Didn’t know that the word “Dux” means leader in Latin? Dux factory has a rich history that began in 1893 in Moscow. It was founded by Julius Meller. He focused on building French aircraft designs.
Let’s explore the story of Dux. Initially, Dux began as a bicycle production plant. Over time, it evolved into an aircraft manufacturing hub in 1910. During World War I, Dux produced various aircraft. These included Morane-Saulnier G, Voisin L, and Nieuport 17. They also made Farman aircraft like models IV, VII, XVI and XXX. Dux even supplied a large number of military bicycles.
After the October Revolution, the plant was renamed. It became “Aircraft plant #1 named after OSOAVIAKHIM” or “GAZ No 1”. The factory continued producing Farmans and Nieuports.
In 1923, a design bureau was established at Dux. Nikolai Nikolaevich Polikarpov headed it. This bureau later became the Polikarpov Design Bureau. They produced aircraft models such as I-5, I-15, I-15bis and I-16.
Before its evacuation in 1941, Plant #1 produced the MiG-3. It was then relocated to Samara. There it became the Kuibyshev Aviation Plant. In 1958, the plant shifted to rocket production. It was renamed the Samara Progress plant.
Plant #30 was established in 1939 in Dubna. In December 1941, it moved to Plant #1’s former site. Here, it manufactured the Ilyushin Il-2. In 1950, it merged with Plant #381. Together, they produced the Il-28 in larger quantities.
In 1965, Plant #30 was renamed the Znamya Truda Machine-Building Plant. Later, in 1973, it became the Moscow Aircraft Production Organisation. The MiG-29 was put into production.
Dux also had civil programs. These included MiG-AT, T-101 and Aviatika MAI-890 aircraft. The factory also produced Su-9, Yak-25, Il-14 and MiG-21 aircraft.
Plant #32 was established in 1932. In 1941, it was evacuated to Kirov. It became the Kirov Machine-Building Plant in 1960. Later, it was known as the Vyatka Machine Building Enterprise AVITEK in the 1990s.
Plant #39 produced the DB-3F before its evacuation in 1941. It was moved to Irkutsk. It merged with the Irkutsk Machine-Building Plant. This ultimately established the Irkutsk Aviation Plant.
Between 1963 and 1992, Plant #43 was known as the Moscow Kommunar Machine-Building Plant. It focused on air-to-air missile production. In 1992, it became the Open Joint Stock Company Dux.
Plant #381 produced the Lavochkin La-5 and La-7. It also made the Il-12. In 1950, it merged into Plant #30.
Most aircraft built by Dux were French or Western designs. The first aircraft was a licensed Farman IV. It first flew on August 18, 1910. The Dux Meller I combined a Bleriot fuselage with a Farman XV nacelle. A modified Farman XVI was produced as the Dux Meller II. It flew in 1913.
While early models had mixed success, Dux’s primary activity became constructing Western designs. Today, Dux continues its legacy. It focuses on producing air-to-air missiles and aircraft components. Its journey from bicycles to advanced weaponry shows its adaptability. Dux remains an important part of Moscow’s industrial heritage.