Zhukovsky, Moscow Oblast

Zhukovsky (Жуковский, ) is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Moskva River, 40 km southeast of Moscow. Population:

History
The urban-type settlement of Stakhanovo was founded in 1935 from the dacha settlement Otdykh (literally, "Relaxation"). It was named after Alexey Stakhanov, a Russian miner of the Stalinist era. On April 23, 1947, the settlement was granted town status and renamed Zhukovsky, in honor of famous scientist Nikolay Zhukovsky.

Administrative and municipal status
Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is incorporated as Zhukovsky City Under Oblast Jurisdiction—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, Zhukovsky City Under Oblast Jurisdiction is incorporated as Zhukovsky Urban Okrug.

Research and economy
Zhukovsky is a home to the M. M. Gromov Flight Research Institute and N. Ye. Zhukovsky Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute — they are two major facilities involved in testing and designing aircraft. These facilities were employers for a great portion of the city's population before perestroika. Also, there is situated the Aeromechanics faculty of MIPT.

There are a number smaller, but also important enterprises, such as:
 * Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design (НИИП, NIIP),
 * Scientific Research Institute of Avionics (НИИАО, NIIAO),
 * Agat Moscow Scientific Research Institute (Агат, Agate),
 * Myasishchev Experimental Machine-building Plant (ЭМЗ, EMZ).

The airline Aviastar-TU has its head office in Zhukovsky.

There are also a number of flight testing divisions of the aviation design bureaus (Sukhoy, Ilyushin, Tupolev, etc.) located in the area as well as machine-building plants, paper-mill food industry - Inko, Nestlé, local bread-baking plant.

In 2008, President Vladimir Putin signed a presidential decree establishing the National Aircraft Industry Centre.

Transport

 * Access road to Zhukovsky
 * Zhukovsky International Airport
 * Otdykh (Zhukovsky) railway stop
 * Bus service to-from Moscow, Ramenskoye
 * There is a helipad located at Lenin Square intended for air medical services

Sports
Zhukovsky is the center of track and field athletics in Moscow Oblast. Most notable athletes born in Zhukovsky are Yuriy Borzakovskiy, Yekaterina Podkopayeva, Andrey Yepishin, Dmitry Bogdanov, and others. In 2005, the Meteor international standard athletics stadium was opened.

There was also a bandy club Strela based in Zhukovsky.

Culture
Zhukovsky museum was opened in 1979. It contains a unique collection of pilot's uniform and equipment.

Twin towns – sister cities
Zhukovsky is twinned with:


 * Le Bourget, France
 * Fangchenggang, China
 * Hemet, United States
 * Meerut, India
 * San Jacinto, United States
 * Sydals (Sønderborg), Denmark
 * Zhuhai, China

Notable people

 * Irina Devina, rhythmic gymnast
 * Maria Tolkacheva, rhythmic gymnast
 * Viktoria Mullova, concert violinist
 * Vladislav Namestnikov, NHL ice hockey player with the Winnipeg Jets