Orenburg Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots

The I. S. Polbin Orenburg Red Banner Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots was an important flight training school for the Soviet Air Force. It was one of the oldest flight schools in the air force. The school began in Moscow in 1921 and later moved to the city of Orenburg in 1927.

Many pilots learned to fly at this school, helping to prepare them for their roles in the air force. The school had a long history and was known for training skilled pilots. Eventually, the school was disbanded in 1993, marking the end of its important role in aviation history.

History

The Orenburg Higher Military Aviation School for Pilots started as the Moscow School for Air Combat and Bombing in 1921. It moved to Serpukhov in 1922, then to Orenburg in 1927. Over the years, it trained many pilots and aircrew members, including famous ones like Valery Chkalov and Yuri Gagarin.

By the time it closed in 1993, the school had trained more than 32,000 pilots, navigators, and ground specialists. Its buildings now house several schools and a museum.

Heads of the school

The school had many leaders over the years. Some of these leaders include Major General of Aviation Vasily Makarov from 1949 to 1959, Lieutenant General of Aviation Ivan Kulichev from 1961 to 1967, and Major General of Aviation Aleksey Medvedev from 1967 to 1970. Other leaders were Major General of Aviation Marat Vasilyev, Yury Simakhin, Igor Krutov, Nikolay Kuchin, and Vladimir Milyukov, who led the school until it closed in 1993.