Nazhmudinov Kasum Huseynovich – Soviet and Russian pilot, airplane sports trainer. Honored Trainer of the USSR, Master of Sports of the USSR, Honored Worker of Physical Culture of the Russian Federation, Honored Worker of Culture of Dagestan.

Biography

Kasum was born on May 15, 1933 in the village of Gonokh, Dagestan Republic, into a family of rural workers. At the age of 12, Kasum saw an airplane in the sky over Khunzakh for the first time in his life (at that time it was a small PO-2), and at that time a childhood dream „To rise into the sky" arose in his heart.

There was no demand for pilots, and farmers, doctors, teachers were considered priority professions – to some extent this was even considered honorable. Therefore, Kasum entered the Dagestan Agricultural Institute, but his childhood dream did not leave him. Therefore, after waiting for the draft age, he immediately appeared at a meeting of the draft board with a request to enroll him in a flight school. Thanks to perseverance and perseverance, he passed the medical commission and was sent to the flight school near Poltava. Upon graduation from the recruited group of 30 people, only 5 cadets passed, including Kasum, subsequently received a diploma with honors and was sent to fighter aviation at the Higher Air Force School, which he also graduated with honors – becoming a military fighter pilot … He began to serve in the air defense forces of Moscow.

The beginning of his professional career coincided with the reforms of Khrushchev. During the reduction of aviation, Kasum was transferred to Kostroma, very soon he was again transferred to Yaroslavl. While serving in Yaroslavl in 1959, a special commission was invited for an interview. As a result of the interview, Kasum was offered to undergo training for a space flight and become the commander of a spacecraft. Two colonels, one of the medical services, the other of the KGB, take a nondisclosure note. Kasum received a referral to Moscow, where he began to undergo a thorough medical examination at the central hospital of the USSR Air Force. With a suspicion of a heart murmur, which, in a strange way, had never been identified at numerous medical commissions in the entire career of a pilot, they weeded out the pilot from the cosmonaut corps, without having time to include him in it. Then there were further reductions in the Air Force, and the turn came to its part.

I went to Makhachkala. Military pilots were not taken into transport aviation at that time, especially fighter pilots, they say, they are hooligans in the air, they will pilot in their own way. Nevertheless, he got a job in the Makhachkala squadron on the AN-2. This work was not to his liking, and then he received an offer to work in the air club, there were also bombers, which required pilots. This was in 1961-62. So he began to work in the Makhachkala flying club as an instructor pilot. He worked as a Flight Commander, then he had to prepare the team for competitions in air sports, he himself began to take part in these competitions, was invited to work in the training center of Rostov-on-Don, and returned to the Makhachkala flying club DOSAAF, where he took up coaching. Soon he began to take part in all-Union competitions, even to win them. Even then, Kasum and three of his students entered the USSR national aviation team. Since while still in the army, he was an officer’s pentathlon coach, the captain of a volleyball team, then he was offered to become the coach of the USSR national team.

Legendary pilots studied with him – the legendary Vladimir Martemyanov, pilot-cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya, Styapas Artishkevichus, Alexander Lyubarets, Svetlana Kapanina and many others.

He was included in the number of the first candidates for astronauts, but was eliminated from the detachment of future cosmonauts even before the first manned flight into space. Kasum Gusenovich at the age of 74 was examined at the Central Civil Aviation Hospital. The chairman of the expert committee was forced to admit: „This is the first time when we give permission for flight work to a 74-year-old man!"

Significant dates

Born on May 15, 1933 in the village of Gonokh, Khunzakh District, DASSR.
In 1957 he graduated from the Borisoglebsk Military Aviation School of Pilots named. VP Chkalov with honors. After graduating from college, he served in the Air Defense Forces of the Moscow District until 1961.

In 1959 – 1960 he was invited to a group of pilots for selection into the cosmonaut corps. He did not pass the medical examination, after which he resigned from the ranks of the Armed Forces.

Since 1961, he worked in the Makhachkala flying club as an instructor-pilot, flight commander, head of the flying club. At the same time he worked as a coach of the Dagestan team, he himself acted as an athlete.

From 1962 to 1968 he occupied the first place in the southern zone of Russia, the team also took the first places.

In 1964, the national team of Dagestan won first place in the RSFSR, after which three athletes from Dagestan were included in the national team of the RSFSR, and Kasum Nazhmudinov was included in the national team of the USSR.

In 1969, by the leadership of the USSR DOSAAF Central Committee, at the request of the members of the USSR national aerobatics team, he was invited to the position of senior coach of the USSR and RSFSR national teams, which he held until 1991. After 1991, he worked as a senior coach of the Russian national team for another 10 years.

Thus, for twenty-two years he was the head coach of the USSR national team and thirty-two years – for the RSFSR and Russian national teams.

From 1980 to 2001, he was Vice President of the FAI (International Aeronautical Federation) Aerobatics Commission.

Prize places at the European and World Championships were taken by Nazhmudinov’s pupils, Hero of Russia Yevgeny Frolov, Hero of Russia Yuri Vashchuk, former President of Lithuania Rolandas Paksas and others.

Currently works at the FSUE National Aero Club of Russia named after Chkalov „senior trainer in airplane sports.

Author of books

„Manual for training athletes on the Yak-52 aircraft" – Author, Nazhmudinov K.G.
„Methodological manual for the implementation of aerobatics on sports airplanes" – Author, Nazhmudinov K.G.
"Champions are Born in the Sky" – Author, Nazhmudinov K.G.
„Knights of the Fifth Ocean" – Author, Nazhmudinov K.G.

Pupils

Over the years, he has prepared twelve absolute world champions. His pupils: Igor Egorov, Viktor Letsko, Lyubov Nemkova, Lydia Leonova, Valentina Yaikova, Natalya Sergeeva, Viktor Chmalya, six-time absolute world champion Svetlana Kapanina, world champion Svetlana Kabatskaya, world champion Nikolai Timofeev, test pilot and hero of Russia Yuri Vashuk, absolute world champion and president of the women’s aviation club „Aviaktrix" Khalide Makagonova, test pilot and hero of Russia Yevgeny Frolov, absolute European champion Svetlana Fedorenko, absolute champion of the USSR Svetlana Podolyak, world champion Yurgis Kairis, USSR champion Mikhail Molchaniuk, medalist and world champion Sergei Boryak , world and European champion Nikolay Nikityuk and others, including European and international champions.

Achievements

For his successes he was awarded the honorary title: – Honored Trainer of the USSR – Honored Worker of Physical Culture of Russia – Honored Worker of Culture of Dagestan

Awards and prizes


Awarded with two Orders of the Red Banner of Labor

Order of Honor

International Aviation Federation Gold Medal

Four awards of the USSR State Sports Committee as the best coach of the year

Honored trainer of the USSR

Honored Worker of Physical Culture of the Russian Federation