conventional aircraft. The most unusual aircraft in the world. Propulsion power plants

30.05.2020

People have been obsessed with the idea of taking to the air for centuries. In the myths of almost all peoples there are legends about flying animals and people with wings. The earliest known flying machines were bird-like wings. With them, people jumped from towers or tried to soar by falling off a cliff. And although such attempts ended, as a rule, tragically, people came up with more and more complex aircraft designs. Iconic aircraft will be discussed in our today's review.

1. Bamboo helicopter

One of the world's oldest flying machines, the bamboo helicopter (also known as the bamboo dragonfly or the Chinese pinwheel) is a toy that flies up when its main shaft is quickly spun. Invented in China around 400 B.C., the bamboo helicopter consisted of feather blades attached to the end of a bamboo stick.

2. Flying flashlight

A flying lantern is a small balloon made of paper and a wooden frame with a hole in the bottom, under which a small fire is kindled. It is believed that the Chinese experimented with flying lanterns as early as the 3rd century BC, but traditionally, their invention is attributed to the sage and commander Zhuge Liang (181-234 AD).

3. Balloon

The hot air balloon is the first successful technology of human flight on a supporting structure. The first manned flight was carried out by Pilatre de Rozier and the Marquis d "Arlande in 1783 in Paris in a balloon (on a leash) created by the Montgolfier brothers. Modern Balloons can fly thousands of kilometers (the longest balloon flight is 7672 km from Japan to Northern Canada).

4. Solar balloon

Technically, this type of balloon flies by heating the air in it with solar radiation. As a rule, such balloons are made of black or dark material. While they are primarily used in the toy market, some solar balloons are large enough to lift a person into the air.

5 Ornithopter

The ornithopter, which was inspired by the flight of birds, bats and insects, is an aircraft that flies by flapping its wings. Most ornithopters are unmanned, but a few manned ornithopters have also been built. One of the earliest concepts for such a flying machine was developed by Leonardo da Vinci back in the 15th century. In 1894, Otto Lilienthal, a German aviation pioneer, made the first manned flight in an ornithopter.

6. Parachute

Made from lightweight and durable fabric (similar to nylon), a parachute is a device used to slow an object through the atmosphere. A description of the oldest parachute was found in an anonymous Italian manuscript dating back to 1470. AT modern days parachutes are used to lower various cargoes, including people, food, equipment, space capsules, and even bombs.

7. Kite

Originally built by stretching silk over a split bamboo frame, the kite was invented in China in the 5th century BC. Over a long period of time, many other cultures adopted this device, and some of them even continued to further improve this simple flying machine. For example, kites capable of carrying a person is believed to have existed in ancient China and Japan.

8. Airship

The airship became the first aircraft capable of controlled takeoff and landing. In the beginning airships used hydrogen, but due to the high explosiveness of this gas, most airships built after the 1960s began to use helium. The airship may also be powered and the crew and/or payload located in one or more "nacelles" suspended below the gas cylinder.

9. Glider

Glider - an aircraft heavier than air, which is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of air on its bearing surfaces, i.e. it is independent of the engine. Thus, most gliders do not have an engine, although some paragliders can be equipped with one to extend the flight if necessary.

10 Biplane

Biplane - an aircraft with two fixed wings, which are located one above the other. Biplanes have a number of advantages over conventional wing structures (monoplanes): they allow larger area wings and lift at a smaller wing span. The Wright brothers' biplane in 1903 became the first aircraft to successfully take off.

11. Helicopter

A helicopter is a rotary-wing aircraft that can take off and land vertically, hover and fly in any direction. There have been many concepts similar to today's helicopters over the past centuries, but it wasn't until 1936 that the first operational Focke-Wulf Fw 61 helicopter was built.

12. Aerocycle

In the 1950s, Lackner Helicopters came up with an unusual flying machine. The HZ-1 Aerocycle was intended to be operated by inexperienced pilots as the standard reconnaissance vehicle in the US Army. Although early testing indicated that the vehicle could provide sufficient mobility on the battlefield, more extensive evaluations indicated that it was too difficult for untrained infantrymen to control it. As a result, after a couple of accidents, the project was frozen.

13. Kaitun

Kaitun is a hybrid of a kite and a hot air balloon. Its main advantage is that the kaitoon can remain in a fairly stable position above the anchor point of the line, regardless of the strength of the wind, while conventional balloons and kites are less stable.

14. Hang glider

A hang glider is a non-motorized, heavier-than-air aircraft that lacks a tail. Modern hang gliders are made from aluminum alloy or composite materials, and the wing is made of synthetic canvas. These vehicles have a high lift ratio, which allows pilots to fly for several hours at an altitude of thousands of meters above sea level in the rising currents of warm air and perform aerobatics.

