This journal issue contains scientific, problematic, informational articles and materials covering the achievements and prospects in separate directions in the field of aviation and aerospace systems. In this issue we are pleased to honour our Partner in this scientific Edition – Control Problems Institute, RAS (CPI) and our Guest Editor – I.V.Pranguishvili, CPI Director, the specialist in the system and control theory, who represented works connected by common theme – the 90-th Anniversary of B.N. Petrov (RAS Academician, CPI Director in 1947-1951); some of these works are published in the issue.

* the articles presenting new results in the investigation lines developed in CPI by B.N. Petrov’s colleagues and pupils:

A.Ya.Andrienko, U.P.Portnov-Sokolov, A.I.Chadaev, the experts in dynamics and spacecrafts control problems (CPI RAS, Russia), – with the analysis and recommendations on the problem of spacecrafts emergency launches, with their own vision of prospective solutions.

V.Yu.Rutkovski, S.D.Zemlyakov, V.M.Sukhanov, V.M.Glumov, multi-functional specialists in control and stability (CPI RAS, Russia), – with interesting problems and solutions in non-destructing control within the task of break-down situations prevention.

D.A.Goldin, B.V.Pavlov, A.M.Chesnokov, the specialists in the theory of control and information-control systems (CPI RAS, Russia), – with the investigations on autonomous systems information-control complexes.

* the articles presenting extraordinary solutions and researches in the sphere of aviation-aerospace technique:

A.A.Bolonkin, the specialist in the field of rocket engines (Scientific-research Center AFB, the USA), – with the most interesting idea and elaborations on hypersonic gas rocket.

M.Pascal, the specialist in the sphere of dynamics and stability (University Evry, France), – with the analytical results of the non-linear behaviour investigation, observed in aircraft engines when fan blade off occurs.

O.E.Polyntsev, the specialist in modeling and dynamics in the field of aircrafts (Institute of system dynamics and control theory, Russia), – with the study of non-linear dynamics peculiarities in autorotating bulk systems in diverse.

In the scientific-information section of the issue:

A.K.Medvedeva, the scientific specialist (INSTH RAS, Russia), – with the profound thematic review of the results of the XXVII^th Scientific Conference on Astronautics (Moscow, 2003).

Yu.P.Portnov-Sokolov, V.Yu.Rutkovski, the specialists in the field of general and applied control theory (CPI RAS, Russia), – with the detailed research of creative legacy of academician B.N.Petrov.

V.V.Chugunkov, the specialist in the field of launch ground rocket-space technique complexes (N.E. Bauman’s MSTU, Russia), – with the analysis of lines and prospects within the invited Session of the XXVII^th Scientific Conference on Astronautics (Moscow, 2003).

S.V.Kravchenko, the specialist in the field of applied mechanics and aviation-aerospace technique problems (Boeing, Russian Department, Russia), – with the scientific-information material representing a brief review of the Boeing Company activity in Russia for 10 years of cooperation in the field of scientific research, industrial elaborations, educational programs.