Vladimir Lebedev was born in 1879 in St. Petersburg and passed away on February 22, 1947, in Paris. He was one of the first aviators in Russia, led the All-Russian Aero Club, and was a well-known enthusiast and industrialist in the field of aviation. Lebedev was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor in France. He founded the Taganrog Aviation Plant and the Yaroslavl Engine Plant. After graduating from the law faculty of St. Petersburg University, Lebedev worked for a time in the civil service but soon retired with the rank of collegiate secretary. In the early 20th century, when aviation was just beginning to develop in Russia, Lebedev first saw an airplane flight in France in 1908 and became fascinated with aviation. In 1909, he built his glider, and in May 1910, he successfully passed the pilot-aviator exam.

After that, Lebedev began solo flights. On April 14, he flew 15 kilometers, and the next day he doubled that distance. French and Russian newspapers covered his flights, particularly noting his flight with a passenger that lasted over an hour and took place at a high altitude.

Although some historians refer to Lebedev as an engineer, this is not entirely accurate. In 1909, he went to France, where he worked as a mechanic at an aviation factory, studying assembly processes and the organization of aircraft production. He often served as an expert in aviation and aircraft construction.

During World War I, Lebedev organized several factories for the production of reconnaissance aircraft in Taganrog, Yaroslavl, and Penza. From August 1916 to March 1, 1919, 216 'Lebed-XII' aircraft were built at the factories in Petrograd and Taganrog, of which 192 were tested and delivered. Some of them were equipped with floats and used in the naval fleet. In 1917, aircraft 'Sopwith-reconnaissance' with 'Clerget' engines began to be assembled in Taganrog.

In early January 1918, Lebedev leased his Taganrog plant and stepped back from business. In March 1920, he emigrated from Novorossiysk to Belgrade, where he worked in a bank, and then moved to France. Lebedev died in 1947 in Paris and was buried in the Russian cemetery of Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois.