Monument to Valery Pavlovich Chkalov. Monument to Valery Chkalov in Nizhny Novgorod on the Volga embankment Who is Valery Chkalov

In the center of the observation deck of the former Volzhsky Escarpment, today one of the main city attractions and the “calling” card of the city.

There are always a lot of people around it, both locals and visiting tourists. Many central streets converge here, and the famous Chkalov Stairs begins from here. And one more thing - the view from here is great Volga, Nizhny Novgorod Strelka and Borsky district of the city.

Monument to V. Chkalov near the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin

The fate of the tester

Legendary test pilot Valery Chkalov born in one of the villages of the Nizhny Novgorod region, which today has become the city of Chkalovsk. All the men in the Chkalov family were physically strong, stubborn and assertive people. His great-grandfather was known as one of the strongest Volga barge haulers, grandfather working as a portman loader, was also famous for his amazing physical strength. The father of the legendary pilot was the best boiler master and received a very decent remuneration for his work, which allowed the family to live in a good house with a garden.

But Valery did not follow in his father’s footsteps, and as a result of a long search for himself, he chose aviation. It is interesting that his place of service after flight school was the Leningrad Fighter Squadron, which bore the name of another legendary Nizhny Novgorod pilot P. Nesterova.

IN. Chkalov - fearless test pilot

Gradually, V. Chkalov became a test pilot and was engaged in the development of new models of fighters and bombers, for which he was awarded Order of Lenin. In 1936, a group of pilots consisting of Chkalov, Baidukov and Levchenko took the initiative to carry out a long direct flight from Soviet Russia to capitalist America over the North Pole.

The plane on which V. Chkalov and his friends made non-stop flights

Same year 1936 a test long flight from Moscow to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky was completed ( 56 hours non-stop flight). This flight brought the pilots title of Hero of the Soviet Union, national love and recognition.

The Izvestia newspaper talks about the feat of Soviet pilots

After such a successful flight, permission was given to fulfill the main dream - flight to America, which took place summer 1937. This difficult but worthy flight made the pilots national heroes. And the homeland of V. Chkalov - the village of Vasilev, it was after this that it became a city Chkalovsky.

The following year, during tests in the Moscow region on a very hastily prepared new fighter and in bad weather conditions V. Chkalov carried out a test flight, during which the engine of the fighter stalled. The pilot took the plane away from residential buildings and was even able to land it, avoiding a fire, but as a result of the large machine getting caught on wires and hitting piles of wood, the pilot was thrown out of the car.

Having received severe injuries incompatible with life, the legendary sky conqueror died in the hospital. This happened December 15, 1938.

Monument to the legendary tester

After two years had passed since the tragic death of V. Chkalov (1940), a Monument heroic tester and innovator in the field of aerobatics. Chkalov loved Nizhny Novgorod, where he had many friends and acquaintances, and often came here.

He loved to walk around the former Volzhsky Escarpment and stop at the observation deck near the Kremlin walls to admire the Volga landscapes.

Volga landscapes from the observation deck of the former Escarpment

One day, while walking here with my friend sculptor I. Mendelevich, they said that it would be nice to erect a monument to the most outstanding Nizhny Novgorod resident in this place, instead of the Ice Cream Cafe located there at that time. M. Gorky. This would be symbolic and historically justified.

But events developed in such a way that soon V. Chkalov passed away, and then I. Mendelevich began to insist that this place of the Volga Escarpment become the site of the installation of the Monument to Chkalov himself. The sculptor developed the basic idea of ​​the future sculpture, and architects helped him implement this idea I. Taranov and V. Andreev.

Monument to V. Chkalov on the observation deck near the St. George Tower

On a granite cylindrical pedestal, the heroic pilot is immortalized at the most important and crucial moment of preparation for the next test takeoff. He is already dressed in his flight suit and is finishing putting on his gloves. His gaze is fixed on the sky, where he is about to take off, and all his thoughts are only about the upcoming flight, about testing a new aircraft.

Fragment of the Monument to V. Chkalov

The sculptor managed to create portrait decisive and strong-willed person with big working strong hands. His character fails in his compressed, clearly defined lips, his stubborn chin, and his expressive gaze, full of life. For this monument, the sculptor I. Mendelevich was awarded an honorary Stalin Prize in 1942.

