Amet-Khan Sultan is a pilot, a national hero of the Crimean Tatar people of Ukraine. Twice hero of the Soviet Union amet khan sultan Watch movie return of amet khan

Born October 25, 1920 in the city of Alupka in a working-class family. Mother is a Crimean Tatar. The father is laki.

He graduated in 1936 from the 7th grade of a local school and in 1933 from a railway FZU. He began his career as a mechanic, and then as an assistant to a boiler master in a railway depot, where the Komsomol members elected him as their leader.

With the 9th Guards Fighter Regiment Amet-Khan Sultan went through the battle path from Stalingrad to Berlin. During the years of the Great Patriotic War made 602 sorties, conducted 150 air battles, personally shot down 30 and in a group with comrades - 19 enemy aircraft. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 24, 1943, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and on June 29, 1945 he was awarded the second Gold Star medal.

After the Great Patriotic War, becoming a test pilot, Amet-Khan Sultan tested more than 100 serial and experimental machines, becoming one of the outstanding test pilots of the USSR.

In 1951, Amet-Khan Sultan was awarded the title of "Honored Test Pilot of the USSR", in 1963 - a laureate of the State Prize of the USSR. February 1, 1971 died in the line of duty.

Awarded with orders: Lenin (three times), Red Banner (five), Alexander Nevsky, Patriotic War 1st degree, Red Star, "Badge of Honor"; medals.

* * *

When he came to the 9th Guards Aviation Wolf, they already knew about his feat - ramming a Nazi bomber. And still fresh in his memory was his unequal battle with the Nazis, in which Amet-Khan's plane was stitched by an enemy burst. The motor choked, and the pilot had only one thing left: to leave the burning car by parachute. He landed in no man's land. The Germans, in a hurry to capture the Soviet pilot alive, rushed to him, and Amet-Khan was already ready to join the battle with them in order to give his life on this piece of "no man's" land as expensive as possible - with a large number of destroyed Nazis. But I barely had time to put my pistol on a combat platoon, when 250 - 300 meters remained before the fleeing Germans, when I saw Soviet soldiers rising to attack from our position. "They discouraged the Nazis," he said, "to profit from Amet Khan."

Now I see that it was not in vain that they recaptured me, - Amet-Khan joked already in the circle of his new brother-soldiers. - In a good, apparently, I got the company, and thanks to them for that.

And the "company" of the regiment's pilots also liked the lively, very mobile, with an open smile, with an enviable sense of humor and genuine cordiality Ametka, as the Guardsmen affectionately called him.

At the beginning, Amet-Khan was assigned to the 3rd air squadron of Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Korolev, but soon I. G. Korolev himself recommended him to the position of commander of this squadron in connection with his appointment as regiment navigator.

Despite his youth, Amet-Khan was then the youngest commander in the regiment, he showed due will, perseverance and outstanding commanding abilities when it came to completing a combat mission. One could only marvel at his ability to see everything and everyone in the air. He was strict and precise in carrying out combat orders. But if necessary, he was not afraid to take the initiative.

Somehow, in the Gorodische area, the commander led 7 fighters to escort attack aircraft. When the enemy ground troops began to storm, Amet-Khan noticed that several Junkers were bombing our front line. Leaving a link to cover the attack aircraft, Amet-Khan with the rest of the fighters hastened to meet the enemy and started a fight with him. In a short fierce battle, our pilots shot down 3 enemy vehicles. After that, the fighters, led by Amet-Khan, returned to their attack aircraft and brought them safely to their airfield.

Having received new Yak-1 aircraft, Amet-Khan and the pilots of his squadron took part in the regiment's performance of a particularly important task - the destruction of enemy transport aircraft supplying ammunition and food to German troops surrounded in the Stalingrad region.

From October 10, 1942 to January 4, 1943, the regiment flew from the airfields of Zeta and Diligence. Amet-Khan participated in the defeat of a group of Ju-52 transport aircraft flying under the cover of Me-109 to Stalingrad. On that day, the pilots of the regiment shot down 4 Junkers and 1 Messer, 2 of them were shot down by Amet-Khan. After 2 days, Amet-Khan Sultan shot down an enemy He-111 bomber.

"As a pilot who is fluent in the Yak-1 aircraft," wrote regiment commander L. L. Shestakov, "Amet-Khan has no equal. As a commander, he is demanding of himself and his subordinates."

“Comrade Amet-Khan,” wrote N.A. Verkhovets, deputy regiment commander for political affairs, “on the Stalingrad front alone, made 110 sorties, participated in 51 air battles and personally shot down 6 enemy aircraft ... Amet-Khan Sultan is a thunderstorm fascist air pirates. One name "Amet-Khan Sultan" confuses the Nazis. Amet-Khan is a vivid personification of the Soviet ace."

Amet-Khan enthusiastically received the news of the liquidation of the Stalingrad grouping of German troops, and then of the offensive of our armies of the Southern Front that had begun.

Amet-Khan showed courage and courage in an air battle on March 25, 1943, when the battle for the liberation of the Don and the North Caucasus had already begun. Komesk led the four Yakovs that flew out to intercept enemy bombers. In the Keisu area, they met about 40 Junkers, which were covered by 6 Messers. Ahead of the dense formation of enemy aircraft was the flagship bomber, painted white.

Amet-Khan from above swiftly attacked the leading fascist. From 150 meters he opened fire and fired until he came close to him. The blow was accurate, the Junkers caught fire, and a few seconds later it exploded in the air. Seeing this, a group of enemy aircraft scattered, began to randomly go to the west. They failed to drop the bombs on the target.

When Amet-Khan left the attack and gained altitude, he noticed 2 Messers. Without hesitation, he entered into battle with them. The Nazi pilots tried to approach the "Yak" from different sides. But Amet-Khan constantly maneuvered, did not lose the advantage in height and fought offensively. The enemies left with nothing.

Amet-Khan, returning to the airfield, tried to stay higher. He always taught his pilots not to forget that enemy fighters could be encountered at any moment. It happened this time as well. Not far from the airfield, he noticed 2 Me-109s, which were on a collision course below their group. Having dived on the leading "Messer", Amet-Khan set it on fire.

The immortal feat in that battle was performed by Senior Lieutenant Pyotr Korovkin. When his supply of ammunition ran out, he came close to the Junkers and hit him with the left plane of his car. The bomber fell to pieces. However, the brave Korovkin also died. He was buried at the Frunze airfield. Now a square has been laid out in that place, in which an obelisk has been erected in honor of the heroes - pilots of the 9th Guards Regiment: Ivan Serzhantov, Pyotr Korovkin and Ivan Kupava, who fought in the fiery sky of Rostov.

"Height is the key to victory," Captain Amet-Khan wrote in a newspaper article of the Guard 3 days after the battle. - The one who is higher can dive on an enemy plane at any moment and, having developed a high speed, reach it. From a height it is more convenient to look around and conduct aimed fire.

Fascist aviation, with systematic raids on crossings across the Don, threatened to disrupt the advance of our troops. The front commander demanded to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the crossing. Shestakov's order was concise and brief: "The crossing must operate!" Just as short was the affirmative answer of Amet-Khan: "The crossing will work!"

At dawn, a group of 10 Aerocobras, led by Amet-Khan, flew to the crossing area. Visibility that day was excellent - "a million to a million," as the pilots said. They gained a height of 4500 meters and lined up in battle order. They were already in the air for about half an hour, when Amet-Khan noticed 3 groups of enemy aircraft following the crossing from the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov. It was like walking in a parade. Ahead were 20 Heinkel-111s, followed by the same number of Messerschmitt-110s, and another 20 Heinkels closed the line. There were no cover fighters in sight ...

Amet Khan decided to attack without delay. The distance between our fighters and fascist bombers was shrinking every second. Komesk, making a U-turn, commanded: "To attack!" - and rushed to the enemy. Followers rushed after him. The Nazis opened barrage fire from machine guns mounted in the tail section of the aircraft. Coming to close range, the Guards fired the first short burst at the enemy. Immediately failed 4 "Heinkel". Amet-Khan climbed again over a group of bombers, and after the second strike, 2 more Heinkels went to the ground. In the third attack, one after another, 2 more enemy bombers were hit. In great confusion, enemy planes turned around and left towards the sea, without dropping a single bomb on the crossing.

Pressing on the closing "Heinkel", Amet-Khan felt how the engine of his aircraft began to lose the rhythm of normal operation, and then completely began to interrupt. In those seconds, the pilot was occupied with one thought: if only the engine would not stall, if only he could get the plane that was fleeing. He succeeded. A long fiery arrow pierced the fascist bomber.

Amet-Khan withdrew from the battle, handing over command to his deputy, but could no longer fly to his airfield. The damaged engine stalled, and the commander landed the car in the field.

By evening, Amet-Khan was already in his regiment and, having told his friends about the battle, he immediately discharged the clip of his pistol into the air with the traditional “For the Living” salute.

* * *

In August 1943, in connection with the transition of parts of the Southern Front to the offensive, the regiment took part in the battles to break through the German defenses on the Molochnaya River and liberate Taganrog.

On August 20, 1943, Captain Amet-Khan Sultan of the Guard shot down 2 enemy bombers in the Kalinovka area.

And the next day, flying at the head of 6 Airacobra aircraft to cover his troops in the Kalinovka-Dmitrievka area, Amet-Khan met 12 Ju-88 bombers in the Uspenskaya area at an altitude of 4000 meters. Having given the command "Attack in the frontal!", Amet-Khan, Golovachev, Safonov shot down one Junkers each, the rest of the fascist planes, in confusion, began to drop bombs over their territory.

