Friends!

Friends! 10 years ago, on this today, died an outstanding Ukrainian aircraft, Heroe of Ukraine Petro Balabuyev. With his participation and under his leadership had been built various aircrafts, including the world's largest An-225 "Mriya", giant An-124 "Ruslan" and AN-22 "Antaeus."

Petro was born on the 23d of May, 1931 on a farm Valuysk at the Luhansk region. At the age of 11, he became head of the family. His father was a partisan Vasily Balabuyev, he was caught and shot by the Nazis. Then Petro learned to take care of the whole family - mom and two sisters. Caring became one of the features that will remember his family and colleagues all the time.

For the first time Peter saw a small plane after the war. The aircraft struck him as if it was something unearthly. It was love at first sight. However, when came time to choose where to study, Peter doubted. He was afraid to struggle for something great, thought of becoming a geologist. But documents filed in Kharkiv Aviation Institute. And he entered.

However, philological subjects were difficult for Balabuyev. He missed those classes, and in his spare time worked as a loader at the station, to be able to survive. Petro lived directly in a university lecture, along with 19 other students. Life was hard, but with his friends from school Balabuyev always contacted.

With his wife Raisa Petro met in college. During the study they were friends, went for some walks. Then the whole class came to work at the plant Antonov. There was no time for courtship - a solid job. But despite the fact that to Raisa was popular among other workers, she still loved Petro. Time passed and they became married. The wedding was poor, without rings, but the woman adorned herself a white dress, which she had made for herself. Later, the couple had daughter.

First Petro worked as a design engineer, later – as a head of the assembly shop. In 1961 Balabuyev was appointed a deputy chief designer and head of branch EDO on a batch plant in Tashkent during launch of the series of the world's largest at the time the AN-22 "Antaeus." In 1965 he took the plane to Le Bourget air show in France. There occurred an interesting case - the plane was not allowed to land. At first it was sent to the second round, then to the third ... the crew could not understand what was going on, below the plane gathered a crowd. It turned that management of the Le Bourget decided not to delay the plane and immediately show viewers the first wide-body aircraft.

As chief designer Balabuyev gave a start into life to the An-225 "Mriya", which is still a thing to be proud of to all Ukraine. Petro told another story that occurred at the international air show at Le Bourget. In 1989, there arrived "Mriya", even with the space shuttle "Buran" on the "back". Then the chief designer of the company "Boeing" was completely surprised, he told: “Does this giant fly?” Balabuyev jokingly replied: "No, we brought plane here by train." Then the representative of "Boeing" threw his hat at his feet and worshiped "Mriya."

Petro was a man with a capital letter. When Oleg K. Antonov died in 1984, he led ASTC and continued his work. For Balabuyev said his actions - he knew anyone who worked at the factory, went to see people. If they worked overtime - followed so that the workers were fed be sandwiches, coffee. Once, during a trip to Africa serious illness contracted one of the aircraft. Then Balabuyev sent him on plane for treatment in England.

Unfortunately, this great man with a kind heart died only a few days before his 76th birthday. He died on the 17th of May, 2007 in Kyiv. I think people like Peter Balabuyev - is an example for us all. Because he combined talent, faith in his work, diligence and kindness - the qualities that make people great.