Exactly 15 years ago the last three supersonic passenger aircraft Concorde British airlines British Airways made a farewell flight. On that day, on October 24, 2003, these aircraft flying at a low height over London, landed in Heathrow and those completed the brief history of supersonic passenger aviation. Nevertheless, today, aircraft designers around the world again think about the possibility of rapid flights - from Paris to New York for 3.5 hours, from Sydney to Los Angeles - in 6 hours, from London to Tokyo in 5 hours. But before the supersonic aircraft return to international passenger routes, developers will have to solve many tasks, among which one of the most important is to reduce the noise of rapid aircraft.

Short History of Fast Flights

Passenger aviation began to form in the 1910s, when the first aircraft appeared, specially designed to transport people by air. The most first of them became the French Bleriot XXIV Limousine of Bleriot Aeronautique. It was used for entertaining air walks. Two years later, S-21 "Grand" appeared in Russia, created on the basis of a heavy bombarder "Russian Vityaz" Igor Sikorsky. He was built on the Russian-Baltic Wagon Plant. Further, aviation began to develop seven-mile steps: first began flights between cities, then between countries, and then between continents. Airplanes allowed to get to the destination faster than by train or ship.

In the 1950s, progress in the development of jet engines was significantly accelerated, and for combat aviation became available, albeit briefly, flights on supersonic speed. The supersonic speed is made to call the movement up to five times faster than the sound speed, which varies depending on the distribution environment and its temperature. With normal atmospheric pressure at sea level, the sound spreads at a speed of 331 meters per second, or 1191 kilometers per hour. As the height is set, the density and air temperature decreases, the sound speed is reduced. For example, at an altitude of 20 thousand meters, it is already about 295 meters per second. But at an altitude of about 25 thousand meters and as it set to more than 50 thousand meters, the temperature of the atmosphere begins to increase gradually compared to the lower layers, and the local speed of sound increases with it.

The rise in temperature at these heights is explained, including a high concentration in ozone air, forming the ozone shield and absorbing the portion of solar energy. As a result, the speed of sound at an altitude of 30 thousand meters above the sea is about 318 meters per second, and at an altitude of 50 thousand - almost 330 meters per second. In aviation for measuring the flight speed, the number of maha is widely used. If we say simplistic, it expresses the local sound speed for a specific height, density and air temperature. So, the speed of the conditional flight equal to two numbers of Mach, at sea level will be 2383 kilometers per hour, and at an altitude of 10 thousand meters - 2157 kilometers per hour. For the first time, the sound barrier at the speed of 1.04 Maha (1066 kilometers per hour) at an altitude of 12.2 thousand meters overcame the American pilot Chuck Yegen in 1947. It was an important step towards the development of supersonic flights.

In the 1950s, aircraft designers in several countries of the world began to work on projects of supersonic passenger aircraft. As a result, the French Concorde and Soviet Tu-144 appeared in the 1970s. These were the first and still the only passenger supersonic aircraft in the world. Both types of aircraft used ordinary turbojet engines optimized for long-term operation in supersonic flight mode. Tu-144 was operated until 1977. Airplanes flew at speeds of 2.3 thousand kilometers per hour and could carry up to 140 passengers. However, tickets for their flights cost an average of 2.5-3 times more expensive. Low demand for quick, but expensive flights, as well as common difficulties in the operation and maintenance of Tu-144 led to the fact that they were simply removed from passenger flights. However, aircraft have been used for some time in test flights, including under the contract with NASA.

Concorde served noticeably longer - until 2003. Flights on French liners were also expensive and did not use very popular, but France and the United Kingdom continued to operate them. The cost of one ticket for such a flight was, in terms of today's prices, about 20 thousand dollars. The French Concorde flew at speeds just over two thousand kilometers per hour. The distance from Paris to New York The plane could be covered in 3.5 hours. Depending on the Concorde configuration, they could transport from 92 to 120 people.

The story of "Concords" ended unexpectedly and quickly. In 2000, there was a CONCORDE plane crash, in which 113 people died. A year later, the crisis caused by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 began in passenger air transport (two aircraft treated with passengers in the Tower of the World Trade Center in New York, another, the third, in the Pentagon building in Arlington, and the fourth fell in the field Not far from Shenksville in Pennxilvania). Then expired the term warranty service of the Concorde aircraft, which was engaged in Airbus. All these factors together made the exploitation of supersonic passenger aircraft with extremely unprofitable, and in the summer-invent of 2003 AIR France and British Airways in turn wrote off all the "concords".

After the closure of the Concorde program in 2003, the hope for the return of supersonic passenger aviation was still remained. Designers hoped for new cost-effective engines, aerodynamic calculations and automated design systems capable of making flights on supersonic speed economically available. But in 2006 and 2008, an international organization civil aviation Adopted new standards of aviation noise, which prohibited, among other things, any supersonic flights over the settlements of Sushi in peacetime. This prohibition does not apply to the air corridors specifically dedicated for military aviation. Work on projects of new supersonic aircraft stimulated, but today they began to gain momentum again.

Quiet supersvussian

Today, several enterprises and government organizations in the world are engaged in the development of supersonic passenger aircraft in the world. Such projects, in particular, lead Russian companies "Dry" and "Tupolev", Central Aero Hydrodynamic Institute named after Zhukovsky, French Dassault, Japan Aerospace Research Agency, European Concern Airbus, American Lockheed Martin and Boeing, as well as several startups, including Aerion and Boom TECHNOLOGIES. In general, the designers were conventionally divided into two camps. Representatives of the first of them believe that to develop a "quiet", corresponding to the noise of subsonic liners, the supersonic aircraft will not be able to build a quick passenger aircraft, which will switch to supersual where it is permitted. Such an approach, designed designers from the first camp, will still allow to reduce the flight time from one point to another.

Designers from the second camp predominantly focused on the fight against shock waves. In flight at the supersonic velocity, the plane of the aircraft forms many shock waves, the most significant of which occur in the nose and in the caudal cove zone. In addition, the shock waves usually appear on the front and rear edges of the wing, on the front edges of the tail of the tail, in the zones of flow swirls and on the edges of the air intakes. The shock wave is an area in which the pressure, density and temperature of the medium test a sharp and strong jump. Observers on Earth such waves are perceived as a loud cotton or even an explosion - precisely because of this, supersonic flights over the settlement of sushi are prohibited.