15. Hybrid airship

A hybrid airship is an aircraft that combines the characteristics of a lighter-than-air vehicle (i.e. airship technology) with a heavier-than-air vehicle technology (either a fixed wing or a rotary propeller). Such designs were not put into mass production, but several manned and unmanned prototypes appeared, including the Lockheed Martin P-791, an experimental hybrid airship developed by Lockheed Martin.

16. Airliner

Also known as a jet airliner, a jet airliner is a type of aircraft designed to carry passengers and cargo through the air that is propelled by jet engines. These engines enable the aircraft to achieve high speeds and generate enough thrust to propel large aircraft. Currently, the Airbus A380 is the world's largest jet airliner with a capacity of up to 853 people.

17. Rocket plane

A rocket plane is an aircraft that uses a rocket engine. Rocket planes can achieve much higher speeds than similarly sized jet aircraft. As a rule, their engine runs for no more than a few minutes, after which the plane glides. The rocket plane is suitable for flying at very high altitudes, and it is also capable of developing much higher acceleration and has a shorter takeoff run.

18. Float plane

It is a type of fixed wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. The buoyancy of the seaplane is provided by pontoons or floats, which are installed instead of the landing gear under the fuselage. Float planes were widely used until the Second World War, but then they were replaced by helicopters and aircraft used from aircraft carriers.

19. Flying boat

Another type of seaplane, the flying boat, is a fixed-wing aircraft with a hull shaped to allow it to land on water. It differs from a floatplane in that it uses a specially designed fuselage that can float. Flying boats were very common in the first half of the 20th century. Like floatplanes, they subsequently fell into disuse after World War II.

Also known by other names (for example, cargo aircraft, freighter, transport aircraft, or cargo aircraft), a cargo aircraft is a fixed-wing aircraft designed or converted to carry goods rather than passengers. AT this moment An-225 built in 1988 is the largest and most lifting in the world.

21. Bomber

Bomber - a combat aircraft designed to attack land and sea targets by dropping bombs, launching torpedoes or launching air-to-ground cruise missiles. There are two types of bombers. Strategic bombers are primarily designed for long-range bombing missions - i.e. to attack strategic targets such as supply bases, bridges, factories, shipyards, etc. Tactical bombers are aimed at countering enemy military activities and supporting offensive operations.

22. Spaceplane

A spaceplane is an aerospace vehicle that is used in the Earth's atmosphere. They can use both rockets alone and auxiliary conventional jet engines. Today there are five such vehicles that have been successfully used: X-15, Space Shuttle, Buran, SpaceShipOne and Boeing X-37.

23. Spaceship

A spacecraft is a vehicle designed to fly in outer space. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, space colonization, planetary exploration, and transportation of people and goods.

A space capsule is a special type of spacecraft that has been used in most manned space programs. A manned space capsule must have everything you need for daily life, including air, water and food. The space capsule also protects astronauts from the cold and cosmic radiation.

25. Drone

Officially known as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the drone is often used for missions that are too "dangerous" or simply impossible for humans. Initially, they were used mainly for military purposes, but today they can be found literally everywhere.

People have longed for the sky since ancient times. Suffice it to recall the stories of Icarus, the flying carpet, Carlson and Baba Yaga with her broom. Centuries have passed since then, and fairy tales have been replaced by science with its clear and constructive approach. Therefore, today's our article will be devoted to small aircraft.

We all know about the existence of parachutes. The main disadvantage of this flying vehicle is its inability to control the flight. Paraglider can easily cope with this.
A paraglider is an ultralight non-powered aircraft. The flight is carried out thanks to the oncoming air flow, which is supplied through special openings - air intakes.

It is an analogue of the Paraglider, with the only difference that it is equipped with an engine that ensures its launch and flight.

The device, similar in structure to a paraglider, but, unlike it, the engine is not placed on the pilot's seat, but is fixed on a frame, also equipped with a landing gear.

The aircraft is named after the Greek letter Delta. The flight is carried out thanks to the ascending air currents and the balancing suspension of the pilot. It was with the help of a hang glider that Russian President Vladimir Putin led a flock of cranes. True, his hang glider was equipped with a motor. As a result of this, he turned into a "Hang-glider", or "Hang-glider".

Translated from English, wingsuit is read as "flying squirrel". Outwardly, it looks like a wingsuit. There are additional folds between the arms and legs, which turn into wings during the flight. Wingsuit is used when performing their dizzying tricks. Landing is carried out using a parachute.
The most spectacular are the proxy flights over the slopes. Related videos

At the same time, we will not talk about a ball on a string in the hands of a child, but about a ball on which you can fly around the entire globe. The scientific name of the balloon sounds like "Aerostat" or "hot hot air balloon". This is an aircraft that uses heated air to fly. Attached to the ball is a basket for passengers, which also contains a burner to maintain the required temperature. The flight is carried out thanks to physical law, according to which it follows that heated air is lighter than cold air. That's why flying happens.

