Khanty-Mansiysk – UTair Aviation (UTair Aviation, JSC) has named its Tu-154 aircraft after Hero of the Soviet Union Pyotr Panov ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Victory Day marking Russia’s victory over Hitler’s Germany.

The plane has the registration number RA-85808.

Pyotr Panov took part in the defense of Moscow and was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, First Class. For fighting in the historic Kursk offensive, he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and his name placed in the Book of Great Military Achievements for perpetuity.

After the end of World War II, Panov served in the Siberian city of Tyumen as aviation commander and was later appointed as commander of the Salekhard air flight. He has been engaged in projects to open up access to outlying northern districts of Tyumen region for more than 15 years.

Since 1958, Panov has been flight security supervisor at the Roshchino airport base of Tyumen’s aviation service.