical designers and engineers. From 1954 he directed the scientific-research laboratory for the development of perspective military technique.

He died on 3 as January as 1982 and his remains lie the North Cemetery in Leningrad (St Petersburg).

Orders and medals:
Order of the Red Star
Medals
In 1979 he was awarded the Koroliov Academic gold medal for contributions to aviation and on the occasion of his 75th birthday.

Aeronautical production:

First designs
SAM-1 – 1930 fighter project with an M-34 engine. It was not built.
MU-3 – 1931 training floatplane. A single copy built.

OKB-31 works in Voronezh:
RDD – Modernization of Túpolev RD with diesel power plant. A single prototype was produced in 1936.
SAM-4 ‘Sigma’ – High speed aircraft project developed between 1933 and 1934
SAM-5 – 1933 light aircraft built in metal.
SAM-5bis – Development of the SAM-5 but with wood construction.
SAM-5-2bis – Improved development of the SAM-5 from 1937.
SAM-6 – Experimental aircraft to test single-wheel landing gear.
SAM-7 “Sigma” – Tailless escort fighter project. A copy was built in 1936.
SAM-9 “Strela” – Development of the SAM-4 concept in an experimental light aircraft prototype.
SAM-10 – Light passenger aircraft from 1938, development of the SAM-5.
SAM-10bis – Improved version of SAM-10 with new powerplant.
SAM-11 – Amphibious training aircraft from 1939.
SAM-11bis – Improved development of SAM-11 with new powerplant.
SAM-12 – 1939 Training Plane Project.
SAM-13 – Experimental twin-fuselage aircraft similar in conception to the Fokker D-XXIII. A copy produced in 1939.
SAM-14 – Light transport aircraft, development of the SAM-5-2bis for Aeroflot. 1939.
SAM-16 – reconnaissance floatplane from 1940. The prototype was never finished.

Works at Factory No. 499 during evacuation
AM-14 – Landing glider. Enlarged version of the Antonov A-7 built in series since 1942. * SAM-18 – Passenger amphibian project for 12 – 14 people.
SAM-19 – Hydrofoil project with tandem paired engines moving counter-rotating propellers
SAM-22 – Motor glider project developed during the war at Factory No.499
SAM-23 (LT) – Cheap “disposable” ground attack aircraft project, developed in 1942 with a similar objective to that of the Tomashevich Pegas.
SAM-23 – Landing glider from 1945. Not built by the end of the war.
SAM-24 – Project for a passenger plane with two M-11E engines.
SAM-25 – Staff liaison aircraft over SAM-5-2bis with M-11E engine. 1943.
SAM-27 – Project for a passenger plane with capacity for 22 people from 1943.
SAM-28 – Motor glider project developed during the war at Factory No. 499 with M-11E engine and capacity for 21 soldiers.
SAM-29 or RM-1 – Project obtained as supersonic fighter development of the concept of the Sigma in 1933 with reactive power plant.