It's interestingly designed too pedestal, to which a three-step base leads. The surface of the pedestal is covered with an image of a map with the two longest flights of V. Chkalov marked. The capital of Russia stands out with a familiar shape - of course, it is a ruby ​​star.

Today, the Monument to Chkalov is the most famous place in the city, where hundreds of tourists and citizens come, and where the famous staircase begins, built during the difficult war and post-war years, also named after the pilot Chkalovskaya. Although the staircase was created completely independently, today it and the Monument form a single symbolic complex - the Pilot preparing for new achievements and the figure-of-eight staircase - Infinity sign.

Monument and Chkalov Stairs

Both of these architectural structures are an integral part of Nizhny Novgorod, its past, present and future.

The history of mankind is full of the names of those people whose merits and exploits are forever imprinted on its pages. At all times, there were those who looked at the world differently, had a sharp mind, determination, and had the courage and courage to accomplish real feats. The activities of such people do not go unnoticed and are not forgotten by subsequent generations. Their perpetuation in the form of monuments plays a big role in this. This kind of manifestation of respect and memory can be found in every locality, because even the smallest community knows the names of those who made a great contribution to its formation and development. Nizhny Novgorod also remembers great people. The monument to the test pilot and true master virtuoso was erected on December 15, 1940 and still reminds residents of his services to the country.

Who is Valery Chkalov?

Among all the significant places, the monument to Chkalov in Nizhny Novgorod especially stands out, the history of which is distinguished by many twists and surprises. The man who gave development Soviet aviation a powerful push and thanks to which, during the Great Patriotic War the pilots have mastered new, incredibly important skills that cannot but arouse respect and gratitude from people. Valery Chkalov was the commander of the aircraft crew that was the first to fly non-stop from Moscow to Vancouver.

He was an innovator, the start of a new stage in aviation. Thanks to the results of his activities, Valery Chkalov is considered the founder of the aerobatics school, which is based on a thorough knowledge of piloting techniques and courage. This man was the first tester of aircraft at different speeds, which allowed designers to constantly improve their models. His skills in quickly escaping from fire helped many pilots survive in wartime in the face of immediate danger.

Monument to Valery Chkalov in Nizhny Novgorod: history

Valery Chkalov died on December 15, 1938 while testing another fighter model. Immediately after his death, the government adopted a number of documents that contained decisions to perpetuate his memory. The choice of location for the monument was not random. The observation deck near the St. George Tower of the Kremlin was Chkalov’s favorite place to walk.

Previously, there was a statue of “Girl with an Oar” at this place. During his lifetime, Valery Chkalov recommended this place to his friend, sculptor Isaac Mendelevich, to erect a monument to Maxim Gorky. Then he did not yet know that it was in this place that his exploits would be immortalized forever and that it would especially highlight Nizhny Novgorod. Dozens of people come to see the Chkalov monument every day, and they all look at the figure of the Hero with great respect Soviet Union.

Authors' idea

The monument to Valery Chkalov in Nizhny Novgorod was designed by his friend Mendelevich, as well as by architects and Viktor Andreev. Valery Chkalov is depicted in his flight suit putting on a glove. The basis is a cylindrical granite pedestal, which is placed on three high steps. An image of a map was applied to the polished surface of the base, which marked the route of Valery Chkalov’s two most significant flights. Moscow, as the starting point of all his beginnings, is highlighted with a ruby ​​star.

Construction

In just a month of work, this place decorated Nizhny Novgorod. Although the monument to Chkalov was erected quite quickly, since the ceremonial laying of its foundation on Aviation Day in 1940, it was often redone, as a number of inaccuracies were allowed. The monument is made of bronze; The figure was cast at the Leningrad plant "Monumentsculpture". Upon establishment, the question arose about creating the necessary light and shade, as a result of which, for special lighting, spotlights were installed on the roof of the St. George Tower and the Medical Institute.

The sculptor Isaac Mendelevich was awarded the Stalin Prize in 1942 for the monument to Valery Chkalov. Later, in 1960, the monument was taken under state protection. It has changed several times since 1940. It often had to be restored, because weather conditions accelerated the process of destruction of materials. As a result, the stars on the map changed three times. But even with frequent strengthening and alteration, the monument retained its original appearance.

Chkalov staircase

The Chkalov Stairs is a visiting card, one of the most popular places that glorify Nizhny Novgorod. The monument to Chkalov was originally built near industrial zones. At one of the meetings of the city commission for the construction of the monument, an idea was put forward to build a staircase that would connect the monument itself and the river below.

