Aviation equipment in the latest concepts regularly demonstrates advanced technological developments in various aspects of operation. This concerns not just the modernization of modern models, but also a broader view of the future of the segment. Designers are guided by the potential for development based on technologies that until recently were considered innovative. Of course, not all projects on which the aircraft of the future can be evaluated will actually be implemented, but for many developments it is quite possible to get an idea of ​​​​the general trends in the development of aviation.

New ideas in passenger aircraft construction

Among the most real developments in the near future, the Boeing 777X can be noted. Fundamentally innovative and bright innovations are not expected, but the designers of this model promise a serious reworking of the controls and the shape of the wings. For example, the 777X will combine ailerons and flaps to minimize the overall weight of the structure. As for the special design of the wings, it will be sectional - each will be 3.5 m long, and the developers will also provide for the possibility of their vertical lifting for parking during taxiing. Like many other passenger aircraft of the future, this airliner is planned to be converted to more efficient fuel sources. The power plant will be presented by a twin-engine complex capable of being controlled with a wingspan of about 72 m. Presumably, the aircraft will enter service in 2020.

The Japanese development of Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) is also interesting. This vessel is a jet passenger liner with 76 seats. In addition to the 20th year, the creators plan to release several modifications, one of which will be 90-seater. According to many experts, Mitsubishi will offer safer aircraft of the future than the Brazilian company Embraer and versions of the famous "Superjet". This will be achieved through an updated fuselage design and more functional on-board systems.

Trends in military aviation

Military equipment traditionally shows more technological and functionally developed samples. To some extent, this also applies to aviation. It is worth starting with communications support - massive antennas, sensors and radars may appear on the surfaces of combat aircraft of the future, which will make it possible to capture and transmit electromagnetic waves. In practice, this will provide the ability to accurately “scan” objects within a 360-degree radius, regardless of weather conditions. They will bring new opportunities and nanotechnologies. In particular, some developments will provide coatings with the function of a thermometer, which will notify of damage. Already in this decade, the military aircraft of the future are likely to receive lasers. Moreover, their use will be narrowly oriented. The first concepts are planned to be used as a means of destroying enemy missiles and air defense sensors. Microwave weapons will be used to destroy electronic devices. Both for equipping aircraft with lasers and for electromagnetic installations, special engines will be provided. The appearance of new bombers is also expected, but in this direction the principles of destruction will remain the same, and changes will occur only in terms of structural optimization.

supersonic aircraft

This class remains one of the most promising and rich. For example, NASA plans to release a supersonic QueSST by 2020 that will be almost silent. This is an important feature, since it is the high noise levels that until today are the main reason for the ban on supersonic aircraft for the transport of passengers. With the help of new technologies, NASA plans to eliminate noise loads during the transition to ultra-high speed. An interesting project is also supported by Virgin Galactic. This is a startup called Boom, which, according to some calculations, can reduce the time of flights over the Atlantic by 2.5 times compared to modern supersonic models. The fighter planes of the future, which in the sixth generation will switch to supersonic speed, are not left without attention. So far, these are distant plans, but it is possible that such developments will appear on the RQ-4 and Boeing-F-X UAV platforms. According to some reports, the latest modifications will be able to provide hypersonic speed at the level of 6 thousand km / h. But, again, the operation of the sixth generation models will not begin until 2050.

flying cars

Cinematic images in the form of flying personal cars, even today, seem like a distant fantasy. Nevertheless, Terrafugia expects, if not to implement this concept in the near future, then bring it closer. Not so long ago, the company's developers already presented a private autoplane, but with one caveat - it was more of an airplane, since it required a runway with a flat surface 500 m long. And this is not to mention the difficulties of control, which only a professional could cope with pilot. However, in the new versions, the aircraft of the future from Terrafugia should at least get rid of the need to use the runway. This achievement has already been demonstrated by the latest modification of the TF-X, capable of developing about 350 km / h. In this case, the flight range is 805 km.

hybrid aircraft

The ideas of ecological and energy efficient nutrition have long been used in traditional cars. It is quite logical that they began to be mastered by aircraft designers. In particular, engineers from Boeing have created a conceptual model of SUGAR, which should provide airlines with up to 70% savings compared to vehicles running on conventional fuel. Such a high percentage of energy savings was made possible thanks to electric batteries. While waiting for passengers, SUGAR will be simultaneously filled with traditional fuel and charged from the airport's energy terminal. Conventional fuel materials are intended only for takeoff, and the flight itself is carried out by electric motors. And this is not the only development of this type. Today, aircraft projects of the future are calculated with the possibility of a complete transition to electricity. The most ambitious ideas also concern the accumulation of solar energy, which can make energy supply 100% free.

Innovations in the private segment

Very original developments appear on the private jet market. Thus, the Bombardier Global 8000 model is a business jet designed for 8 seats. He promises to set a flight record without refueling for a distance of about 15,000 km. In this case, the speed will be 950 km / h. Outwardly unusual model SkiGull, which is called an amphibious aircraft, is also interesting. The name is due to the ability of the device to land on the water surface. This is a new development, but in the near future it will be available to everyone who wants to buy it. Icon specialists also offer combined aircraft of the future for private users. The A5 is a two-seat seaplane variant that not only allows you to land and take off from the water surface, but is also able to recover from a spin and, if necessary, eject the pilot with a parachute.

space air travel

The already mentioned company Virgin Galactic is also engaged in tourism in the form of space flights. But in the future, as its representatives note, technologies will also allow ordinary users of aircraft to perform suborbital flights from one point of the planet to another. That is, there is no talk of flights to the far corners of space, but entering orbit with overcoming the atmospheric layer is possible. Today, an example of the implementation of this idea is the Space Ship Two family of vehicles. Such aircraft of the future will be able to rise to a height of more than 15 km and deliver passengers to different parts of the Earth with minimal time costs.

The future of the Russian aircraft industry

The domestic aircraft industry was in a state of crisis for a long time, and only in recent years have serious attempts been made to radically change the situation. Prospects for the development of the Russian segment of the industry are associated with two rather successful developments. Firstly, it is the Sukhoi Superjet SSJ 100, which shows decent technical and operational performance, opening up new opportunities for further promotion of the project. For example, in 2019 it is planned to release a modification for 120 seats. Secondly, the aircraft of the future of Russia based on the MS-21 inspire great hopes for the development of the complex. This platform should be released in 2020. This is a short-medium-haul airliner, the power plant of which was created entirely on domestic components.