At this time, the second group of bombers approached - 15 He-111 - which our pilots attacked with four from behind. As a result, Amet-Khan and Golovachev shot down another Heinkel each, which caught fire and fell in the Uspenskaya ...

Having shot down 6 enemy planes and not having their own losses, Amet-Khan's group returned to their airfield.

The commander of the front, Colonel General F. I. Tolbukhin, who was watching this battle, ordered that the hero - pilot and brave commander Amet-Khan Sultan be awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

"On a personal example of courage and heroism," another submission from the command indicated, "he taught his flight crew to mercilessly destroy the enemy."

Then there were new battles, heavy and bloody...

On August 24, 1943, the regiment received the good news that the squadron commander of the Guards, Captain Amet-Khan Sultan, was awarded the high rank of Hero of the Soviet Union, and a week later, on August 31, in correspondence from the Southern Front, published in the Pravda newspaper, among the best air heroes battles over Taganrog, the name of the Hero of the Soviet Union of the Guard Captain Amet-Khan Sultan was named.

Luck has always accompanied the commander, and not only in air battles. It happened that Amet-Khan got into exceptional situations and came out of them with honor. One of these cases occurred in the area of ​​Kiligey farms, in the lower reaches of the Dnieper. Here is how V. D. Lavrinenkov writes about him in his book:

“On that day, a gale was blowing from the sea. When Amet-Khan and Borisov, having passed over the airfield, went further, we thought that the pilots wanted to take a better look at the area, take everything into account before landing. But after a few minutes we saw above ourselves not 2 , and 3 planes heard gunfire.The third was a small German monoplane, it flew so low that we could see how difficult it was to deal with a strong wind.

Amet-Khan pressed on the monoplane, releasing short bursts in his direction. Pressed to the ground by fire, the Nazi pilot went to land, and from fear he did not notice the airfield under him and landed right in the field.

At the same moment, Amet-Khan's "Aerocobra" turned towards the airfield. And after a few seconds, she touched the ground with three wheels, extinguished her speed and taxied to the headquarters building. Joyfully excited, Amet-Khan jumped off the wing and, smiling, walked towards me.

Accept the gift, my friend! The pilot of the Fizler-Storch never dreamed of such a thing! He probably flew to Evpatoria, and I landed him on the Lavrinenkov Peninsula ...

You're in luck, Amet-Khan! Happiness not only comes, but also flies towards you.

Well, this, Volodya, how else to say ... If I hadn’t chased after him, hell would he be here! And yet, it's done. Go! - he calmly finished, heading towards the car, which was not far away in the shelter.

Back in early 1943, the commander of the 8th Air Army set the task for aviators to master free hunting flights as one of the most effective ways to fight the enemy. The guards unanimously responded to this call, from the very better side Amet-Khan showed himself in free hunting.

"If you want your name to become as famous and honorable as the name of Amet-Khan, follow his example, listen to the advice he gives to hunter pilots," the army newspaper wrote about him. Amet-Khan said: "Hunting is my favorite pastime. There is a place to show your abilities, knowledge and experience ... during the "hunt" the pilot should try to see everything, and go unnoticed himself ... Attack the enemy when he is less everything awaits your attack. When meeting with an air enemy, control the altitude and remember: whoever is higher wins."

Here are just a few examples of Amet Khan's free hunting flights.

On January 24, 1944, operating in the Nikopol direction, 4 "aircobra" planes flew out to hunt in the area of ​​Turkalli station. There they found an echelon in which there were 18 fuel tanks. The attack was carried out on tanks, resulting in 4 fires. The re-raid was made 50 minutes later. The leader of the four was Amet-Khan. The echelon was already dispersed. Then, for greater safety, Amet-Khan, stretching the formation of aircraft along the front, made 2 attacks on the remaining tanks, 6 of them caught fire. Acting decisively, the pilots inflicted great damage on the enemy with small means.

On February 8, Amet-Khan, at the head of a group, flew to the area of ​​operation of our troops, who were pursuing the retreating enemy on the right bank of the Dnieper. In the Borislav area, 2 enemy groups were found: 3 Junkers and 6 Heinkels, they attacked on the move. As a result of a short fight, Amet-Khan destroyed one bomber. After that, the flight was continued, and the pilots found a column of enemy troops moving along the road. During the assault, the group destroyed over 20 soldiers and officers.

On March 19, 1944, 2 "Aerocobras" from the squadron of Amet-Khan flew out to free hunt in the area north of Odessa and found a cluster of aircraft at an enemy airfield. Komesk decided to inflict an assault strike on the enemy. However, the flight to attack the airfield on the same day had to be postponed due to snowfall.

On the morning of the next day, Amet-Khan sent a couple of hunters for additional reconnaissance, who confirmed the previously received information. And then 6 "Aerocobras", led by Amet-Khan, flew out to attack. According to his plan, the group was divided into two: a strike of 4 aircraft, which he himself led, and a pair of guards, senior lieutenant Kireev, who covered.

The blow was sudden. The four of Amet-Khan made several attacks, a pair of Kireev, patrolling at an altitude of 600 - 800 meters, reliably covered the strike group. 3 Ju-52s and 3 He-111s were destroyed. Buildings and equipment were on fire at the airport.

Returning from a mission, Amet-Khan vigilantly examined the space. Noticing a steam locomotive on the railway track, the air hunter attacked and damaged it.

* * *

The year 1944 was remembered by Amet-Khan in that the regiment participated mainly in the offensive operations of our troops, and this left a special imprint on the combat operations of the pilots. The Nazis were no longer so confident in the air, and our pilots gained experience, determination and strength.

Amet-Khan and his "eagles" were believed, they were hoped for and they were admired by the best pilots - attack aircraft of the front.

“... In the Crimea, the Nazis,” writes the brave attack aircraft, twice Hero of the Soviet Union M. G. Gareev, “had a lot of equipment, artillery, including anti-aircraft, and aircraft. It was not safe to appear in the sky without fighter cover. Most often On combat missions, we flew under the cover of the squadron of the Hero of the Soviet Union Amet-Khan Sultan. The fame of the feats of arms of this pilot thundered all over the front. Stories similar to legends were told about him. Ours admired him, and the Nazis were afraid like fire. Amet- Khan Sultan skillfully, loved height, speed and accurate strike ... Both in battle and in life, I really wanted to be like this wonderful person.

No less flattering reviews about the high fighting qualities of Amet-Khan Sultan and his pilots came in the days of fierce battles for the Crimea and from bomber pilots. Thus, the command of the 6th Guards Bomber Taganrog Aviation Division wrote to the commander of the 6th Guards Fighter Aviation Division:

"... The personnel of the division expresses its gratitude and thanks your fighters for the excellent provision of cover for our bombers - they did not allow a single loss of bombers from enemy fighters, and especially when the formation of bombers was stretched after bombing during anti-aircraft maneuvers, as well as individual lagging aircraft , knocked out by enemy anti-aircraft artillery fire, were reliably provided with cover. An example of this can be: Hero of the Soviet Union of the Guard Major Amet-Khan Sultan repulsed the attacks of the FV-180 on the stray Pe-2 of the Guard of Captain Paliy, accompanied him until the landing ... "

In his memoirs about the heroes - fellow soldiers, twice Hero of the Soviet Union A. V. Alelyukhin writes:

“Amet-Khan Sultan was especially famous. He was tireless in work, brave in battle, bold in making decisions. Of his battles in 1944, I remember one when Amet-Khan’s six covered the actions of attack aircraft twice Hero of the Soviet Union Musa Gareev.

Stormtroopers made a second approach to the accumulation of fascist tanks. At this time, 12 dark dots appeared above the horizon.

Prepare for battle! - commanded Amet-Khan.

He believed in his fighting friends and boldly went to the leader. Near the same friend - Ivan Borisov. An experienced pilot turned out to be the leader of the fascist fighters. He not only defended, but also attacked. And yet, Amet-Khan managed to deceive the enemy and catch him in sight. The German went into a tailspin and crashed into the ground.

Amet-Khan looked around, made a slide. The stormtroopers continued their work. The fascist fighters were tied up in battle. But what is it? My heart went cold: a Nazi was attached to the tail of Borisov's car. Amet Khan threw his fighter down.

The fascist managed to give only one burst, as at the same second he began to smoke, having received a portion of lead from Amet-Khan. A friend's life was saved."

Flying in the Crimean sky, he could not help but pass over his native Alupka. From the air, the resort town was at a glance and seemed very small, as adults remember their native places, who left them as a child. Everything seemed to be as before. Here is the narrow street. And here is a painfully familiar house with steps along which he once took his first steps, and it seemed that someone ran across the yard, but it was difficult to see, although Amet-Khan passed right above the roof of his native house.

A few days later, when the Crimea was already free, Amet-Khan invited all fellow soldiers to his place in Alupka. We arrived together with the regiment commander Morozov in 3 cars. As soon as the car stopped, Amet-Khan jumped out of it and ran towards his father and his mother, who was hurrying after him. Amet-Khan picked up his mother, who was crying with joy, and carried him into the house. The pilots froze, watching this touching and joyful picture.

For questions and stories, this feast, rare for front-line soldiers, passed. But notes of painful memories of the days spent under the yoke of the Nazis also burst into the general joyful mood. The father kept trying to tell his son about it in detail, but the mother held him back: "Not about that, father, you say, it's better to listen to the son."

Relatives, acquaintances and unfamiliar residents of Alupka reached out to the house. Everyone wanted to hug the hero - fellow countryman.

When the guests went out into the courtyard, an enthusiastic crowd was waiting for them. They picked up Amet-Khan in their arms and with the words: "Glory! Glory!" started downloading it. Then they also glorified his friends - fellow soldiers ...

