On September 8, 1914, near the city of Zholkva (Lviv Region), a military pilot Pyotr Nesterov rammed an Austrian plane in which pilot Franz Malina and pilot observer Baron Friedrich von Rosenthal were. They conducted aerial reconnaissance of the movements of the Russian troops. It was the first air ram in the world, which brought Nesterov fame.

Way to heaven

Nesterov was born in Nizhny Novgorod on February 27, 1887. His father was a hereditary military man and served as an educational officer in the cadet corps. When Peter was three years old, his father died, after which the mother herself raised four children.

In 1897, Nesterov was admitted to the cadet corps. Peter from childhood showed abilities in mathematics. In addition, he was read in travel novels. In 1904, Peter completed his studies and, as one of the best graduates, was sent to the prestigious Mikhailovsky Artillery School.

“Two years later, Nesterov passed the final exams with honors and was promoted to second lieutenant,” Anton Kobets, an employee of the scientific and methodological department of the Victory Museum, told RT in an interview.

A young officer with brilliant training could choose a prestigious duty station in the European part of Russia, but instead went to the 9th East Siberian Rifle Artillery Brigade in Vladivostok.

In 1910, Nesterov became interested in aviation, and in 1911, while on vacation in Nizhny Novgorod, joined the aeronautics society. Together with his fellow countryman Peter Sokolov, he developed new models of gliders and conducted their tests.

  • Russian military pilot Peter Nesterov
  • RIA News

At the end of the vacation, Nesterov went to St. Petersburg and tried to enter the military aviation school. However, either military engineers or people with serious patronage were accepted there. Not resigned to the refusal, Nesterov took a desperate step - went to an appointment with the leadership of the War Ministry and got his way. He was sent to study at the Officer Aeronautical School in Gatchina.

In 1912, Nesterov made his first independent flight and completed the course of the aviation department. In parallel, he worked on his own original design of the aircraft without vertical plumage.

Before leaving for the army, at the end of 1912, Nesterov underwent additional training in Warsaw, mastering Newport-type aircraft. Here he made the first flight feat - he took away from the line of urban development a failed winged car, and, despite a fire in the air, put her at the airport.

"Loop"

Having completed a full training course, Nesterov was assigned to the 3rd aviation company in Kiev. Here he became interested in flying art and tried his hand at exercises as a spotter of artillery fire from the air. During the flight to Nizhyn and back, Nesterov drove a cameraman and participated in the first aerial shootings in Russia.

“He was engaged in the theory of the use of aviation during hostilities, invented new methods of attacking airships and enemy aircraft, and mastered night flights,” said Anton Kobets.

In turn, the military historian Yuri Knutov noted in an interview with RT that in Kiev the pilot was thinking about the possibility of performing a “dead loop” - aerobatics, which at that time was considered feasible only in theory.

“Nesterov sat down for the calculations, but did not manage to bring them to the end. He became aware that the Frenchman Adolf Pegu plans to make a “loop” and decided to act, ”the expert emphasized.

“On August 27, 1913, over the Syretsky field in Kiev, Nesterov did what his name forever entered into the history of aviation. He took the plane high into the air, then crashed at a peak and halfway to the ground raised the car again, after which, due to the gained power, the plane turned upside down and returned back to the same course, ”Kobets noted.

  • The layout of the aircraft "Newport" on which Nesterov made a "dead loop"
  • © Wikimedia Commons

According to the expert, "Nesterov proved that nothing is impossible for a skilled pilot."

In turn, Knutov said that, having completed the “dead loop”, Nesterov was six days ahead of Pegu. Although in Europe many still consider the French ace to be the author of aerobatics, Pegu himself personally recognized the primacy of the Russian pilot, the historian added.

“Not knowing all the parameters, Nesterov, going to the“ dead loop ”, actually played“ Russian roulette ”. It was on the verge of suicide, but he still won, ”the honored test pilot of the Russian Federation, Hero of Russia, Major General Magomed Tolboev said in an interview with RT.

War hero

In 1913, Nesterov developed the research design of the seven-cylinder engine, then proceeded to create a new single-seat high-speed aircraft. However, World War I made adjustments to his plans.

“Nesterov left for the front, where he took an active part in the hostilities. He was mainly engaged in aerial reconnaissance, in addition, carried out one of the first bombardments of enemy positions in the history of Russia, ”Kobets said.

Nesterov’s actions for bombing and adjusting artillery fire were so successful that the Austrian authorities announced a reward for his head. In total, he managed to make 28 sorties. During one of the flights, due to engine problems, Nesterov was forced to sit behind enemy lines, destroyed the plane, and with the help of local residents broke through to his front line. Returning to the unit, the pilot captured the Austrian sentry.

On September 8, 1914, Nesterov decided to attack an Austrian plane that was monitoring Russian positions. At that time, most machines still did not have machine guns.

According to Knutov, Nesterov most likely planned to strike the landing gear along the edge of the bearing plane of an enemy aircraft. However, the Russian pilot was greatly overworked, and perhaps made a mistake - the propeller and engine of his plane hit an Austrian car. The enemy was shot down, but during the execution of the maneuver, the hero himself died.

  • Nesterov's downed enemy plane
  • © Wikimedia Commons

The outstanding pilot was a holder of the orders of St. Anna of the III degree and St. Stanislav of the III degree. Posthumously he was awarded the Order of St. George IV degree.

“Nesterov greatly expanded the idea of ​​what a flying machine is capable of in the hands of a skilled and knowledgeable pilot. He demonstrated how important for the pilot the combination of cold calculation, extensive theoretical training and unbridled courage. He became an inspiring example for many aviation enthusiasts, ”Kobets emphasized.

According to Knutov, Nesterov actually became "the founder of the battering ram - a method of warfare that was widely used during the years of World War II."

“By his example, he showed the pilots how to behave in a critical situation in order to cause maximum damage to the enemy,” the historian said.

According to Tolboev, the feat of Nesterov inspired many generations of aviators.

“For us, pilots, he is a pillar figure,” said the expert.