Conclusion

Perhaps the key trend in the development of the industry can be called the elimination of operational restrictions for aircraft of various classes. And this applies not only to technical indicators, but also to niche barriers. For example, the famous line “airplanes first of all” ceases to be relevant. A fighter from the future, a cargo liner, or a passenger ship may well get the appearance of a helicopter. In some segments, promising models of helicopters are successfully replacing traditional aircraft. It is possible that this trend will continue in the future. In particular, the Bell 525 family of aircraft promises to be the first helicopters with a fly-by-wire control system that minimizes the burden on the crew. And the Helicopters concepts from Airbus should set records in terms of carrying capacity. According to the manufacturer, by 2020 such models will be able to carry loads up to 10 tons.

"Turn on supersonic!"

Supersonic passenger aircraft - what do we know about them? At least the fact that they were created relatively long ago. But, for various reasons, they were not used for as long, and not as often as they could. Even today, they exist only as design models.

Why is that? What is the peculiarity and "secret" of supersonic? Who created this technology? And also - what will be the future of supersonic aircraft in the world, and of course - in Russia? We will try to answer all these questions.

"Farewell Flight"

So, since the last three functioning supersonic passenger aircraft made their last flights, after which they were decommissioned, fifteen years have passed. It was back in 2003. Then, on October 24, they all together "said goodbye to the sky." The last time they flew at low altitude, over the capital of Great Britain.

We then landed at London Heathrow Airport. These were Concorde aircraft owned by British Airways. And with such a “farewell flight” they completed a very short history of passenger transportation, at a speed exceeding the sound ...

That's what you might have thought a few years ago. But now it is already possible to say with certainty. This is the finale of only the first stage of this story. And probably - all its bright pages are yet to come.

Today - preparation, tomorrow - flight

Today, many companies and aircraft designers are thinking about the prospects for supersonic passenger aviation. Some are making plans to revive it. Others are already preparing for it.

After all, if it could exist and function effectively a few decades ago, today, with technologies that have seriously stepped forward, it is quite possible not only to revive it, but also to solve a number of problems that forced leading airlines to abandon it.

And the prospects are too tempting. The possibility of a flight, for example, from London to Tokyo, in five hours, seems very interesting. Cross the distance from Sydney to Los Angeles in six hours? And get from Paris to New York in three and a half? With passenger aircraft, which is capable of flying at a higher speed than sound is carried, this is not at all difficult.

But, of course, before the triumphant "return" of such into the airspace - scientists, engineers, designers, and many others - there is still a lot of work to be done. It is necessary not only to restore what once was by offering a new model. Not at all.

The goal is to solve many problems that are associated with passenger supersonic aviation. The creation of aircraft that will not only demonstrate the capabilities and power of the countries that built them. But they will also be really effective. So much so as to occupy their worthy niche in aviation.

History of supersonic. Part 1. What happened in the beginning...

Where did it all begin? In fact, from simple passenger aviation. And such is already more than a century old. Its design began in the 1910s, in Europe. When craftsmen from the most developed countries of the world created the first aircraft, the main purpose of which was to transport passengers over various distances. That is - a flight, with many people on board.

The first among them is the French Bleriot XXIV Limousine. It belonged to the aircraft manufacturer Bleriot Aeronautique. However, it was used mainly for the amusement of those who paid for pleasure "walks" - flights on it. Two years after its creation, an analogue appears in Russia.

It was the S-21 Grand. It was designed on the basis of the "Russian Knight" created by Igor Sikorsky - a heavy bomber. And the construction of this passenger aircraft was carried out by the workers of the Baltic Carriage Works.

Well, after that, progress was unstoppable. Aviation developed rapidly. And passenger, in particular. At first there were flights between specific cities. Then the planes were able to overcome the distances between states. Finally, aircraft began to cross the oceans and fly from one continent to another.

Developing technology and an increasing number of innovations allowed aviation to travel very quickly. Much faster than trains or ships. And for her, after all, there were practically no barriers. There was no need to change from one transport to another, not only, say, traveling to some particularly distant "end of the world."

Even when it is necessary to cross land and water expanses at once. Nothing stopped the planes. And this is natural, because they fly over everything - continents, oceans, countries ...

But time flew by quickly, the world changed. Of course, the aviation industry also developed. Aircraft over the next few decades, until the 1950s, changed so much, compared with those that flew back in the early 1920s and 30s, that they became something completely different, special.

And so, in the middle of the twentieth century, the development of the jet engine went very fast, even in comparison with the previous twenty or thirty years, at a pace.

A small information digression. Or - a little physics

Advanced developments have allowed aircraft to “accelerate” to a speed greater than that with which sound propagates. Of course, first of all, it was applied in military aviation. After all, we are talking about the twentieth century. Which, sadly to realize it, was a century of conflicts, two world wars, the "cold" struggle of the USSR and the USA ...

And almost every new technology created by the leading states of the world was first of all considered from the point of view of how it can be used in defense or attack.

So planes could now fly at speeds never seen before. Faster than sound. And what is its specificity?

First of all, it is obvious that this is a speed that exceeds that with which sound is carried. But, remembering the basic laws of physics, we can say that in different conditions, it may differ. Yes, and "exceeds" - the concept is very loose.

And because - there is a special standard. Supersonic speed is the one that exceeds the sound speed up to five times, taking into account the fact that depending on temperature and other environmental factors, it can change.

For example - if we take normal atmospheric pressure, at sea level, then in this case, the speed of sound will be equal to an impressive figure - 1191 km / h. That is, 331 meters are overcome in a second.
But, what is especially important in the design of supersonic aircraft, as you climb, the temperature decreases. This means that the speed with which sound propagates is very significant.

So let's say, if you rise to a height of 20 thousand meters, then here it will be already 295 meters per second. But there is another important point.

At 25,000 meters above sea level, the temperature begins to rise as it is no longer the lower atmosphere. And so it goes on. Or rather, higher. Let's say at an altitude of 50,000 meters it will be even hotter. Therefore, the speed of sound there - increases even more.

Interesting - how much? Rising 30 kilometers above sea level, you find yourself in the "zone" where sound travels at a speed of 318 meters per second. And at 50,000 meters, respectively - 330 m / s.

