Max Taitz

Max Taitz (1904-1980) — scientist, engineer, one of the founders of the Gromov Flight Research Institute (1941), doctor of technical science, professor, recipient of the Stalin Prize (1949 and 1953), Honoured Scientist of the RSFSR (1961).

Early years
Born in Warsaw, Russian Empire. In 1915 Taitz family escaped from the war to Moscow, where Max with his younger brother studied in Sokolov-Korobov private gymnasium (later Soviet secondary school No. 81). After the gymnasium entered Bauman Moscow Higher Technical School. Being a student earned money for life working as a proofreader and binder for a number of Moscow publishers. Closer to graduation worked as an aviation technician for the Soviet Air Force Research Institute (NII VVS) and started flight training (in Sevastopol). In 1925 got married with then Moscow State University student Iraida Zeest (later known Soviet archaeologist). Upon graduation from the Bauman Moscow Higher Technical School in 1929 was assigned to work for Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI).

Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute
Engineering and research activities in TsAGI started as a flight test engineer in the flight test section under supervision of Alexander Chesalov and Vsevolod Vedrov. His first work was a flight testing of the TB-5 heavy bomber with Mikhail Gromov as a lead test pilot.

In 1934-1937 participated in technical commission for engineering support of non-stop flight distance record flights of Valery Chkalov and Mikhail Gromov in Tupolev ANT-25 long-haul aeroplane and upon successful completion was awarded his first Order of Red Banner of Labour (1937). Was one of the authors of the comprehensive "Aircraft designer reference book" published by TsAGI in 1937. Was involved also in engineering support of Sigizmund Levanevsky record flights from Moscow over the Pole to the USA.

After the arrest of his elder brother (David Taitz) in 1938 decided to leave TsAGI not waiting for his own arrest and worked as engineer-editor for the State Scientific Library of the NKTP where was involved in preparing the aviation department of the "News of Technical Literature" journal. In 1939 got a chance to obtain position of a dean of Theoretical Mechanics Department at the Soviet Union Industrial Academy. However, in 1940 a delegation from TsAGI visited him and requested his return to the institute to head a group of researchers.

Flight Research Institute
Together with Alexander Chesalov and Vsevolod Vedrov with support of Mikhail Gromov and Ivan Petrov (aviator) arranged for establishment of the Institute of Flight Research (8 March 1941). Work for new institute started in 1941 at the position of the Chief of Laboratory No. 2 being also acting Deputy Chief of the institute for Science.

During the war headed the evacuation of a science core of the institute to Novosibirsk and supervised flight and ground testing of the serial production fighter planes accomplished by the institute and aircraft manufacturers in order to eliminate defects in flight qualities and war-fighting capabilities of the aircraft. At the same time took lead in development of the second volume of the "Aircraft Designers Handbook" (RDK) devoted to the flight test techniques and published by TsAGI in 1944.

The same year (1944) assigned to head a Soviet technical group for evaluation of the Peenemünde test site where German missiles V-1 and V-2 were tested.

In 1945-1947 together with Alexander Chesalov initiated the development of testbed aeroplanes starting from the testbed based on the Tu-2 bomber for flight testing of the jet engines. Concurrently Taitz has developed the theory of similarity for aviation turbojet engines testing. Organised and supervised the flight research and testing the first Soviet jet fighters MiG-9, MiG-15, MiG-19, Su-9, etc. Results of these works were awarded the Stalin Prize in 1949.

At the end of 1940th (a second wave of antisemitism) as many others was fired from the institute. Later, in conjunction with the new research in unmanned aircraft and missiles and establishment in 1952 of a new dedicated division, was asked to get back to the institute.

After his return played a major role in the development and flight tests of the Soviet cruise missiles (KS-1 and others) and their automatic control systems.

In 1956 then Chief of the institute Nickolay Stroyev insisted that Taitz should be assigned to the position of his deputy, even though a number of hight level officials of the aviation industry were against that due to the Taitz nationality, his reluctance to be a Communist Party member and his repressed or emigrated relatives.

In late 1960th initiated the development of USSR civil aircraft certification system and was a strong supporter of joining the USSR to the Chicago convention and ICAO. FRI became a leading research organisation in the USSR in flight testing and certification of aircraft and Taitz was a real driving force behind that. Among other lead scientists in these activities were Nickolay Stroyev, Victor Utkin and Arseny Mironov.

In 1960th for a number of year was a head of the Soviet-French working group on avionics and flight tests. For achievements in automation of aeroplanes control was awarded the Order of Lenin (1966).

Universities
At different times was a professor at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (1938—1940), Moscow Aviation Institute, Moscow State Aviation Technological University (1940—1941) and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (1955—1980).

From 1965 till 1974 was a head of the Aerophysical and Flight Research Department within the Aeromechanics and Flight Engineering Faculty of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.

Family
Father - Izhok-Aaron (Isaak-Arkady) Z. Taitz (Ицхок-Аарон (Исаак-Аркадий) Захарович Тайц) (1868—1935), born in Kaunas (Lithuania, Russian Empire), traveling salesman.

Mother - Sara (Sophia) M. Vilenchuk (Сара Мовшевна (Софья Моисеевна) Виленчук) (1874—1951), born in suburb of Kaunas (Lithuania, Russian Empire).

Was married (1925-1980), wife - Iraida B. Zeest (Ираида Борисовна Зеест) (1902-1981), born in Saint Petersburg (Russian Empire), studied in Moscow State University, graduated from the Faculty of Philology, Doctor of Science in History, worked for the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts and (later) for the Institute of Archaeology, USSR Academy of Sciences.

Daughters: Irina M. Khmelevskaya (Taitz) (Ирина Максовна Хмелевская (Тайц)) (born 1932) and Elena M. Flokovskaya (Taitz) (Елена Максовна Флорковская (Тайц)) (born 1940).

Awards and Decorations

 * Stalin Prize (1949) for flight research and testing of the first Soviet jet fighters (MiG-9, etc.)
 * Stalin Prize (1953) for flight testing and introduction into service the first Soviet cruise missiles (particularly KS-1 Komet)
 * Two Orders of Lenin (1944 and 1966)
 * Order of the October Revolution
 * Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class (1945)
 * Three Orders of the Red Banner of Labour (first one in 1937 for engineering support of the non-stop flight distance record flights of Valery Chkalov and Mikhail Gromov)
 * Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin" (1970)
 * Medal "For the Defence of Moscow" (1944)
 * Medal "Veteran of Labour"
 * Gold medal of VDNKh (1977)

Memory

 * Buried at the Bykovskoye Memorial Cemetery in Zhukovsky
 * Memorial plate with his bronze bas-relief installed on Gromov Flight Research Institute headquarters building where M. A. Taitz used to work

Notable publications
Most publications of M. A. Taitz are in Russian and many of them still classified. Below are some notable publications.
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