Mintimer Shaimiev: aircraft engineers are the elite working class

August 16 saw a concert devoted to the 80th anniversary of FGUP Gorbunov’s Kazan Aviation Manufacturing Union (Gorbunov’s KAPO) taking place at the Pyramid Convention Centre. Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev attended the event.
In May 1927, the Moscow engineering plant was reshaped for an aviation enterprise by the decision of the USSR Labour and Defence Council. It was the first in the world to launch serial production of all-metal jets ANT-3. In November 1941, the plant was evacuated to Kazan where it manufactured dive-bombers Pe-2 and far-distance bombers Pe-8 and achieved incredible tempos making 10-12 jets per day during the war.
In the mid-1990s, the plant started manufacturing passenger aircraft Tu-214 and approached launch of its modification Tu-334.
Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev and KAPO’s CEO Nail Khairullin greeted the staff of the plant.
The head of the republic underlined that all generations of KAPO’s employees had never experienced defeats during all stages of the country’s history – industrialization, WWII, the “cold war” or reforms. He wished the workers to reach high competitive capability and hold a stable position in the market of civil aircraft construction. Mintimer Shaimiev promised that the republican authorities will render assistance to Kazan aircraft manufacturers. “When we are together, we will win and achieve success,” the RT President declared.