Marat Alykov (original) (raw)

Marat Raviliyevich Alykov (Russian: Марат Равильевич Алыков; born 20 August 1959) is a Russian pilot. Alykov, an ethnic Tatar, was born on 20 August 1959 in Kapustin Yar in the Vladimirovskaya District of Astrakhan Oblast to a military family. He joined the Soviet Army in 1976, and in 1980 graduated from the Kachinsk Military Aviation School. Alykov flew the Sukhoi Su-17 between 1983 and 1984 in the Soviet–Afghan War and was awarded the Order of the Red Star. After leaving the Air Force, Alykov graduated from the Test Pilot School and became a Mikoyan test pilot. For his actions in testing aircraft, Alykov was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation in 1998. Alykov currently works as the general director of the aviation maintenance company International Center of Business Aviation.