On June 19, 1910, the Board of the Joint Stock Company Russian-Baltic Carriage Works in Riga announced to the Main Engineering Department about the creation of an aeronautical department at the plant. In 1911, an aviation workshop appeared in Riga as part of the enterprise, which began to build Sommer vehicles based on the French model. In January 1911 “RBVZ” was invited railway engineer A.S.Kudashev who built that time in Kiev, the first Russian aircraft to its design, and later two more inventors-designers: process engineer I.I.Volovsky and Engineer I M. Gakkel . One of the first Russian aviators Vladimir (Voldemar) Fedorovich Smith tested the built Sommer vehicles .

The aircraft workshop grew as the activities of the aviation school developed: initially, a small number of workers quickly increased to 25-30 people. After the aeronautical exhibition, due to the clarified expediency of separating the aircraft plant from the carriage plant, on May 27, 1911, the aircraft workshop in Riga was closed.

At the suggestion of MV Shidlovsky, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Joint Stock Company RBVZ, in 1912, a new aviation workshop was opened in St. Petersburg on Stroganovskaya Embankment, at the RBVZ car garage. For her, in the fall of 1911, an order was received for the production of airplanes of the “Farman”, “Bleriot”, “Nieuport” types under license.

M.V.Shidlovsky had been looking for a competent specialist for a long time, capable of leading the engineering and design personnel. Considered the candidacy of A.S. Kudashev , Ya.M. Gakkel , who created the first successfully flying domestic aircraft. In March 1912, an agreement was signed with Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky for the construction of aircraft designed by him. MV Shidlovsky was inclined to appoint II Sikorsky as chief engineer and designer of the RBVZ aviation department. II Sikorsky, having assumed the position of chief engineer and designer of the aviation department of “RBVZ”, managed to transform the workshop into an aircraft plant.

In 1912-1913, a number of single-engine aircraft designed by Sikorsky were built, including the S-6B and S-10 biplanes (winners of military airplane competitions in 1912 and 1913), the S-11 and S-12 monoplanes produced in a small series , seaplanes-biplanes C-5a and C-10 “Hydro” , adopted in a small number of copies by the Maritime Department. For further work on the problems of hydroaviation “RBVZ” equipped an experienced hydrodynamic pool for testing models.

The aircraft workshop grew as the activities of the aviation school developed: initially, a small number of workers quickly increased to 25-30 people. After the aeronautical exhibition, due to the clarified expediency of separating the aircraft plant from the carriage plant, on May 27, 1911, the aircraft workshop in Riga was closed.

At the suggestion of MV Shidlovsky, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Joint Stock Company RBVZ, in 1912, a new aviation workshop was opened in St. Petersburg on Stroganovskaya Embankment, at the RBVZ car garage. For her, in the fall of 1911, an order was received for the production of airplanes of the “Farman”, “Bleriot”, “Nieuport” types under license.

M.V.Shidlovsky had been looking for a competent specialist for a long time, capable of leading the engineering and design personnel. Considered the candidacy of A.S. Kudashev , Ya.M. Gakkel , who created the first successfully flying domestic aircraft. In March 1912, an agreement was signed with Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky for the construction of aircraft designed by him. MV Shidlovsky was inclined to appoint II Sikorsky as chief engineer and designer of the RBVZ aviation department. II Sikorsky, having assumed the position of chief engineer and designer of the aviation department of “RBVZ”, managed to transform the workshop into an aircraft plant.

In 1912-1913, a number of single-engine aircraft designed by Sikorsky were built, including the S-6B and S-10 biplanes (winners of military airplane competitions in 1912 and 1913), the S-11 and S-12 monoplanes produced in a small series , seaplanes-biplanes C-5a and C-10 “Hydro” , adopted in a small number of copies by the Maritime Department. For further work on the problems of hydroaviation “RBVZ” equipped an experienced hydrodynamic pool for testing models.