On the Mach number

By the way, it is interesting that in order to simplify the understanding of the features of the flight and work in such conditions, the Mach number is used in aviation. A general description of this can be reduced to the following conclusions. It expresses the speed of sound that takes place under given conditions, at a particular height, at a given temperature and air density.

For example, the flight speed, which is equal to two Mach numbers, at an altitude of ten kilometers above the ground, under normal conditions, will be 2,157 km/h. And at sea level - 2,383 km / h.

History of supersonic. Part 2. Overcoming barriers

By the way, for the first time he reached the speed of flight, more than 1 Mach, a pilot from the USA - Chuck Yeager. This happened in 1947. Then he "dispersed" his plane, flying at an altitude of 12.2 thousand meters above the ground, to a speed of 1066 km / h. Thus was the first supersonic flight on earth.

Already in the 1950s, work began on the design and preparation for mass production of passenger aircraft capable of flying at speeds - faster than sound. They are led by scientists and aircraft designers from the most powerful countries in the world. And they manage to succeed.

The same "Concorde", a model - which will be finally abandoned in 2003, was created in 1969. This is a joint - British-French development. The symbolically chosen name - "Concorde", from French, is translated as "consent".

It was one of two existing types of supersonic passenger aircraft. Well, the creation of the second (or rather - chronologically - the first) is the merit of the aircraft designers of the USSR. The Soviet analogue of the Concorde is called the Tu-144. It was designed in the 1960s and first flew on December 31, 1968. One year before the British-French model.

Other types of supersonic passenger aircraft, up to this day, have not been implemented. Both the Concorde and the Tu-144 flew thanks to turbojet engines, which were specially rebuilt in order to operate at supersonic speed for a long time.

The Soviet analogue of the Concorde was operated for a much shorter period. Already in 1977 it was abandoned. The plane flew on average at a speed of 2,300 kilometers per hour and could carry up to 140 passengers at a time. But at the same time, the price of a ticket for such a “supersonic” flight was two, two and a half, or even three times more than for an ordinary one.

Of course, these were not in great demand among Soviet citizens. And servicing the Tu-144 was not easy and expensive. Therefore, in the USSR they were so quickly abandoned.

Concordes lasted longer, although tickets for the flights they flew were also expensive. And the demand was also not great. But still, despite this, they continued to be exploited, both in the UK and in France.

If you recalculate the cost of a ticket for Concorde, in the 1970s, at today's rate, then it will be about two tens of thousands of dollars. For a one way ticket. You can understand why the demand for them was somewhat less than for flights using aircraft that do not reach supersonic speeds.

The Concorde could take on board from 92 to 120 passengers at a time. He flew at a speed of more than 2 thousand km / h and covered the distance from Paris to New York in three and a half hours.

So several decades passed. Until 2003.

One of the reasons for the refusal to operate this model was a plane crash that occurred in 2000. Then, there were 113 people on board the crashed Concorde. They all died.

Later, an international crisis began in the field of passenger air transportation. Its cause is the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001, on the territory of the United States.

Moreover, on top of that, the warranty period for the Concorde by Airbus is expiring. All this together made the further operation of supersonic passenger aircraft extremely unprofitable. And in 2003, all Concordes were written off in turn, both in France and in the UK.

hopes

After that, there were still hopes for an early "return" of supersonic passenger aircraft. Aircraft designers talked about creating special engines, which would save fuel, despite the flight speed. We talked about improving the quality and optimizing the main avionics systems on such aircraft.

But, in 2006 and 2008, new regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization were issued. They determined the latest (by the way, they are valid at the moment) standards for permissible aircraft noise during flight.

And supersonic aircraft, as you know, did not have the right to fly over populated areas, which is why. After all, they produced strong noise pops (also for reasons of the physical characteristics of the flight) when they moved at maximum speeds.

This was the reason that the "planning" of the "revival" of supersonic passenger aviation was somewhat slowed down. However, in fact, after the introduction of this requirement, aircraft designers began to think about how to solve such a problem. After all, it also had a place to be before, just the "ban" focused on it - the "problem of noise".

But what about today?

But ten years have passed since the last "ban". And planning smoothly turned into design. To date, several companies and government organizations are engaged in the creation of passenger supersonic aircraft.

What exactly? Russian: Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (the one named after Zhukovsky), Tupolev and Sukhoi companies. Russian aircraft designers have an invaluable advantage.

The experience of Soviet designers and creators of the Tu-144. However, it is better to talk about domestic developments in this area separately and in more detail, which we propose to do next.

But not only the Russians are creating a new generation of supersonic passenger aircraft. This is also the European concern - Airbus, and the French company Dassault. Among the companies of the United States of America that work in this direction are Boeing and, of course, Lockheed Martin. In the land of the rising sun, the main organization that designs such an aircraft is the aerospace research agency.

And this list is by no means complete. At the same time, it is important to clarify that the vast majority of professional aircraft designers working in this area are divided into two groups. Regardless of country of origin.

Some believe that it is impossible in any way to create a "quiet" supersonic passenger aircraft, at the current level of technological development of mankind.

And therefore - the only way out is the design of a "simply fast" airliner. He, in turn, will move to supersonic speed in those places where it is allowed. And flying, for example, over settlements, return to subsonic.

Such "jumps", according to this group of scientists and designers, will reduce the flight time to the minimum possible, and not violate the requirements for noise effects.

Others, on the contrary, are full of determination. They believe that it is possible to deal with the cause of noise now. And they made a lot of efforts in order to prove that a supersonic airliner flying quietly is quite possible to build in the coming years.

And some more boring physics

So, when flying at a speed of more than Mach 1.2, the airframe of the aircraft generates shock waves. They are strongest in the tail and nose areas, as well as in some other parts of the aircraft, such as, for example, on the edges of the air intakes.

What is a shock wave? This is a zone where the density, pressure and temperature of the air experience sharp jumps. They occur when moving at high speeds, faster than sound.

People who are standing on the ground at the same time, despite the distance, it seems that there is some kind of explosion. Of course, we are talking about those who are in relative proximity - under the place where the plane flies. That is why the flights of supersonic aircraft over cities were banned.

It is with such shock waves that representatives of the “second camp” of scientists and designers, who believe in the possibility of leveling this noise, are struggling.

