American aircraft designer is honoured in his homeland – Georgia

A group of Georgian activists have formed the Alexandre Kartveli International Society to honour the famous American aircraft designer of Georgian origin.

Kartveli was born in Tbilisi in 1896 and moved to Europe in 1919. Later, he emigrated to the United States where he became one of the pioneers of American aviation. 

Kartveli was the creator of the P-47 Thunderbolt – one of the largest and heaviest World War II single-seat fighter planes. 

More than 15 000 Thunderbolts were built during the war and the planes were in action on both sides of the European and Pacific theaters of war.

Kartveli also created several jet fighters after 1945 and he took an active part in the creation of the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, which is still actively used by American Air Force. A-10 is used for fire support of ISAF ground troops in Afghanistan. 

The Alexandre Kartveli International Society presented their team’s work, which was dedicated to the memory of the aircraft designer who passed away in 1974. 

The US Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland made an opening statement during today’s ceremony.

"Alexander Kartveli is important not just because he was such a pioneer in American military aviation, but he is one of the most famous Georgians ever to leave this country and establish himself in another country.  He leaves a tremendous legacy, and for me as Ambassador, he is a great symbol of US-Georgia relations,” the Ambassador later commented to local media.

Norland also noted Kartveli’s legacy was a great project to research and was an example that could be used to build a better understanding and deepen US-Georgia relations.