Despite the fact that the device does not have a sonorous name yet, it is still worth talking about it. The device, developed by the Japanese corporation GEN Corporation, is a chair, on top of which there are four helicopter propellers capable of lifting a load of up to 210 kg. The design weighs only 70 kg and can be in flight for up to 30 minutes.
The cost of the device is 30 thousand dollars!!!

Personal ultralight aircraft vertical takeoff and landings. Martin Jetpack is developed by a New Zealand company. The device runs on petrol. It can fly up to 100 km / h, rising to a height of up to 2.5 km. When fully charged, it can stay in the air for half an hour.

The device, developed by the Americans, is the smallest manned jet aircraft. The design of the aircraft is a rigid structure equipped with wings - an exoskeleton. The device is so light that it can be worn like a satchel. Thanks to the EXO-Wing, you can fly up to 15 km without landing.

Our last nominee is a real contender for the Sikorsky prize, which is 250 thousand dollars.
Under the terms of the competition, he must rise into the air to a height of 3 meters and hold out for one minute. The device is a hybrid of a bicycle and a helicopter. He flies exclusively on the muscular strength of a person !!!

It's amazing what kind of aircraft can be assembled with a lot of effort, creativity and a lot of money. I bring to your attention a selection of unusual and sometimes rather strange aircraft.

NASA's M2-F1 project was nicknamed the "flying bath". The developers saw its main purpose in use as a capsule for landing astronauts. The first flight of this wingless aircraft took place on August 16, 1963, and exactly three years later on the same day, the last one took place:

Remote controlled. From mid-1979 to January 1983, two remotely piloted HiMAT vehicles were tested at NASA Air Force Base. Each aircraft was about half the size of the F-16, but had almost twice the maneuverability. At a transonic speed of sound at an altitude of 7500 m, the device could make a turn with an overload of 8 g, for comparison, the F-16 fighter at the same heights can withstand an overload of only 4.5 g. At the end of the research, both devices were saved:

Tailless. The McDonell Douglas X-36 prototype aircraft, built for one purpose: to test the flying abilities of tailless aircraft. It was built in 1997 and, as conceived by the developers, could be controlled remotely from the ground:

Crooked. Ames AD-1 (Ames AD-1) - experimental and the world's first oblique wing aircraft Ames Research Center and Burt Rutan. It was built in 1979 and made its first flight on December 29 of the same year. Tests were carried out until the beginning of 1982. During this time, AD-1 mastered 17 pilots. After the closure of the program, the aircraft was placed in the Museum of the city of San Carlos, where it is still located:

With rotating wings. The Boeing Vertol VZ-2 is the world's first aircraft using the concept of a rotary wing, vertical/short takeoff and landing. The first vertical takeoff/hover flight was made by the VZ-2 in the summer of 1957. After a series of successful tests, the VZ-2 was transferred to Research Center NASA in the early 60s:

The largest helicopter In connection with the needs of the Soviet National economy and armed forces in the design bureau. M. L. Mil in 1959 began research on a super-heavy helicopter. On August 6, 1969, an absolute world record for lifting cargo was set on the MI V-12 helicopter - 40 tons to a height of 2,250 meters, which has not been surpassed to date; in total, 8 world records were set on the B-12 helicopter. In 1971, the B-12 helicopter was successfully demonstrated at the 29th International Air Show in Paris, where it was recognized as the "star" of the salon, and then in Copenhagen and Berlin. B-12 is the heaviest and most lifting helicopter ever built in the world:

Flying saucer. The VZ-9-AV Avrocar is a VTOL aircraft developed by the Canadian company Avro Aircraft Ltd. The development of the aircraft began in 1952 in Canada. November 12, 1959 made the first flight. In 1961, the project was closed, as officially stated due to the inability of the "plate" to get off the ground above 1.5 meters. In total, two Avrocar devices were built:

Fighter in the form of a flying wing Northrop XP-79B, equipped with two jet engines, was built in 1945 by the American company Northrop. It was assumed that he would dive on enemy bombers and break them, chopping off the tail section. On September 12, 1945, the aircraft made its only flight, which ended in disaster after 15 minutes of flight:

The plane is a spaceship. The Boeing X-48 (Boeing X-48) is an American experimental unmanned aerial vehicle, created jointly by Boeing and NASA. The device uses one of the varieties of the flying wing. July 20, 2007 he first rose to a height of 2300 meters and landed after 31 minutes of flight. The X-48B was the best invention of 2007 according to the Times.

