Kudashev Olexandr Sergiiovych (21 February, 1872 -?.?. 1917) – Kyiv design engineer, professor of Kyiv Polytechnic institute (1906-1911), the designer of the first operative aircraft construction in Russian Empire.
After graduation from St. Petersburg Institute of the Building of communication lines engineers
in 1895, he was involved in construction of railway Tyflys-Kars (now Turkey). Since 1897 he lived in Kyiv and worked as engineer of construction works at South-Western railway. Since 1898 he was in charge of dredging caravan “Dnieprovsky-4th” in Kyiv district of communication lines. At the same time, A. S. Kudashev was doing scientific research in the laboratories of Saint Vladimir Kyiv Imperial University (at present Kyiv national university n.a. Taras Shevchenko).
From 1899 to1901 and from 1906 to 1911 he worked as a lecture and per pro of extraordinary professor at the department of Construction Art of the Emperor Alexandr II Kyiv polytechnic institute. He is an author of scientific work “The question of the strength of reinforced concrete bars”.
In 1910, he constructed first airplane – branded biplane with the “Anzani” engine of 35 horsepower and tractor airscrew. The airplane covered 70 meters in a straight line. In autumn, 1910, the prince finished the construction of “Kudashev-2” airplane. It was also a branded airplane with “Hnom” engine of 50 horsepower and standard horizontal tail without a front altitude control. The airplane length made up 8.75 m, wings square – 41 м² , mass — nearly 300 kg. Chassis design became its feature. As a leg, ash arcs were used with through-going shaft with wheels fixed on rubber buffers to bends. In winter, 1910 – 1911, the prince created his first monoplane “Kudashev-3” featured lightness, simplicity and low price.
In 1911, A. S. Kadashev was offered a job in aviation workshop of Russian and Baltic wagon plant (RBWP) in Riga with its main task to commence the production of “Sommer” type airplanes. In 1911 on the request of Military Department, 7 vehicles of that type were constructed on RBWP. Fourth airplane “Kudashev-4” (RBWP-1) was constructed on RBWP as well and was launched in April, 2, 1911. In April, 28 the airplane was granted with big silver medal of Imperial Russian technical society. Reportedly, after leaving RBWP in 1914, A. S. Kudashev gave up construction activity and came back to teaching activity, having moved to France. When First World War started, he went to war as a volunteer where he fought and died in 1917.