Valeriy Menitskiy

October 1, 2009 - Polet Airlines accepts the second aircraft Il-96-400

The second cargo aircraft of Polet Airlines is named after the merited test pilot of the USSR, the Hero of the former Soviet Union, Valeriy E. Menitskiy.

In his childhood, Valeriy Menitskiy had already known what profession he would choose when he grew up - a pilot. His parents even gave him his name after the famous pilot Valeriy Chkalov. 

Within the quarter of the century Menitskiy tested Mig-27 ("32-25"), Mig-25PD, Mig-29M ("9-15") aircraft, participated in testing programs of Mig - 21, -23, -25, -27, -29, -31 and its modifications. On the newest aircraft Valeriy Menitskiy was the first to perform stunts "Bell" and "Cobra". He was also involved into the secret program "Spiral", which development started in 1960-s.

Menitskiy was rewarded for a long and high-risky service many times. The Order of Lenin, the Order of Honor are among those rewards. Valeriy remembered that Medals of Heroes were rare to had been received. Thus, for the period from 1944 to 1991 there were only 46 people who received this reward. Menitskiy was honorably rewarded the Hero of the Soviet Union in 1982. Five years later, he became a Lenin Prize laureate. After 20 years, he was conferred a Big

Golden Medal of International Aviation Federation. This decoration is rewarded for outstanding pilotage performance. For over 100 years, only 150 people have received this medal. And only four of them are citizens of Russia. Therefore, Valeriy Menitskiy became a "legend of the Russian sky" pro vita. 
In 1993 Valeriy finished his flying career as a chief-pilot. However, he continued to work for the Air Force as a councilor, helping Commander-in-Chief, General

Director of "Mig" MAPA, Moscow Mayor. And even in this field he was distinctly talented - he was one of the aviation and cosmonautics museum founder, his name is closely related to Vnukovo airport revival, he was also prominent in the world of literacy. 

Valeriy Menitskiy died on January 15, 2008. He was buried at Troekurovskoe cemetery in Moscow. But his significant name is memorialized on board of the second Il-96-400T aircraft, manufactured in VASO.