Most aviation specialists did not believe in the possibility of creating a large aircraft. Many gave examples, referring to the creations of nature, which created flying creatures of certain sizes and weights. The ostrich, they say, a heavy and bulky bird can only run on the ground – and then the well-wishers drew an analogy with a large airplane. Sikorsky stubbornly defended his views. Factory people, generous with all sorts of nicknames, christened the plane “Grand”which meant “Big”. This brilliant name was firmly stuck and it even officially began to be called that. In February 1913, all parts of the aircraft were basically ready. The general assembly of the “Grand” was carried out at the Commandant airfield and was completed by the end of April 1913. On April 27, Sikorsky took off the twin-engine version of the Grand for the first time; on May 6, the Grand took off, on which two more engines were installed, installing them in tandem with the already standing ones. In June 1913, the aircraft was upgraded again. The rear engines were removed and installed in a row on the lower fender. This was a revolutionary decision. No one else in the world has dared to arrange such a power plant. The first flight of the “Grand” with in-line engines took place on June 23, 1913. The plane got its famous name – “Russian Knight” .

Most aviation specialists did not believe in the possibility of creating a large aircraft. Many gave examples, referring to the creations of nature, which created flying creatures of certain sizes and weights. The ostrich, they say, a heavy and bulky bird can only run on the ground – and then the well-wishers drew an analogy with a large airplane. Sikorsky stubbornly defended his views. Factory people, generous with all sorts of nicknames, christened the plane “Grand”which meant “Big”. This brilliant name was firmly stuck and it even officially began to be called that. In February 1913, all parts of the aircraft were basically ready. The general assembly of the “Grand” was carried out at the Commandant airfield and was completed by the end of April 1913. On April 27, Sikorsky took off the twin-engine version of the Grand for the first time; on May 6, the Grand took off, on which two more engines were installed, installing them in tandem with the already standing ones. In June 1913, the aircraft was upgraded again. The rear engines were removed and installed in a row on the lower fender. This was a revolutionary decision. No one else in the world has dared to arrange such a power plant. The first flight of the “Grand” with in-line engines took place on June 23, 1913. The plane got its famous name – “Russian Knight” .

In December 1914, at the suggestion of M.V. Shidlovsky, they were brought together to the Air Squadron. Shidlovsky was appointed head of the squadron, who was called up for military service, having been awarded the rank of major general. I.I.Sikorsky acted as a technical advisor to the Squadron.
Since 1915, the RBVZ began the serial construction of the C-16 training aircraft and fighter (it was also referred to as the C-XVI). The maximum speed reached 143-144 km / h. Thus, the plant was one of the few enterprises in Russia that mainly produced machines of domestic design.

In December 1914, at the suggestion of M.V. Shidlovsky, they were brought together to the Air Squadron. Shidlovsky was appointed head of the squadron, who was called up for military service, having been awarded the rank of major general. I.I.Sikorsky acted as a technical advisor to the Squadron.
Since 1915, the RBVZ began the serial construction of the C-16 training aircraft and fighter (it was also referred to as the C-XVI). The maximum speed reached 143-144 km / h. Thus, the plant was one of the few enterprises in Russia that mainly produced machines of domestic design.

The new engine was to replace the German “Argus” engine, which had ceased to be supplied in connection with the outbreak of the First World War. The competition was attended by two groups of designers. Engineer V.V. Kireev led the first group located in Riga at the Russian-Baltic plant. II Sikorsky headed the second group, which was located in Petrograd at the Mechanical Plant “RBVZ”. II Sikorsky’s motor copied “Argus” in 140 hp. VV Kireev’s engine was based on the design of the 150 hp Benz engine. Motor Kireev was recognized as the best and began to prepare its serial production in Riga. The engine was a two-stroke, six-cylinder, water-cooled, cylinders arranged in a row. Automotive-type radiators were located on its sides. The screw was connected directly to the motor shaft, there was no gearbox.

There, in 1916, they made an experimental batch of five engines, and then began to produce the engine serially under the designation “RBVZ-6” . A total of 45 RBVZ-6 engines were manufactured in Petrograd. The RBVZ-6 engines were installed on the Ilya Muromets aircraft of the V and G series.
In the summer of 1915, when the Germans approached Riga, the RBVZ was evacuated to Petrograd, Moscow and Tver (the Automobile Department was evacuated to Moscow, the Carriage Building Department was evacuated to Tver). On the Vasilievsky Island of Petrograd, the RBVZ Mechanical Plant appeared, and on the basis of the aviation department, actually two production facilities were formed: the old one on the Stroganovskaya embankment and the new one near the Korpusnoy airfield. The latter specialized in assembling “Muromtsev”. All of these enterprises were closely related to each other.

