Rail Rzayev

Lieutenant General Rail Rzayev (Azerbaijani: Rail Qurban oğlu Rzayev; March 10, 1945[1] – February 11, 2009) was the Commander of the Azerbaijani Air Force from shortly after Azerbaijan's independence in the early 1990s, to his death in 2009.

After completing his secondary education in Sumgayit in 1962, he was enrolled in the Aircraft Electronics and Communication Systems (FRELA) school of the Soviet Aviation Academy named after Orzhenikidze.

Upon graduation he was appointed a Division Commander and from 1980 through 1992, he held several high-ranking positions at various military units of the Soviet Air Force.

He's credited for his outstanding work in establishing and modernizing the Azerbaijani Air Force.

He was awarded with Azerbaijani Flag Order and Veten Ughrunda Medal (In the Name of Motherland) for service to his country.