Futuristic. Another NASA project - NASA Hyper III - an aircraft created in 1969:

Experimental aircraft Vought V-173. In the 1940s, American engineer Charles Zimmerman created an aircraft with a unique aerodynamic design, which still continues to amaze not only with its unusual appearance, but also with its flight characteristics. For his unique appearance, he was awarded many nicknames, among which was "Flying Pancake". It became one of the first vertical/short takeoff and landing vehicles:

Descended from heaven. The HL-10 is one of five NASA Flight Research Center aircraft used to study and test the ability to safely maneuver and land on a low lift-to-drag craft after it returned from space:

Reverse sweep. Su-47 "Berkut" - a project of the Russian carrier-based fighter, developed in the OKB. Sukhoi. The fighter has a reverse swept wing; composite materials are widely used in the airframe design. In 1997, the first flying copy of the Su-47 was built, now it is experimental:

Striped. The Grumman X-29 is a forward-swept prototype aircraft developed in 1984 by Grumman Aerospace Corporation (now Northrop Grumman). In total, two copies were built by order of the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency:

Take off vertically. The LTV XC-142 is an American experimental tilt-wing VTOL transport aircraft. He made his first flight on September 29, 1964. Five aircraft built. The program was discontinued in 1970. The only surviving copy of the aircraft is on display at the US Air Force Museum:

Caspian Monster. "KM" (Layout Ship), also known abroad as the "Caspian Monster" - an experimental ekranoplan developed in the design bureau of R. E. Alekseev. The ekranoplan had a wingspan of 37.6 m, a length of 92 m, and a maximum takeoff weight of 544 tons. Before the appearance of the An-225 Mriya aircraft, it was the heaviest aircraft in the world. Tests of the "Caspian Monster" took place in the Caspian for 15 years until 1980. In 1980, due to a pilot error, the KM crashed, there were no casualties. After that, operations to restore or build a new copy of the CM were not carried out:

Air whale. Super Guppy is a transport aircraft for transporting oversized cargo. Developer - Aero Spacelines. Issued in the amount of five copies in two modifications. First flight - August 1965. The only flying "air whale" belongs to NASA and is operated to deliver large-sized products for the ISS:

Pointy-nosed. The Douglas X-3 Stiletto is an American experimental monoplane aircraft manufactured by Douglas. In October 1952, the first flight of the Douglas X-3 aircraft took place:

For flights to the moon. This descent module, built in 1963, was part of the Apollo project, the goal of which was the first manned landing on the moon. The module was equipped with one jet engine:

Rotorcraft. Sikorsky S-72 - experimental helicopter. The first flight of the S-72 was made on October 12, 1976. The flight of the upgraded S-72 took place on December 2, 1987, but after the following three flights, funding was discontinued:

Airplane-rocket. The Ryan X-13A-RY Vertijet is an experimental VTOL jet aircraft developed in the United States in the 1950s. The developer is Ryan. The customer is the US Air Force. In total, two such aircraft were built:

Lunar module. Another VTOL descent module, built in 1964, was part of the Apollo project, the goal of which was the first manned landing on the moon.

Miniature tactical drone HUGINN X1. Sky-Watch Labs, in collaboration with the Danish Technical University, is currently developing the MUNINN VX1 UAV UAV with partial state funding through the Innovation Fund. The MUNINN VX1 UAV is capable of taking off and landing vertically in cramped and confined spaces, flying horizontally at high speed, covering long distances and quickly reaching objects or areas of interest

Is the world of mini- and micro-UAVs becoming overpopulated? What is the landscape like there? Will there be a Darwinian selection that allows the best to live and develop along with scientific progress?

Per last years small UAVs (both mini and micro) have become a popular surveillance tool in the defense and security sector, and the ever-evolving technological advances seem to provide a bright future for this technology. Special attention Given the continued improvement of these systems for military operations in urban environments, in many countries of the world, continuous research and development work is being carried out in this direction.

However, in today's operational space, these technologies are also spreading among terrorist and insurgent groups seeking to use UAVs to deliver dirty bombs, forcing the authorities to improve the security of their own systems, as well as fundamentally change tactics and methods of combating UAVs.

The landing in April 2015 of a small vertical take-off and landing vehicle with traces of radioactive materials on the roof of the Japanese Prime Minister's residence in Tokyo is evidence of a strengthening of this trend, and it forced more advanced military forces to think about how best to use these technologies in relation to offensive and defense operations.

Mini UAV

Israel continues to maintain a strong market position through intensive development of small UAVs, primarily due to the fact that the Israeli army constantly conducts counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations as part of a larger internal security operation in built-up urban areas.

According to Malat General Manager of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Baruch Bonen, the UAV market is witnessing a “steady” growth in the number of small UAVs (both micro and mini), especially as the miniaturization of the size and mass of sensor equipment reduces the requirements for aircraft payload. In addition, he believes that this trend is also due to the fact that the use of small platforms reduces the likelihood of their identification and falling into the hands of the enemy.