If you go into details, then the reason for this is literally a “collision” with air at a very high speed. At the wave front, the pressure is sharply and strongly increased. At the same time, immediately after it, there is a drop in pressure, and then a transition to a normal pressure indicator (such as it was before the "collision").

However, the classification of wave types has already been carried out and potentially optimal solutions have been found. It remains only to complete the work in this direction and make the necessary adjustments to the aircraft designs, or create them from scratch, taking into account these amendments.

In particular, NASA experts have come to realize the need for structural changes in order to reform the characteristics of the flight as a whole.

Namely, changing the specifics of shock waves, as much as possible at the current technological level. What is achieved by restructuring the wave, due to specific design changes. As a result, the standard wave is considered as an N-type, and the one that occurs during the flight, taking into account the innovations proposed by specialists, as an S-type.

And with the latter, the “explosive” effect of pressure change is significantly reduced, and people below, for example, in a city, if an airplane flies over it, even when they hear such an effect, it is only like a “distant slam of a car door”.

Shape is also important

In addition, for example, Japanese aviation designers, not so long ago, in mid-2015, created an unmanned glider model D-SEND 2. Its shape is designed in a special way, allowing you to significantly reduce the intensity and number of shock waves that occur when the device flies at supersonic speed.

The effectiveness of the innovations proposed in this way by Japanese scientists was proven during the tests of D-SEND 2. Those were carried out in Sweden in July 2015. The course of the event was quite interesting.

The glider, which was not equipped with engines, was raised to a height of 30.5 kilometers. With the help of a balloon. Then he was thrown down. During the fall, he "accelerated" to a speed of Mach 1.39. The length of the D-SEND 2 itself is 7.9 meters.

After the tests, Japanese aircraft designers were able to confidently declare that the intensity of shock waves, when flying at a speed exceeding the speed of sound, is two times less than that of the Concorde.

What are the features of D-SEND 2? First of all, its nose is not axisymmetric. The keel is shifted towards it, and at the same time, the horizontal tail unit is set as all-moving. It is also located at a negative angle to the longitudinal axis. And at the same time, the tail ends are located lower than the attachment point.

The wing, smoothly connected to the fuselage, is made with a normal sweep, but stepped.

According to approximately the same scheme, now, as of November 2018, they are designing a passenger supersonic AS2. Professionals from Lockheed Martin are working on it. The customer is NASA.

Also, the project of the Russian VTS / SPS is now at the stage of improving the form. It is planned that it will be created with an emphasis on reducing the intensity of shock waves.

Certification and... more certification

It is important to understand that some projects of passenger supersonic aircraft will be implemented already in the early 2020s. At the same time, the rules established by the International Civil Aviation Organization, in 2006 and 2008, will still be in effect.

This means that if by that time there has not been a serious technological breakthrough in the field of “quiet supersonic”, then it is likely that aircraft will be created that will switch to speeds above one Mach, only in areas where this is allowed.

And after that, when the necessary technologies do appear, in such a scenario, many new tests will have to be carried out. In order for aircraft to be able to obtain permission to fly over populated areas. But these are only speculations about the future, today it is very difficult to say anything for sure on this score.

A question of price

Another issue mentioned earlier is cost. Of course, to date, many engines have already been created that are much more economical than those that were in operation twenty or thirty years ago.

In particular, those that can provide the aircraft with movement at supersonic speed are now being designed, but at the same time they do not “eat up” as much fuel as the Tu-144, or Concorde.

How? First of all, this is the use of ceramic composite materials, which provide a decrease in temperatures, and this is especially important in the hot zones of power plants.

In addition - the introduction of another, third, air circuit - in addition to external and internal. Leveling of a rigid coupling of a turbine with a fan, inside an aircraft engine, etc.

But nevertheless, even thanks to all these innovations, it cannot be said that supersonic flight, in today's realities, is economical. Therefore, in order for it to become accessible and attractive to the general population, work on improving engines is extremely important.

Perhaps - the actual solution will be a complete redesign of the structure - experts say.

By the way, it will not be possible to reduce the cost by increasing the number of passengers per flight. Since those aircraft that are being designed today (meaning, of course, supersonic aircraft) are designed to transport a small number of people - from eight to forty-five.

New engine - a solution to the problem

Of the latest innovations in this area, it should be noted the innovative jet, turbofan power plant, created this year, 2018, by GE Aviation. In October it was introduced under the name Affinity.

This engine is planned to be installed on the mentioned passenger AS2 model. There are no significant technological "novelties" in this type of power plants. But at the same time, it combines the features of jet engines with a large and small degree of bypass. What makes the model very interesting for installation on a supersonic aircraft.

Among other things, the creators of the engine claim that during testing it will prove its ergonomics. The fuel consumption of the power plant will be approximately equal to that which can be recorded with standard airliner engines that are currently in operation.

That is, it is a claim that the power plant of a supersonic aircraft will consume approximately the same amount of fuel as a conventional airliner that is not capable of accelerating to speeds above Mach 1.

How this will happen is still difficult to explain. Since the design features of the engine, its creators do not currently disclose.

What can they be - Russian supersonic airliners?

Of course, today there are many specific projects for supersonic passenger aircraft. However, not everyone is close to implementation. Let's look at the most promising.

So - Russian aircraft manufacturers, who have inherited the experience of Soviet masters, deserve special attention. As mentioned earlier, today, within the walls of TsAGI named after Zhukovsky, according to its employees, the creation of the concept of a new generation supersonic passenger aircraft has almost been completed.

The official description of the model, provided by the press service of the institute, mentions that it is a "light, administrative" aircraft, "with a low level of sonic boom." The design is carried out by specialists, employees of this institution.

Also, in the message of the TsAGI press service, it is mentioned that due to the special layout of the aircraft body and a special nozzle on which the noise suppression system is installed, this model will demonstrate the latest technological developments in the Russian aircraft industry.

By the way, it is important to mention that among the most promising projects of TsAGI, in addition to the described one, is a new configuration of passenger airliners, called the "flying wing". It implements several particularly relevant improvements. Specifically, it makes it possible to improve aerodynamics, reduce fuel consumption, etc. But for non-supersonic aircraft.

