Scientific School "Methodology, Methods and Models of Transport Category Aircraft Design"
General Characteristics of the Scientific School
The scientific school of Viktor Ivanovych RYABKOV is an established scientific branch in the field of aircraft engineering. One of the research directions of the scientific school has become research on the use of gravitational energy of the so-called "dark mass" in interplanetary flights of aircraft. These scientific studies have allowed for the expansion of the possibilities of quantum mechanics.
Founder of the Scientific School
Viktor Ivanovych Ryabkov (born July 24, 1938), a Ukrainian scientist – a specialist in the field of aircraft construction, Doctor of Technical Sciences (1986), Professor (1988), Academician of the Engineering Academy of Ukraine (1989), Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology (1994), cavalier of the Order of "Merit" of the 3rd degree (2005), 1987-1999 – Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at KhAI, 1988-2007 – Head of the Department of Aircraft and Helicopter Structures, since 2007 – Professor of the Department of Aircraft and Helicopter Design at the National Aerospace University "Kharkiv Aviation Institute".
Scientific research by V. I. Ryabkov began in 1978. It is one of the components of the scientific school "Design and Construction of Efficient High-Resource Aviation Technology," which dates back to the first years of the existence of the KhAI Department 103 "Aircraft and Helicopter Structures." The scientific school was founded in 1931 by Professor J. G. Niemann and later expanded by the research of L. D. Arson, whom Viktor Ivanovych considers his mentor.
The main scientific directions of the school are:
The activities of the scientific school are aimed at conducting fundamental and applied research on topical problems in the field of aircraft engineering in the following areas:
- Design of aircraft landing gear, principles and methods of synthesis of landing gear parameters based on durability criteria.
- Formation of the geometry of wing tips and tail unit aggregates based on the criterion of minimum induced drag.
- Creation of transport category aircraft modifications, taking into account their competitiveness.
Scientific achievements and results of activities
Under the supervision of V. I. Ryabkov, 19 dissertations have been defended in the aviation field (including those on classified topics).
Representatives of the scientific school have conducted fundamental and applied research on the design and construction of aircraft landing gear and its systems, ensuring the durability and reliability of systems and components during the design and production of aircraft and helicopters; optimization of aircraft wing geometry during the initial stages of concept formation and design; modification of transport category aircraft; and improvement of methods for physical modeling of aircraft flight modes.
Main Publications and Scientific Projects of the School
The scientist's bibliography includes over 200 works, including 8 textbooks, more than 30 educational and methodological manuals, and materials from scientific forums.
Some scientific publications of V. I. Ryabkov:
1. Ryabkov, V. I. Aircraft Landing Gear Design: textbook / V. I. Ryabkov, L. V. Kapitanova, V. A. Tit. – 2nd ed., revised and supplemented, 2023. – 360 p.
2. Ryabkov V. I., Tolmachev N. G. Hypothesis of bi-matter as a source of tachyonic energy. // Aviation-cosmic technique and technology. Kharkiv: KhAI - 2008. - No. 5(52). – C. 77-84.
3. Ryabkov V. I., Tolmachev N. G. Has the Higgs boson been discovered? / Aviation-cosmic technique and technology, 2013, No. 8 (105). c. 216-231.
4. V. I. Ryabkov, R. U. Tsukanov. Transport Category Airplane Flight Range Calculation Accounting Center-of-Gravity Position Shift and Engine Throttling Characteristics / Aviation-cosmic technique and technology. Special issue: scientific-technical journal / Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, National Aerospace University "Kharkiv Aviation Institute". – Kharkiv, 2021. – 5/175. – C. 4-14.
5. Issue of Airplane Modification Mass Variations Based on Their Structural Modelling / V. Riabkov, R. Tsukanov, O. Dveirin, L. Kapitanova, M. Kyrylenko // 16th International Scientific-practical Conference on Mathematical Modeling and Simulation of Systems. MODS’2021: proceedings, Chernihiv, 28 June – 1 July 2021. Cham: Springer, 2021. P. 437–450. (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems; vol. 344).
