Petro Balabuyev

Petro Balabuyev

Petro Vasylovych Balabuyev Ukrainian: Петро Васильович Балабуєв (March 23, 1931, Valuisk, Luhansk Oblast, Ukrainian SSR — May 17, 2007) was a Ukrainian airplane designer, engineer, Doctor of Technical Sciences (1988), Professor, Chief Designer of Antonov Aeronautical Scientific/Technical Complex (Antonov ASTC) (1984 - May 2005). He was the lead designer of many Antonov airplanes, including the An-225 airplane, currently the world's largest aircraft and the An-124. He was also the head of the Kiev-based Antonov Aircraft for almost 20 years. Hero of Ukraine.