Among other things, this institute has repeatedly presented ready-made projects that have attracted the attention of aviation enthusiasts from all over the world. Let's say - one of the latest - a model of a supersonic business jet that can cover up to 7,000 kilometers without refueling, and reach a speed of 1.8 thousand km / h. This was presented at the Gidroaviasalon-2018 exhibition.

"... designing is going on all over the world!"

In addition to the Russian ones mentioned, the following models are also the most promising. American AS2 (capable of speeds up to Mach 1.5). Spanish S-512 (speed limit - Mach 1.6). And also, currently under design in the US, Boom, from Boom Technologies (well, it will be able to fly at a maximum speed of Mach 2.2).

There is also the X-59, which is created by order of NASA, by Lockheed Martin. But it will be a flying scientific laboratory, not a passenger plane. And so far no one has planned to launch it into mass production.

The plans of Boom Technologies are interesting. Employees of this company declare that they will try to achieve the maximum reduction in the cost of a flight on supersonic airliners created by the enterprise. For example, they can approximate the price for a flight from London to New York. It is about 5000 US dollars.

For comparison, this is how much a ticket for a flight from the English capital to "New" York costs, on a regular, or "subsonic" plane, in business class. That is, the price of a flight on an airliner capable of flying at a speed of more than Mach 1.2 will be approximately equal to the cost of an expensive ticket for a plane that could not make the same fast flight.

However, Boom Technologies made a bet that it would not be possible to create a “quiet” supersonic passenger liner in the short term. Therefore, their Boom will fly at the maximum speed it can develop only over water spaces. And being above land, switch to a smaller one.

Given that the length of Boom will be 52 meters, at a time it will be able to carry up to 45 passengers. According to the plans of the company designing the aircraft, the first flight of this novelty should occur in 2025.

What is currently known about another promising project - AS2? It will be able to carry significantly fewer people - only eight to twelve people per flight. In this case, the length of the liner will be equal to 51.8 meters.

Over water, as planned, he will be able to fly at a speed of 1.4-1.6 Mach, and over land - 1.2. By the way, in the latter case, due to the special shape, the plane, in principle, will not form shock waves. For the first time, this model should take to the air in the summer of 2023. In October of the same year, the aircraft will make its first flight across the Atlantic.

This event will be timed to coincide with a memorable date - the twentieth anniversary since the day the Concordes flew over London for the last time.

Moreover, the Spanish S-512 will take to the skies for the first time no later than at the end of 2021. And deliveries of this model to customers will begin in 2023. The maximum speed of this aircraft is Mach 1.6. It is possible to accommodate 22 passengers on board. The maximum flight range is 11.5 thousand km.

The client is the head of everything!

As you can see, some companies are trying very hard to complete the design and start building aircraft - as quickly as possible. For whose sake are they ready to hurry so much? Let's try to explain.

So, during 2017, for example, the volume of air passenger traffic amounted to four billion people. Moreover, 650 million of them flew long distances, having traveled from 3.7 to thirteen hours. Further - 72 million out of 650, moreover, they flew first, or business class.

It is these 72,000,000 people, on average, that those companies that are engaged in the creation of supersonic passenger aircraft are counting on. The logic is simple - it is possible that many of them will not mind paying a little more for a ticket, with the condition that the flight will be about twice as fast.

But, even despite all the prospects, many experts reasonably believe that the active progress of supersonic aviation, created for the transport of passengers, can begin after 2025.

In support of this opinion, the fact that the aforementioned “flying” laboratory X-59 will take to the air for the first time only in 2021 testifies. And why?

Research and perspectives

The main purpose of its flights, which will take place over several years, will be the collection of information. The fact is that this aircraft must fly over various settlements at supersonic speed. Residents of these settlements have already expressed their consent to the testing.

And after the laboratory aircraft completes the next “experimental flight”, people living in those settlements over which it flew should talk about the “impressions” that they received during the time when the airliner was over their heads. And especially clearly express how the noise was perceived. Did it affect their livelihoods, etc.

The data collected in this way will be transferred to the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States. And after their detailed analysis by specialists, it is possible that the ban on flights of supersonic airliners over populated areas of land will be canceled. But in any case, this will happen no earlier than 2025.

In the meantime, we can watch the creation of these innovative aircraft, which will soon mark the birth of a new era of supersonic passenger aviation with their flights!

When can a new supersonic passenger plane take to the skies? Business jet based on the Tu-160 bomber: real? How to silently break the sound barrier?

Tu-160 is the largest and most powerful supersonic and variable wing aircraft in the history of military aviation. Among the pilots he received the nickname "White Swan". Photo: AP

Do supersonic passenger cars have a future? - I asked not so long ago the outstanding Russian aircraft designer Genrikh Novozhilov.

Of course have. At least a supersonic business aircraft will certainly appear, - answered Genrikh Vasilyevich. - I had a chance to talk with American businessmen more than once. They clearly stated: "If such an aircraft appeared, Mr. Novozhilov, then, no matter how expensive it was, they would instantly buy it from you." Speed, altitude and range are three factors that are always relevant.

Yes, they are relevant. The dream of any businessman is to fly across the ocean in the morning, make a big deal, and return home in the evening. Modern aircraft fly no faster than 900 km/h. A supersonic business jet will have a cruising speed of about 1900 km per hour. What prospects for the business world!

That is why neither Russia, nor America, nor Europe has ever abandoned attempts to create a new supersonic passenger car. But the history of those that have already flown - the Soviet Tu-144 and the Anglo-French Concorde - has taught us a lot.

In December of this year, it will be half a century since the Tu-144 made its first flight. And a year later, the liner showed what exactly it is capable of: it broke the sound barrier. He picked up a speed of 2.5 thousand km / h at an altitude of 11 km. This event has gone down in history. There are still no analogues of passenger boards in the world that are able to repeat such a maneuver.

"One hundred and forty-four" opened a fundamentally new page in the global aircraft industry. They say that at one of the meetings in the Central Committee of the CPSU, designer Andrei Tupolev reported to Khrushchev: the car is turning out to be quite voracious. But he just waved his hand: your job is to wipe the nose of the capitalists, and we have kerosene - at least fill up ...

Nose - lost. Kerosene - flooded.

However, the European competitor, which took off later, also did not excel in efficiency. So, in 1978, nine "Concordes" brought their companies about $ 60 million in losses. And only government subsidies saved the situation. Nevertheless, the Anglo-French flew until November 2003. But the Tu-144 was written off much earlier. Why?