The following figures indicate the intensity of the development of aviation production on the Stroganovskaya embankment in the first two years of the war: if in the first half of 1914 only 270 people worked at the plant for 9 hours a day, then at the end of 1914 – 470 people for 10-11 hours, out of there are 230 of them in the machine shop, 111 in the carpentry shop, 74 in the assembly shop, and 29 in the painting shop. The machine shop consisted of 18 woodworking machines, 15 screw-cutting lathes, 2 revolving machines, 2 automatic ones, 1 milling machine, 5 drilling machines, 1 slotting machine. The director of the aviation department (during the war years it was sometimes called “Aviabalt”) was MF Klimikseev. NN Polikarpov began his aviation and engineering activities at Aviabalt, the future famous aircraft designer. Sikorsky instructed a young engineer to conduct a study of the floats of a hydroaeroplane for future design developments.

In the summer of 197, an experimental series of S-20 aircraft in the amount of 5 copies was built at RBVZ . But they did not manage to bring the production of this Sikorsky fighter to large series …

There, in 1916, they made an experimental batch of five engines, and then began to produce the engine serially under the designation “RBVZ-6” . A total of 45 RBVZ-6 engines were manufactured in Petrograd. The RBVZ-6 engines were installed on the Ilya Muromets aircraft of the V and G series.
In the summer of 1915, when the Germans approached Riga, the RBVZ was evacuated to Petrograd, Moscow and Tver (the Automobile Department was evacuated to Moscow, the Carriage Building Department was evacuated to Tver). On the Vasilievsky Island of Petrograd, the RBVZ Mechanical Plant appeared, and on the basis of the aviation department, actually two production facilities were formed: the old one on the Stroganovskaya embankment and the new one near the Korpusnoy airfield. The latter specialized in assembling “Muromtsev”. All of these enterprises were closely related to each other.

The following figures indicate the intensity of the development of aviation production on the Stroganovskaya embankment in the first two years of the war: if in the first half of 1914 only 270 people worked at the plant for 9 hours a day, then at the end of 1914 – 470 people for 10-11 hours, out of there are 230 of them in the machine shop, 111 in the carpentry shop, 74 in the assembly shop, and 29 in the painting shop. The machine shop consisted of 18 woodworking machines, 15 screw-cutting lathes, 2 revolving machines, 2 automatic ones, 1 milling machine, 5 drilling machines, 1 slotting machine. The director of the aviation department (during the war years it was sometimes called “Aviabalt”) was MF Klimikseev. NN Polikarpov began his aviation and engineering activities at Aviabalt, the future famous aircraft designer. Sikorsky instructed a young engineer to conduct a study of the floats of a hydroaeroplane for future design developments.

In the summer of 197, an experimental series of S-20 aircraft in the amount of 5 copies was built at RBVZ . But they did not manage to bring the production of this Sikorsky fighter to large series …

Petrograd State United Aircraft Plant. In 1920, the aviation department was merged with the “VA Lebedev Aviation Plant” and the “Gamayun” plant of SS Shchetinin and received a new name – State Aviation Plant No. 3 (GAZ No. 3). Later renamed into “Red Pilot”. Later the name changed several times: “Plant No. 23”, “Plant No. 272”. The production profile was preserved – airplanes, and later helicopters.
In Moscow, on July 1, 1917, the plant was opened under the name “Second Automobile Plant Russo-Balt”.
In 1918, the plant was nationalized and renamed into the First State Armored Plant by the resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars.
In 1922, 5 Russo-Balt vehicles were produced.
In 1923 the plant was transferred on a concession to the Junkers firm, and the production of the U-20 and U-21 aircraft began . On March 1, 1927, the concession was liquidated and the plant was renamed into “State Aviation Plant No. 7”, and soon into “Plant No. 22 named after the 10th Anniversary of October”.
In 1933 the plant was named after S.P. Gorbunov.
In 1941 the plant was evacuated to Kazan (now it is the Kazan Aviation Production Association named after S.P. Gorbunov).