On the question of the role of Grand Prince Alexander Mikhailovich in the emergence of the domestic air force

Abstract

Introduction. The article is devoted to the analysis of the contribution of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich to the birth of the Russian Air Force. The authors emphasize that despite the concealment or minimization of the role of this outstanding statesman in Soviet historiography, he was able to achieve the most important task for the defense capability of the Russian Empire – the creation of his own aviation and the system of training aviation specialists, thanks to his personal abilities and perseverance. The relevance of the published materials is determined both in general to the history of the emergence and the first years of the development of domestic aviation, and to the imperial house of the Romanovs, in particular. Materials and methods. Thanks to the analysis of special scientific literature, as well as periodicals of the early 20th century, it was possible to conclude that Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich made a great personal contribution to the development of Russian military aviation. This was facilitated by the use of the historical-genetic method, which allows us to consider the early stage of the history of the Air Force of our country. Results. Like most other representatives of the Romanov dynasty who did not occupy the throne, Alexander Mikhailovich devoted his life to serving for the good of the Fatherland. His military education and love of the sea attracted the young Grand Duke to serve in the Navy. Intellectual and creative abilities allowed him to make a number of discoveries, as well as leave behind several scientific studies in the field of navigation and shipping. However, the Grand Duke made a genuine contribution at the state level to the birth of military aviation, being carried away abroad by a new type of transport. Having correctly realized the role of the Air Force in protecting state borders, for a number of years, through his multifaceted activities, he led the country to create its own Military Air Fleet. Conclusion. To date, there is no doubt about the significant contribution of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich to the birth of the Russian Air Force, which was recognized, including officially, at the state level in 2012.