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04/30/2007. The TsAGI (Tsentralny Aerogidrodinamichesky Institut, Central Aero-Hydrodynamics Institute) was created in 1918 to direct Soviet aviation development. In 1925 a rotory-wing program was initiated, including helicopter as well as autogyro reseach. The first autogyro, the 2-EA was flown in 1931, the same year Nikolai Kamov and Mikhail Mil joint the TsAGI as head of one of three autogyro brigades and his assistant respectively. Under Kamov a new design was started to meet the demands of the Scientific Institute of the Air Force (NII VVS) for an autogyro for frontline duties such as artillery spotting, reconnaissance and liaison. Designated A-7 the first flight was made by test-pilot S.A. Korzinschikov on September 20, 1934. Only a few production models were built by 1940.