This contributed to the improvement of the slope and embankment. The war became the main obstacle to the completion of the project, and its implementation dragged on for six years. As a result, it was made in the shape of a figure eight and has 560 steps. The name “Chkalov Stairs” was given to the place by the people and finally stuck with it.

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A country: Russia

City: Nizhny Novgorod

Was passed: 1940

Sculptor: I.A. Mendelevich

Architect: I.G. Taranov, V.S. Andreev

Description

The monument to the Soviet test pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union Valery Pavlovich Chkalov, who was the first to make a non-stop flight over the North Pole from Moscow to Vancouver, represents the figure of the legendary Soviet pilot in full height. Valery Chkalov, in a flight suit, stands with his arms folded on his chest and his gaze fixed on the endless blue of the sky. The monument is installed on a cylindrical pedestal lined with labradorite. On the pedestal there is a map of the world, more precisely a view from the North Pole. The map shows the route of the famous flight. There is also a memorial inscription on the pedestal: “1904-1938, to Valery Chkalov, the great pilot of our time.”

History of creation

The monument to Chkalov was erected on the square near the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. A beautiful staircase leads from the embankment to the monument, named in honor of the heroic personality of Chkalov. The monument was erected in 1940 on the day of the tragic death of the pilot.

How to get there

The most interesting thing to get to the monument is to come to the Boat Hero stop (route T117, T42). Admire the monument to Kater Hero and climb the very beautiful Chkalov staircase. Here, near the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, at the intersection of Kremlin Street and Verkhnevolzhskaya Embankment, there is a monument to the legendary pilot Valery Pavlovich Chkalov (10a Verkhnevolzhskaya Embankment St.).

Nizhny Novgorod, aka Gorky, aka, with a light youth hand - NiNo or NN. The city, which has earned the title of the Volga capital, is truly original - a little provincial and at the same time rapidly developing, having preserved its historical appearance, it is, at the same time, quickly acquiring modern architecture.

If we talk about the sights of Nizhny Novgorod, then there are quite a lot of them: over the 8 centuries of existence, no one has ever set foot on the land of the Dyatlov Mountains, who has left their mark on Nizhny Novgorod history.

Nizhny Novgorod - birthplace outstanding people in the field of literature, art, science. And almost every eminent citizen has a monument erected here. As a last resort - a memorial plaque. Monuments to the most famous Nizhny Novgorod residents - Minin and Pozharsky, Gorky and Chkalov - were erected in the very heart of Nizhny Novgorod.

The most famous Nizhny Novgorod landmark, the Kremlin, is also located here. Recently, negotiations have been underway to include it in the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia.

Immediately outside the walls of the Kremlin there is Rozhdestvenskaya Street on one side, and the Chkalov Stairs on the other. Walking along these stairs is a reason not only to marvel at the power of engineering, but also to test your endurance. The staircase has no less than 560 steps! This is the longest staircase in Russia.

Numerous churches and cathedrals occupy a special place among the city's attractions. Some are monumental and strict (Old Fair Cathedral, Alexander Nevsky New Fair Cathedral), others are small and intricate (Stroganov Church and Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist in Torg).

But everyone is incredibly beautiful, with rich centuries-old history. The Nizhny Novgorod monasteries - Annunciation and Pechersky - are especially famous.

As for the museums of Nizhny Novgorod, their number is not too large, but all of them, without a doubt, deserve attention. Moreover, some of them are unique and exist in Russia in singular- for example, the Dobrolyubov Museum.

The most famous, of course, is the recently restored and therefore amazingly beautiful local history museum - the Rukavishnikov Estate. What is of great value here is not so much the expositions as the building itself, which amazes with its beauty and combination of styles.

Almost all the most interesting museums are located close to each other: the Art Museum, the Russian Museum of Photography, the museum-apartment of A.M. Gorky.

But still, the main attraction remains the natural beauty and landscapes of Nizhny Novgorod, opening from the Verkhnevolzhskaya embankment. The Nizhny Novgorod Volga Escarpment is a place that UNESCO experts plan to include as a World Heritage Site.

The beauty of Nizhny Novgorod nature can be appreciated not only on the Verkhne-Volzhskaya embankment, but also in one of the city parks: Avtozavodsky Park, Kulibin Park, Pushkin Park, Switzerland Park.

