Mark Gallai

Test pilot, writer. Born (03) on April 16, 1914 in St. Petersburg. Since 1930 he worked as a turner at the Red October plant. In 1932-1935 he studied at the Leningrad Institute of Engineers GVF. In 1935 he transferred to the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute, which he graduated in 1937. Since 1935, he flew gliders and jumped with a parachute in the Leningrad Eroclub. In 1936 he graduated from the aircraft department of the aeroclub, was in it an instructor of parachuting. Since 1937 he worked as an engineer in TsAGI. Without a job, he graduated from the TsAGI flight school and in September 1937 became a test pilot at TsAGI. He conducted tests of the SB bomber on a three-wheeled chassis (1940). From April 1941 to July 1950 - in flight test work at the Flight Research Institute. Conducted SS tests on flutter (1941), testing on fine-tuning the oil system of the Er-2 bomber (1941). Since 1959, he was deputy chairman of the methodical council of the IAP on flight tests. He took a significant part in the preparation of the first sorties, the elaboration of programs and methodological guidance of flight tests of new aircraft (Tu-144, Tu-154, Il-62, Il-76, An-22 and others). Published about 30 scientific papers. He taught at the MAI. Doctor of Technical Sciences (1972), Professor (1994). A member of the Writers' Union, the author of many books. He died in Moscow on July 14, 1998. He was buried at the Troyekurovsky cemetery of Moscow.