The IAI Malat family of small aircraft includes the BIRD-EYE 400 mini-UAV, designed for intelligence gathering for lower echelons; micro-UAV MOSQUITO with a miniature video camera for urban operations; and the GHOST rotorcraft mini-UAV, deployable from two backpacks, also designed for urban operations and "silent" reconnaissance and surveillance.

However, in addition to the traditional manufacturers of smaller UAVs in Europe, Israel and the United States, a number of companies have now appeared in the Asia-Pacific region, offering their advanced solutions to the world market.

With a long track record of successfully developing larger platforms, Indian company Asteria Aerospace decided to begin development of its first A400 mini-UAV earlier this year. The A400 platform is a 4 kg quadcopter designed for reconnaissance missions in built-up areas. The operational speed of the device is 25 km/h, it is able to perform its tasks for 40 minutes within line of sight at a maximum range of 4 km.

The Asteria Aerospace company reported that the A400 by the end of 2015 should go to the armed forces and law enforcement agencies for evaluation.

In Europe, the Polish Ordnance Inspectorate has issued a request for proposals for mini-UAV systems as part of a broader strategy to increase the level of robotization of the Polish armed forces.

The Polish Ministry of Defense plans to purchase 12 large tactical UAVs under the designation ORLIK, but the Armaments Inspectorate also wants to purchase 15 WIZJER mini-UAVs for urban operations and reconnaissance and surveillance tasks behind enemy lines. In addition, the Polish Ministry of Defense will undoubtedly purchase smaller micro-UAVs.

The Polish Ministry of Defense already has a number of FlyEye UAVs from WB Electronics, as well as about 45 ORBITER mini UAVs from Aeronautics, which were delivered in 2005-2009. These systems with electric motors are capable of conducting reconnaissance and observation operations in line of sight with a practical ceiling of 600 meters, maximum speed 70 knots, flight duration 4 hours and a payload of 1.5 kg.

Under the terms of the RFP, each of the 15 WIZJER mini-systems will consist of three aircraft with associated ground control and logistics stations, including spare parts. The Ministry of Defense requested a mini-UAV with a maximum range of 30 km, designed for reconnaissance, surveillance and reconnaissance at the company and battalion level. The issuance of the contract is expected in 2016, and the aircraft themselves will be delivered in 2022.

The preferred options submitted to the competition include an upgraded version of the FlyEye mini-UAV from WB Electronics, as well as a joint proposal of the E-310 UAV UAV from Pitradwar and Eurotech.

The FlyEye is hand-launched from "confined spaces" in urban areas; it has a unique parachute return system, with which the device descends within a radius of 10 meters from the designated landing point.

The instrument cluster is installed at the bottom of the fuselage in order to optimize the field of view of the sensor; FlyEye is capable of carrying two cameras in one instrument cluster. The device itself, which has anti-icing and anti-spin systems, is controlled using a light ground control station LGCS (Light Ground Control Station), while data and visual information from the instrument unit are transmitted to the video terminal in real time.

The device itself can fly directly to the target point along a predetermined route and is able to barrage over the area of interest. Station LGCS allows you to control the device also in manual mode.

The digital data link also provides the ability to transmit target data to mortar fire control systems or combat control systems in order to perform subsequent fire or other combat missions. The on-board communication system operates in the NATO frequency band 4.4-5.0 GHz. According to WB Electronics, the FlyEye UAV is operated by two people, air propeller driven by a "silent" electric motor powered by a lithium polymer battery.

The length of this mini-UAV is 1.9 meters, the wingspan is 3.6 meters, and the maximum takeoff weight is 11 kg. The flight speed of the device is 50-170 km/h, it can fly at altitudes up to 4 km for a maximum range of 50 km, the maximum flight duration is three hours.

According to Eurotech, the E-310 UAV can carry optoelectronic equipment or synthetic aperture radar, as well as other "specialized surveillance equipment." It has "high mobility and reduced operating costs", the device can take up to 20 kg of on-board equipment, while the maximum flight duration reaches 12 hours. The maximum practical ceiling of the E-310 is 5 km, it can reach speeds of 160 km/h and has a maximum range of 150 km. The device is also launched using a pneumatic installation and returns by parachute, or lands in the traditional way on ski or wheel racks. Eurotech explains that the E-310 is transported on board a "small car" or on a trailer.