* * *

In the spring of 1945, Amet-Khan was appointed to the post of assistant regiment commander for airborne rifle service.

When there were fierce battles on the outskirts of Berlin, Major Amet-Khan Sultan of the Guards was introduced a second time to high rank Hero of the Soviet Union.

It was one of the days of the final battles for Berlin, when Amet-Khan made the 603rd sortie since the beginning of the war. Beneath it was a fascist dogovo blazing in flames. Having the task of blocking the runway of the Tiergarten park, Amet-Khan, while flying over the Tempelhof airfield, found 2 Focke-Wulf below him, who tried to storm the battle formations of our long-range artillery, which was shelling the Reichstag building. He had an advantage in height and immediately attacked the leading enemy aircraft. With the second burst, he managed to shoot down the Fokker. The plane crashed in the center of Tempelchovsk airport. The fascist pilot, jumping out with a parachute, landed in the area of ​​​​the firing positions of our battery, where he was taken prisoner by artillerymen.

Having shot down the enemy, Amet-Khan landed on the central Berlin airfield at a time when there was still shooting around.

I’m landing and I’m not sure yet, ”Amet-Khan recalled,“ ours or the Germans are in charge at the airfield. Sat down, but just in case the engine did not turn off. I look, our infantrymen are running towards the plane. The first, barely running up to the plane, joyfully shouted: "Ours, ours!". Before I could look back, I found myself in the arms of our fighters, kissing the red stars on my plane with tears of joy. It's impossible to forget...

* * *

Amet-Khan could not imagine his life without the sensations of flight and sky. And when the question arose of how to live after the long and difficult years of the war, he chose the sky and airplanes - he became a test pilot.

He really "taught airplanes to fly", year after year increasing the number of cars he tamed. By the 15th anniversary of the test work, he tested more than 100 types of aircraft.

For relatively short term he moved into the ranks of the country's leading test pilots. He gave testing work a quarter of a century.

The aviators of the country, workers of the aviation industry cordially celebrated the 50th anniversary of the remarkable pilot.

"Dear friend! - wrote his associates, well-known test pilots throughout the country, - your name is rightfully mentioned in the top ten most famous names of test pilots ..."

Addressing the hero of the day, the leaders and employees of the Design Bureau named after A. N. Tupolev wrote:

"We know you not only as a great pilot, your work is an example for all of us, we know you as a modest, energetic, youthfully active and excellent person, and therefore, admiring your professional qualities, we express our sincere love to you."

General and chief designers, hundreds of engineers, pilots, workers and engineering and technical workers sent their greetings to the hero of the day.

Amet-Khan was in the prime of life and energy when death overtook him at a military post.

In one of his appeals to former fellow soldiers, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel-General of Aviation V. D. Lavrinenkov wrote:

"I remember twice Hero of the Soviet Union Amet-Khan Sultan - a man of extraordinary courage. He was for all of us the personification of a pilot who embodied the best features of a Soviet air fighter. He was distinguished by an extraordinary love for flying, nothing, as they say, could knock him out of "saddles" - aircraft cabins. And all of us, his fighting friends, took the news that our Amet-Khan Sultan died in the line of duty as a great grief. He remained faithful to military duty to the end, his memory will always live in in our hearts, it will serve the cause of educating the next generation of aviators."

Busts of twice Hero of the Soviet Union, laureate of the State Prize and Honored Test Pilot of the USSR Amet-Khan Sultan were installed in Alupka and Makhachkala. Many schools are named after him. And in the city of Zhukovsk near Moscow, the street - the continuation of V.P. Chkalov Street - is named after him and it leads to where these great pilots left for the sky.

(From the book of Dmitry Yakovlevich Zilmanovich - "On the Wings of the Motherland". Alma - Ata, 1985.)

As a child, in the Crimea, he tried to catch eagles on rocky mountains. Amet-Khan met the war in the early morning of June 22 near Chisinau. He took off on a reconnaissance mission, and discovered how, along the bridge over ...

As a child, in the Crimea, he tried to catch eagles on rocky mountains. Amet-Khan met the war in the early morning of June 22 near Chisinau. He took off on a reconnaissance mission, and found out how other people's tanks were moving along the bridge over the Prut. Three days later, the regiment where the Sultan served was destroyed by enemy bombers.

Angry beyond belief at the death of many comrades, Amet-Khan so quickly got used to the burning sky that in October he received his first military award - the Order of the Red Banner. Presenting the award, they said about him that the pilot in battle persistently, stubbornly and tirelessly pursues the enemy until complete destruction.

He instantly made decisions, was considered a master of combat intelligence. One of the first fought in deep twilight, almost at night. Having mastered the English Hurricane, in May 42, at a great height of over seven thousand meters, he attacked the Ju-88.

But the fascist got experienced. At great speed, he evaded the attack. Entering from the rear hemisphere, the pilot managed to shoot the enemy's machine-gun point. But ran out of ammo. Instantly, he decided to ram the enemy. The German immediately understood the intention of the Soviet pilot. The red star plane raced forward uncontrollably.

Amet-Khan did not miss the enemy. He was ashamed to return home without a victory. And no one will reproach, but that's a shame and that's it. The right wing at great speed cut through the plane of the Nazi. The Junkers left in a dive with a smoky tail, and the Soviet ace jumped out of the burning plane by parachute.

The captured German pilots of the crushed complained that "not according to the rules" they were shot down by the Soviet ace. He said, "Our sky, our rules." Deciding to take a walk around Yaroslavl, he saw his downed Junkers. It was brought by the townspeople themselves to the main street of the city in order to visually show the dead plane.

People looked at the plane with pleasure, discussed an article in a newspaper about a fearless pilot. Amet-Khan, embarrassed, left the square unrecognized. He felt awkward. He didn't do anything of the sort. I just fought. The Yaroslavl Defense Committee awarded him a nominal watch. He wore them all his life.

The pilot's victories kept coming. In August, having transferred to the new Yak-7A, and having won several combat victories, he became a legend among the troops, as a pilot who is not familiar with fear. It turned out that in seconds he managed to rebuild, seeing the enemy and attacking him. And how he noticed German planes faster than anyone else, he himself did not know.

Very cheerful, he left us some soldier puns. When receiving another combat aircraft, he said - we change the donkey for a horse. The name from the oriental tale was easily remembered among the troops. Sparkling humor created him the glory of a merry fellow. Fighting friends used to say about him: "Aviation without the Sultan is like a wedding without wine and music."

Oriental affectionate, soft and insinuating on the ground, he fought in the air with the Nazis cruelly and ruthlessly. The sky belonged to Amet Khan. The Germans should not forget this. Short, with curly tar hair, very dark eyes, he always looked into the eyes of the interlocutor.

Receiving the first Star of the Hero, in August 43rd, he learned that he had made more than three hundred and fifty sorties, conducted 79 battles, and personally shot down 11 fascist aircraft. As part of the battle group - 19 vehicles. The pilot himself did not keep track of the downed aircraft. He always laughed that there were better accountants than him.

He loved chess, but easily agreed to play cards and checkers. He was distinguished by a special chic on earth - he wore riding breeches and chrome soft boots, polished to a shine. A pre-war carpet coat on a tunic, and a non-removable flight raglan. Before the flight, he was nervous, but when he took off, he became a cold-blooded and methodical fighter.

The Sultan did not admit doubts in battle. Personal qualities were the reason for the transfer to the elite regiment of aviation aces - the 9th Guards Fighter Battalion. The pass was worth five downed enemy planes. His record was much higher.

A rather peculiar characterization was given to a combat pilot: “From the first day in the army. All fights are won, he is the last to leave the fight. But he cannot explain his actions. He only remembers that he is hitting the enemy. He loved to laugh at other people's jokes, was a master of combat, and carried away his comrades by personal example.

The commander of an elite air regiment, Lev Shestakov, a brilliant pilot, once, paired with the Sultan, found himself in battle. Returning, the pilot, lying on the ground, said: "Shestakov is not a LION, he is a devil." Returning from flights, Amet-Khan fired into the air and shouted: "For the living."

The troops were fighting to the West. They flew there Soviet aircraft. The regiment received permission to make drawings on the fuselage. “The sky belongs to the eagles,” said Amet Khan. Eagles sprawled on the machines of his squadron.

“What do vons and barons mean to me? I myself am Khan and Sultan. He believed that altitude was a pilot's friend and closest assistant. In night battles, Amet-Khan and his comrades shot down up to a dozen cars. At the request of the command about the new conduct of the battle, Amet-Khan said: “There is nothing new. Where we see the enemy, there we beat him.

A completely unique case. The pilots, resting from flying, lay freely on the grass. Suddenly a strange cavalcade appeared on the horizon. A single-engine German Fi-156 Storch was flying. He walked near the ground, and above him hung two fighters with eagles on the fuselage.

The German did not even try to escape. He immediately sat down on the field. The cabin opened and jumped out ... Amet-Khan. Smiling frankly, he said - Suddenly it will come in handy. I also brought a pilot.

He flew to a duel with a German pilot, having received a challenge. Two planes, two high-class pilots fought for the sky. Without firing a single shot, the two planes tumbled in the air. And yet, Amet-Khan shot down the German with one shot after 15 minutes. As it turned out, up to this point the German had destroyed 50 Soviet aircraft.

The second Gold Star was awarded to him on June 29, 1945. The personal trophies of the Sultan were thirty German aircraft. He emerged victorious from a terrible war. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union entered and successfully graduated from the Air Force Academy.

