Ukrpovitroshliakh (Ukrvozdukhput, Ukrainian Society of Airways, Ukrains'kyi povitrianyi shliakh' [1]) was an airline based in Kharkiv, Ukrainian SSR during the interbellum. It operated scheduled domestic (USSR) services. It was the first civil aviation company of Ukraine.

Ukrvozdukhput (Ukrpovitroshliakh)
Founded1 June 1923
Ceased operations1929 (merged into Dobrolet)
HubsKharkiv Airport
DestinationsOdesa, Kyiv, Moscow and Rostov-on-Don
HeadquartersKharkiv, Ukrainian SSR

History edit

The airline was founded on 1 June 1923. Ukrpovitroshliach began operating on 15 April 1925, offering service from Kharkiv to Odesa and Kyiv. From 15 June 1925, the company also offered flights to Moscow and Rostov-on-Don, completing its network centered in Kharkiv.

In 1926, Konstantin Kalinin became a Chief Designer.[2]

By 1928, Ukrpovitroshliach was carrying more than 3,000 passengers a year. But the Soviet central government's "Five-Year Plan" called for all air service in the Soviet Union to be controlled by one government agency. In 1929, Ukrpovitroshliach was absorbed into the newly formed national airline Aeroflot along with the other Soviet operators -- Zakavia and Deruluft. [3]

Fleet edit

Accidents and incidents edit

12 September 1929
Dornier Merkur CCCP-211 crashed while returning to Sukhumi due to loss of control following engine problems, killing both pilots. The aircraft was being tested following repairs from a previous accident two months earlier at the same airport.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Old names list, ctrl-c.liu.se
  2. ^ "Konstantin Alekseevich Kalinin and his design bureau". ram-home.com. September 4, 1997. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  3. ^ Ukrvozdukhput, oldbeacon.com (2003)
  4. ^ "Катастрофа Дорнье Меркур общества Укрвоздухпуть в Сухуме" [Accident of Ukrvozdukhput Dornier Merkur at Sukhumi]. air-disaster.ru (in Russian).

Bibliography edit

  • Cooksley, Peter (September–October 1996). "Celestial Coaches: Dornier's Record Breaking Komet and Merkur". Air Enthusiast (65): 20–24. ISSN 0143-5450.