The SKYLARK ILE mini-UAV from Elbit Systems took part in the hostilities, It was selected by the Israeli army as a battalion-level unmanned aircraft complex, and was also delivered to more than 20 customers from different countries. Soldiers from a unit equipped with the SKYLARK I-LE UAV spent a week in the Negev desert learning how to operate the SKYLARK system (pictured)

Micro UAV

Micro-class unmanned aerial vehicles are also very useful during operations in urban environments. The military wants small, hand-launched systems capable of covert surveillance in buildings, confined spaces and targeted areas. Similar tiny systems, such as the Prox Dynamics PD-100 BLACK HORNET UAV, have already been used in Afghanistan, although operators have criticized it for lack of reliability when operating in difficult wind conditions and in heavy dust.

This particular "personal reconnaissance system" is actually a "nano-class" VTOL aircraft that is powered by a virtually silent electric motor. With a propeller diameter of only 120 mm, BLACK HORNET carries a camera weighing 18 grams, develops a speed of 5 m/s and has a flight time of up to 25 minutes. The device with a remotely controlled optical surveillance station on a turntable is capable of operating in line-of-sight from the operator up to 1.5 km, it can fly along pre-programmed routes, as well as hover in place.

However, current trends most likely indicate that for reconnaissance tasks, usually carried out before a combat operation, the military is choosing slightly larger micro-UAVs.

The InstantEye UAV manufactured by Physical Science Incorporated (PSI) is currently in service with unnamed special units of NATO countries and drug control teams operating in South America. This aircraft has also been adopted by the US Department of Defense and was recently delivered to the British Army for testing. This hand-starter weighs less than 400 grams, and the manufacturer claims a ready-to-start time of just 30 seconds. The maximum flight time is 30 minutes, the InstantEye has a maximum range of 1 km and can carry a variety of sensors.

This UAV, which during the flight imitates the movements of the hawk moth (a type of butterfly), can be controlled in the “manual” mode, while developing a speed of up to 90 km / h. InstantEye is controlled from a ground station; its surveillance and reconnaissance kit consists of a front, side and bottom view camera, providing navigation, tracking and target designation. Visual reconnaissance capabilities can be enhanced by installing a GoPro high-definition camera or infrared camera, which is capable of generating an image created by a built-in infrared LED illuminator capable of illuminating the ground from a height of 90 meters.

However, in addition to the existing use for covert surveillance and reconnaissance in the rear, this aircraft will soon receive a WMD reconnaissance sensor kit in response to possible counter-terrorism operations in urban areas. In addition, in order to meet the needs of NATO special forces, it can be equipped with relay equipment for transmitting voice and voice data.

Another system very popular with special forces is the unmanned aviation complex(TANK) SKYRANGER company Aeryon Labs, which is on international market promoted by Datron World Communications. According to executive director company Aeryon Labs Dave Kroatch, their LHC is a cost-effective alternative to other real-time situational information systems. He explained: “VTOL systems and do not require any additional launch and return equipment. They are controlled by one operator and therefore other members of the group can focus on other tasks, that is, the LHC becomes a means of increasing combat effectiveness. Real-time video can be transmitted to the command center and to other devices on the network.”

The company recently showed off its new Aeryon HDZoom30 imaging device for its SKYRANGER, which Croatch says provides “unprecedented aerial reconnaissance capabilities that are critical to the success of the operation. We are getting a UAV system with stable and reliable flight performance that can stay in the air for up to 50 minutes and that has a reliable real-time digital video feed.”

Meanwhile, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is studying a technology that would help mini-UAVs and micro-UAVs fly through highly cluttered space, regardless of direct control human and without dependence on navigation by GPS coordinates. At the beginning of this year, the FLA (Fast Lightweight Autonomy) program was officially launched. fast easy autonomy), which involves the study of biomimetic information regarding the maneuvering abilities of birds and flying insects. Although DARPA is using a small six-rotor vehicle weighing only 750 grams as a test platform, the program will still focus on developing algorithms and software that can be integrated into small UAVs of any type.

“The Department hopes that the developed software, will allow UAVs to operate in a number of spaces to which access was usually prohibited, a vivid example of this - interior spaces. Small UAVs, for example, have proven useful in close-range reconnaissance by deployed patrols, but they are, however, unable to provide information about the situation in the building, which is often the critical moment of the entire operation, ”the DARPA representative explained.

The program provides for the achievement of the following characteristics: operation at speeds up to 70 km / h, range of 1 km, operation time of 10 minutes, operation without relying on communications or GPS, computing power of 20 watts.

Initial demonstrations are scheduled for early 2016 in the form of "outdoor slalom tests" followed by indoor testing in 2017.

IAI's state-of-the-art, accessible mini-UAV BIRD-EYE-650 provides real-time video data day and night for urban operations and reconnaissance behind enemy lines

With regard to the development of onboard sensors and systems, the general trend is to constantly reduce the size of the sensors. At Aero India 2015, Controp Precision Technologies showed its Micro-STAMP (stabilized miniature payload) optical surveillance station. The station weighing less than 300 grams, which includes a daytime color CCD camera, an uncooled thermal imager and a laser pointer, is designed for installation on a mini-UAV.

