Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) (Moscow)

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Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) was founded in 1930 when institutions which specialized in aviation became advanced enough to join into one aircraft engineering education center.

Until the present, the development of Russian aviation and astronautics was based mostly on the activities of institute professors and alumni.

The designers Tupolev A.N. (class "TU" aircraft), Mikoyan A.I. (class "MIG" aircraft), Jakovlev A.S. (class "JAK" aircraft) were the first Institute professors. Well-known academicians, scientists and several astronauts number amongst MAI alumni.

Moscow Aviation Institute is a large scientific research center. Significant scientific ideas are developed here; new technological principles are discovered; new devices are invented and constructed. Five fundamental scientific discoveries for dynamic systems have been patented; the optoelectronic device "Photon" designed here is now operating in outer space; innovative power sources based on new principles invented and constructed here are currently used in aircraft and aerospace system units, etc.

All University staff and students can join in this work in the creation or in the design of new devices, and even new flying vehicles; 14 types of them are wide world known for 6 records in aviation sports. Recently the new superlight small-size aircraft "Aviatica" was designed and constructed in MAI by staff and students. This aircraft is now indispensable for certain conditions and thus is in very great demand in this country and abroad. Now there are about 200 pieces of "Aviatica" aircraft in the sky all over the world, and this vehicle was completely created and produced in MAI.

The total of Moscow Aviation Institute alumni number in the hundreds of thousands. They work in design offices, plants, repair shops, scientific research institutes, universities, laboratories, aviation companies, in the Center for Cosmonauts Training and other aircraft and aerospace engineering and technological institutions.

Currently MAI is a large educational and scientific center with approximately 2000 professors and tutors, 4000 research officers, engineers and personnel, and 14000 students.

Since 2007 the Moscow Aviation Institute has been headed by Professor A.N. Gerashenko, Doctor. He is a 1977 MAI graduate.

In 1993 Moscow State Aviation Institute was given one more name: "University of Aerospace Technologies".