Marina Popovich

Marina Popovich (Mari′na Lavre′ntievna Popo′vich, nee Vasi′liyeva, born July 20, 1931 in v. Leonenki, Smolenskaya oblast) is a retired Soviet Air Force colonel, engineer, and legendary Soviet test pilot who holds 107 aviation world records set on over 40 types of aircraft. She is one of the most famous pilots in Russian history, and one of the most important female pilots of all-time. Marina Vasilieva became a Soviet Air Force pilot and in 1964, a military test pilot. She authored nine books and two screenplays. Among many other awards, she has been honored as Hero of Socialist Labor, the Order of Courage (presented personally by Vladimir Putin in June 2007) and a star in the Cancer constellation bears her name. Marina Popovich has been...