Artyom Mikoyan's interest in aviation began in 1914 when he inspected a disabled airplane which landed near his village. In 1931, Mikoyan joined the Soviet Air Force and soon after entered the Engineering Academy, where he learned to fly and earned a degree in mechanical engineering in 1937. Subsequent to graduation, Mikoyan was assigned to the Central Design Bureau for aircraft where his engineering capabilities matured rapidly as did the accuracy of his design insights. In 1940, he was appointed chief constructor of Production Factory Number One, with Mikhail Guryevich as his deputy. Thus, the team of Mikoyan and Guryevich was born. In 1942 they founded the MiG Experimental Aircraft Design Bureau. The MiG Design Bureau lead Soviet aviation in the development of numerous technological advances, and the bureau produced a succession of high performance designs which pushed the frontier of turbine powered flight to new limits. In 1941, Moscow was defended by no less than 1,200 MiG fighters. In 1956 Mikoyan was appointed to the post of general designer of Soviet aircraft. He held this position until his retirement in 1969.
Inducted in 1996.
Portrait Location: Not Currently on Floor