The Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) was founded in 1930 on the basis of the aeromechanical faculty of the Moscow National Technical University “Bauman” (MGTU), becoming independent from it due to the wide importance that, since then, the aviation in the Soviet Union. It began with two faculties, aircraft construction and engine construction, since then it has been the most important aeronautical academic institution in the entire region, becoming a leader both in the scientific field, being the first to offer science chairs. aeronautics and training its own teachers and doctors who would make up the university boom, as well as technical-industrial, this is confirmed by the fact that it is the only university in the world that has launched its own aircraft on the market, built by its professors and students since 1932, when the MAI set up its own aircraft construction office.

After the Second World War the MAI expanded its academic and scientific interests, a new teaching system was developed, faculties were added in all aeronautical fields, as well as in physical-mathematical sciences, electronics and robotics. The student campus was built with more than 35 buildings, aeronautical infrastructure, workshops and laboratories were acquired, as well as the aerospace faculty, and in this way the MAI obtained the category of technical university. In 1979, artificial satellites ” Radio ” and ” Cosmos ” were launched into space, built with the participation of a large delegation from the MAI.

Although it is true in Soviet times the MAI as a national university maintained a margin of military defense, together with the state and the armed forces, always collaborating with the country, the university has also specialized its engineering in the commercial and experimental field.

The Moscow Aviation Institute (Russian: Московский авиационный институт (МАИ)) is a Russian university located in Moscow dedicated to the study of everything related to the aeronautical and aerospace industry. However, education is currently multidisciplinary and teaching and research programs are offered in multiple scientific and technological fields.

Over the years, the university grew to become the largest aerospace engineering teaching center in Russia, and one of the most prestigious universities in the world. More than 130,000 students, including 1,000 international students from 40 countries, have graduated from MAI after its founding in 1930.

In 1982 by the order of Ministry of Aircraft Industry the Design Bureau was transformed into a branch-wise experimental students aircraft construction design bureau of the MAI. The work was carried out by professional engineers. If necessary the co-workers from among the MAI students and teachers and also from among the workers of the industry were invited. The production facility of the MAI aircraft development plant (EOZ) in the experimental development shop (shop № 3) are manned by qualified technicians. The OSKBES work on the experimental aircraft engineering constantly received high estimations of the industry. Their technical novelty and utility are confirmed by nine Introduction Certificates and more than twenty Invention Certificates. By the end of 1980s six experimental aircraft of different types were designed and built: Kvant, Elf-D UAV, PS-01 small-sized UAV, Elf, Photon and Yunior aircraft.

The basic structure, address and the industrial areas occupied by it in the OSKBES MAI have remained the same. The EOZ MAI (shop № 3) and the MAPO (Moscow aircraft building plant) were used as an industrial base. On July 27, 1992 the application on realization the inspection work in the OKB MA for reception the certificate for the right to develop the civil aircraft engineering was sent to the Aviaregister of the MAK and the Air Industry Department of the Ministry of Industry of Russian Federation. It was made on behalf of the “Aviatika” joint-stock company. According to the inspection results the Aviaregister of the MAK issued Certificate № R-9 to the “Aviatika” joint-stock company with the right to develop light civil aircraft. It was on February 17, 1993.

Aircraft designed and developed at OSKBES include:
A single-seater Aviatika-MAI-890 aircraft — passed certification, had a temporary Certificate of a type of 31 March 1994 № 52В-890, valid till 1 April 1995, is series produced by the RAC “MiG”; A two-seater Aviatika-MAI-890U aircraft is serially produced by the RAC “MiG”; An agricultural Aviatika-MAI-890SKh aircraft is serially produced by the RAC “MiG”; A single-seater Aviatika-MAI-900 aerobatics (“Akrobat”)’ A two-seater Aviatika-MAI-910 with wings, folding on the ground; An Aviatika-MAI-920 glider; A single-seater Aviatika-MAI-890A autogyro, a pre-production model at the stage of flying test. The basis for the “Aviatika” aircraft manufacture at the MAPO plant is the License Agreement concluded by this plant with the “Aviatika” joint-stock company on 10 April 1995 (contract № 4276).

In 1997 Aviatika withdrew from the Design Bureau of Moscow Aviation Institute (Aviatikas) program, after which the manufacturer of Aviatika lightplanes became known as KB MAI.

The personnel of the OSKBES have continued to work in the field of light civil aircraft together with the MAPO MIG.
In April 27, 1998 the Aviaregister of Interstate Aviation Committee issued a Design Organization Certificate R-52 of the developer of light civil aircraft.

29 September 1999 eight members of our design bureau, Moscow Aviation Institute and RAC “MIG” were rewarded by “State Prize of the Russian Federation in science and technology” for designing and development of light multipurpose airplanes in a serial production. They are:
OSKBES MAI Chief Designer K. Zhidovetskiy (posthumously); OSKBES MAI Deputy Chief Designer (after the death of K. Zhidovetskiy — Chief Designer) N. Goryunov; OSKBES MAI Deputy Chief Designer V. Demin; OSKBES MAI Deputy Chief Designer V. Feigenbaum; Rector of MAI A. Matveyenko; Manager of MAI Experimental Plant P. Ogadzhanov; General Manager of RAC “MIG” plant G. Nemov; Deputy Manager of RAC “MIG” O. Chukantsev.
Autogyro MAI-205 made the first flight in 2001, chief designer Andrey Zorin.
In 2002 OSKBES MAI has started designing a new plane MAI-223. This plane made the first flight in 2004.
In 2003 OSKBES MAI started to work on different aircraft, airships and autogyros. It designed and produced gondolas, nacelles, fly-by-wire power plant controls and empennages of NPO “RosAeroSystems” airships Au-30 and Au-12M.
The design and development of Autogyro MAI-208 was started in 2006. The first MAI-208 is undergoing testing. OSKBES MAI presented MAI-208 at the 2nd International exhibition of the helicopter industry “HeliRussia-2009” (21…23 May 2009, Moscow). The new autogyro has caused the big interest of visitors and the press.

July 1, 2008 Vadim Demin was appointed Chief Designer of OSKBES MAI. The same year the design office has started working on a new multi-purpose four-seat twin engine aircraft MAI-407.

In 2009 OSKBES MAI started designing a new training glider MAI-227.

Faculties and Departments of MAI:
High school.
Faculty № 1. Aeronautical Engineering.
Faculty №2. Aircraft Engines
Faculty №3. Computer Science and Navigation System
Faculty №4. Radio and Electronics
Institute of Economic Engineering
Faculty №6. Aerospace
Faculty №7. Robotics and Intellectual Systems
Faculty №8. Applied Physical-Mathematical Sciences
Faculty №9. Applied Mechanics
Faculty №10. Humanities (Social Engineering)
Military Institute