K. Udalov's new book "In the footsteps of V. B. Shavrov 3. Gakkel and his planes."

[igor-mich]

This volume of the series "In the footsteps of V. B. Shavrov" is entirely dedicated to one of the first aircraft designers of Russia. Gakkel was the second designer whose Russian-built airplane took to the air. It was a Gakkel-3 bi-monoplane that did not repeat any foreign design. The book contains a lot of new material that has never been published before. I was pleased to read this wonderful work by aviation historian K. Udalov.

 

[athpilot]

Hi everyone!

Konstantin Udalov continues his tour „In the foodsteps of V.B. Shavrov“ with this latest book about Gakkel an his planes. Gakkel was the first to build a true russian plane, i.e. that it was no copy of Bleriot, Wright or Nieuport. It took the aviationhistorian Udalov nearly four years in the archives to determine, which plane was which of all of the Gakkel-designs.

After a description of what Shavrov and Popov once researched about Gakkel, Udalov let the person Gakkel speak for himself (pp. 10-25) from a variety of documents. Then there are his very early planes Gakkel 1 thrpugh Gakkel VIII (pp. 15-91). Absolutely fascinating are the following chapters about the second worldfair for aeroflight and a chapter (based on documents) about the concourses of czarist military aviation industry 1912, which Gakkel hardly survived.(pp. 92-109). The following chapters are dedicated to the Planes Gakkel IX to Gakkel XI. Followed by some very unique and interesting fighter design, a passenger plane and other true unknowns in the 1914-1928 timeframe (pp.126-150). After that are the project "Mucha" (Gakkel XII), documents on the hard fate of the Gakkel company, the new beginnings with new partners and in the end is an excurs on Gakkels electric tramways and train innovations. This book is a true treasure for all aviation enthusiats, who are interested especially in the czarist and early soviet (mostly) unknown aviation and aviation-industry. I wish everyone a good read!