- Time Period: Post-WW2
- Year of Institution: 14 August 1958
- Country: Russia & USSR
The Honored Test Pilot of the USSR Medal (or Заслуженный лётчик-испытатель СССР, Zaslužennyj Lëtčik-Ispytatel’ SSSR in Russian) was established on 14 August 1958 and awarded to military and civilian test-pilots 1st class of the civilian aircraft industry and of the Ministry of Defence of the USSR, for multiple years of creative work in the field of testing and research of new aviation technologies.
The state award of the Soviet Union was established on August 14, 1958, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet № 2523-X to recognize courage and excellence of military and civilian test pilots in flight research and testing of aircraft. Its statute was confirmed on August 22, 1988, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet № 9441-XI. The title ceased to be awarded following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The Honored Test Pilot of the USSR Medal Design
The badge is a silver and nickel polygon with raised edges and measures 27mm wide by 23mm high.
At the top of the obverse, the relief inscription in three lines covered to the left ЗАСЛУЖЕННЫЙ ЛËТЧИК-ИСПЫТАТЕЛЬ (“HONOURED TEST PILOT”), in the center, the gilt tombac image of a jet plane climbing diagonally towards the right its nose and tail slightly protruding over the edges, at the bottom, the relief inscription CCCP (“USSR”) superimposed over a laurel branch.
The badge was secured to a standard Soviet square mount by a silver-plated ring through the suspension loop. The mount was covered by a silk moiré blue ribbon. It was secured to clothing by a threaded stud and nut or by a pin attachment.