The effect of the explosion or very loud cotton produces shock waves of the so-called N-type, formed when bombing or on the glider of a supersonic fighter. On the graph of pressure and density growth, such waves resemble the letter N of the Latin alphabet due to a sharp increase in pressure on the wave front with a sharp drop of pressure after it and subsequent normalization. In the course of laboratory experiments, researchers of the Japanese Agency Aerospace Research found out that the change in the shape of the glider can smooth out the peaks on the shock wave graph, turning it into the S-type wave. Such a wave has a smooth and not so significant, like a N-wave, pressure drop. NASA experts believe that the S-waves will be perceived by observers as far cotton with a car door.

N-wave (red) before the aerodynamic optimization of the supersonic glider and the similarity of the S-wave after optimization

In 2015, Japanese designers collected a unmanned glider D-SEND 2, whose aerodynamic form was designed in such a way as to reduce the number of shock waves arising on it and their intensity. In July 2015, the developers experienced a glider on the Rocket Polygon "Esraindzh" in Sweden and noted a significant reduction in the number of shock waves formed on the surface of the new glider. During the test of D-SEND 2, not equipped with engines, dropped from a balloon from a height of 30.5 thousand meters. During the fall, the 7.9 meter long glider scored a speed of 1.39 minutes of Mach and flew past the aerostats located at different heights equipped with microphones. At the same time, researchers measured not only the intensity and the number of shock waves, but also analyzed the effects of the state of the atmosphere on their early occurrence.

According to the Japanese Agency, a sound blow from aircraft comparable to sizes with supersonic passenger aircraft Concorde and made according to the D-SEND 2 scheme, under flight on a supersonic speed will be twice as much intense than before. From the gliders of conventional modern aircraft, the Japanese D-Send 2 is not an axisymmetric arrangement of the nose. The keel of the device is shifted to the nasal part, and the horizontal tail of the plumage is performed by everything-free and has a negative installation angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the glider, that is, the fastening points are below the attachment point, and not higher, as usual. The wing of the glider has normal sweatshirt, but is made step: it smoothly mates with the fuselage, and part of its front edge is located to the fuselage under an acute angle, but closer to the rear edge, this angle increases sharply.

At a similar scheme, a super-sound American Aerion startup is currently being created and, developed by the Lockheed Martin on the order of NASA. With a focus on reducing the number and intensity of the shock waves, both the Russian (supersonic business aircraft / supersonic passenger aircraft) is designed. Some of the projects of fast passenger aircraft are planned to be completed in the first half of the 2020s, but the aviation rules by that time are revised still not. This means that new aircraft will perform supersonic flights only over water. The fact is that to remove restriction on supersonic flights over the settlement of sushi, developers will have to hold a lot of tests and submit their results for consideration by aviation authorities, including the Federal Department of US Civil Aviation and the European Flight Safety Agency.

S-512 / SPIKE AEROSPACE

New engines

Another major obstacle to the creation of a serial passenger supersonic aircraft are engines. Constructors have already found many ways to make turbojet engines more economical than they were ten or twenty years ago. This is the use of gearboxes that remove a rigid fan and turbine turbine, and the use of ceramic composite materials that allow optimizing the temperature balance in the hot zone of the power plant, and even the introduction of an additional - third-air contour in addition to the already existing two, internal and external. In the field of the creation of economical subsonic engines, the designers have already achieved amazing results, and the leading new developments promise and at all significant savings. You can read more about promising research in our material.

But, despite all these developments, the supersonic flight is expensive to be economical yet. For example, a promising super-sound passenger aircraft of the BOOM Technologies startup will receive three Turbofields of the JT8D family of Pratt & Whitney or J79 GE AVIATION. In the cruising flight, the specific fuel consumption by these engines is about 740 grams per kilogram-force per hour. At the same time, the J79 engine can be equipped with an afterburden chamber, when using fuel consumption increases to two kilograms per kilogram-force per hour. This consumption is comparable to fuel consumption by engines, for example, Su-27 fighter, whose tasks differ significantly from the carriage of passengers.

For comparison, the specific fuel consumption of the unity of the world's serial turbopovintant engines D-27, installed on the Ukrainian transport worker, the An-70 is only 140 grams per kilogram-for force per hour. The American engine CFM56, "Classic" Boeing and Airbus liners, has a specific fuel consumption of 545 grams per kilogram-force per hour. This means that without serious processing of the design of jet aircraft engines, supersonic flights will not be sufficiently cheap enough to get widespread, and except that in business aviation - high fuel consumption leads to an increase in prices for tickets. To reduce the high cost of supersonic air transportation volumes, too, will not work - the aircraft designed today are designed for transportation from 8 to 45 passengers. The usual planes can accommodate more than a hundred people.

Nevertheless, in early October of the current year, GE Aviation project of the new turbofan jet engine Affinity. These power plants are planned to be placed on the promising supersonic passenger AS2 aircraft AERION. The new power plant constructively combines the features of jet engines with a low degree of double-circuit for combat aircraft and power plants with a high degree of double-circuit for passenger aircraft. At the same time, there are no new and breakthrough technologies in Affinity. The new engine GE AVIATION refers to power plants with an average degree of double-circuit.

The basis of the engine is a modified gas generator of the CFM56 turbofuel engine, which, in turn, is structurally based on the gas generator from F101, the power plant for supersonic bombers B-1B Lancer. The power plant will receive an upgraded electronic digital engine control system with full responsibility. Any details about the design of the promising engine, the developers did not disclose. However, in GE Aviation expect that the specific fuel consumption of the Affinity engines will be not much higher or even comparable to fuel consumption with modern turboclerous engines of ordinary subsonic passenger aircraft. How will this be achieved for supersonic flight, it is not clear.

Boom / Boom Technologies

Projects

Despite the many projects of supersonic passenger aircraft in the world (including the unrealizable project alteration of the Tu-160 strategic bomber in the Passenger Supersonic Liner proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin), the AS2 of the American startup Aerion, S-512 can be considered closest to flight tests and small-sector production. Spike Aerospace and BOOM American Boom Technologies. It is planned that the first will perform flights at the speed of 1.5 minutes of Mach, the second is 1.6 minutes of Mach, and the third - 2.2 days of Mach. The X-59 aircraft created by the Lockheed Martin on the order of NASA will be a technology demonstrator and a flying laboratory, it is not planned to run it into the series.

BOOM Technologies have already stated that they will try to make flights at cluster aircraft very cheap. For example, the cost of the flight on New York - London in Boom Technologies rated five thousand dollars. So much today is a flight on this route in the business class of an ordinary subsonic liner. The boom liner over the populated land will fly at the subsonic speed and move on the superstruct over the ocean. The aircraft with a length of 52 meters and a wing of 18 meters will be able to transport up to 45 passengers. Until the end of 2018, Boom Technologies plans to choose one of several projects of the new aircraft for the implementation in the metal. The first flight of the liner is planned for 2025. These deadlines have transferred the company; Initially, Boom was planned to raise into the air in 2023.

