NII VVS (Air Force Research Institute)

  September 1920 to present

  USSR

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TYPE: Air force

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Initially Khodynka, Moscow Oblast, then approximately 30 test centers across the country.

OTHER NAME: Nauchno-Issledovatel'skiy Institut Voyenno-Vozdooshnykh Seel (NII VVS)

NII VVS was the Soviet Air Force Research Institute during the most part of World War II. It acted as the national flight test center for all aircraft, civilian or military, designed or to be operated in the USSR. NII VVS' origins were rooted in the NOA GU RKKVF, Khodynka Scientific Test Airfield Chief Directorate opened on 21 September 1920 in Moscow's suburbs. During the war, aircraft testing was split between over 30 NII VVS test centers across the USSR.

May 1945 to 1946

The Soviet Union requested the supply of 120 Commandos under the 4^th Lend-Lease Protocol. A single aircraft was provided to NII VVS for testing in May 1945, but despite successful test results, the end of the war meant that the Lend-Lease program came to an end. No further aircraft were delivered.

• Curtiss C-46A-60CK Commando: 43-47271