Two Stars of the Hero, an incredible number of orders (12) and medals shone on the chest of the famous pilot. Amet Khan became a test pilot. The work was quite consistent with his fighting, bold character. He died in 1971. He loved the sky, friends, planes, country. He loved life.

Excerpt from Leonid Popov's book "Holy Week".

Exactly one year later, to the same day, on February 1, 1971, I, while still a student of the navigational department of the Test Pilot School, was planned to fly on a suspension. Already dressed for the flight with a tablet and a headset, I was met by the senior test navigator of the School, Boris Aleksandrovich Lopukhov.

Popov, are you ready for the test flight? - Yes, Boris Alexandrovich, ready.

Then get ready. - Yes, I have already been assembled to fly on a sling with Amet Khan.

First, an exam. And on that flight you will be replaced, I will call ...

The crew of Amet Khan did not return from that flight ...

The aircraft tag on the radar screen somehow disappeared immediately after takeoff. True, the first working height was 500 meters on assignment. Since the weather was unimportant - the cloudiness began at about two hundred and fifty meters - it was natural to assume the beginning of work, which consisted in the release of a gondola with an experimental engine, launching and testing it, under the lower edge of the clouds. How far does a ground-based locator see if the plane is at such a height? Yes, nothing at all, so the disappearance of the mark on the screen of the control radar slightly alerted the flight director. Communication calls were unsuccessful...

AMET-KHAN Sultan

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1943 and 1945), Honored Test Pilot of the USSR (1953).
Born on October 25, 1920 in the city of Alupka. Member of the CPSU since 1942. In 1940 he graduated from the Kachinsky VAUL, from the first days of the war - in active army. He personally shot down 30 and in group battles 19 enemy aircraft.
In LII he worked since 1947 as a test pilot. Mastered more than 100 types of aircraft. Laureate of the State Prize, four Orders of Lenin, four Orders of the Red Banner, Orders of Alexander Nevsky, Orders of the Patriotic War, Orders of the Red Star.
He died during a test flight on a Tu-16 LL aircraft on February 1, 1971.

One after another, two rescue helicopters left - there was nothing ... An-24 aircraft, also for search, took off, where Valentin Petrovich Vasin himself, the head of the Institute's flight complex, took command. We flew until deep twilight at low altitude, and - nothing ...

Maybe they are still alive, maybe they are wounded, and then every minute of the winter night can be the last for someone ...

Sticking out like a dead shadow, now next to the commander's room, now near the control room, assistant chief engineer Slava Mokrousov, who was supposed to fly in a crew, but accidentally did not fly ...

Deep evening.

Search crews have been assigned for the morning. Everyone - take off with the sunrise ...

And in the morning it cleared up, it got cold. There was no news of the plane from the ground during the night. And the whetstone relentlessly all one: whether we have time.

Not everyone took off to search, as it was reported that the search and rescue regiment of the Moscow Military District found an aircraft: a square - such and such;

So it is - a forest, a wilderness, a semi-swamp. The main road and villages are to the south, ten or twelve kilometers ...

The plane abruptly entered the frozen swamp. Outside the wings, but the fuselage is lifted up to the sky with a log. Directly near the ground is the aft cabin crushed by the keel of the aircraft. In it - Radiy Georgievich Lensky, a leading engineer. Overweight, he did not fasten himself to the ejection seat all his life - he believed that he could not stand the ejection down.

Each of those who arrived by helicopter will stand near Lensky, pull off his hat and fussily rush in search of the vital components of the aircraft, for which he is responsible for his service.

LENSKY Radiy Georgievich

Lead Engineer for Flight Testing of Aircraft Engines.
Born on July 3, 1926 in Moscow. In 1943 he graduated from the 1st Moscow Air Force Special School, in 1950 - the Air Force Engineering Academy them. N.E. Zhukovsky. He served in the Civil Aviation Research Institute of the Air Force as a senior test engineer, assistant to the chief engineer, and chief engineer for testing aircraft engines. Since 1958 he has been the lead flight test engineer at the LII.
He died during a test flight on a Tu-16LL aircraft on February 1, 1971.

Only the paramedic of the rescue helicopter, Vasily Alekseevich Piryazev, throwing away the now unnecessary sanitary bag, runs his hands in white mittens into the wreckage, slowly removes the remains of the leader and puts everything in a bag. Conversations about how to get to the forward cabin with the rest of the crew are not of interest to him yet ...

Amid the chaos and blood, an incredibly clean and intact oxygen mask on a parachute remained. Assistant chief engineer Slava Mokrousov was supposed to fly there. Someone later told him about a clean oxygen mask, which caused a new wave of remorse and remorse: “Well, they say, everyone died, but I didn’t have time ... to take off.”

After all, few people know what needs to be done on the suspension before the flight to the host and his assistant, if any. Slava avoided in the cold, ran to have a bite to eat. And Amet Khan to Lensky: “What are we pulling? ... The bright time is ending. If you can do it alone, then let's go flying ... "

Now he's suffering good man, conscientious, Slava Mokrousov, because ... I didn’t have time.

The next morning, a forester from a cordon four kilometers from the crashed plane came on skis to the helicopter and reported that a cabin had fallen in the thicket near his house. It has people...

In the burnt figures of the crew, I saw the utmost concentration of each on the search for a way out of the emergency situation. The commander's hands, one - at the helm, the other - where the engine control is. The navigator turned to the right as far as the chair allows. There - highways, villages, finally, just fields where, it seemed to me then, an emergency landing was possible. The flight operator, Alexei Vorobyov, he turned exactly forty that day, raised his hands to the power supply panel or to the console of the shortwave station ...

MIKHAILOVSKY William Alexandrovich

Test navigator.
Born on May 5, 1930 in Moscow. In 1952 he graduated from the Chelyabinsk VAUSH, served in the Air Force as a navigator. From 1955 he worked as a test navigator at the MAP, and from 1961 at the LII as an instructor at the Test Pilot School.

The authority of Amet Khan was not only great, it was simply fundamental. Twice Hero of the Soviet Union from the 9th Guards Aviation Regiment of aces, who shot down the last fascist aircraft over Berlin for the regiment’s combat score, an indomitable test pilot in his time, who stormed the notorious “sound barrier” among the first, co-author of developments on long-range air refueling bombers, Honored Test Pilot of the USSR, laureate of the State Prize. All our consciousness opposed the recognition of the just conclusions of the accident commission about the crew's mistake.

According to the records of the miraculously preserved part of the oscilloscope tape, it was possible to determine how the pressure in the oil tank of the experimental engine changed in the last minute before the crash. Other records were not preserved, but this parameter recorded, in essence, the magnitude of the aircraft overloads.

In the second period of oscillations, the overload, which reached six units, broke off the front cockpit with the pilots. There were divergent oscillations due to the acceleration of the aircraft with the flaps not retracted - the worm pair of flaps was found in the extended position ...

VOROBYEV Alexey Vasilievich

Test pilot.
Born February 1, 1931 in the Moscow region. Since 1947, he worked at the LII as an aircraft mechanic. In 1951-1955 he served in Soviet army, since 1955 at the LII - a flight radio operator-test. He flew on all types of multi-seat aircraft.
He died during a test flight on a Tu-16LL aircraft on February 1, 1971.

Amet Khan's mistake? - Incredible.

The man is a legend, and wrong?

The process of acceleration of the Tu-16 aircraft with extended flaps simulated on the stand completely coincided with the process of changing the overload recorded on a fragment of the oscillogram. The commission was convinced. Me and, I think, not only me, no. Only the protest was internal. They failed to substantiate the disagreement and offer an exculpatory version. So everything is left...

Two flights of Amet Khan.

The first one is victorious, unusual already in that never, before or after, there was a need to drop a suspension with an experimental engine from a laboratory aircraft.

And the last flight, tragic, on the same laboratory aircraft. ..

For me, they are connected by one thread, having become key, becoming the prologue of entry into new life- life in Big Aviation...

And such were the lessons for us, graduates of the navigational department of the Test Pilot School in 1970-71.

With joy on the wing, we took on every flight. They just didn't trust us back then. And who knew what test navigators would turn out from the leading flight test engineers ...

At the very entrance to the cemetery, right on the central alley, there are four granite monuments in a row. They stand as if behind a common fence, dissimilar in form, but similar, like all monuments. This is the crew.

On granite, - Radiy Lensky - lead engineer, William Mikhailovsky - test navigator, Evgeny Venediktov - test pilot, Alexei Vorobyov - test flight radio operator.

The crew commander Amet Khan Sultan was buried at Novodevichy - relatives demanded. It just didn't do any good. How many of those know him there? who go there by passes, how many honor, as in our city, where people live, witnesses of his highest glory as a tester, where there is a street named after him, where in the changing room of the pilots of the Institute there is his closet, in which his clothes were waiting, one - between flights, the other - from flights ...

VENEDIKTOV Evgeny Nikolaevich

Test pilot.
Born on August 11, 1937 in Simferopol. Member of the CPSU since 1965. He graduated from the flying club in 1955 and served in the Air Force units. He graduated from the MAP Test Pilot School in 1967 and flew fighter-type aircraft. Mastered about 30 types of aircraft.
He died during a test flight on a Tu-16LL aircraft on February 1, 1971.

At a meeting on the occasion of the seventieth birthday of Amet Khan Sultan, the Honored Test Navigator of the USSR Pyotr Andreevich Kondratyev retold Rasul Gamzatov's recollection of the famous pilot.

“I have a friend twice Hero, and his name is Ahmet Khan. I asked him: “Akhmet, your father is a Dagestani, and your mother is a Crimean Tatar. The Dagestan people consider you their Hero, and the Tatar people consider you theirs. You are the Hero of what nation, whose son are you?