6. Ryabkov V. I. Investigation of the properties of the total mass of quanta in the structure of observable matter // Scientific Progress: Innovations, Achievements and Prospects: proc. X International scientific-practical conf., June 25–27, 2023, Munich, Germany. Munich, 2023. C. 178–187.
7. Decision support modeling in the procedure of increasing load capacity and flight efficiency of transport category aircraft modifications / L. Kapitanova, V. Riabkov, A. Koryagin // Aviation-cosmic technique and technology. – 2025. – No. 1(201). – P. 4-13.
8. Designing of airplane wing spar: tutorial / V. I. Riabkov, L. V. Kapitanova, S. V. Trubaiev, M. V. Kyrylenko. – Kharkiv: National Aerospace University "Kharkiv Aviation Institute", 2026. – 80 p.
9. V. Riabkov, L. Kapitanova, A. Koryagin. Decision-Support Models Utilization for Creating Dual-Use Transport Category Aircraft Modifications. // "ICTM-2025: Integrated Computer Technologies in Mechanical Engineering" – Synergetic Engineering. ICTM 2025, Volume 2, LNNS 1919, pp. 194-205.
Since 1988, Viktor Ivanovych has led state-funded and contract-based scientific projects on the design of aircraft structures, components, and systems.
V. I. Ryabkov has served as the supervisor for many scientific projects. Some of them include:
- G103-3/00 "Theoretical foundations of ensuring the resource and reliability of a system of elements during the design and production of aircraft and helicopter structures" (2000-2001).
- G103-16/2003, SR No. 0103U005073 "Design of aircraft and helicopter units and components considering service life" (2003–2005).
- D103-15/2006, SR No. 0106U001043 "Method of optimizing wing planform geometry at the conceptual aircraft design stage" (2006–2008).
- SR No. 0118U004043 "Problems of creating transport category aircraft modifications considering their competitiveness" (2018–2020).
Guarantor of educational programs: "Design, Production, and Certification of Aviation Technology" in the specialty 134 Aviation and Rocket-Space Technology, "Aircraft and Helicopters" (2017-2025).
Scientific Community and Continuity. Students
Professor V. I. Ryabkov is one of the leading scientists in the field of aircraft engineering.
1988–1999 — Chairman of the Specialized Council of the Higher Attestation Commission of Ukraine for the defense of doctoral and candidate dissertations.
1992–2016 — Member of the Committee on State Prizes of Ukraine in Science and Technology (section for classified works).
From 1987 to 1999, he served as Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at KhAI. During his tenure at KhAI, several new structures were established: the Faculty of Engineering and Management, departments for international student training, correspondence education, industrial engineering, and pre-university preparation. Additionally, new departments were founded, including those for the Ukrainian language, production management, computer science, economic cybernetics, and finance. Branches of the Aircraft and Helicopter Design Department were opened at the Antonov ASTC (Kyiv), and the CAD/CAM/CAE computer center was created. The establishment of these new faculties, departments, and specialties fundamentally transformed the structure of KhAI and ensured its sustainable development during the early years of Ukraine's independence.
At the state level, V. I. Ryabkov was the organizer and the first chairman of the commission for the training of specialists in Ukraine in the field of "Aviation and Astronautics" (1993–1999).
For the first time in Ukraine, he created and headed the Specialized Academic Council for the defense of doctoral dissertations in aircraft and engines at KhAI (1989–1999).
From 1989 to 1999, V. I. Ryabkov served as Deputy Director of the Research Institute of Physical-Mathematical Modeling for research activities. With his participation, a research program was developed aimed at improving the method of physical modeling of aircraft flight modes; he led the creation of design methods for dynamically similar flying models of aircraft, for which he, along with a team of scientists, received the State Prize of Ukraine in 1994.
In 1989, V. I. Ryabkov was elected an Academician of the Engineering Academy of Ukraine.