First of all, Khrushchev's optimism was not justified: an energy crisis erupted in the world and kerosene prices rushed up. The supersonic first-born was immediately dubbed "Aeroflot's boa constrictor around the neck." Huge fuel consumption also knocked out the design flight range: the Tu-144 did not reach either Khabarovsk or Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Only from Moscow to Alma-Ata.

And if only this. A 200-ton "iron", cruising over densely populated areas at supersonic speed, literally blew up the entire space along the route. Complaints poured in: cows' milk yields fell, chickens stopped laying, acid rains crushed ... Where is the truth, where is the lie - today you can’t say for sure. But the fact remains: the Concorde flew only over the ocean.

Finally, and most importantly, disasters. One - in June 1973 at the Paris air show in Le Bourget, as they say, in full view of the whole planet: the crew of test pilot Kozlov wanted to demonstrate the capabilities of the Soviet airliner ... The other - in five years. Then a test flight was carried out with the engines of the new series: they just had to pull the plane to the required range.

"Concorde" also did not escape the tragedy: the plane crashed in July 2000 while taking off from Charles de Gaulle Airport. Ironically, it crashed almost where the Tu-144 had once been. 109 people on board and four on the ground were killed. Regular passenger traffic resumed only a year later. But another series of incidents followed, and a bullet was also put on this supersonic aircraft.

On December 31, 1968, the first flight of the Tu-144 took place, two months earlier than the Concorde. And on June 5, 1969, at an altitude of 11,000 meters, our aircraft was the first in the world to break beyond the sound barrier. Photo: Sergey Mikheev / RG

Today, at a new stage in the development of technology, scientists need to find a balance between conflicting factors: the good aerodynamics of the new supersonic aircraft, low fuel consumption, as well as severe restrictions on noise and sonic boom.

How realistic is it to create a new passenger supersonic aircraft based on the Tu-160 bomber? From a purely engineering point of view, it is quite, experts say. And there are examples in history when military aircraft successfully "removed their shoulder straps" and flew "to civilian life": for example, the Tu-104 was created on the basis of the Tu-16 long-range bomber, and the Tu-114 was based on the Tu-95 bomber. In both cases, the fuselage had to be redone - to change the wing layout, to expand the diameter. In fact, these were new aircraft, and quite successful. By the way, a curious detail: when the Tu-114 first flew to New York, there was neither a suitable ladder nor a tractor at the dumbfounded airport ...

Similar work will at least be required for the conversion of the Tu-160. However, how cost-effective will this solution be? Everything needs to be carefully evaluated.

How many of these planes do you need? Who will fly them and where? To what extent will they be commercially available to passengers? How soon will the development costs pay off? .. Tickets for the same Tu-144 cost 1.5 times more than usual, but even such a high cost did not cover operating costs.

Meanwhile, according to experts, the first Russian supersonic administrative aircraft (business jet) can be designed in seven to eight years if there is a backlog on the engine. Such an aircraft can accommodate up to 50 people. The overall demand in the domestic market is projected at the level of 20-30 cars at a price of 100-120 million dollars.

Serial supersonic passenger aircraft of the new generation may appear around 2030

Designers on both sides of the ocean are working on projects for supersonic business jets. Everyone is looking for new layout solutions. Someone offers an atypical tail, someone - a completely unusual wing, someone - a fuselage with a curved central axis ...

TsAGI specialists are developing a SDS / SPS project (“supersonic business aircraft / supersonic passenger aircraft”): according to the idea, it will be able to perform transatlantic flights up to 8600 km at a cruising speed of at least 1900 km / h. Moreover, the salon will be made transformable - from an 80-seat to a 20-seat VIP class.

And last summer at the air show in Zhukovsky, one of the most interesting was the model of a high-speed civil aircraft created by TsAGI scientists as part of the international project HEXAFLY-INT. This aircraft must fly at a speed of more than 7-8 thousand km / h, corresponding to Mach 7 or 8.

But in order for a high-speed civil aircraft to become a reality, a huge range of tasks must be solved. They are related to materials, the hydrogen power plant, its integration with the airframe and obtaining high aerodynamic efficiency of the aircraft itself.

And what is already absolutely certain: the design features of the designed winged machine will be clearly non-standard.

Competently

Sergey Chernyshev, Director General of TsAGI, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences:

The level of sonic boom (a sharp pressure drop in the shock wave) from the Tu-144 was 100-130 pascals. But modern research has shown that it can be brought up to 15-20. Moreover, reduce the volume of the sonic boom to 65 decibels, which is equivalent to the noise of a large city. Until now, there are no official standards for the permissible level of sonic boom in the world. And most likely it will be determined no earlier than 2022.

We have already proposed the appearance of a demonstrator of a supersonic civil aircraft of the future. The sample should show the feasibility of reducing sonic boom in supersonic cruising and airport noise. Several options are being considered: a plane for 12-16 passengers, also for 60-80. There is a variant of a very small business aircraft - for 6-8 passengers. These are different weights. In one case, the machine will weigh about 50 tons, and in the other - 100-120, etc. But we will start from the first of the designated supersonic aircraft.

According to various estimates, today there is an unrealized need in the market for fast flights for business people on airplanes with a passenger capacity of 12-16 people. And, of course, the car must fly at a distance of at least 7-8 thousand kilometers along transatlantic routes. Cruise speed will be Mach 1.8-2, which is about twice the speed of sound. This speed is a technological barrier to the use of conventional aluminum materials in the airframe design. Therefore, the dream of scientists is to make an aircraft entirely from thermal composites. And there are good practices.

Clear requirements for the aircraft must be determined by the launch customer, and then at the stages of preliminary design and experimental design work, some change in the initial appearance of the aircraft obtained at the stage of preliminary design is possible. But the sound principles of sonic boom reduction remain unchanged.

The short-term passenger operation of the supersonic Tu-144 was limited to flights from Moscow to Alma-Ata. Photo: Boris Korzin/ TASS Newsreel

I think we are 10-15 years away from the flying prototype. In the near future, according to our plans, a flying demonstrator should appear, the appearance of which is being worked out. Its main task is to demonstrate the basic technologies for building a supersonic aircraft with a low level of sonic boom. This is a necessary step in the work. A production supersonic aircraft of a new generation may appear on the horizon of 2030.