So, in Pushkin Park you can walk along a unique birch alley, and in Switzerland Park you can enjoy the beauty of the river expanses and ride one of the many attractions.

Valery Pavlovich Chkalov (January 20 (February 2) 1904, Vasilevo, Balakhninsky district, Nizhny Novgorod province, Russian empire- December 15, 1938, Moscow, RSFSR, USSR) - Soviet test pilot, brigade commander (1938), Hero of the Soviet Union. Chkalov is a legendary figure in our country. The idol of pre-war youth - the same ones that defeated the fascist aggressors.

The monument to Chkalov on the Volga slope stands at one of the towers of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, crowning the Chkalov staircase. The Chkalov Stairs is one of the most beautiful places in Nizhny Novgorod. Its shape is very interesting - in the form of a figure eight or an infinity sign. From here you can enjoy magnificent views of the Volga, the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, and the Trans-Volga region. The monument to Chkalov appeared before the Chkalov Stairs by almost 10 years - in 1939. He faces the city, against the sky. Today the monument to Chkalov is one of the symbols of Nizhny Novgorod.

Valery Chkalov

photo

The fate of the future Hero was not simple. His mother died early, when Valery was 6 years old. At the age of seven, Valery went to study at Vasilevskaya primary school, then to school. In 1916, after graduating from school, his father sent him to study at the Cherepovets Technical School (now the Cherepovets Forestry Mechanical College named after V.P. Chkalov). In 1918, the school was closed, and Valery had to return home. He began working as his father’s assistant, as a hammerman in a forge, and with the beginning of navigation he began working as a fireman on a dredger.

In 1919, Valery Chkalov worked as a fireman on the Bayan steamship on the Volga and then saw an airplane for the first time. After that, he resigned from the ship and went to serve in the Red Army that same year. He was sent as an aircraft assembler to the 4th Kanavinsky Aviation Park in Nizhny Novgorod.

In 1921, Chkalov was sent to study at the Yegoryevsk Military Theoretical School of the Air Force; after graduating in 1922, he was sent to further study at the Borisoglebsk Military Aviation School of Pilots, graduating in 1923.

In June 1924, military fighter pilot Chkalov was sent to serve in the Leningrad Red Banner Fighter Squadron named after P.N. Nesterova (Komendantsky airfield). During his service in the squadron, he proved himself to be a daring and courageous pilot. He made risky flights, for which he received penalties and was repeatedly suspended from flying. According to legend, once Chkalov even flew under the Equality (Troitsky) Bridge in Leningrad, which, however, is not confirmed by documents. For the film “Valery Chkalov” this flight was made by pilot Evgeny Borisenko. At the same time, he had serious problems with discipline, which resulted in major troubles - on November 16, 1925, he was sentenced by a military tribunal to one year in prison for fighting while drunk, then the term was reduced to 6 months.

In 1926, the 1st Red Banner Fighter Aviation Squadron was relocated from the Komendantsky airfield to the Trotsk airfield (today Gatchina), where Chkalov served from 1926 to 1928. In 1927, Chkalov married Leningrad teacher Olga Orekhova. In March 1928, he was transferred to serve in the 15th Bryansk Aviation Squadron; his wife and son Igor remained in Leningrad.

In Bryansk, Chkalov had an accident and was accused of air recklessness and numerous violations of discipline. By the verdict of the military tribunal of the Belarusian Military District of October 30, 1928, Chkalov was convicted under Article 17, paragraph “a” of the Regulations on Military Crimes and under Article 193-17 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR to one year in prison, and was also dismissed from the Red Army. He served his sentence for a short time, at the request of Ya.I. Alksnis and K.E. Voroshilov, less than a month later the sentence was replaced with a suspended sentence and Chkalov was released from Bryansk prison. Being in the reserve, at the beginning of 1929 Chkalov returned to Leningrad and until November 1930 he worked at the Leningrad Osoaviakhim, where he headed a glider school and was an instructor pilot.

In November 1930, Chkalov was restored to military rank and was sent to work at the Moscow Research Institute of the Red Army Air Force. During two years of work at the research institute, he made more than 800 test flights, mastering the technique of piloting 30 types of aircraft. On December 3, 1931, Chkalov participated in the testing of an aircraft carrier (aircraft carrier), which was a heavy bomber that carried up to five fighter aircraft on its wings and fuselage.

