A restored TK-19 turbocharger from the ASh-73TK engine has been installed at the Corporate Museum of the History of Engine Manufacturing at UEC – Perm Engines (part of Rostec United Engine Corporation, members of Russian Engineering Union (Soyuzmash of Russia)). Veterans of the company, young specialists and representatives of Perm National Research Polytechnic University (PNRPU) attended a ceremony marking the handover of the valuable exhibit.
The turbocharger, along with three rare volumes of the technical documentation for the TK‑19 and Ash‑73TK, was presented to the museum by Vladimir Moiseev, Head of the Laboratory of the Aircraft Engines Department at the Aerospace Faculty of PNRPU.
“It is great that the TK‑19 has returned to the company and to its original engine. Eighty years ago, this unit was transferred from the plant to a training facility, where it became one of the first exhibits in our department. Several generations of students began studying engines using this very first production turbomachine,” said Vladimir Moiseev.
The exhibit was transferred to the museum in May 2026. The company’s specialists carried out extensive restoration work. Assembly fitter Vladimir Shirinkin carefully restored the 75-year-old unit. He said that during the restoration he was impressed by the quality of the manual welding of the complex casing components, which had been carried out with exceptional precision by the plant’s workers at that time.
The event was titled “At the Crossroads of Two Generation”. Firstly, the TK-19 is a unique exhibit that brings together the technologies of two generations of Perm aircraft engines – piston and gas-turbine ones. Secondly, the event provided an excellent opportunity for another meeting between company veterans and young specialists – PNRPU graduates of 2026.
“Perm Engines is one big professional family. This is confirmed by the warm and emotional atmosphere of today’s meeting. I’m glad that our family has recently welcomed the best graduates of specialized educational institutions. You, guys, have demonstrated your great potential during your studies. Now it is time to show that you are the best in your work”, said Mikhail Voroshilov, Human Resources Director at UEC–Perm Engines.
Museum Director Vladimir Ivashkevich spoke about the history of the TK-19’s development and its application on various engines. He managed to uncover previously unknown or long‑forgotten interesting facts, highlighting the ingenuity and courage of Perm designers, the high standards of manufacturing, and the remarkable dedication of the plant’s workers.
The ASh‑73TK engine was the last piston‑era engine produced at the plant. It was designed for the Tu‑4, the first Soviet strategic bomber. For the development and production of the engine, Arkady Shvetsov was awarded the rank of Lieutenant General and the title of General Designer. The plant’s director, Anatoly Soldatov, the plant’s chief engineer, Mikhail Kolosov, and three designers from Design Bureau No. 19 — Ivan Evich, Konstantin Kolesnikov, and Valentin Glushenkov — were awarded the Stalin Prize. A total of 112 plant workers were also awarded orders and medals.