The stabilized station was designed to carry out reconnaissance missions in depth and features various functions, including observation, inertial target tracking, coordinate hold, arrival at coordinates, scanning / aerial photography and pilot window mode.

The 10 cm x 8 cm station, specially hardened for hard landings, can be installed in the nose or under the fuselage. The daytime camera is based on CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semi-conductor) technology, and the thermal imager operates in the 8-14 nm range. According to Controp, the station has already been tested in the Israeli army, in addition, in 2016 it is planned to develop a larger version weighing 600 grams.

A US Army soldier prepares the InstantEye II micro-UAV for surveillance on the other side of the hill during a combined arms exercise at Fort Benning in May 2015.

The fight against small UAVs

One of the most important advantages of using mini- and micro-UAVs is that they are able to perform reconnaissance missions while remaining undetected, they cannot be detected by air defense radars and ground-based radars programmed to capture larger aircraft.

However, after the use of small-sized UAVs by militants of various persuasions during military operations in Israel and Libya, the military and industry have now taken up this threat and have begun the development of special technology that will identify, track and neutralize mini- and micro-UAVs.

At the 2015 Paris Air Show, Controp Precision Technologies showed off its Tornado, a lightweight, fast-scanning thermal imager capable of detecting and tracking mini-UAVs at low altitudes flying at various speeds. The matrix, operating in the mid-wave IR region of the spectrum, provides a 360° all-round view, it is able to determine the slightest changes in space associated with the flights of small UAVs, both aircraft and helicopter circuits. A vice president of the company explained: “Drones are becoming more common, they represent new threats to personal safety. Most radar-based air defense systems are unable to detect the threat of small drones flying below 300 meters. Tornado panoramic scans a very large area with high speed using sophisticated algorithms to detect very small changes in the environment. The Tornado was recently tested for its ability to detect and track even the smallest, low-flying drones."

It is reported that the system is capable of detecting small-sized UAVs at distances "from several hundred meters" to "tens of kilometers", but it is worth noting that, given the general concept of operations, which provides for the use of platforms of this class in urban environments, such capabilities will simply be unclaimed.

The Tornado thermal imaging system can be used as a stand-alone device or integrated into various systems air defense. It incorporates an automatic audible and visual warning system to notify the operator of any intrusion into the no-fly zone. However, in order to neutralize the threat, this system must transmit a signal either to the electronic countermeasures system or to the weapon system.

A similar solution is currently being offered by a consortium of British companies (Blighter Systems, Chess Dynamics and Enterprise Control Systems), which has developed a UAV surveillance and RF jamming system.

A British consortium recently announced the development of a system to combat small UAVs called the Anti-UAV Defense System (AUDS). Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics and Enterprise Control Systems (ECS) have partnered specifically to joint development this anti-drone system.

Mark Redford, Executive Director of Blighter Surveillance Systems, explained in an interview that the AUDS system works in three stages: detection, tracking and localization. Blighter's A400 Series Air Security Radar is used for UAV detection, Chess Dynamics' Hawkeye Long Range Surveillance System for tracking, and finally, ECS's Directional RF Jammer works as a neutralizing component.

Representatives of the companies said that the AUDS system is directly designed to deal with small aircraft and helicopter-type drones, such as quadrocopters, and even named some similar systems that you can simply buy in a store.

Redford said the system has advantages over similar systems because it includes real-world components, such as the radar already in service with several armies in the form of ground-based surveillance radar, which operates there in a very noisy environment.

Extensive trials of the AUDS system have been conducted in France and the UK, according to Dave Morris, head of business development at ECS. The system was tested against several aircraft in realistic scenarios; to date, a total of 80 hours of testing and 150 sorties have been conducted.

The French Ministry of Defense conducted tests in March 2015, while the British Defense Science and Technology Laboratory carried them out in early May. The AUDS system is currently being deployed to the US where it will be demonstrated to several potential US and Canadian operators. It is also planned to conduct tests in one of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region.

During testing, the system demonstrated the ability to detect, track and neutralize targets in as little as 15 seconds. The neutralization range is 2.5 km with an almost instantaneous effect on the target.

A key feature of the system is the ability of the RF jammer to tune into specific data channels with the exact required exposure level. For example, a jammer can be used to jam the GPS signal received by the UAV, or the radio control and management channel. There is also the potential to introduce an "intercept" capability into the system, allowing the AUDS operator to "virtually" take over control of the UAV. The jammer's job is not only to "knock down" the device, it can be used simply to disrupt the functionality of the UAV in order to force its operator to withdraw his device from the zone.

Company representatives recognized that the most difficult problem for the AUDS system could be the fight against low-flying UAVs in urban space, since in this case there are a large number of interference and a large number of reflective surfaces. Solving this problem will be the goal of further development.