And he answered me: “- I am a Hero of neither the Lak people, nor the Tatar. I am a Hero of the Soviet Union. And I am the son of my father and mother. They are inseparable, and therefore I am just a Human"...

What an eternity and truly epic height of a Man in words equal to his deeds...

From Leonid Popov's book "Holy Week".

PS. Maxim, thanks. :)

In the biography of the fighter pilot Amet-Khan Sultan, who more than once, risking his life, went to ram, 603 sorties. The enemies, who were afraid of the ace like fire, did not give him the nickname “Black Devil” for nothing, because in 130 air battles he personally shot down thirty German aircraft, so it is not surprising that when his squadron rose into the sky, the Nazis were horrified.

Childhood and youth

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union was born on October 20, 1920 in the city of Alupka. The pilot's father, Sultan, who is Dagestan by nationality, was an ordinary average worker, and his mother, the Crimean Tatar Nasibe, was engaged in maintaining household and upbringing of children. Their house, located at the foot of the mountains, resembled a nest of swallows.

At that time, the ideology of internationalism called for respect for neighbors, therefore, when peace was established on the peninsula after the Civil War, its inhabitants (Russians, Jews, Tatars, Germans, Greeks) built a new life hand in hand.

Amet-Khan, like all seaside boys, from childhood dreamed of traveling to distant lands. In May 1935, the national holiday Hederlez was held in Alupka, where the future pilot won the kuresh wrestling. The director of Artek, who was present at the event, awarded the talented guy a ticket to the camp, where the Sultan first saw the plane.

From that moment on, he lived with the dream of taking to the skies. This desire led him to the Simferopol Aero Club, and later to the Kachin Aviation School, where cadets underwent an accelerated course of study.

The Kachinskaya school was the main one for the training of pilots in Russia. Amet-Khan quickly mastered the theory of flight, tactics and skills of aerial shooting. In addition to flying, there were also combined arms, combat and physical training, as well as charters and duty.

From March to December 1939, the young man made 270 flights, after which an entry appeared in the pilot's service record stating that the cadet took to the air "with great desire." Amet-Khan passed his final exams successfully. By order of the People's Commissar of Defense of March 5, 1940, he was awarded the rank of junior lieutenant.

The Sultan went through the entire war, from the first to last day. Aircraft changed from the obsolete Chaika to the famous La-7, the list of enemy vehicles shot down by him grew, awards were added. The ace flew many thousands of kilometers, but in the endless space of the war there was only one place where the soul of the pilot always aspired to - his native land.

When the Nazis occupied Crimea, in order to raise the spirit of the inhabitants, leaflets describing the exploits of Amet Khan were scattered over the villages, which eventually ended up in the Gestapo. Then the Sultan's parents were saved from execution only by the fact that their youngest son served in the German commandant's office.

At that time, the Crimean Tatars found themselves at a crossroads - to go to the mountains and fight the invaders, or to bend and go to the service of the Germans. Everyone acted according to their conscience, but most simply tried to survive. It is also worth noting that the German propaganda machine worked subtly, inciting nationalist feelings and playing on old grievances, promising to give the Crimea into eternal possession to the Tatars.

In fact, the Nazi elite planned to turn the Crimea into a kind of Gotland and populate it with German colonists, having got rid of the local residents before that.

On May 10, 1944, Russian troops liberated Sevastopol. For the first time during the war, pilots 9 guards regiment were taken to rest. Then Amet-Khan found out that his parents had survived the occupation and everything was fine with them. The captain was given a short leave to visit his father and mother. The ace arrived in Alupka in two cars, accompanied by friends, with whom he took to the skies every day.

On the 17th of the same month, the military broke into the house of the Sultan, who were instructed to detain the mother of the famous pilot and, in connection with the decision to expel the Tatars from the Crimea, send her to the assembly point. Only the help of his son's fighting friends helped Nasiba stay in the post-war Crimea.

After this incident, Amet-Khan's faith in a bright future was shaken. Then the pilot learned that his younger brother had been arrested as an accomplice of the invaders. The Sultan was allowed to see a relative. As wanted to ask Imran a lot of things, but the questions got stuck in his throat when he saw his brother's haggard face.

Speaking at a meeting of the military tribunal, Amet-Khan reminded those present that at that time it was Soviet propaganda with leaflets that spoke about his exploits that put the family in a hopeless situation. It was not difficult for the Gestapo to find his parents, and the brother was simply trying to save his mother and father from being shot. In the future, the Sultan helped and supported Imran in every possible way.

Military service

Junior Lieutenant Amet-Khan met the beginning of the Great Patriotic War in the 4th Fighter Aviation Regiment near Chisinau. In October 1941, the pilot was appointed commander of the 147th Fighter Aviation Division. Southwestern Front. By that time, the Sultan had already made 130 sorties for reconnaissance and attack on enemy troops, for which he was awarded the order Red Banner.

In the description of the 21-year-old pilot, compiled in those days, the commanders noted the courage, perseverance and perseverance of the Sultan, calling him a master of aerial reconnaissance. Amet-Khan owned the plane superbly, feeling the car as himself.

After Stalingrad, Captain Amet-Khan participated in the liberation of Rostov-on-Don, Melitopol and Crimea. On April 18, 1944, another Order of Lenin was added to the awards, and after another air battle, the Order of the Red Banner. In August 1943, Sultan was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and in October, military exploits were awarded the second Golden Star.

Throughout the war German command most feared was the Khan-Sultan air regiment, which the Nazis called the Black Devil for his demonic dances in the sky.

Personal life

Unfortunately, there is very little information on the network regarding the personal life of a fighter pilot. It is only known for certain that the Sultan was married to Faina Maksimovna, who gave him two sons - Stanislav and Arslan.

Death

On February 1, 1971, on a relatively low-speed Tu-16 serial bomber, converted into a flying laboratory for testing new jet engines, Amet-Khan took to the skies. On this day, it was planned to test a new motor.

When the crew began to release the engine, the radio operator reported to the "tower" about the start of the flight mission. After that, the plane disappeared from the radar screens. The charred car was found from a helicopter only a couple of days later. As it was established later, the flying laboratory was blown into small pieces right in the air.

The body of the radio engineer who was in the tail of the car was quickly found, but the front cockpit and the bow compartment with the rest of the crew were found only on the fourth day. Amet-Hunt sat in the captain's chair. The position of his body indicated that he had made no attempt to save himself.

By the time of death, the Black Devil had flown 4237 hours, mastered and tested 100 types aircraft, was awarded two stars of the Hero of the Soviet Union, three orders of Lenin, four orders of the Red Banner, orders of the Patriotic War of the 1st degree and the Red Star.

A native of Alupka was buried in Moscow at the Novodevichy cemetery. Later, a mountain peak in Dagestan, streets in Volgograd, Zhukovsky and Makhachkala were named after him. Also in Yaroslavl, a monument was erected to the hero, and a museum was opened in Alupka.

Awards

• Medal "Gold Star" (awarded twice)
• Order of Lenin (awarded three times)
• Order of the Red Banner (awarded four times)
• Order of Alexander Nevsky
• Order of the Patriotic War 1st class
• Order of the Red Star
• Order of the Badge of Honor

On February 1, 1971, during a test flight of the Tu-16 LL flying laboratory, a test pilot, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel Amet-Khan Sultan, died.

In the life of any person there are enough secrets, oddities and coincidences, both happy and unfortunate. But if for a “simple” person all these “strange things” remain with him, far from always turning even into stories to friends and relatives, then for “famous” people, whose life becomes the property of the “general public”, such facts turn into whole legends, often used for "political" and sometimes completely speculative purposes. Enough of such facts and "oddities" in the life of the hero of this article. It is even more strange when, with a huge number of papers accompanying a person throughout his life, from its first minute to the last, various legends appear, which then begin to lead their “life”, wandering from one literary source to another. It is sometimes very difficult to get to the true documents. This is how various interpretations of events and their “options” appear, which are also lacking in the biography of Amet-Khan. I cannot claim that all the facts given in the article are true. But the main thing is the person himself and what he really did in life ...

Amet-Khan Sultan (Sultan Amet-khan) (20 (25) 10.1920 - 02.01.1971).

The famous fighter pilot of the Great Patriotic War, at the age of 25 twice Hero of the Soviet Union (08/24/1943, 07/29/1945). Completed 603 sorties, participated in 150 dogfights, shot down 30 aircraft personally and 19 as part of a group.

Honored Test Pilot of the USSR, laureate of the Stalin Prize for testing a manned model of a cruise missile (1953).

He was awarded three Orders of Lenin, five Red Banners.

Awarded with ordersAlexander Nevsky, Patriotic War 1st degree, Red Star and "Badge of Honor", many medals. During the flight test work, he mastered about 100 types of aircraft (according to some reports - over 170), and the total flight time on them amounted to 4237 hours. Honorary citizen of the city of Yaroslavl, lieutenant colonel. Honorary Crimean, honorary pilot of France, honorary citizen of Melitopol.

Born in the Crimea (Alupka), his father is a Lak by nationality, his mother is a Crimean Tatar. The house where he spent his childhood was located on the slope of Mount Ai-Petri.

And immediately, the first oddity. A number of sources mention the date of birth - October 20. In others, with the same certainty, - October 25th.

He received his primary education at a seven-year school. After graduating from the Simferopol Railway School, he worked at the depot. It was difficult, but at the same time he was engaged in the city flying club (founded in 1931). He entered the Kachin Red Banner Aviation School named after A.F. Myasnikov (Sevastopol), and having successfully completed the training course (1939-1940), he was sent to serve in Moldova, where he flew the I-15 and I-153 fighters.

Kacha. 1939 Somewhere here is a cadet Amet-Khan Sultan.

The fighter regiment of Amet-Khan, equipped with I-15 and I-153 aircraft, met the war in Moldova. The young pilot entered the battles with the Nazis from the first day of the war. In the autumn of 1941, his regiment fought the Germans near Rostov-on-Don. After heavy losses, the regiment was transferred to reorganization and retraining. Now Amet Khan had to fight on the British "Hurricane".

In March 1942, the regiment of Amet-Khan Sultan became part of the air defense of Yaroslavl. The Nazi troops did not reach the city, but enemy aircraft bombed it.

The pilot fought actively. He participated in battles, bombed enemy troops, vehicles and tanks, military bases located on the ground. But the guy felt awkward in front of his comrades, and they, at every opportunity, teased him. Since the beginning of the war, he took to the air 170 times on a combat mission, but never shot down a single enemy aircraft. But experience comes with time. Success came too.

On May 31, 1942, a pair of fighters, controlled by Amet-Khan and his wingman Strukov, was raised to intercept a Yu-88 bomber, apparently on a reconnaissance flight. Immediately after takeoff, Strukov had an engine malfunction and Amet-Khan went into battle alone. At an altitude of 7300 m, the Junkers was attacked by him, but in the heat of battle, the fighter fired all the ammunition past. Not wanting to miss the enemy, Amet-Khan rammed the enemy Junkers-88 bomber, hitting him with the left plane from below.From an uncontrolled plane, Amet-Khan jumped out by parachute. In the distance, he noticed two people who managed to jump out of a German plane.

Often there is also a description that the Hurricane got stuck with the wing plane in a bomber.

The wreckage of an enemy aircraft was placed on the central square of the city of Yaroslavl. Amet-Khan, for the courage shown in the sky over Yaroslavl, was awarded the Order of Lenin and elected an honorary citizen of the city. On the engraved watch presented to the pilot by the city defense committee, the following words appeared: “To Lieutenant of the Red Army Comrade Ametkhan Sultan, who heroically shot down a Nazi plane, on behalf of the Defense Committee of the city of Yaroslavl. 1942, May 31.

From that moment on, the pilot's account began to grow.

The military publicist N. Kostin wrote the following about Amet-Khan (the spelling of the surname is in the presentation of the source): strategic importance. On the second day of the guard, Captain Amethan Sultan flies into place with a group of aircraft. The weather was clear and visibility was excellent. They reach a height of four thousand five hundred meters. At eleven o'clock three groups of enemy planes were seen flying from the Sea of ​​Azov towards the crossing. Twenty Heinkel-111s were ahead, followed by twenty Yu-88s and twenty more Heinkel-111s. As soon as the fascist bombers began to approach the crossing, the Amethan team launched an attack. Four "Heinkel" were destroyed immediately. When the enemy began to evade the attack, the commander of the third pair, pilot Safonov, reported a malfunction of his aircraft. "Return to the airfield!" Amethan commanded. At that moment, another group of enemy planes appeared. Amethan and Pavel Golovachev, attacking either from above or from below, shot down two more Junkers. Another "Junker" was fired upon by Senior Lieutenant Borisov. Thus, Ametkhan and his five glorious falcons - Borisov, Golovachev, Malkov, Safonov, Light destroyed part of the enemy aircraft, ten times superior in number to ours. None of the sixty German bombers hit the target - the crossing, and the surviving German planes were forced to hide. In this battle, only one Soviet fighter was injured, but he returned to the airfield.

In the evening, the commander of the air force, General Khryukin, in the guards regiment, personally thanked Ametkhan:

You are worthy of the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. I'm sure the government will honor you with this high honor. Thanks hero!

A month later, on August 24, 1943, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issued a Decree on awarding Ametkhan Sultan the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

On April 23, 1943, the commander of the 8th Air Army, Lieutenant General of Aviation T. T. Khryukin, introduced him to the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The view says:

"Comrade Amet-Khan Sultan made 359 sorties, conducted 79 air battles, personally shot down 11 enemy aircraft and 19 aircraft in group battles.

Has one ram of enemy aircraft. In total, he made 110 sorties on the Stalingrad front, personally shot down 6 enemy aircraft and 7 enemy aircraft in a group.

For the exemplary performance of combat missions of the command, courage, courage and heroism shown in the fight against the Nazi invaders, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of August 24, 1943, Amet-Khan Sultan was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal. ".

In August 1943, based in Kotelnikovo recaptured from the enemy, the regiment received new R-39 Airacobra fighters. But during the very first flights, the insidiousness of the overseas gift was discovered: the plane easily fell into a tailspin, from which Lieutenant Klimov and Senior Lieutenant Ershov could not get out ... ace Anatoly Morozov was appointed to his place, to him, an old comrade in military work in the summer of 1941, and Amet-Khan approached him with a request: "Let me try the Aerocobra for a spin, I will conquer - I will teach others" ...

The entire regiment, frozen, followed the dangerous rotation of the aircraft, falling from a height of 7000 meters. Only hundreds of meters from the ground, the car went into a steep dive and soon rolled down the runway. And then the happy Amet-Khan explained to everyone how to get the capricious car out of a deadly rotation.

In January 1944, Amet Khan and his comrade, Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Borisov , managed to capture an enemy aircraft Fi-156 "Storch" with a pilot and a security officer with documents, forcing the Nazi pilot to land on a Soviet airfield. It is interesting that Amet-Khan mastered the captured German communications aircraft almost immediately, having made an independent flight on it. Here, too, there are discrepancies in the memoirs, according to another version, Amet-Khan commanded a squadron that “worked” from the jump airfield and did not fly to intercept it himself, but sent two fighters. But he had already brought the “trophy” personally to the main airfield, accompanied by two fighters. With the control of an unfamiliar aircraft, he figured out in an hour.

One of the sources describes another "non-trivial" event in the life of a pilot.

In March 1944, a German Me-109 fighter flew over their airfield and dropped a pennant with a note. The enemy pilot challenged our best ace to a duel, promising not to fight until Soviet pilot will not gain a height of 3000 meters. Such impudence in the 9th Guards IAP was not expected from the enemy. By this time, the pilots of the regiment had already proved to the Germans that they were not born with a bast. They reported to the commander of the 8th Air Army, Timofey Khryukin. He, without hesitation, ordered Amet-Khan's Aerocobra to be prepared for departure.

We must pay tribute to the German - he fulfilled the conditions of the duel. Everyone who was at the airfield remembered this battle forever, although it lasted no more than 15 minutes. "Messerschmitt" and "Aerocobra" staged a frantic carousel in the sky. Performing unthinkable pirouettes, the planes chased each other without firing a shot. And then there was a short burst. "Messer" began to smoke and collapsed in a dive. Later it became known that Amet-Khan dumped German ace who shot down 50 of our aircraft.

Legend or reality? In the list of victories of Amet-Khan, 03/10/44 there is a "Messer". The place of victory is indicated "northeast of Ochakov" ...

Amet-Khan Sultan ended the war flying on a La-7 fighter. "The American Aerocobras are good, but still our Lavochkin horse is better!" - summed up Amet-Khan, having mastered the new aircraft. On this machine, he fought in the skies of Latvia and East Prussia, where he shot down 6 more enemy aircraft.

La-7 Amet-Khan, spring 1945

From the end of April, the pilots of the 9th Guards IAP, looking for the enemy, were already flying over Berlin. German planes, having seen our La-7s from afar, turned back, and one of their groups behaved quite strangely: they gave signals, it seems, that they want to surrender. Lavrinenkov and Amet-Khan were surprised, but also pleased, and led the group to the airfield. The German pilots made a good landing. Apparently, they had to be based here. After getting off the runway, they turned off the engines and raised their hands. They explained: they do not want to continue the senseless war...

He won his last victory on April 25, 1945 over the Tempelhof airfield. Amet-Khan led six La-7s to intercept enemy aircraft. Expecting the appearance of the enemy, Amet-Khan patrolled for a long time over the section of the city indicated to him. His time in flight was already running out, fuel was at the limit, when the Fokkers jumped out from behind the clouds. Amet-Khan set fire to the leader of the group with the first burst of cannon. The pilot (group leader, holder of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves) jumped out with a parachute, and the wingmen left the battlefield.

Regiment Commander twice Hero of the Soviet Union Guard Major V.D. Lavrinenkov in April 1945, presenting Amet-Khan to the highest award - the title of twice Hero of the Soviet Union, wrote the following report: “Comrade Ametkhan Sultan showed an example of courage and heroism at the fronts. This high-class fighter pilot, who fully mastered the art of air combat, earned the title of one of the best aces of the regiment by his deeds. Amethan Sultan, who masterfully controls the aircraft, using its tactical superiority, knowing well the weaknesses of the Nazi pilots and all the advantages of enemy equipment, won 30 air battles. Comrade Amethan Sultan, who showed courage and heroism in the fight against the German invaders, successfully conducted 603 sorties and won them, personally shot down 30 enemy planes and 19 in group air battles, deserves to be awarded the title twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

So, taking into account all these merits, on June 29, 1945, Amet-Khan Sultan was awarded the title twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

The statistics of the victories of Amet-Khan, who flew on different types of aircraft, are interesting.

1. Hurricane, victories won between 05/31/42 and 07/23/42. Bombers - 2 (Yu-88 by ramming, the first victory, Yu-87 in the group), fighters (Me-109) - 1 personally and 10 in the group, Xe-113 - 1 (in the group).
2. Yak-7, victories were won from 08/23/42 to 09/15/42. Bombers - 3 (Yu-88, in a group), reconnaissance - 1 (FV-189, in pairs), fighters (Me-109) - 5 in person and 3 in a group.
3. Yak-1, victories were won from 12/13/42 to 07/24/43. Bombers - 4 (3 Xe-111, 1 Yu-87), fighters - 2 Me-109.

