Баку 1910 року: перший Міжнародний авіаційний тиждень на Кавказі

Abstract

The inaugural aviation week held in Baku in October 1910 was a landmark event, significant not only for the city but for the advancement of aviation across the entire Caucasus region. Driven by an unprecedented oil boom that transformed Baku into a rapidlygrowing industrial and cultural hub, the city became the natural choice to host this groundbreaking international showcase. The event played a crucial role in popularizing aeronautics among the general public, drawing enormous crowds of up to 20,000 spectators eager to witness the marvel of human flight. The article details the dramatic demonstration flights performed by legendary pioneer aviators, including Sergei Utochkin and Adam Haber-Włyński. Flying the cutting-edge Farman biplanes, some equipped with the powerful 50-horsepower Gnome rotary engines, these pilots demonstrated extraordinary skill. The study highlights tense moments during the event, such as Utochkin successfully recovering his aircraft from a terrifying spin caused by engine failure and treacherous local winds, averting a near-certain catastrophe. The competition also featured other prominent aviators like Mikhail Efimov and Alexander Vasiliev, further escalating the competitive spirit of the week.Ultimately, the air show served as a powerful catalyst for the development of aviation infrastructure and engineering thought in Azerbaijan. It stimulated profound public interest in aeromodelling and technical education. Consequently, the overwhelming success of the 1910 Aviation Week prompted immediate strategic decisions by local authorities, leading to the rapid construction and commissioning of the first permanent aerodromes in Baku and Yevlakh, laying the foundational infrastructure for the future of Caucasian civil and military aviation.