Viktor Ivanovych Ryabkov is not only an outstanding scientist but also a dedicated teacher and mentor who has influenced the scientific and social life of KhAI. For over 60 years, he has been involved in teaching professional disciplines such as "General Structure of Aircraft and Helicopters," "Design of Aircraft and Helicopter Structures," "Design of Aircraft and Helicopter Landing Gear," "History of Science and Technology," and others.
Students
During his work at the department (from 1962 to the present) and under his supervision, more than 300 graduates of the Aircraft Engineering Faculty have defended their specialist, bachelor's, and master's theses.
Dissertations for the Degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences:
1. Los O. V. "Methodology of designing military transport aircraft modifications with deep changes in the wing and power plant" (2020);
2. Kapitanova L. V. "Analysis and synthesis of take-off and landing characteristics of transport category aircraft modifications" (2021);
Dissertations for the Degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences:
1. Shemetov S. E. "Selection of parameters for clevis joints in aviation structures based on fatigue durability criteria" (1987).
2. Tseplyaeva T. P. "Design of aircraft mechanical control channels considering durability and resonance of flexible linkages" (1988).
3. Volokh I. M. "Development and implementation of controlled landing gear shock absorption to reduce takeoff and landing distances of aircraft" (1988).
4. Tolmachev M. G. "Design of controlled energy absorbers in aircraft landing gear suspension systems" (2002).
5. Tinyakov D. V. "Method for determining geometric parameters of lifting surfaces for transport category aircraft based on their efficiency criteria" (2013).
The subject matter of the dissertation research conducted within the scientific school testifies to its complex, interdisciplinary, and practically oriented nature in the aviation industry.
Today, the main directions of the scientific school are being developed by department staff: L. V. Kapitanova (Doctor of Technical Sciences) and D. S. Kirnosov (postgraduate student).
Representatives of the scientific school actively participate in the work of aviation enterprises in Ukraine and abroad (D. V. Tinyakov works and teaches in China).
The results of the scientific research have been implemented at aviation enterprises in Ukraine and around the world. Based on the latest achievements in design and manufacturing technology, Ukrainian aviation specialists created the An-70, An-74TK-300, An-140, An-148, An-132, An-158, An-74TK-200, and An-124 aircraft. V. I. Ryabkov and his students made a significant contribution to the creation of these aircraft over the years. Work is currently underway to create new modifications of these models.
Recognition and Authority of the Scientific School
The high authority of the scientific school of V. I. Ryabkov is confirmed by state awards, professional honors, and active participation in the socio-scientific life of Ukraine in the aviation sector.
Honors and awards of V. I. Ryabkov:
1965 – Awarded "Poljot" gold watch by the Ministry of Railways "For personal participation in the construction of the Abakan-Taishet 'Track of Courage'."
1989 – Academician of the Engineering Academy of Ukraine.
1988–1999 — repeatedly received government and departmental certificates of merit and letters of appreciation from the Ministries of Mechanical Engineering and Transport, as well as from general designers of aircraft, rockets, and engines.
1982 — awarded the "Best Inventor" badge.
1988 — awarded the "Honorary Chelomei Medal" for "impeccable targeted training of specialists for defense ministries."
1991 — awarded the "Veteran of Labor" medal.
1994 — Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology.
2005 — awarded the Order of Merit, 3rd Class.
2008 — Certificate of congratulations in the field of science and technology from Academician B. Ye. Paton.
2021 — awarded the "For Merit" Badge of Honor.
2023 — Certificate of appreciation from the Command and personnel of military unit A7383 of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
2024 — received a letter of thanks from the Armed Forces of Ukraine "For timely assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, military unit A4085, significant contribution to the defense of the Kharkiv region, and support for the morale of the defenders of Ukraine."
2024 — awarded the honorary distinction "Star of KhAI."
All of Viktor Ivanovych Ryabkov's activities are aimed at the development of the educational and scientific-technical spheres, international cooperation, promoting the role of higher education and science in society, developing the university's material and technical base, and ensuring the prosperity of Ukraine's aviation industry.