According to preliminary calculations, the Length of the AS2 aircraft, designed for 8-12 passengers, will be 51.8 meters, and the wing span is 18.6 meters. The maximum take-off weight of the supersonic aircraft will be 54.8 tons. AS2 will perform flights above the water at cruising speed of 1.4-1.6 Maha numbers, slowing down to 1.2 above the land. A slightly smaller flight rate over land with a special aerodynamic form of a glider will allow how to calculate developers, almost completely avoid the formation of shock waves. The range of flight of the aircraft at a speed of 1.4 minutes of Mach will be 7.8 thousand kilometers and 10 thousand kilometers - at a speed of 0.95 minutes of Mach. The first flight of the aircraft is scheduled for the summer of 2023, and by October of the same year - the first transatlantic flight. Its developers will raise the 20th anniversary of the last flight "Concord".

Finally, Spike Aerospace plans to start the flight tests of the full prototype S-512 no later than 2021. Deliveries of the first serial aircraft to customers are scheduled for 2023. According to the project, S-512 will be able to transport up to 22 passengers at speeds up to 1.6 minutes. The range of the flight of this aircraft will be 11.5 thousand kilometers. From October last year, SPIKE Aerospace has several reduced supersonic aircraft models. Their goal is to verify the design solutions and the effectiveness of flight control elements. All three promising passenger aircraft are created with a focus on a special aerodynamic form, which will reduce the intensity of shock waves formed during supersonic flight.

In 2017, the volume of aviation passenger traffic around the world was four billion people, of which 650 million have committed long flights with a length of 3.7 to 13 thousand kilometers. 72 million "long-range" passengers flew first and business class. It is on these 72 million people that the developers of supersonic passenger aircraft are aimed primarily, believing that they will gladly pay a little more money for the ability to spend about half time in the air than usual. Nevertheless, supersonic passenger aviationMost likely, it will begin to actively develop after 2025. The fact is that the research flights of the X-59 laboratory will begin only in 2021 and will last for several years.

Results of research obtained during flights X-59, including settlements - Volunteers (their residents agreed that supersonic aircraft flew on weekdays on weekdays; after flights, observers will tell researchers about their perception of noise), it is planned to convey to the Federal Department of US Civil Aviation. As expected, on their basis, it can revise the ban on supersonic flights over the settlement of land, but it will happen not before 2025.

Vasily Sychev

The Cold War, which took place between the United States and the USSR in 1946-1991, has long over. At least many experts think so. However, the arms race did not stop for a minute, and even today it is in the stage of active development. Despite the fact that today the main threats for the country are terrorist groups, relations between world powers are also intense. All this creates conditions for the development of military technologies, one of which is a hypersonic aircraft.

Need

Relations between the United States and Russia are greatly aggravated. And although at the official level of the United States in Russia, they call the affiliate country, many political and military experts argue that there is a secret war between the countries not only on the political front, and but also on the military in the form of a racing of weapons. In addition, the United States actively applies NATO for the environment of Russia with its own systems.

This may not disturb the leadership of Russia, which has already long launched a long-term drone aircraft, superior to hypersonic speed. These drones can be equipped with a nuclear warhead, and they will freely be able to deliver a bomb to anywhere in the world, and quite quickly. A similar hypersonic aircraft has already been created - this is the "Yu-71" liner, which is tested today in strict secrecy.

The development of hypersonic weapons

For the first time testing aircraft that could fly at the speed of sound, began in the 50s of the 20th century. Then it was still associated with the so-called Cold War, when two developed powers (USSR and the USA) sought to overtake each other in the arms race. The first project was the "Spiral" system, which was a compact orbital aircraft. He had to compete and even surpass the US Hypersonic Airplane X-20 DYNA SOAR. Also, the Soviet aircraft was supposed to have the ability to develop speed up to 7000 km / h and at the same time not to fall apart in the atmosphere during overloads.

And although Soviet scientists and designers tried to bring to life a similar idea, could not even approach the cherished characteristics. The prototype did not even take off, but the Government of the USSR reliefly sighed when the American aircraft also failed during the tests. Technology of that time, including in the aircraft industry, were infinitely far from the current, therefore the creation of an aircraft, which could several times to exceed the speed of sound, was doomed to failure.

However, in 1991, a test of an aircraft was conducted, which could develop a speed exceeding sound speed. It was the Flying Laboratory "Cold", created on the basis of the 5V28 rocket. The test was successful, and then the plane was able to develop a speed of 1900 km / h. Despite the presence of progress, the development after 1998 has ceased due to the economic crisis.

Technologies of the 21st century

There is no accurate and official information on the development of hypersonic aircraft. However, if you collect materials from open sources, we can conclude that such developments were carried out immediately in several directions:

1. Creating combat units for intercontinental ballistic missiles. Their mass exceeded the mass of standard missiles, but due to the possibility of maneuvering in the atmosphere, it is impossible to intercept their means or, at a minimum, extremely difficult.
2. Development of a complex "Zircon" - another direction of development of technology, which is based on the use of supersonic ORKHONT.
3. Creating a complex whose rockets may exceed the sound speed of 13 times.

If all these projects are combined in one holding, the joint efforts can be created a rocket of air, terrestrial or ship-base. If the Prompt Global Strike project, created in the United States, will be successful, then the Americans will have the opportunity to hit any point in the world for one hour. Russia will be able to defend only the technologies of its own development.

American and British specialists record tests of supersonic missiles that can develop speeds up to 11200 km / h. Taking into account such high speed, it is almost impossible to knock them down (no about in the world is capable of). Moreover, they are even leaving is extremely difficult. Information about the project, which sometimes appears under the name "Yu-71", very little.

What is known about the Russian hypersonic aircraft "Yu-71"?

With the fact that the project is classified, there is very little information about it. It is known that this glader is part of a rocket supersonic program, and in theory it is capable of flying to New York in 40 minutes. Of course, this information does not have official confirmation and exists at the level of guesses and rumors. But taking into account the fact that Russian supersonic rockets can reach a speed of 11,200 km / h, such conclusions seem to be quite logical.

For different sources, the hypersonic aircraft "Yu-71":

1. It has high maneuverability.
2. Can plan.
3. Created to develop speed over 11,000 km / h.
4. Can go into space when flying.

Applications

On the this moment Tests of the hypersonic aircraft of Russia "Yu-71" are not yet completed. However, some experts argue that by 2025 Russia may receive this supersonic glader, and it can be equipped with nuclear weapons. A similar aircraft will be put up for weapons, and in theory it will be capable of putting a point nuclear strike for just one hour at any point of the planet.