Oleg Smirnov, Honored Pilot of the USSR, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Commission of the Public Council of Rostransnadzor:

To make a passenger supersonic aircraft based on the Tu-160? For our engineers - absolutely real. No problem. Moreover, this machine is very good, with excellent aerodynamic qualities, a good wing and fuselage. However, today any passenger aircraft must first of all comply with international airworthiness and technical requirements. The discrepancies, if we compare the bomber and the passenger plane, are more than 50 percent. For example, when some say that during the alteration it is necessary to "inflate the fuselage", one must understand that the Tu-160 itself weighs more than 100 tons. "Inflate" is to add more weight. And that means - to increase fuel consumption, reduce speed and height, make the device absolutely unattractive for any airline in terms of its operating costs.

To create a supersonic aircraft for business aviation, we need new avionics, new aircraft engines, new materials, new types of fuel. On the Tu-144, kerosene, as they say, flowed like a river. Today, this is impossible. And most importantly, there should be massive demand for such an aircraft. One or two cars commissioned by millionaires will not solve the financial problem. Airlines will have to lease it and "work off" the cost. On whom? Naturally, on passengers. From an economic point of view, the project will be a failure.

Sergey Melnichenko, Director General of the ICAA "Safety Flights":

In the almost 35 years that have passed since the start of serial production of the Tu-160, technology has gone ahead, and this will have to be taken into account in the deep modernization of the existing aircraft. Aircraft builders say it's much easier and cheaper to build a new aircraft according to a new concept than to rebuild an old one.

Another question: if the Tu-160 is rebuilt specifically for a business jet, will the Arab sheikhs still be interested in it? However, there are several "buts". The aircraft will need to obtain an international certificate (and the European Union and the United States are behind its issuance), which is very problematic. In addition, new economical engines will be needed, which we do not have. Those that are available do not consume fuel, but drink.

If the plane is converted to transport economy passengers (which is unlikely), then the question is where to fly and who to carry? Last year, we only just approached the figure of 100 million passengers carried. In the USSR, these figures were much higher. The number of airfields has decreased several times. Not everyone who would like to fly to the European part of the country from Kamchatka and Primorye can afford it. Tickets for a "fuel-drinking plane" will be more expensive than for Boeings and Airbuses.

If the plane is planned to be rebuilt purely for the interests of the leaders of large companies, then most likely it will be so. But then this question concerns only them, and not the Russian economy and people. Although even in this case it is difficult to imagine that flights will be operated only to Siberia or the Far East. The problem with the noise in the area. And if the updated plane is not allowed to Sardinia, then who needs it?

The founder of Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson, announced his readiness to launch a dozen into the sky, the era of which, according to the businessman, is returning. Earlier, NASA announced the development of supersonic passenger aviation. Despite many years of “pausing” the mass production of supersonic aircraft, this topic continued to be discussed and the designers did not stop working on projects.

Screemr

When it comes to future travel, passengers dream of getting to their destination as quickly as possible. It is in speed that the concept of the Screemr supersonic passenger liner project, presented in 2015 by Canadian engineer Charles Bombardier and designer Ray Mattison, lies. The name of the founder of Bombardier is well known. As for his partner, designer Ray Mattison has already worked at Cirrus Aircraft and Exodus Machines, he also owns the concept of a hybrid aircraft with an Icarus motorcycle (Icarus wingless aircraft).

The speed of the Screemr aircraft must exceed the speed of sound by 10 times, and the flight, for example, from London to New York will take only half an hour. As conceived by the authors of the project, Screemr will be launched using an electromagnetic gun and fly on a liquid rocket engine (kerosene or liquid oxygen). As a result, it should accelerate to 12.4 thousand km / h. It is assumed that the cabin Screemr will be able to accommodate up to 75 passengers, in addition, it is expected that such an aircraft will carry out transcontinental flights.

Lapcat

Lapcat was developed by designers from Reaction Engines and financially supported by the British aerospace company BAE Systems. As conceived by the developers, Lapcat should pick up speed up to Mach 5, that is, about 6 thousand km / h, which is two and a half times the speed of the Concorde. Thus, it will be possible to fly, say, from London to Sydney in just four hours (the flight time on a conventional plane will be 20 hours). The aircraft is supposed to use the Yatagan concept engine, which exploits the thermodynamic properties of liquid hydrogen.

"Concord-2"

The project of the supersonic passenger airliner "Concorde-2" (Concorde 2), capable of flying at a speed of 4.5 Mach, was presented a year ago by the aircraft manufacturer Airbus. From London to New York, the plane should fly in just an hour, and from Tokyo to Los Angeles in three hours. As conceived by the developers, the Concorde-2 takes off vertically and flies along specially designated air corridors at an altitude of approximately 30.5 km. A video was even posted on the YouTube channel, schematically demonstrating the capabilities of the aircraft. It was described as "the tallest roller coaster with steep ascents and descents, and high speed."

The patent, obtained by Airbus, describes three different types of engine: ramjet, twin turbojet and rocket. It is planned that they will be involved at different stages of the aircraft's journey to its destination. At the same time, according to engineers, unlike the first Concorde, the sonic boom (a classic barrier to the development of supersonic air transport) at Concorde-2 will be quieter. True, the number of passengers that the new aircraft can take on board is limited to only two dozen, which means that the flight will be very expensive.

antipode

This is another concept presented by the restless Charles Bombardier at the end of January this year. If earlier supersonic projects were limited by reality, then the technical characteristics look absolutely fantastic. Its maximum speed is Mach 24, which is 12 times the speed of the Concorde. Therefore, a resident of New York will be able to fly on such a plane to London in 11 minutes, to Shanghai in 24 minutes, and to Sydney in 32 minutes. Almost teleportation.

Bombardier engineer Joseph Haseltine proposed using an innovative aerodynamic phenomenon called “long penetration mode” (LPM): special nozzles on the nose of the aircraft draw in air, cooling the aircraft body with it. This would solve the problem of the aircraft overheating at that speed. Antipode will be able to take off from any airfield using reusable booster rockets. They are attached to the wings of the aircraft and, when it gains the required speed and altitude, they are dropped and returned back to the base. A serious disadvantage of the project is the capacity of the aircraft - the cabin is designed for only 10 passengers. Therefore, it would be more appropriate to use it on expensive business trips or as a military aircraft.

