Christophe

Tu-144D 77115 .. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Tu-144D 77115 . Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Tu-144D 77115 Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Last week, the Tu-144D 77115 was on display during the MAKS Airshow, in Zhukovsky, near Moscow. Here are a few pics of a mythic aircraft you don't see so often. Enjoy!!! Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Only 63 surviving Companions of the Liberation. We learnt this week the death on 29th August 2007 of Pierre Messmer, Companion of the Lib?ration. Pierre Messmer has been Prime Minister of France from July 1972 to May 1974, George Pompidou being President of the French Republic. Pierre Messmer, born in 1916, has decided to join the team of Charles de Gaulle as soon as June 1940. Here is his bio as published by AFP : "Pierre Messmer, French wartime figure and former PM, dead at 91 PARIS, Aug 30, 2007 (AFP) - Pierre Messmer, a former French prime minister who fought under general Charles de Gaulle to free his country from Nazi rule, died Wednesday in Paris aged 91, hospital officials said. Following the French surrender to Nazi Germany in 1940, Messmer travelled to London to join De Gaulle's army in exile, the Free French Forces, battling to oust German troops and their allies in Libya and Egypt and finally Paris. After the end of World War II, Messmer held several posts in French colonial Africa, before being named minister of the armies under De Gaulle in 1960, and prime minister under president Georges Pompidou from 1972 to 1974. President Nicolas Sarkozy paid tribute to "the magnificent fighter who was one of the first to join general De Gaulle", as "a man of duty, a man of conviction" and "one of the most illustrious children of our republic". "France has just lost one of its greatest servants and the entire nation bends to salute his memory," said a statement from Sarkozy's office." AFP Pierre Messmer has had a very long carrier in the French political sphere, and has been elected at the prestigious Acad?mie Fran?aise in 1999. On 6th June 2006, Pierre Messmer had been appointed Chancelier de l'Ordre de la Lib?ration. His numerous awards included : * Grand Croix of the L?gion d'Honneur * Order of the Lib?ration * Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 * M?daille de la R?sistance * M?daille des Evad?s * M?daille Coloniale with agraphes "Erythr?e", "Libye" and "Bir Hakeim" * M?daille Comm?morative 1945 * Officer of the American Legion * Commander of the Nichan Iftikhar (Tunisia) * Commander of the Ordre Royal du Cambodge Here is his bio (in French) : http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr_compagnon/674.html After his death, there are now only 63 surviving Companions of the Liberation. Ch. Pic : Chancellerie de l'Ordre de la Lib?ration.

Only 64 surviving Companions of the Liberation. We learnt on the 17th August 2007 the death on the 14th May 2004 (!) of James Worden, Companion of the Lib?ration. James Worden was the last surviving American Companion. James Worden, born in 1912, arrived in France in August 1939, as part fo the American Field Service. In May-June 1940, he served in Amiens, Beauvais, Orleans and Poitiers. Under the protection of the American Red Cross, he will then visit prisoners camps. Forced to leave France in 1941, he will join the Forces Fran?ases Libres (FFL) in Congo. He will then fight in tunisia, Libya and at Bir Hakeim, before landing in Italy, then in Provence and participating to the Liberation of France. After the war, he lived in Princeton. Here is his bio (in French) : http://www.ordredelaliberation.fr/fr_compagnon/1034.html After his death, there are now only 64 surviving Companions of the Liberation. Ch. Pic : Chancellerie de l'Ordre de la Lib?ration.

Another interesting stat... Since Christian joined the Quiz in November 2006, he had the opportunity to ask 24 questions. From these, I answered 7 only (which is not bad actually ). But, during the same period, I asked 18 questions. Christian answered correctly to 13 of them!!! Christian, impressive results. That means I need to strengthen the level of my questions.... Your turn, now. Cheers. Ch.

22 months already !!!! A few stats : This small game has now been launched more than 22 months ago now (on 1 Nov. 2005), and since : * 140 questions asked, * with 1,686 answers, * This quiz has been viewed more than 18,000 times. * 35 Members of the Forum played, and 26 correctly answered at least 1 question : Nb of good answers : * 27 : Christian (Zulus) * 25 : Christophe * 11 : Bryan (Soviet) * 8 : Franck (Knarf) and Simon (Red Threat) * 6 : Auke (Ferdinand), Belaruski and Jim (JimZ) * 5 : Carol I and Ed (Haynes). * 4 : Wild Card. * 3 : Andreas (Alfred), Ivan (Piramida) and Kim (Kimj). * 2 : Chuck (in Oregon), Gerd (Becker), Jan (vatjan) and Order of Victory. * 1 : Dan (Hauptman), Darrell, Daredevil, Dave (Navy FCO), Dudeman, Filip (Drugo), Rick (Stogieman) and Steen (Ammentorp). This is a great achievement. Thanks to all for your participation. Now, let's continue to have fun with the 141st question... Christian's!!!