The representative of Russia at NATO Dmitry Rogozin said that the once most developed and advanced industry of the USSR lagged behind the arms race over the past decades. However, quite recently, the army began to revive. Outdated Soviet technique is replaced by new examples of Russian developments. In addition, stuck in the 90s in the form of projects on the paper weapons of the fifth generation acquires visible outlines. According to politics, new samples of Russian weapons may surprise the world unpredictable. It is likely that Rogozin refers to the new hypersonic aircraft "Yu-71", which can carry a nuclear warhead.

It is believed that the development of this aircraft began in 2010, but in the United States learned about him only in 2015. If information on its technical characteristics is true, then the Pentagon will have to solve a complex task, since they will not be able to provide in Europe and on their territory. Countering a similar plane. In addition, the United States and many other countries will be simply defenseless in front of such weapons.

Other functions

In addition to the possibility of applying nuclear strikes on the enemy, the glader thanks to the powerful modern equipment of the radio-electronic combat will be able to exploration, as well as disabling the device equipped with radio-electronic equipment.

If you believe the reports of NATO, approximately from 2020 to 2025, up to 24 such aircraft may appear in the Army of the Russian Federation, which will unnoticate the border and just a few shots to destroy the whole city.

Development plans

Of course, there is no data regarding the adoption of the weapon of the prospective aircraft "Yu-71", but it is known that it is developed since 2009. At the same time, the device will be able not only to fly in a straight trajectory, but also maneuver.

It is maneuverability on hypersonic speeds will be a feature of the aircraft. Dr. Konstantin Sivkov claims that intercontinental rockets can develop supersonic speed, but at the same time they act as ordinary ballistic warheads. Therefore, their trajectory of flight is easily calculated, which makes it possible to knock on them. But managed aircraft constitute a serious threat to the enemy, since their trajectory is unpredictable. Therefore, it is impossible to determine which point the bomb will be thrown out, and since it is impossible to determine the discharge point, then the trajectory of the falling warhead is not calculated.

In Tula on September 19, 2012, at a meeting of the military-industrial commission, Dmitry Rogozin said that soon the new holding should be created, the task of which would be to develop hyper-duty technologies. Immediately enterprises were named, which will be part of the holding:

1. "Tactical rocket arms."
2. "NPO engineering". At the moment, the company is developing supersonic technologies, but at the moment the company is located as part of the structure of Roscosmos.
3. The following member of the holding must be the Almaz-Antey concern, which is currently engaged in the development of technologies of the air-space and anti-missile industry.

Rogozin believes that such a merger is necessary, however, legal aspects do not allow it to take place. It is also noted that the creation of the Holding does not imply the absorption of one company another. These are the merging and joint work of all enterprises, which will speed up the process of the development of hypersonic technologies.

The Chairman of the Council under the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Igor Korutochko also supports the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating a holding that would develop hyper-and-operative technologies. According to him, the new holding is really necessary, because it will help to direct all the efforts to create a promising type of weapons. Both companies have great opportunities, but separately they will not be able to achieve those results that are possible when combining efforts. It is together together they will be able to contribute to the development of the defense complex of the Russian Federation and create the fastest aircraft in the world whose speed exceeds expectations.

Weapons as a tool of political struggle

If by 2025, not only hypersonic rockets with nuclear warheads will be in service, but also the Glader "Yu-71", it will seriously strengthen the political positions of Russia during the negotiations with the United States. And it is completely logical, because all countries in the course of negotiations act from the position of force, dictating the opposite side of the conditions beneficial to it. Equal negotiations between the two countries are possible only in the presence of powerful weapons from both sides.

Vladimir Putin, during the speech at the Conference "Army-2015", stated that nuclear forces receive new intercontinental missiles in the amount of 40 pieces. It was precisely hypersonic rockets, and they can at the moment to overcome existing systems. The member of the Expert Council of the Military Industrial Commission, Viktor Murakhovsky confirms that the ICBM is improved every year.

Russia also conducts tests and development of new winged rockets that are able to fly on hypersonic speeds. They can approach the targets on ultra-low altitudes, which makes them practically imperceptible to radar. Moreover, modern NATO-armed complexes cannot affect similar rockets due to low flight height. In addition, in theory, they are able to intercept the goals moving at speeds of up to 800 meters per second, and the speed of the aircraft "Yu-71" and the winged missiles is much higher. This makes the NATO system almost useless.

Projects of other countries

It is known that China and the United States are also developing an analogue to the Russian hypersonic aircraft. The characteristics of opponents models are still unclear, but it can be considered that Chinese development is able to compete with the Russian aircraft.

The Chinese aircraft known called Wu-14 was tested in 2012, and then he was able to develop a speed of over 11,000 km / h. However, about armament, which is capable of carrying this unit, does not say anywhere.

As for the American drone Falcon HTV-2, he was tested several years ago, but for 10 minutes he crashed. However, the hypersonic aircraft of the X-43a was tested before him, which were engaged in NASA engineers. During the test, he showed a fantastic speed - 11,200 km / h, which exceeds the speed of the sound at 9.6 times. An experienced sample was tested in 2001, but then during the tests it was destroyed due to the fact that he came out of control. But in 2004 the device was successfully tested.

Such tests by Russia, China and the United States question the effectiveness of modern systems about. The introduction of hypersonic technologies in the military-industrial industry today produces a real revolution in the military world.

Conclusion

Of course, the military-technical development of Russia cannot but rejoice, and the presence of such an airplane for the arms of the army is a big step in improving the country's defense capability, but it is stupid to believe that other world powers do not attempt in the development of such technologies.

Even today, with free access to information via the Internet, we know very little about the promising development of domestic weapons, and the description "Yu-71" is known only by rumors. Consequently, we can not know which technologies are now being developed in other countries, including China and the United States. The active development of technologies in the 21st century allows you to quickly invent new types of fuel and apply unfamiliar technical and technological techniques, so the development of aircraft, including the military, is very fast.

It is worth noting that the development of technologies that allow the speed of the aircraft exceeding 10 times the speed of sound will be reflected not only in the military, but also the civilian sphere. In particular, such well-known manufacturers of liners as Airbus or Boeing have already declared the possibility of creating hypersonic aircraft for the implementation of passenger air transport. Of course, such projects have so far only in the plans, but the probability of developing such aircraft today is quite large.

Tu-144 - Soviet supersonic aircraft developed by KB Tupolev in the 1960s. Along with the concord, it is one of two supersonic airliners who have ever used airlines for commercial traffic.

