Russian pilot Igor Tkachenko: biography, family, achievements and awards

He could have for many years to make his invaluable contribution to the development of Russian military aviation. His life was full, but he was not destined to live to his old age. The resolute and brave Colonel of the Guard, Igor Tkachenko, died in the performance of his duty, barely celebrating the forty-fifth anniversary. But the people who left this world live as long as the memory of them lives.

On August 16, 2009, a tragedy occurred that shook the whole population of Russia to the core. The plane, which was controlled by Tkachenko, flying over the Moscow region, unexpectedly encountered another fighter. Taking the falling board from the houses, the colonel died tragically, but did not allow the "wounded iron bird" to harm the population ...

Igor Tkachenko's biography is presented to your attention in the article.

Childhood

Future pilot Igor Tkachenko was born in the fertile Krasnodar region, where unlimited wildlife reigns. He was born on July 26, 1964. His parents then lived in a simple small village. Perhaps looking at the azure skies, beckoning with its boundlessness, purity and grandeur, the growing boy dreamed of the moment when he could rise above the clouds. Since childhood he had a strong character and was distinguished by purposefulness, he tried to realize any goal. And nothing could stop him from doing this. Everyone who knew him as a boy remembers how he wrote touching verses. And he was engaged in hardening and even in the strongest frost he was pulling himself up on the horizontal bars. The features of the future commander appeared in him from a small age.

Igor was still a schoolboy when his parents, like many other people of those times, decided to go to the Amur region, to the city of Tynda, which was called the capital of BAM. The goal was simple: to contribute to the construction of the railway to conquer the Far East and to have a decent salary.

School years

Since the parents of Igor Tkachenko intended to live in Tynda for many years, the boy entered the school № 7. He became its graduate. And today this educational institution is famous for the fact that it was studied by the great conqueror of the sky - the pilot and the colonel of the Guards.

To perpetuate the memory of this outstanding man, it was decided to name the school by his name. Modern children, who were fortunate enough to study there, are very proud of this fact. And practically all the boys dream of becoming pilots and colonels.

A student of the military school. Chkalov

The beginning of Tkachenko's career should be considered the 85th year, when the guy graduated from the Higher Military School named after VP Chkalov. It was here, in Borisoglebsk, military pilots were trained. It was the best aviation center, producing well-trained pilots.

The military school bears the name of Chkalov, who became his graduate and proud. It was founded in 1922 with the goal of educating, training the best pilots for reconnaissance and control of fighters.

Further training at the Military Academy

Tkachenko Igor - a graduate of the military training center - did not stop there, and in 2000 decided to enter the Military Air Force Academy, which bore the name of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. To this end, he went to a large settlement, located in the Moscow region - Monino (Schelkovo district).

The Academy of the Air Force purposefully trained the commanders. Graduates became chiefs of staffs of aviation formations, units, chief navigators of aviation (formations and units), parts of the rear of aviation, officers of aviation associations. Igor Tkachenko after completing his studies joined the ranks of graduates who became heroes of the country. This educational institution was once completed by famous Russian and foreign cosmonauts and pilots.

Carier start

Tkachenko Igor Valentinovich returned to Borisoglebsk, where he graduated from the military school in order to obtain the position of an instructor pilot in the Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots. In 87, he entered the military airfield in the Moscow region, which was located (as it is today) five kilometers from Kubinok.

On the basis of a military airfield, Tkachenko's career begins as a pilot. He mastered the most famous aircraft of that time. He was lucky enough to manage the Russian multipurpose fighter Su-35, the reactive training L-29, the multipurpose training aircraft of the 4th generation-the MiG-29. He also furrowed the boundless heavenly expanses, controlling the all-weather multi-purpose Su-27 (4th generation) fighter, and the 3rd generation supersonic fighter MiG-21.

Tkachenko Igor V. controlled and foreign-produced aircraft. He mastered the multi-purpose French fighter "Mirage" 2000 and light multi-purpose American aircraft. In total for the period of service on the "Kubinka" he flew 2 thousand 300 hours.

"Russian Knights"

In the 89th year Tkachenko decided on aerobatics. His military training made it possible to achieve the highest results in the management of jet aircraft. He achieved special skills in this industry and did not intend to stop there. His talent as a pilot, willpower and perseverance worked miracles. The future hero of the country became one of the best pilots of the group "Russian Knights" in 1993. It should be said that it was created in 91-m and included in the composition of excellent "sky explorers". The mission of such pilots and today is the ability to perform perfection figures of aerobatics, managing heavy fighters.

In May 2002 Tkachenko was appointed commander of the group, in which he was a pilot ("Russian Knights"). Among the figures relating to aerobatics performed by "knights" are "scissors", "bell", "Nesterov's loop", "fountain", oblique loop. He constantly together with his group improved the skill of aerobatics and tried to outperform the best specialists of the world.

Awards and hobbies

Igor Tkachenko is a pilot who has earned many awards and titles, among them the following: the Order of Military Merit, the Order of Courage, the Order For Distinguished Service in Military Service, the title of Honored Military Pilot and Hero of the Russian Federation (the latter was awarded posthumously in 2009).

Native, friends and colleagues remember him as an interesting person in every sense, in which surprisingly combined willed character and simplicity. Among his hobbies were cars, to which he paid particular attention. In addition, Igor Tkachenko is remembered as a person who had a special interest in alternative medicine. All those who knew him speak of him as a very talented and comprehensively developed personality. He was so sociable that with amazing ease he found a common language with any person. And always considered the soul of the company. Wife Galina jokingly called him a boy.

Personal life of Igor Tkachenko

Despite many achievements, a serious and difficult profession that requires maximum dedication, Tkachenko found time for his personal life. He, just like any other guy, was in love, and made a marriage proposal to the girl Galina, who became his wife. She supported her husband in the most exciting moments of his life, he was proud of him. Every time Igor went to plow heaven, managing a heavy fighter, she was worried about him.

In Galina and Igor Tkachenko, two children were born into marriage: a son (he was named after Igor's father) and a daughter (she was given the name Daria). Tkachenko, Jr. decided to follow in the footsteps of his father and entered the Higher Aviation Military School in the city of Krasnodar. Today he mastered the profession of the pilot, determined to justify his name and reach no lesser heights than his father.

The death of Igor Tkachenko. How it was

It seemed that on that clear summer day on August 16, 2009, nothing boded ill. Tkachenko was busy preparing the flight of the air show. Before that, he had repeatedly demonstrated an astonishing aerobatics, to which there was no equal. The group "Russian Knights" soared into the sky. The unexpected collision of two fighters turned out to be fatal.

Together with navigator Kurilenko Igor Tkachenko was on the plane Su-27UB. Their flight was interrupted by an unexpected impulse, the winged car hit the Su-27, at the helm of which sat the pilot Vitaly Melnik. Trying to lead the falling unit away from the housing estate, Tkachenko did not think about himself. He managed to save the lives of many people who were in danger on the ground. If such a mechanism collapsed on residential buildings, there would be many casualties. The death of the commander of "Russian Knights" Igor Tkachenko was not in vain. He saved the lives of many people at his own cost.

There are still discussions about what caused this terrible tragedy, which took the life of the famous colonel, a talented military pilot. But even experts can not agree to a single opinion. It is known that his parachute did not open at the right time. Tkachenko Igor was awarded the last award posthumously. And today it is for others an example of courage, professionalism, eccentricity, nobility and incredible willpower.

"In memory of Igor Tkachenko and all the pilots who left on the last mission" - a song performed by Nikolai Anisimov. If you have not heard it yet, we recommend you do this.