On October 27th 2015 Genrikh Vasilievich Novozhilov – ex-General Designer of Ilyushin design bureau, academician of USSR Academy of Sciences, twice Hero of socialist labor, laureate of the Lenin Prize, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ilyushin Company, Top Advisor on Science of the CEO of Ilyushin Company  turned 90.

Genrikh Vasilievich was born on October 27th 1925 in Moscow. In 1942 he started working as a laboratory technician at a department of Moscow Aviation Institute; he graduated from the institute in 1949. In 1948 he joined the fuselage department of Ilyushin design bureau in 1948. As a design engineer he took part in development of Il-28, Il-40, Il-54 aircraft, etc. He participated in development and flight testing of Il-54 bomber as a senior engineer. From 1956 to 1958 he was a secretary of the enterprise’s Party Committee. In 1958 Novozhilov was appointed Deputy Chief Designer on Il-18 aircraft and Operation. In 1964 he was appointed Chief Designer and First Deputy of General Designer S.V. Ilyushin. For developing, carrying out the flight testing and launching the mass production of Il-62 aircraft in 1970 Novozhilov was awarded with Lenin Prize. In July 1970 at the suggestion of S.V. Ilyushin, who retired due to health issues, he was appointed General Designer and the head of Moscow Machine-Building Plant “Strela” (former design bureau). In 2006 he was appointed Top Advisor on Science of the CEO of Ilyushin Company.

Since late 1960s Genrikh Vasilievich supervised the development of the first jet military-transport aircraft Il-76 and its numerous versions. Under the General Designer’s guidance next-generation Il aircraft have been developed, tested and entered mass production. These vehicles were of great importance for development of the country’s economy and strengthening its defense capabilities. This refers to the first indigenous wide-body medium-haul aircraft Il-86 and its military version – Il-80 (airborne command post). Upgraded Il-76MF with a stretched fuselage and new PS90-76 engines. The brand-new indigenous wide-body long-haul aircraft Il-96-300 and freighter aircraft Il-96-400T derived from it. During the worst period for the national aircraft industry the multi-role Il-103 aircraft performed its maiden flight and Il-96MO prototype fitted with US engines and equipment was developed. The first production Il-96T freighter aircraft derived from Il-96MO was manufactured by Voronezh-based plant in April 1997. At present local air carriers are successfully operating Il-114-100 passenger aircraft also developed under the giudance of Genrikh Novozhilov. He also supervised development of Il-18, Il-62, Il-62M and Il-96PU aircraft intended for transportation of top officials.

He has 130 patented technical inventions and innovations, scientific works on selection of wing aerodynamic configuration, reliability of the airframe taking into account safety in case of any damage, high manufacturability and new principles of field maintenance. In 1984 Novozhilov was appointed the incumbent member of Russian Academy of Sciences. He was elected deputy of the Moscow City Council and deputy of Supreme Soviet of USSR three times, people’s deputy of USSR, he was a member of State Committee on Defense and State Security of the Supreme Soviet of USSR. For his merits to the state G. Novozhilov was twice honored with the title of Hero of Socialist Labor (1971, 1981). He was awarded three Orders of Lenin (1969, 1971, 1981), the Badge of Honor (1957), the Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1966), the order of the October Revolution (1975), two-time winner of the Socialist competition (1975, 1976), Honorary aviation worker (1983), Veteran of labor (1984), the Order of the Friendship of Peoples (1992), the Medal “50 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945” (1995), the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland” III and II class (1885, 2000), Medals “For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War,” Government prize winner, laureate of the award “Legend of the century”, “IKAR” prize winner, Honored designer of the Russian Federation, “Triumph” prize winner, has gold medals of the RAS named after Tupolev for distinguished service in aircraft engineering, IAC of the CIS “For special achievements in the development of aviation in the CIS Region”, the Order of Poland, Czechoslovakia and Uzbekistan, and numerous medals. Doctor of Engineering Science, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1984). Won the Government prize in 2005.