In the 60s, projects for the creation of a passenger supersonic aircraft with a maximum speed of 2500-3000 km / h were actively discussed in the 1960s and the USSR aircraft circles with a maximum speed of 2500-3000 km / h, a range of at least 6-8 thousand km. In November 1962, France and the United Kingdom signed an agreement on joint development and building "Concord" ("Consent").

Creators of a supersonic aircraft

In the Soviet Union, the design bureau of Academician Andrei Tupolev was engaged in the creation of a supersonic aircraft. At the preliminary meeting of the KB in January 1963, Tupolev stated:

"Reflecting on the future of the air transportation of people from one continent to another, you come to an unequivocal conclusion: supersonic air liners are undoubtedly needed, and I have no doubt that they will enter life ..."

The son of the Academician - Alexey Tupolev was appointed the lead designer of the project. With its OKB, more than a thousand specialists from other organizations work closely. The creation was preceded by extensive theoretical and experimental work, which included numerous tests in aerodynamic pipes and incense conditions during the analog flights.

"Concord" and Tu-144

The developers had to break their head to find the optimal scheme of the machine. It is fundamentally important, the speed of the designed liner is 2500 or 3000 km / h. Americans, having learned that "Concord" is calculated by 2500 km / h, stated that only half a year later release their passenger "Boeing 2707", made of steel and titanium. Only these materials without destructive consequences kept the heating of the structure when contacting the air flow at 3000 km / h and higher. However, solid steel and titanium structures should still pass a serious technological and operational test. It will take a long time, and Tupolev makes the decision to build a supersonic aircraft from duralumin, based on the speed of 2500 km / h. The American project "Boeing" was subsequently closed altogether.

In June 1965, the model was shown on the annual airplane in Paris. "Concord" and Tu-144 were strikingly similar to each other. Soviet designers spoke - nothing surprising: the general form is determined by the laws of aerodynamics and the requirements for a particular type of machines.

Wing shape of a supersonic aircraft

But what should be the shape of the wing? Stopped on a thin triangular wing with an outline of the front edge in the form of the letter "8". A blessing scheme - inevitable with this design of the carrier plane - made a supersonic liner stable and well-controlled on all flight modes. Four engines were under the fuselage, closer to the axis. Fuel is placed in caisson wing tanks. Balancing tanks located in the back of the fuselage and wing slopes are designed to change the position of the center of gravity during the transition from the dialing flight speed to the supersonic. The nose was made sharp and smooth. But how, in this case, provide pilots front review? The output was found - "Clamp Nose". The fuselage of the round section had a nasal crew cube fairing, deviating down at an angle of 12 degrees in the conditions of takeoff and 17 degrees when landing.

A supersonic aircraft rises into the sky

For the first time, a supersonic aircraft rises into the sky on the last day of 1968. The car was driven by the test pilot E. Lyan. As a passenger plane, he was the first in the world overcame the speed of sound in early June 1969, being at an altitude of 11 kilometers. The second sound speed (2M) supersonic aircraft took in the middle of 1970, being at an altitude of 16.3 kilometers. A supersonic aircraft absorbed a lot of innovations of the design and technical plan. Here I want to note such a decision as anterior horizontal plumage. When using the PGO, the flight maneuverability has improved and the speed was quenched during the landing. The domestic supersonic aircraft could be operated from two tens of airports, while Franco-English "Concord", having a greater speed when landing could only sit in a certified airport. Designers KB Tupolev conducted a colossal job. Take, for example, Wing Tests. They took place at the Flying Laboratory - MiG-21, converted specially under the tests of the design and equipment of the wing of the future supersonic aircraft.

Development and modification

Work on the development of the basic design "044" was in two directions: the creation of a new economy unfaffolding TRD type RD-36-51 and a significant improvement in the aerodynamics and the design of the supersonic aircraft. The result was to be the fulfillment of the requirements for the range of supersonic flight. The decision of the Commission of the Council of Ministers of the USSR for a variant of the supersonic aircraft with the RD-36-51 was made in 1969. At the same time, on the proposal of MAP - MGA, a decision is made to create RD-36-51 and install them on a supersonic aircraft, about the construction of six supersonic aircraft with NK-144A with reduced specific fuel consumption. The design of serial supersonic aircraft with NK-144a was supposed to be significantly upgraded, to carry out significant changes in the aerodynamics, receiving more than 8 in the cruising supersonic mode. This modernization had to ensure the fulfillment of the requirements of the first stage of the range (4000-4500 km), in the future, the transit to Series on RD-36-51.

Construction of an upgraded supersonic aircraft

The construction of pre-production modernized Tu-144 ("004) began on MMZ" Experience "in 1968. According to calculated data with the NK-144 engines (cf \u003d 2.01), the estimated supersonic range was 3275 km, and from NK-144a (cf \u003d 1.91) exceed 3,500 km. In order to improve the aerodynamic characteristics on cruising mode, M \u003d 2.2 changed the shape of the wing in the plan (the sweep of the surrounding part over the front edge was reduced to 76 °, and the base increased to 57 °), the shape of the wing became closer to the "Gothic". Compared to "044", the area of \u200b\u200bthe wing increased, introduced a more intense conical curvature of the end portions of the wing. However, the most important innovation for the wing aerodynamics was the change in the middle part of the wing, providing self-balancing on cruising mode with minimal loss of quality, taking into account the optimization of the flight deformations of the wing in this mode. The length of the fuselage was increased, taking into account the placement of 150 passengers, the shape of the nasal part is improved, which also has a positive effect on aerodynamics.

Unlike "044", each pair of engines in paired motometrics with air intakes were pushed out, freed from them the lower part of the fuselage, unloading it from elevated temperature and vibration loads, while the lower surface of the wing was changed in the place of the current population area, increased the slot between the lower surface The wings and the upper surface of the air intake - all this allowed the intensive to use the effect of pulling the flow at the entrance to the air intakes to KMAKS than it was possible to get on "044". New layout Motogondol demanded changes in the chassis: the main chassis racks were placed under the motorcycles, with cleaning them inside between the aircraft engines, they switched to an octal trolley, the chassis rack cleaning scheme was also changed. An important difference between "004" from "044" was the introduction of anterior multiser-retractable wing of the escape-destabilizer, which put forward from the fuselage on the runway and allowed to provide the required balancing with rejected Elevon-flaps. Construction improvements, an increase in the commercial load and fuel reserve led to an increase in the take-off mass, which exceeded 190 tons (for "044" - 150 tons).