Christian, again congratulations !!! Your turn, now... Ch.

On hint : Gagarin at TsAGI... Ch.

And how they are (wrongly) displayed in TsAGI's brochure... TsAGi has been awarded only one Red Banner. Ch. Pic : TsAGI brochure.

1. What organisation are these Orders belonging to ? They belong to the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) (Централный Аерогидродинамический Институт, ЦАГИ). 2. What is its mission ? Where is it located (exact location)? TsAGI is State Research Center in aerospace domains, as expalined in my previous posts. It is located in Zhukovsky, near Moscow. 3. What is the SN and awarding date of its Order of Red Banner of Labour of the RSFSR ? And for which reason ? TsAGI's Order of the Red Banner of Labour of the RSFSR has been awarded on 29 April 1926. It is the 89th one awarded. I have the exact SN somewhere, but can't put my hand on it currently... It has been awarded for two achievements : * The completion in 1925 of the "Aircraft Strength Standards" that played a great role in the development of aviation, and * The building of its first large wind tunnel also in 1925. Bonus : what are the dates of awarding of its other Orders ? Order of the Red Banner of Labour - 1926 Order of the Red Banner - 1933 Order of Lenin - 1945 Order of October Revolution - 1971 and also a Certificate of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR in 1968. In 1998, TsAGI was awarded the Honorary Mention by the President of the Russian Federation. Ch. The orders of TsAGI proudly displayed at the entrance of the site. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

In the 1920?s and 30?s, TsAGI?s projects ranged from prototype airplanes to aero-sleds and from torpedo boats to wind-generated electricity. Gradually, the main direction of TsAGI evolved and centered upon aerodynamic research. The Institute built its first large wind tunnel in 1925. In 1935 new departments of TsAGI relocated to the outskirts of Moscow to what later became the town of Zhukovsky: ?The Aero-city of the Soviet Union?. The first two wind tunnels were completed in 1937 and by 1939 TsAGI became the proud owner of the largest wind tunnel in the world! This wind tunnel provided the opportunity to study the behavior of full-scale aircrafts. In the following years, TsAGI became the founders of leading aerospace research institutions and design centers, such as the Institute of Aerospace Materials, the Institute of Avia Motors, the Tupolev Design Bureau and the Flight Research Institute. During the war years, TsAGI?s resources were directed toward military aircraft applications. In 1943, TsAGI introduced a new transonic wind tunnel capable of using variable and constant density testing agents. TsAGI developed new concepts of wing profiles, wing components and composition, plane stability criteria, strength standards, and flutter theory. The post-war period was characterized by research on near- and post-sonic speeds. Since the 1950s, TsAGI has been involved in all areas of fundamental research in aerodynamics, flight dynamics, flight stability, and strength. Today TsAGI understands that aerospace technology and the prospects for aircraft development are directly related to research in the area of super high flight speeds. The theory of mechanics in this direction has called significant attention to TsAGI. The latest example of this type of research is the development of the orbital spacecraft ?Buran?. Extensive achievements have been attained also in the areas of civil aviation. For example, TsAGI?s modernization efforts have increased the maximum flight distance of the Tu-154 by 500 miles and simultaneously increased passenger capacity by 16 people. Fuel consumption also has been reduced by 20% per passenger. At present, TsAGI participates in several joint research programs on the development of next-generation aircraft. Some of its most significant recent accomplishments are in the areas of structural strength, finite element method analysis, and optimization of structural weight. The next generation of TsAGI aircraft is conceptualized to have a life of 50,000 ? 60,000 flight hours. Results of these developments have been used in the construction of the new IL-96?300 and Tu-204. This new generation of aircraft has nearly doubled the efficiency and flight characteristics of the most recent airplanes. Some other recent developments include the Su-27, MiG-29, and MiG-31 fighters, as well as, the An-124/An-225 cargo planes and the Buran orbiter. TsAGI is also actively involved in the development of the future Sukhoi regional jet, the Superjet 100. TsAGI today employs 4,500 persons, including 695 researchers. Ch. The Subsonic Wind Tunnel T-101. Length: 24m. Elliptical nozzle: 14 x 24m Civil and military airplanes of many types have been tested here, including tests of 1/3 scale models, models of aerospace vehicles and transportation systems, re-entry space vehicle models and others. Pic : TsAGI brochure.