Projects of supersonic aircraft of the future

Air travel is a common occurrence in today's society. When most people think of a commercial airliner, the standard aircraft comes to mind. However, aerospace engineers around the world are developing products that could truly revolutionize air travel.

1.Aether Airship

Although Boeing has recently begun production of the 787 airliner, the company's engineers are already working on the next project. Boeing plans to do something radically different from its standard designs this time around and is considering building a passenger airliner under the scheme. Currently, NASA is working with Boeing to experiment with aircraft of this design for both commercial and military use.

To test aerodynamic capabilities, they built the X-48, an unmanned "flying wing" jet. During tests, it turned out that such an aircraft has a high payload, has better controllability than expected, and is also extremely economical. Passenger airliner prototypes are expected within 20 years.

3. Reaction Engines A2

Another breakthrough in the aerospace industry is hypersonic airliners. The Concorde and the Tu-144 went down in history as the first commercial supersonic airliners, and now engineers are hoping to develop airliners capable of speeds in excess of Mach 5. One of the leaders in these developments today is the British company Reaction Engines Limited, which developed the concept of an airliner called the A2.

This futuristic aircraft can fly at supersonic speeds while being environmentally friendly. The A2 provides for the use of Scimitar engines, a further development of the SABER engine. But while the SABER uses rocket engines, the Scimitar uses a hybrid ramjet and conventional jet engine in parallel.

When flying at high speed, a hybrid ramjet is used, and when taking off and landing, a conventional jet engine is used. This project uses liquid hydrogen as fuel, which also cools the engines. Due to sonic shock concerns, the A2 will only fly at the speed of sound over populated areas, and at top speed, the A2 will be able to fly from Australia to northern Europe in just five hours.

4 Bombardier Antipodes

The Canadian company Bombardier recently announced the development of Antipode - its concept of the business aircraft of the future. Although this hypersonic airliner will be able to carry only 10 people, it will fly at a speed of ... Mach 24. At this speed, Antipode will be able to get from New York to London in 11 minutes. The Antipode concept involves the use of hypersonic jet engines (scramjet engines), which have no moving parts such as blades or compressors.

In order to get to the speeds needed to operate a scramjet engine (which will force air at ultra-high speeds into the engine thanks to the aircraft's speed itself), Antipode will use rocket boosters as it takes off from the ground. After the aircraft reaches cruising altitude and speed, the scramjet will turn on, which will accelerate the liner to a speed of Mach 24.

5 Boeing Pelican

In the early 2000s, Boeing explored the possibility of building a new transoceanic Pelican that used the ground effect. Although the aircraft was primarily intended for the transport of goods, the concept would also be applicable to commercial airliners. A huge aircraft was designed (double-deck structure 122 m long and with a wingspan of 150 meters) that would fly like an ekranoplan, essentially gliding over the water at a height of 6 meters.

When flying over land, the Pelican would have flown at normal aircraft altitude. While the project was promising, Boeing has abandoned development since the early 2000s for unknown reasons.

6. SAX-40

Even when aircraft fly at subsonic speeds, their engine noise is annoying to people living around airports and can cause adverse health effects. To combat this problem, a team of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Cambridge developed the SAX-40, a near-silent aircraft concept. Airplanes produce noise mainly due to imperfect aerodynamics, so the SAX-40 was made very streamlined. Due to its unusual shape, the SAX-40 has more lift than a conventional aircraft.

That is why the aircraft does not have flaps, which provide additional lift during takeoff and landing, which accordingly reduces engine noise. The air intakes of the engines are located on the top of the aircraft, i.e. the fuselage acts as a natural barrier to noise. To reduce engine exhaust noise, the SAX-40 uses a variable exhaust system. Due to its design, the aircraft will produce only 63 decibels of noise during takeoff and landing. For comparison, the noise of a conventional aircraft during takeoff is 100 decibels.

7. Space Liner

The German Aerospace Center (GAC) is currently developing its own high speed jet design. Notably, the GAC, instead of using standard designs, is developing a space plane or spaceplane called the SpaceLiner. The concept implies a two-stage design: an unmanned launch stage - a cryogenic booster and a passenger suborbital stage designed for 50 passengers.

The accelerator delivers the SpaceLiner to a height of 80 km, where it accelerates to a speed of Mach 25. This would allow such a device to fly from Australia to Europe in 90 minutes. At the end of the flight, the spaceplane lands like any ordinary aircraft. The SpaceLiner is also environmentally friendly as it uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellants. The start of operation is expected in 2050.

8. AWWA-QG Progress Eagle

The AWWA-QG Progress Eagle is one of the most complex concept aircraft currently under development. It’s worth starting with the fact that the plane is simply huge - 800 passengers fit in a three-tiered cabin. Because of its sheer size, the Progress Eagle folds its wings after landing to avoid the need for modern airport renovations.

The Progress Eagle is powered by six hydrogen engines, which also provide power to all equipment. However, most of the electricity will come from solar panels built into the wings. These panels use a special quantum material to increase their efficiency. The introduction of the aircraft into operation is expected no earlier than 2030.

9. Concorde 2

Despite the fact that the Concorde, the first supersonic passenger aircraft, was eventually scrapped, development of its successor has begun today. Last year, Airbus won a tender to develop a new aircraft called the Concorde 2. The second version of the aircraft, like its predecessor, is set to revolutionize flying by becoming the first hypersonic passenger aircraft.

Not only will the airliner's cruising speed be Mach 4.5, but the aircraft has many other strange features, such as its propulsion system (Concorde 2 will use three types of engines: ramjet, turbojet and rocket engine).

The aircraft will use a turbojet engine to take off. After that, the rocket engine will turn on, which will allow you to gain cruising altitude and supersonic speed. And, finally, the ramjet on the wings will accelerate the aircraft at high altitude to cruising speed. While the Concorde 2 will be faster than the original aircraft, it will also have fewer passenger seats - only 20.

10. Mobula

The Mobula airliner concept, designed by Chris Cook of Coventry University, is one of the strangest presented in recent times. Basically, it is a hybrid of a cruise ship and a passenger plane that is capable of carrying more than 1,000 passengers on five decks. Like the Boeing Pelican, the Mobula is also an ekranoplan. Remarkably, the plane can also swim.