Preioned Tu-144

The construction of a pre-production supersonic aircraft No. 01-1 (onboard No. 77101) was completed in early 1971, on June 1, 1971 made the first flight. According to the factory test program, the machine completed 231 flights, a duration of 338 hours, which flew 55 hours on supersonic. This car worked out comprehensive issues of the interaction of the power plant at various flight modes. On September 20, 1972, the car flew over the Moscow-Tashkent route, while the route was traveled in 1 hour and 50 minutes, cruising speed during the flight reached 2500 km / h. The pre-production machine has become the basis for the deployment of mass production at the Voronezh Aviation Plant (VAZ), which the decision of the government was instructed by mastering in a series of supersonic aircraft.

First flight serial Tu-144

The first flight of the serial supersonic aircraft No. 01-2 (onboard No. 77102) with the NK-144A engines took place on March 20, 1972. In the series, according to the tests of the pre-production machine, the aerodynamics of the wing was adjusted and its area was somewhat more increased. The runway in the series reached 195 tons. Specific fuel consumption of the NK-144A by the time of operational tests of serial machines intended to bring to the optimization of the engine nozzle to 1.65-1.67 kg / kgf hour, and in the future up to 1.57 kg / kgf hour, while the flight range should It was increased to 3855-4250 km and 4550 km respectively. Really able to reach the Tu-144 and NK-144A CP \u003d 1.81 kg / kgf of the hour on the cruising supersonic 4000 kgf, cf \u003d 1.65 kg / kgf hour on the take-off for an hour 20,000 kgf, cf \u003d 0.92 kg / kgf hour on cruising dialing mode of traction 3000 kgf and 11800 kgf is obtained on the transvance mode on the maximum forxtright mode.

Flights and tests of a supersonic aircraft

The first stage of the test

In a short period of time, 395 flights with a total chart of 739 hours were performed in strict accordance with the program, including more than 430 hours on supersonic modes.

The second stage of the test

At the second stage of operational tests in accordance with the joint order of the Ministers of Aviation Industry and Civil Aviation No. 149-223, there was a more active connection of funds and civil aviation services. A new test commission was formed, led by the Deputy Minister of Civil Aviation B.D. Ground. By the decision of the Commission, then a confirmed joint order of September 30 - October 5, 1977, crews were appointed for operational testing:

1. First crew: Pilots B.F. Kuznetsov (Moscow Transportation GA), S.T. Agapov (Zhliidb), navigator S.P. Temples (MTU GA), flights Yu.N. Avaev (MTU ha), Yu.T. Seliverstov (Zhlildb), Lead Engineer S.P. Avakov (Zhlildb).
2. Second Crew: Pilots V.P. Voronin (Moscow State University Ga), IK Vederniki (Zhliidb), Svurman A.A. Senyuk (MTU ha), Fartinezers E.A. Requitances (MTU ha) and V.V. Solomatin (Zhlildb), leading engineer V.V. Isaev (GosNaya).
3. Third crew: pilots M.S. Kuznetsov (GOSNIIG), G.V. Voronchenko (Zhlildb), Knoverman V.V. Myszigin (GosNaya), Fartinezers M.P. Isaev (MTU GA), V.V. Solomatin (Zhlildb), leading engineer V.N. Bind (flap).
4. Fourth Crew: Pilots N.I. YURSKOV (GOSNIIG), V.A. Sevankayev (Zhlildb), Shturman Yu.A. Vasiliev (GOSNIIG), Bartinwerner V.L. Wennediktov (GOSNIIG), leading engineer I.S. Mayboration (GosNaya).

Before the start of the test was carried out big job By consideration of all the materials obtained in order to use them "for the credit" of the fulfillment of specific requirements. However, despite this, individual civil aviation experts insisted on the implementation of the Program of Operational Tests of the Supersonic Airplane, developed in the State Department in 1975 under the guidance of the leading engineer A.M.Thetyukukov. This program required in fact, repetitions of previously executed flights in the amount of 750 flights (1200 flight hours) on the MGA tracks.

The total volume of operational flights and tests on both stages will be 445 flights with a flyer of 835 hours, of which 475 hours on supersonic modes. Passed 128 paired flights on the Moscow-Alma-Ata route.

The final stage

The final stage of the test was not tense from a technical point of view. Rhythmic work on a schedule was provided without serious failures and large defects. Engineering and technical compositions "entertained", conducting assessments of household equipment, preparing for passenger transportation. The stewardess connected to testing and the corresponding state experts began to carry out ground training sessions to work out the passenger service technology in flight. T.N. "Drawings" and two technical flights with passengers. "Raffle" was held on October 16, 1977 with full modeling of ticket registration cycle, luggage design, landing of passengers, flight of real duration, disembarkation, luggage decoration at the airport of destination. From the "passengers" (the best workers of the OKB, Zhliidb, GosNaya and other organizations) was not semi. The diet in the flight was at the highest level, since it was approved by the first class menu, everyone received great pleasure. "Raffle" allowed to clarify many important elements and details of passenger service. On October 20 and 21, 1977, two technical flights were performed on the Moscow-Alma-Ata highway with passengers. The first passengers were employees of many organizations that were directly involved in the creation and testing of a supersonic aircraft. Today it is even difficult to imagine the atmosphere on board: there reigned a sense of joy and pride, a big hope for development against the background of first-class service, to which technical people are absolutely not accustomed. In the first flights on board were all heads of head institutions and organizations.

The road for passenger traffic is open

Technical flights passed without serious comments and showed the complete readiness of the supersonic aircraft and all ground services to regular transport. October 25, 1977 Minister of Civil Aviation USSR B.P. Bugayev and Minister of Aviation Industry of the USSR V.A. Cossack was approved by the main document: "Act on the results of operational testing of a supersonic aircraft with NK-144 engines" with positive conclusion and conclusions.

Based on the presented tables of conformity of the Tu-144, the requirements of the temporary velocity of the Civil Tu-144 of the USSR, the full amount of the presented evidentiary documentation, which includes acts on state and operational tests, October 29, 1977, Chairman of the State Equipment of the USSR IK Mulkidzhanov approved the conclusion and signed the first in the USSR of the certificate of airworthiness type No. 03-144 on a supersonic aircraft with NK-144A engines.

The road for passenger traffic was open.

The supersonic aircraft could sit down and take off at 18 airports of the USSR, while Concorde, whose run-up speed was 15% higher, was required for each airport a separate landing certificate. According to some specialists, if the Concord's engines were also placed as Tu-144, then the accident would not have happened on July 25, 2000.

According to experts, the construction of the Tu-144 glider was ideal, the lack of refuge to engines and various systems.

