Andrey Nikolaevich Tupolev was born on November 10, 1888 in the village of Pustomazovo in the Tver province. After graduating from the Tver gymnasium in 1908, he entered the Imperial Moscow Technical College (IMTC).

An eminent scientist, professor Nikolai Yegorovich Zhukovsky taught mechanics at the college. Under his leadership an aeronautical circle worked here, and Tupolev attended it too. Later, Andrei Nikolayevich said: “Nikolai Egorovich infected me with one of his strongest passions — a passion for science”.  In the hobby group, Andrew received the first experience of designing aircraft, first - a balancing glider, and then - the aircraft.

When such a glider was created in 1910, Andrei Tupolev was fortunate enough to make a flight on it across the Yauza River, near Lefortovo Park. The flight lasted only a few seconds, but made an indelible impression on him and forever decided the fate of the future aircraft designer.

First glider flight​

To carry out experimental work by students of IMTC, one of the country's first wind tunnel was built according to the project of N. Ye. Zhukovsky. Practical guidance on the creation of the pipe was carried out by Andrey Tupolev.

In June 1918, Tupolev defended a graduation project on the topic “Experience of developing a hydroplane according to test data in wind tunnels” at the State Testing Commission of IMTU and was awarded the title of mechanical engineer. N. Ye. Zhukovsky highly appreciated the work of A. N. Tupolev and recommended him to prepare for teaching. Under his leadership, on December 6, 1929, SP Korolev completed and defended his graduation project at IMTC.

In 1922, finally, work began on the creation of the first ANT-1 aircraft. Before the war, the planes designed and built by the AN Tupolev Design Bureau were called ANT (“Andrey Nikolaevich Tupolev”).

The next aircraft -  ANT -  was the first all-metal aircraft in Russia. The required metal - duralumin was made in the town of Kolchugino, Vladimir region, and Andrey Tupolev rightfully became the founder of the all-metal aircraft.

 ANT-2 -  the first all-metal aircraft made in the USSR

In the 1930s, A. N. Tupolev became the top-ranked aircraft designer, and the ANT-4, ANT-6 and ANT-40 (SB) bombers developed in his design bureau formed the basis of the Red Army's armament. Widely known in the country and beyond were civilian aircraft, as well as the world's heaviest agit-plane "Maxim Gorky" - the last aircraft with a corrugated covering.

In 1936, Andrei Nikolayevich was designated to a post of chief engineer and first deputy head’s chief of Glavaviaprom. During this period, he traveled a lot around the country, was interested in the progress of construction of new aircraft factories and reconstructions of existing ones. Having visited Kazan, he highly appreciated as a very promising project, according to which the local plant was built.

Subsequently, Andrei Nikolayevich visited the Kazan Aviation Factory many times.

Tu-104 - the first Soviet jet passenger aircraft​. Photo by Lars Söderström

Experimental Design Bureau n.a. Tupolev celebrated its 50th anniversary on October 22, 1972. Andrei Nikolayevich summed up his half a century of activity in aviation area.

During this time, 150 projects were developed in the EDB  under the direct supervision and with the personal participation of A.N. Tupolev, more than 100 types of aircraft were built in the metal, and more than 70 types of their modifications were built serially.

The world's first supersonic passenger plane Tu-144​

78 world records and absolutely 28 unique flights were made on the Tupolev’s airplanes.  

Andrei Nikolaevich loved and knew how to work in a team, directing a large team of OKB staff to achieve the goal.

A. N. Tupolev near the 3rd educational building KNRTU-KAI (15, Tolstoy st.)

KAI museum manager in 1982-2016 гг. V. I. Konyahina