4. Aerocobra, victories were won from 08/20/43 to 04/24/44. Bombers - 7 (3 Yu-87, 3 Yu-88, 1 Xe-111), transport - 1 Yu-52, fighters - 3 (2 Me-109, 1 FV-190).

5. La-7, victories were won from 01/14/45 to 04/29/45. Fighters - 6 (1 Me-109, 5 FV-190).

Many copies have been broken and many opposing opinions have been expressed in connection with the nationality of Amet-Khan. The problem of the Crimean Tatars itself is not the subject of this material, but this issue cannot be ignored either.

The family of Amet-Khan was directly affected by the tragedy that happened to the Crimean Tatars during the war. The pilot's parents remained in the occupation, and in 1943 the command ordered the partisans to take them to the mainland. However, the parents refused, and the partisans themselves were surrounded by policemen. The group had to break through with a fight. I think it’s not worth reminding that it was not Ethiopians who “went” in the policemen in the Crimea ...

According to one of the versions set out in the memoirs of one of the participants partisan movement in the Crimea, the mother of Amet-Khan categorically refused to be evacuated, calling her son a “guitar” when she was shown a photo of her son in uniform. At the same time, there are memories of Amet-Khan's fellow pilot Anatoly Plotnikov, who describes the meeting of Amet-Khan and his friends with his parents in 1944 and mentions their cordiality and hospitality. The truth is somewhere near?

Nevertheless, the hero's parents were not touched after the war, but Amet-Khan's brother, Imran, was arrested by the NKVD as a person who collaborated with the invaders. Imran Sultan served in the so-called Auxiliary Police...

“I had a famous friend, twice Hero of the Soviet Union Ahmed Khan Sultan. His father is a Dagestani, and his mother is a Tatar... The Dagestanis consider him their hero, and the Tatars consider him theirs.

— Whose are you? I asked him once.

“I am not a Tatar or Lak hero,” Akhmet Khan replied. — I am a Hero of the Soviet Union. Whose son? Father with mother. Is it possible to separate them from each other?” recalled the Avar poet and public figure Rasul Gamzatov.

In 1956, together with a number of former party and Soviet workers of the Crimean ASSR, Amet-Khan Sultan signed a letter with a request for the rehabilitation of the Crimean Tatars, sent to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine.

It is often mentioned that the nationality of Amet Khan seriously complicated his life after the war. And there are grounds for such assertions.

After the end of the war, by order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, all aces pilots were sent to study at the academy. From August 1945, Amet-Khan was a student Air Force Academy in Monino. The study was very difficult, the lack of education made itself felt. And at the beginning of 1946, the pilot submits a report in which he writes: “Soberly weighing the level of my knowledge, I do not see the possibility of further study. Therefore, I ask you to expel me, because I am not sure that I can withstand five years of study at the academy. His report was satisfied, and in April 1946, Lieutenant Colonel Amet-Khan Sultan was transferred to the reserve.

After several months of study at the academy, Lieutenant Colonel Amet-Khan Sultan filed a report on expulsion and dismissal from service.

It was not about politics and not about the "fifth point" - the combat pilot bitterly admitted that he simply lacked education to study at the academy.

In a large number of sources, his expulsion from the academy, his dismissal from the army and for a long time “without heaven” are explained precisely by his nationality. It is more logical to assume that the dismissal is connected with expulsion from the academy. Well, do not appoint a Hero twice, a lieutenant colonel as an ordinary pilot, or even a commander? But the position of the regiment commander after the war already began to require an academic education. If you can't grow, go "retire". According to some reports, Amet-Khan did not want to work as a "linear pilot" in the Civil Air Fleet. Get a leadership job "on the ground"? There is no experience, and the “fifth point” could actually play here. A quite “usual” reaction of the personnel officer of that time when reading the personal file and getting acquainted with the nationality of the “defendant” is the slowly sweating seat of the chair. The author does not insist on this point of view, but he PERSONALLY saw similar phenomena in more “prosperous” years ...

But it is not for nothing that they say that a friend is known in trouble. Thanks to the help of combat comrades-in-arms - twice Hero of the Soviet Union Vladimir Dmitrievich Lavrinenkov, Alexei Alelyukhin, former commander Timofey Timofeevich Khryukin, Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin, aircraft mechanic of the regiment where Amethan served, Inna Pasportnikova, with great difficulty, Amethan Sultan gets a job as a test pilot at the aircraft testing institute. A new life begins.

Apart from the probationary period, on May 17, 1948, Amethan was officially accepted for a new job.

Four months of going to high authorities with a request to be allowed to work as a tester ended positively.

In a short time, he moved into the ranks of the best testers. In 1949, he was assigned the third class of a test pilot, in January 1950 - the second class, and already in September 1952, Amet-Khan Sultan became a test pilot of the 1st class. He successfully performs a variety of tests.

At first he works on gliders, then he tests new ejection systems on jet and fighter aircraft Yak-15, Yak-25, MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-19, MiG-21 and SM-1, La-15, soon moves to heavy aircraft Tu-4, Tu-16, Il-28, Yak-28, An-10a. These and dozens of other planes Amethan is the first to take to the sky, test and give a start in life.

The most modern aircraft of the third and fourth generation MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-29, MiG-31. Su-24, Su-27, Su-29 were also tested by Amethan Sultan. They entered mass production after the tragic death of Amethan. Even aces pilots were amazed at how skillfully he tested rockets.

Another "story" with an uncertain degree of certainty is connected with the work of Amet-Khan as a tester.The command of the Air Force decided that the test pilots receive too high salaries compared to other testers. And so that the pilots would not grumble, they “asked” them to write about their agreement on a significant reduction in rates. Amet-Khan wrote, like his comrades, about his consent, but made a postscript: “But the wife is categorically against it.”

I.V. Stalin showed constant interest in how the creation was going newest species fighters. When he saw the receipt of the famous test pilot, he imposed his resolution: "Totally agree with Amet Khan's wife."

... The salaries for test pilots were left the same.

In June 1949, together with I. Shelest, on a Tu-2 aircraft, he conducted the country's first fully automatic refueling in the air.

In the early 1950s, he was entrusted with testing ... an air-to-ship cruise missile. The product (LL-1, LL-2, flying laboratories of the Design Bureau of P.V. Tsybin) was hung under a Tu-4 bomber and dropped from a height of about 3000 meters. In free fall mode, the automation started the engine, and the pilot, taking control, landed the rocket. “... The planning angle is like that of a brick; landing speed, like a meteorite; the fuel supply on landing is for one refueling of a pocket lighter, ”one of the test pilots described the flight on a similar cruise missile. These people were even called "suicide bombers" by professionals.

During one of the tests, the drop of the projectile aircraft occurred ahead of schedule, and the engine was not started. The new machine was in free fall, and the command ordered Amet-Khan Sultan to immediately jump. However, the pilot fought to the end, started the engine near the ground and managed to land the car.

In the late 1950s, Amet-Khan Sultan made dozens, if not hundreds, of test flights as part of a program to develop ejection seats for pilots and astronauts. His constant partner was the tester Valery Golovin, who performed the ejection.

On November 12, 1958, on the MiG-15UTI aircraft, in which Sultan and Golovin were located, an unauthorized operation of the catapult powder cartridge occurred. As a result, the tank was pierced at the plane, and Golovin was squeezed by the ejection seat. The depressurized cabin was flooded with aviation kerosene, whipping so that the dashboard was not visible. A fire could break out at any second, and the flight director gave the command to Amet-Khan to leave the plane.

However, the pilot could not leave his comrade. In absolutely unthinkable conditions, with the threat of fire and explosion every second, Amet-Khan Sultan landed the plane, managing to save both Valery Golovin and the car.

September 23, 1961 Amet-Khan Sultan was awarded the title of "Honored Test Pilot of the USSR" (sign number - 38).

When the idea of ​​flying into space was finally concretized, about twenty pilots were selected. Since then, their composition has changed constantly. Finally, 5-6 people were approved, and intensive preparations began. Along with training on the most complex simulators, centrifuges, pressure chambers, special attention was paid to flights close to weightlessness conditions. It was at this time that Amet-Khan began to conduct training in preparation for the flight of astronauts. He raised the plane to a great height and created conditions of weightlessness for the astronauts. Thus, Amet-Khan conducted classes with Yuri Gagarin, Andrian Nikolaev, Pavel Popovich, German Titov, Anatoly Kartashov, paving the way into space.

V last years Amet-Khan often heard from friends: “Ametka! You will soon be fifty, isn’t it difficult to fly, maybe you can rest? Such thoughts sometimes visited Amet-Khan himself. But for a man whose entire conscious life was spent in the sky, it was painfully difficult to give up flying.

October 23. 1970 solemnly celebrated the 50th anniversary of Amet Khan. Prominent aircraft designers of the country took part in the anniversary celebrations. Congratulatory speeches in honor of the legendary ace were made by: on behalf of the Tupolev Design Bureau team - Honored Test Pilot of the USSR Ivan Moiseevich Sukhomlin and First Class Test Pilot Eduard Vaganovich Yelyan, on behalf of the Ilyushin Design Bureau team - Honored Test Pilot of the USSR Yakov Ilyich Bernikov, from Kerim Bekirovich Bekirbaev, Deputy Chief Designer Yakovlev, from the staff of the Mikoyan Design Bureau - Honored Test Pilot of the USSR Major General of Aviation Grigory Alexandrovich Sedov, from the Sukhoi Design Bureau - Honored Test Pilot of the USSR Hero of the Soviet Union Vladimir Sergeevich Ilyushin, from the firm of Academician S.P. Korolev - Honored Test Pilot of the USSR, Hero of the Soviet Union Sergei Nikolaevich Anokhin, fighting comrades Amet-Khan Alexey Ryazanov, Pavel Golovachev, comrades in joint test flights V. Vasin, A. Bogorodsky, V. Podkhalyuzin and others.