Although the system is different a high degree automation in a number of aspects, especially in detection and tracking, human participation is key to the functioning of AUDS. The final decision to neutralize the target or not, and to what extent, rests entirely with the operator.

The technology for the radar is borrowed from ground-based surveillance radars in service with the British Army and also South Korea where they monitor the demilitarized zone with North Korea.

FM Doppler radar operates in electronic scanning mode and provides 180° azimuth and 10° or 20° elevation coverage, depending on configuration. It operates in the Ku band and has a maximum range of 8 km, can determine the effective reflection area up to 0.01 m2. At the same time, the system can capture several targets for tracking.

The Hawkeye surveillance and search system from Chess Dynamics is installed in one unit with an RF jammer and consists of a high-resolution optoelectronic camera and a cooled medium-wave thermal imager. The first has a horizontal field of view from 0.22° to 58°, and the thermal imager from 0.6° to 36°. The system uses a Vision4ce digital tracker to provide continuous azimuth tracking. The system is capable of continuously panning in azimuth and tilting from -20° to 60° at a speed of 30° per second, tracking targets at a distance of about 4 km.

The multi-band RF jammer from ECS features three built-in directional antennas that form a 20° wide beam. The company has gained extensive experience in the development of technologies to combat improvised explosive devices. This was told by a company representative, noting that several of its systems were deployed by coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. He added that ECS knows the vulnerabilities of data transmission channels and how to use it.

The heart of the AUDS system is the operator's control station, through which all system components can be controlled. It includes a tracking display, a main control screen, and a video recording display.

In order to expand the surveillance area, these systems can be networked, be it several full-fledged AUDS systems or a network of radars connected to one “surveillance and search system / silencer” unit. Also, the AUDS system could potentially be part of a larger system air defense, although the companies do not intend to develop this direction yet.

The CEO of Enterprise Control Systems commented: “Almost every day there are drone incidents and security perimeter breaches. In turn, the AUDS system is able to remove the heightened fears in the military, government and commercial structures associated with small UAVs.”

“While UAVs have many positive uses, they are expected to increasingly be used for villainous purposes. They can carry cameras

When they start classifying objects or phenomena, they look for the main, most common features, properties that serve as evidence of their relationship. Along with this, they also study such signs that would sharply distinguish them from each other.

If, following this principle, we begin to classify modern aircraft, then first of all the question will arise: what features or properties of aircraft are considered the most important?

Maybe you can classify them based on the materials from which the devices are made? Yes, you can, but it will be a little visual. After all, the same thing can be done from different materials. Aluminium, steel, wood, linen, rubber, plastics in tone or to another extent are used in the manufacture of airplanes, and helicopters, airships, and balloons.

It may be the basis for the classification of aircraft to choose: when and by whom was the device made for the first time? It can be classified in historical terms - this is an important question, but then devices dissimilar in many respects, proposed at the same time and in the same country, will fall under one rubric.

Obviously, these signs for classification should not be considered the most important.

Due to the fact that aircraft are designed to move in the air, they are usually divided into devices lighter than air and apparatus heavier than air. So, the basis for the classification of aircraft is their weight in relation to the air.

We see that apparatuses lighter than air include airships, balloons and stratostats. They rise and stay in the air by filling them with light gases. Heavier-than-air vehicles include airplanes, gliders, rockets, and rotorcraft.

Aircraft and glider are kept in the air lifting force created by the wings; rockets are kept in the air by the thrust force developed by the rocket engine, and rotorcraft - by the lifting force of the main rotor. There are (so far in projects) devices that occupy an intermediate position between airplanes and rotorcraft, airplanes and missiles. These are the so-called convertible aircraft, or convertible planes, which should combine the positive properties of both of them and combine huge flight speeds with the ability to hover in the air, the ability to take off without a takeoff run and land without a run.

A helicopter, like an autogyro, belongs to the category of rotary-wing aircraft. Their difference lies in the fact that the main rotor of the gyroplane is not connected to the engine and can rotate freely.

The main rotor of a helicopter (or several main rotors), in contrast to the main rotor of an autogyro, is driven by an engine during takeoff, flight and landing and serves both to create lift and thrust. The aerodynamic force created by the propeller is used both to keep the helicopter in the air and to move it forward. In addition, the main rotor is also the control element of the helicopter.

If a propeller or a jet engine creates thrust in an aircraft, wings create lift, and rudders and ailerons serve as controls, then in a helicopter all these functions are performed by the main rotor. From this it becomes clear how important the value of the main rotor in a helicopter is.

Helicopters differ from each other in the number of rotors, in their location, in the way the rotation is driven. In accordance with these signs, the helicopters depicted are divided.