Second serial copy of a supersonic aircraft

In June 1973, the 30th International Paris Aviationon was held in France. There was a huge interest caused by the Soviet liner Tu-144 - the first supersonic aircraft in the world. On June 2, thousands of visitors to the airlock in the suburb of Paris Le Bourget were observed for the take-off strip of the second serial copy of the supersonic aircraft. The roar of four engines, powerful running - and now the car in the air. A sharp liner nose straightened and aimed into the sky. The supersonic "TU", driven by the captain Kozlov, performed her first demonstration flight over Paris: gaining the necessary height, the car went beyond the horizon, then returned and made a circle above the airfield. The flight passed in normal mode, no technical problems noted.

The next day, the Soviet crew decided to show everything that was capable of new.

Disaster during the demonstration

Sunny morning on June 3, it seemed not foreshadowed trouble. At first, everything went according to the plan, - the audience, turning the head, applauded together. Supersonic aircraft showing "Higher Class", went to reduce. At that moment, the French fighter "Mirage" appeared in the air (as it turned out later, he spent the shooting of an anelon). The collision seemed inevitable. In order not to crash in the airfield and the audience, the crew commander decided to rise above and pulled the steering wheel on himself. However, the height was already lost, large loads were created on the design; As a result, the right wing cracked and fell off. There began a fire, and after a few seconds the blazing supersonic aircraft rushed to the ground. The terrible landing occurred on one of the streets of the Paris's suburbs of Husenville. The gigantic car, worse, everything in its path, collapsed to the ground and exploded. The entire crew is six people - and eight Frenchmen died on Earth. I suffered and Husdenville - several buildings were destroyed. What led to tragedy? According to most experts, the cause of the catastrophe was an attempt to the crew of a supersonic aircraft to escape from the collision with the "Mirage". When entering the landing "TU" fell into a sensate jet from the French fighter "Mirage".

Video: Tu-144 wreck in 1973: how it was

This version is provided in the book of Gina Alexander "Russian aircraft from 1944" and in the article by Evieyshn Wick & Space Tenolodzhi magazine for June 11, 1973, written in fresh traces. The authors believe that Pilot Mikhail Kozlov went to the landing not on that strip - whether by mistakes the head of the flight, or by the inattention of the pilots. The dispatcher noticed a mistake in time and warned Soviet pilots. But instead of going to the second round, Kozlov laid a steep turn - and it turned out to be right in front of the nose of the French Air Force fighter. The second pilot at this time was filmed by a film chamber about the crew "TU" for French television and therefore was not fastened. During the maneuver, he fell on the central console, and, while he returned to the place, he had already lost height. Kozlov dramatically pulled the steering wheel - overload: the right wing could not stand. But another explanation of the terrible tragedy. Kozlov received an order to squeeze the maximum of the car. In while takeoff, he took a little vertical angle at low speed. For a liner with such a configuration it is fraught with huge overloads. As a result, one of the external nodes could not stand and fell off.

According to the workers of OKB A.N.Tuolev, the cause of the catastrophe was in connecting the unworn analog control unit of the control system, which led to the exit to the destructive overload.

The spyware version belongs to the writer James Alberg. Briefly she is as follows. Tips tried to "furnish" Concord. Group N.D. Kuznetsova created good engines, but they could not work at low temperatures, unlike Concordovsky. Then the Soviet intelligence officers were included in the case. Penkovsky through his agent, Grevil Wajna, got part of the drawings of the "Concord" and sent them to Moscow through the Eastern Hermann Market Representative. British counterintelligence thus set the leakage, but, instead of arresting the spy, decided to let me in Moscow disinformation through its channels. As a result, Tu-144 appeared, very similar to "Concord". It is difficult for the truth, because "black boxes" did not clarify anything. One was found in Bourget, at the site of the disaster, however, judging by reports damaged. The second did not find it. It is believed that the "black box" of the supersonic aircraft became the subject of discord between the KGB and GRU.

According to pilots, freelance situations occurred in almost every flight. On May 23, 1978, the second wreck of a supersonic aircraft occurred. Improved experimental version of the liner, Tu-144D (No. 77111) After the fuel ignition in the Motogondal zone of the 3rd power plant due to the destruction of the fuel line, smoke in the cockpit and shut off the crew of two engines committed forced landing On the field at the village of Ilinsky, not far from the city of Yegoryevsk.

After landing, the crew commander V. Popov, the second pilot E. V. Elhyan and the Svurman V. V. Yazgin, left the crew cockpit. Engineered in the cabin, V. M. Kulesh, V. A. Isaev, V. N. Starpovsky left the liner through the front entrance door. O. A. Nikolaev's flight engineers and V. L. Venediktov turned out to be clamped in the workplace deformed when landing structures and died. (The rejected nasal fairing touched the soil first, worked as a knife of the bulldozer, gaining land, and checked under the stomach, entering the fuselage.) On June 1, 1978, Aeroflot forever stopped supersonic passenger flights.

Improving a supersonic aircraft

Work on improving the supersonic aircraft continued for several more years. Five serial aircraft issued; Five more were in the process of construction. A new modification has been developed - TU-144D (Far). However, the choice of a new engine (more economical), RD-36-51, demanded a significant redevelopment of the aircraft, especially the energy installation. Serious constructive gaps in this area led to a delay in the release of a new liner. Only in November 1974 serial Tu-144D (the onboard number 77105) rose into the air, and nine later (!) After his first flight, on November 1, 1977, a supersonic aircraft received a state-of-law certificate. On the same day passenger flights are open. For their shorttenance, the liners transported 3194 passengers. On May 31, 1978, flights stopped: on one of the serial Tu-144D there was a fire, and the liner failed a catastrophe, crashing with a forced landing.

The catastrophes in Paris and Egoryevsk led to the fact that interest in the project from the state decreased. From 1977 to 1978, 600 problems were revealed. As a result, in the 1980s, the supersonic aircraft was decided to remove, explaining this "bad influence on the health of people when moving a sound barrier." Nevertheless, four of the five Tu-144Ds who were in the production were still completed. In the future, they were based in Zhukovsky and climbed into the air as flying laboratories. In total, 16 supersonic aircraft were built (including in the far modification) who have committed a total of 2556 departures. By the mid-1990s, ten were preserved: four in museums (Monino, Kazan, Kuibyshev, Ulyanovsk); One stayed at the factory in Voronezh, where it was built; Another one was in Zhukovsky together with four Tu-144D.

Subsequently, Tu-144D was used only for freight traffic between Moscow and Khabarovsk. In total, a supersonic aircraft made 102 flights under the flag of Aeroflot, of which 55 - passenger (3 194 passengers were transported).

Later, supersonic aircraft performed only test flights and several flights in order to establish world records.

NK-32 engines were installed on the Tu-144l due to the lack of suitable NK-144 or RD-36-51, similar to those used on Tu-160, a variety of sensors and testing instrumentation.