OK, OK sorry for the delay... Here are the answers : 1. What organisation are these Orders belonging to ? They belong to the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) (Централный Аерогидродинамический Институт, ЦАГИ). This place is a fantastic one I have visited several times. All is fascinating about this place : plant and facilities, wind tunnels, simulators, people. There is an outstanding museum where the orders (except the Order of the Red Banner of Labour) awarded to TsAGi are displayed with their documents. To present it briefly, with informations from the TsAGI website and brochures : TsAGI was founded on 1st December 1918 in Moscow under the initiative and leadership of N.E. Zhukovsky, the father of Russian Aviation. Its development owes also a lot to his colleagues A.N. Tupolev and S.A. Chaplygin. It is located close to Moscow, in a town called now called Zhukovsky. Today?s TsAGI claims to be the largest scientific research center in the world. Under a Russian Federation Government Decree dated 29 March 1994, TsAGI was designated a State Research Center. It was the first scientific institution to combine basic studies, applied research, structural design, pilot production and testing. During its distinguished history TsAGI has developed new aerodynamic configurations, aircraft stability/controllability criteria, and strength requirements. TsAGI was a pioneer in the theory of flutter along with many other theories, applications and experimental studies. During the last two decades TsAGI has achieved significant advances in Aerodynamics, Flight dynamics and Flight control systems, as well as improving static material strength, service life and reliability of civil airplanes. Our methods for structural analyses and optimization make it possible to reliably design new-generation aircraft so as to ensure a 50,000- to 60, 000-hour service life. These results were applied while developing the Tu-204 (by General Designer A. A. Tupolev) and the Il-96?300 (by General Designer G. V. Novozhilov). In the 1980s the TsAGI?s scientists worked on improving the maneuverability of modern fighters. Solutions were obtained for many problems concerning the aircraft control when flow separation conditions took place at high incidences. This is demonstrated in the maneuverability of the MiG-29 (by General Designer R. A. Belyakov) and the Su-27 (by General Designer M. P. Simonov) and has been verified through performance of the ?Pugachev Cobra? maneuver. While developing the ?Energia? launcher and the ?Buran? reusable aerospaceplane, TsAGI made significant investigations into aerogasdynamics and flight dynamics, assessing structural strength for velocities from orbital to landing. These new designs met challenges of hypersonic flight physics, new control systems for a wide range of velocities, while mathematically modeling numerous processes and studying a wide range of motion on flight simulators. Ch. The statue of Nikolai Zhukovsky, at the entrance of TsAGI. Pic : TsAGI brochure.

Will do it tomorrow, asap. Thanks to be... patient. Cheers. Ch.

I fully agree!!! And, as usual, a lot of efforts deployed... Ch.

Unfortunately, I have no time now to give a complete and extensive answer to the question I asked... Will do it tomorrow... Meanwhile, Christian is the winner. Christian , just wait for me to post the answers and you will be able to post the next question!!! Cheers. Ch.

Again... OK, OK... but Christian did not answered completely the 3 questions... Ch.

Congrats Christian!!!! You well deserved this victory!!!! (Sorry Ed, next time....). I will come back to you with all the detailed answers to the questions in a few minutes.... Cheers. Ch.

OK, OK.... I'll be more than cooperative with all of you... A last hint. I have taken the pic of Zhukovsky last week, on my way to the MAKS Airshow. This should help... If you read anything previously posted; you should find at least the name of the organisation... And I will declare the first one to find it ... the winner!!!!!!! Cheers. Ch.

To all, Please, help me... So hard to find a new one.... Ch.

If no one gives the right answer before tomorrow night, I will be obliged on Saturday to give the answer, and declare this question "unsolved". ... And I will ahve to find a new one... Come on!! Let's try!!! Cheers. Ch.

HET !!!! Ch.

Christian, I paid my two medals (with the two docs) 2300 RR in total, that means ?35.00 each!!! I think USD 200 is far too much, but the price is always dictated by the money each of us is ready to give for it; according to our own rarity or need criteria... Cheers. Ch.

Hi Christian, You're close, but it is not the Zhukovskyi Air Force Engineering Academy... I have even not this Academy in the list of the 163 Orders of the Red Banner of Labour of the RSFSR that have been awarded. So, this is not the right answer... The organisation we are looking for is linked to Zhukovsky, but is located close to Moscow, not in Moscow... (another hint... ). Cheers. Ch.