| A picturesque village Voronovitsa,
located 20 km from Vinnitsa is by rights called the cradle of aviation.
In 1869-1876 the inventor of the first plane in the world, sea officer,
Captain Alexander Fedorovich Mozajskij, who with his inventions
left American brothers Rite 20 years behind, carried out his experiments
with flying apparatus in Voronovitsa.
Being a hereditary seaman, when he was 28 years
old Lieutenant Mozajskij as a member of frigate «Diana» went on
a cruise around the world. He was a talented seaman, an excellent
painter; he was the head of the construction of one of the first
screw clippers in Russia. He got a medal and insignia for courage;
Mozajskij successfully commanded the flotilla, which defended the
Amyr estuary.
 |
A.F. Mozajskij |
During his long sailings Alexander Fedorovich
got interested in flying apparatus. Watching birds, studying the
structure of their wings helped Mozajskij to make discoveries, which
allowed him to create flying apparatus later.
In the 70th of the XIX century after retirement
he settled in the estate of his tragically perished brother in Voronovitsa.
At first Mozajskij made experiments with kites. After 3 years of
surveys, calculations, and experiments the aircraft designer created
the kite of such a size that you could fly on it taken in a tow
of a three-horse cart. This kite became the prototype of the simplest
planer. Testing of flying apparatus was held at the country house
of Mozajskij family above the Yuznuj Bug River.
In the old Voronovitsa park, planted at the
end of the XVIII century, a palace of Polish magnates Groholskih,
where Mozajskij lived and invested his planes, remained intact till
nowadays. In the three-storied palace, prior consisting of 43 rooms,
a school is now situated. The museum of history of aviation and
cosmonautics, named after Mozajskij comprises two halls.
The museum’s exposition is dedicated to the
development of soviet air fleet, first aviators and their records.
The exhibits show a great role of aviation in the Great Patriotic
War, tell about the man’s first steps in space, about the talent
of inventors and the courage of test-pilots. |