The solemn anniversary became one of the most exciting days in the life of Amet-Khan Sultan.Embarrassed by such honors, the pilot thanked everyone for the kind words. And when one of his friends noticed that, they say, it’s time to pass on the experience to the young, Amet-Khan answered with a mountain parable: “When an old eagle anticipates the approach of death, he rushes up with his last strength, rises as high as possible. And then he folds his wings and flies like a stone to the ground. Therefore, mountain eagles die in the sky - they fall to the ground already dead ... "

None of my friends paid any attention to these words. special attention that happy evening. And Amet-Khan Sultan himself could hardly have imagined that this parable would turn out to be a prophecy.

After the holidays, workdays come again. one February 1971 Amet-Khan starts another test flight.

The bus delivered the crew to the plane with a nacelle sagging under its “belly”, in which an experimental engine was hidden. To test it at the limit modes, special care was required.

Yevgeny Beschetnov, who several years ago wrote a wonderful story about Amet-Khan Sultan and directly studied the causes of the tragedy, described that terrible picture on the basis of documents:

“According to the recollections of the son of Sergei Anokhin, Sergei, who worked there, they met with Ametkhan in the parking lot and, while the preparation of the car for departure was being completed, they stood aside and talked.

“I've never been in such a lousy mood,” Amethan complained. Why, I don't understand.

“And you cancel the flight,” Anokhin Jr. advised him. - It's within your rights. Or trade with someone.

- I don't want to make a fuss. I'm flying, then I'll go home, I'll lie down. This helps me.

Having accepted the plane, Ametkhan Sultan, Evgeny Venediktov, navigator, flight radio operator and lead engineer took their jobs and took off. Everything was as usual...

The tragic death of Amethan horrified everyone. Nobody wanted to believe it, because Amethan was a pilot who could use the slightest opportunity to save the plane and land it safely on the ground. So there was no chance. The flying laboratory was blown into small pieces - they lay out on the snow in a wide strip several hundred meters long. Only the tail unit and the rear cockpit, although heavily mangled, retained their outlines.

Leading engineer Radiy Lensky, who was in the rear cockpit, was dead. He was found soon. But the front cockpit with the rest of the crew, in general, the nose compartment of the aircraft could not be found anywhere.

In the evening, as soon as dusk approached, thick snow fell, and the search had to be stopped.

On the fourth day the snow stopped. Nikolai Ilyich Filizon, one of the oldest employees of the institute, the engineer of the detachment, Nikolai Ilyich Filizon, who headed the group of technical staff, decided to look into a young spruce forest two or three hundred meters away from the Tu-16 crash site. Filison overcame another ten meters and noticed in the distance, behind the trunks of Christmas trees, the white frosted metal of the sheathing and dark glazing. Pilot cabin! Almost half buried in the snow! The engineer got out into the open, called the rest of the search engines. And now people cleared the snow near the cab, got inside.

They presented a grim picture. Amethan remained in the commander's chair, apparently without making a single movement to save himself. From the blow, his headset was torn off his head and moved forward, the “horns” of the steering wheel lifted the pilot under his stomach, the brand new jacket that he put on on that fateful day burst on his back in several places, as if someone had cut it with a razor blade. Benediktov, who was in the right seat, was slightly crushed by a pine trunk. Mikhailovsky was cut in half in the lower part of the spine. And Lyokha Sparrow, inopportunely asking for this flight, was intact, only burned ... "

On February 8, 1971, Amet-Khan Sultan was buried with honors at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow. A bust is carved in granite above the grave, next to the stele is the inscription: “Twice Hero of the Soviet Union, laureate of the State Prize, Honored Test Pilot of the USSR Ametkhan Sultan.”

Together with Akhmet Khan, the following died: Lensky Radiy Georgievich - Lead Engineer for Testing Aircraft Engines; Mikhailovsky William Alexandrovich - test navigator; Venediktov Evgeny Nikolaevich - test pilot; Vorobyov Alexey Vasilievich - flight radio operator-test. The crew was supposed to also have an assistant to the chief engineer Vyacheslav Mokrousov, but he was delayed, and the commander decided to fly without him.

The mystery of the death of the aircraft remained unsolved. According to one version, an experimental engine exploded, according to another, the aircraft flaps turned out to be faulty and uncontrolled divergent oscillations began, which led to the destruction of the aircraft in the air.

Streets in Alupka, Volgograd, Zhukovsky, Makhachkala, a square and an flying club in Simferopol, a mountain peak in Dagestan are named after Amet-Khan Sultan.

Bust in Alupka on Amet-Khan Boulevard

Monument on the Alley of Heroes in Kiev

Also in the city of Zhukovsky, on the street named after him, a monument was erected - a pilot standing on a wing.

The bronze bust of the famous pilot is installed in his hometown Alupka, as well as in Makhachkala.

Museum in Alupka

Makhachkala Airport named after Amet Khan Sultan

The Amet-Khan Sultan platform is located on the 34th kilometer of the Ostryakovo-Evpatoria line

Lyceum-School No. 8 of the city of Kaspiysk, Republic of Dagestan, bears his name.

In 2010, with the support of local entrepreneurs and businessmen of Dagestan, a monument to Amet-Khan Sultan was erected in the city of Yaroslavl. The monument was erected not far from the place over which in 1942 a courageous pilot rammed the fascist Junkers, saving the city from the enemy.

Monument in Yaroslavl

AMET-KHAN SULTAN IN THE MEMORIES OF CONTEMPORARIES

A.E. GOLOVANOV— Air Marshal:

— Twice Hero of the Soviet Union Ametkhan Sultan tested the engine suspended under the Tu-116. The engine exploded in flight. The legendary fighter pilot of the war died, Crimean Tatar. At home, in Alupka, him during his lifetime there was a monument.

The first Hero was given to him with difficulty, the second too... For the trials that he carried out, for each one separately, such as Gallay received a Hero.

But they didn’t give him ... I think that there was no second such pilot in our country. Of course, neither Pokryshkin, with all due respect to him, nor anyone else can compare with him.

FRANCOIS DE JOFFRE — French pilot of the Normandie Volunteer Air Regiment— Neman":

— I met my old friend Amethan— twice Hero of the Soviet Union, the famous "King of the Ram". Do you know what a ram is? This highest form Russian self-sacrifice pilot, which, having completely used up ammunition, rushes at an enemy aircraft and hits it with its machine. In ninety cases out of a hundred, this is inevitable death. Amethan was lucky and survived...

E.V. ELYAN— Hero of the Soviet Union, Honored Test Pilot of the USSR, commander of the first Tu-144 supersonic passenger aircraft:

— Amethan The Sultan was a pilot who succeeded in everything, no matter what he undertook. Neither I nor anyone else knows a second such tester.

S.N. ANOKHIN— Heroes of the Soviet Union, Honored Test Pilot of the USSR:

— In all my flying life, I have never met a person so generously endowed with talent. Amethan was not afraid of any new cars. The work carried out by the Sultan was of exceptionally great scientific value.

A.V. VOROZHEIKIN— twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General of Aviation:

— When the Germans heard the warning: “Achtung! Achtung! Amethan Sultan is in the sky!”— were lost and, if possible, tried to avoid meeting with him.

Much has been written about Amethan Sultan and much more will be written about him as he bright life, boundless heroism made his name a legend.

V.D. LAVRINENKOV — twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel-General of Aviation, commander of the 9th Guards Aviation Regiment, where Ametkhan Sultan served:

— Ametkhan was never shy in front of the enemy, even if he outnumbered the detachment of his aircraft by several times. He defeated the enemy with ingenuity, cunning, fearlessness...

Amethan knew how to make every flight with the maximum benefit for the cause. And it is no coincidence that the pilots liked to go on missions with him, they knew that he would definitely find an enemy.

P. GOLOVACHEV— twice Hero of the Soviet Union, major general of aviation, comrade Ametkhan:

— Amethan was fearless in battle, infinitely brave and courageous. At the same time, this prudent fighter had a sober mind and could instantly find the most correct solution for the successful completion of the battle.

Yu.A. GARNAEV—

— Amethan was assigned to be one of the first in the country to test an ejection seat to save a pilot in an emergency in the air. At a certain height, a strong explosion suddenly sounded, the body of the aircraft shuddered. The next moment, jets of kerosene poured into the cockpit from a punctured tank.— the powder cartridge of the firing mechanism of the ejection device prematurely exploded. The slightest spark was enough to set the car on fire. But Amethan managed to safely land the plane on the ground and save his comrade from death.

V.P. VASIN— Hero of the Soviet Union, Honored Test Pilot of the USSR:

— Amethan— pilot by the grace of God. His biography is unique. They say everything is relative. He is not suitable for comparison with anyone. Everything was his own in it: both the style of work and the flight acumen.

G.M. SHIYANOV— Hero of the Soviet Union, Honored Test Pilot of the USSR:

— This is a pilot of the rarest, great talent. I have been with him for 23 years. What Amethan did would be enough for several people. He told me that after fifty he would retire. Didn't leave, couldn't. Love for work— the only thing that was stronger than his own will.