In 1932, the Air Force Research Institute was transferred from Khodynsky Field in Moscow to an airfield near the city of Shchelkovo, Moscow Region. The relocation from an ordinary event turned into the first air parade in the USSR with a flyover over Red Square. 45 aircraft flew in a convoy of three aircraft in a row, and at the head was a TB-3 bomber with tail number 311, controlled by the crew of Valery Chkalov.

Since January 1933, Valery Chkalov was again in the reserve and transferred to work as a test pilot at the Moscow Aviation Plant No. 39 named after Menzhinsky. Together with his senior comrade Alexander Anisimov, he tested the latest fighter aircraft of the 1930s, the I-15 (biplane) and I-16 (monoplane) designed by Polikarpov. He also took part in testing the VIT-1 and VIT-2 tank destroyers, as well as the TB-1 and TB-3 heavy bombers, and a large number of experimental and experimental vehicles from the Polikarpov Design Bureau. Author of new aerobatic maneuvers - an upward corkscrew and a slow roll. On May 5, 1935, aircraft designer Nikolai Polikarpov and test pilot Valery Chkalov were awarded the highest government award - the Order of Lenin - for creating the best fighter aircraft.

In the fall of 1935, pilot Baidukov suggested that Chkalov organize a record flight from the USSR to the USA via North Pole and lead the aircraft crew. In the spring of 1936, Chkalov, Baidukov and Belyakov approached the government with a proposal to conduct such a flight, but Stalin indicated a different route plan: Moscow - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, fearing a repetition of Levanevsky’s unsuccessful attempt (in August 1935, the flight of S. Levanevsky, G. Baidukov and V Levchenko's route Moscow - North Pole - San Francisco was interrupted due to a malfunction).

Flight of Chkalov's crew from Moscow to Far East launched on July 20, 1936 and lasted 56 hours before landing on a sandy spit of Udd Island in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The total length of the record route was 9,375 kilometers. Already on the island of Udd, the inscription “Stalin’s route” was placed on the side of the plane, which was preserved during the next flight - through the North Pole to America. Both Chkalov’s flights officially bore this name until the start of the “fight against Stalin’s personality cult” and literary erasures. For the flight to the Far East, the entire crew was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin: medal Golden Star, introduced in 1939 after Chkalov’s death, was awarded only in 2004 to his children. In addition, Chkalov was given a personal U-2 aircraft (now in the museum in Chkalovsk). The exceptional propaganda importance of this flight for its time is evidenced by the fact that I.V. Stalin personally came on August 10, 1936 to the Shchelkovsky airfield near Moscow to meet the returning plane. From that moment on, Chkalov gained national fame in the USSR.

Chkalov continued to seek permission to fly to the United States, and in May 1937 permission was received. The launch of the ANT-25 aircraft took place on June 18. The flight took place in much more difficult conditions than the previous one (lack of visibility, icing, etc.), but on June 20 the plane made a safe landing in the city of Vancouver, Washington, USA. The flight length was 8504 kilometers. For this flight the crew was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

On December 12, 1937, Valery Chkalov was elected to the Council of Nationalities of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from the Gorky Region and the Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. At the request of the residents of Vasilyov, their village was renamed Chkalovsk. I. Stalin personally invited Chkalov to take the post of People's Commissar of the NKVD, but he refused and continued to engage in flight test work.

Chkalov died on December 15, 1938 during the first test flight of the new I-180 fighter at the Central Airfield.

The flight was prepared in a hurry to make it before the end of the year. The release of the aircraft at the airfield was scheduled for November 7, November 15, November 25... On December 2, 190 defects were identified on the assembled aircraft. N.N. Polikarpov protested against the unnecessary race in preparing the I-180 for the first flight, which is why he was removed from this work...

Valery Chkalov was buried in Moscow, the urn with his ashes was installed in the Kremlin wall.

After the death of Chkalov, a number of aviation plant managers involved in organizing this flight were arrested; they were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment for launching an aircraft with numerous malfunctions that led to the death of the pilot.

In 1943, funds were allocated for the construction of a huge memorial staircase in honor of the victory Soviet army V Battle of Stalingrad. German prisoners of war were also involved in the construction. In 1949 the staircase was completed.

Project of the Chkalov staircase during the war years:

Chkalov staircase and monument to Chkalov from the Volzhskaya embankment.