A stamp design sketch, possibly for the 1934 series “Airships”. Artist: Yefimov.
The stamp depicts the USSR airship V-1.
In the autumn of 1930, TsAGI staff began developing a small non-rigid airship for training and instructional purposes. The airship was designed based on experience gained while building the airships “Moskovsky Khimik-Rezinshchik” (“MKhR”) and “Komsomolskaya Pravda” (“USSR V-4”). The work was carried out outside regular working hours.
The airship’s gondola framework was made of duralumin profiles. The gondola length was 10 meters. A celluloid front canopy, with windows along the sides. The stabilizers and rudders consisted of a duralumin frame covered with fabric.
Parts and the envelope were manufactured in Moscow by workers of “Dirizhablestroy”, the “Kauchuk” plant, and TsAGI, and assembled in March 1932 in the hangar at Volkovo Field in Leningrad under the supervision of A.N. Flakserman, deputy head of “Dirizhablestroy”.
The airship made its first flight on April 9, 1932. The ship was commanded by V.L. Nizhevsky; the crew also included: assistant commander Volkonsky, second assistant commander Garakanidze (one of the airship’s designers), helmsman MAI student Pankov, and second helmsman Obodzinsky. The airship remained in flight for 34 minutes and, despite unfavorable weather conditions and a completely new design, demonstrated good flying qualities.
On April 10, the airship made a 58-minute flight to Salizi with a landing there. The airship was piloted by V. Nizhevsky; A. Flakserman participated in the flight as a passenger.
Initially the airship was called “Pervoye Maya” (“First of May”), “UK-1 im. Pervogo Maya”, or simply UK-1 (training ship, first). Later it became known under the designation “USSR V-1”.
On April 29, 1932, USSR V-1 departed Leningrad and arrived in Dolgoprudny on May 1. In Dolgoprudny, “Dirizhablestroy” was established, and a hangar and a hydrogen production plant were built. In May 1932, Dirizhablestroy, in addition to USSR V-1, created USSR V-2 “Smolny” and USSR V-3 “Red Star”. These non-rigid airships were intended for propaganda flights and for training airship crews.
On November 7, 1932, four Soviet airships—V-1, V-2, V-3, and V-4—flew over Red Square.
In 1991, a stamp series titled “Airships” was issued.