A total of 16 Tu-144 liners were built, which committed a total of 2,556 departures and flew 4 110 hours (among them most of all, 432 hours, boarding 77144). The construction of four more liners has not been completed.

What happened to airplanes

The total was built 16 - board 68001, 77101, 77102, 77105, 77106, 77107, 77108, 77109, 771110, 77111, 77112, 77111, 77114, 77115, 77116 and 77144.

The remaining in flight state is currently not existing. Practically fully equipped with parts and up-to-flight states of Tu-144L No. 77114 and TU-144D No. 77115 can be restored.

In the restoration state of Tu-144L No. 77114, which was used for NASA tests, is stored at the airfield in Zhukovsky.

Tu-144D No. 77115 is also kept at the airfield in Zhukovsky. In 2007, both liners were re-painted and exhibited for general visits at the MAKS-2007 air show.

No. 77114 and No. 77115 will most likely be established as monuments or to be exhibited at the airfield in Zhukovsky. In 2004-2005, some transactions were made to sell them on scrap metal, but the aviation community protests led to their preservation. The danger of selling them on scrap is not completely eliminated. Questions about whose property they will be finally resolved.

In the photo, the signature of the first cosmonaut landed on the moon of Nile Armstrong, the pilot of the cosmonaut Georgy Timofeevich coast and all the dead crew members. Supersonic aircraft No. 77102 crashed during a demonstration flight at the air show in Le Bourget. All 6 crew members (Honored Test pilot of the Hero of the Soviet Union M.V. Kozlov, Tester pilot V.M. Molchanov, North-Bagomenov, Deputy Chief Designer, Engineer General Major V.N. Benders, Lead Engineer B.A.Pervukhin and flight engineer A.I.Ralin) died.

From left to right. Six members of the crew of a supersonic aircraft №77102: Honored Test pilot Hero of the Soviet Union M.V. Kozlov, Tester pilot V.M. Molchanov, North-Bagainov navigator, Deputy Chief Designer, Engineer General Major General V.N. Benders, leading engineer B.A.Pervukhin and flight engineer A.I.Ralin (who should not clarify as regret). Next, the pilot-cosmonaut twice the hero of the Soviet Union Major General Coast Georgy Timofeevich, following him, Lavrov Vladimir Aleksandrovich, then the first American cosmonaut landed on the moon Nile Armstrong, further (they are behind the NIL) - Stepan Gavrilovich Korneev (Head of UVS from the Department of External Relations Presidium of the Academy of Sciences), in the center of Tupolev Andrei Nikolayevich - the Covenory Aviation Center, Academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Colonel-General, three times Hero of Socialist Labor, Hero of Labor RSFSR, Main Designer of the Plant, Soviet Aircraft Design, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Honored Science Worker Both the technique of the RSFSR, the hero of socialist labor. The extreme right of Tupolev Alexey Andreyevich (son A.N.Tuolev) is the Russian aircraft designer, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences since 1984, the hero of socialist labor. The picture was made in 1970. Signatures in the photo of T. Beregovoy and Nile Armstrong.

Concord

Accord Concord.

Currently, the liner is not operated due to a disaster on July 25, 2000. On April 10, 2003, British Airways and Air France announced the decision to stop the commercial operation of their "Concords" Park. Latest flights held October 24th. The last flight of "Concord" took place on November 26, 2003, G-BOAF (the last liner built) flew out of Heathrow, flew over the Biscay Bay, made a passage over Bristol, and landed at Filton Airport.

Why the supersonic aircraft no longer exploit

A supersonic Tupolev aircraft is often called the "lost generation". Intercontinental flights are recognized as non-economic: in the hour of the flight, the supersonic aircraft burned eight times more fuel than the usual passenger. For the same reason, distant flights were not justified - in Khabarovsk and Vladivostok. It is impractical to use a supersonic "TU" as a transport liner due to its small carrying capacity. Truth, passenger Transportation On it, they still became a prestigious and profitable business for Aeroflot, although the tickets were considered very expensive at that time. Even after official closure The project, in August 1984, the head of the Zhukovsky flight test base of Klimov, head of the design department of Poukhov and the deputy chief constructor Popov, with the support of the enthusiasts of supersonic flights, were restored and two liners were put into operation, and in 1985, they achieved permission to fly to establish world records. Crews of Aganov and Veremay have been installed more than 18 world records in the class of supersonic aircraft - speed, railing and flight range with cargo.

On March 16, 1996, the Tu-144l Research Flight Series began in Zhukovsky, who laid the beginning of the development of a second generation of supersonic passenger liners.

95-99 years. A supersonic aircraft with onboard number 77114 was used by American NASA as a flying laboratory. Rated Tu-144L. The main purpose is the research and testing of American developments to create your own modern supersonic aircraft for passenger traffic.

An ordinary passenger aircraft flies at a speed of about 900 km / h. The jet military fighter can develop approximately three times. However, modern engineers from the Russian Federation and other countries of the world are actively developing even more speed cars - hypersonic aircraft. What are the specifics of the relevant concepts?

Criteria of a hypersonic aircraft

What is a hypersonic aircraft? Under this, it is customary to understand the apparatus capable of flying at a speed, multiple times higher than that for sound. The approaches of researchers to determine the specific indicator will differ. The methodology is common in which the plane should be considered hypersonic if it is multiple exceeds the speed indicators of the fastest modern supersonic devices. Which make up about 3-4 thousand km / h. That is, a hypersonic aircraft, if adheres to this methodology, should develop speed from 6 thousand km / h.

Unmanned and managed devices

The approaches of the researchers can also be discussed in the aspect of determining the criteria for assigning a particular apparatus to aircraft. There is a version that only those machines that are managed by man are rightfully attributive to those. There is a point of view by which the unmanned vehicle can also be considered by the aircraft. Therefore, some analysts classify the types of type in question on those that are subject to managing a person, and those that function autonomously. Similar division can be justified because unmanned vehicles may have much more impressive technical characteristics, for example, in terms of overload and speed.

At the same time, many researchers consider hypersonic aircraft as a single concept for which the key indicator is speed. It doesn't matter whether a person is sitting behind the helm of the apparatus or the car is driven by a robot - the main thing is that the aircraft is sufficiently fast.

Take off - independent or with an extreme help?

The classification of hypersonic aircraft, which is based on the classification of them to the category of those that are able to take off independently, or those that suggest placement on a more powerful carrier - a rocket or cargo plane. There is a point of view in which the apparatuses of the type under consideration rightfully include mainly those that are able to take off independently or with minimal use of other types of technology. However, those researchers who believe that the main criterion characterizing the hypersonic aircraft is the speed must be paramount at any classification. Whether the assignment of the apparatus to the unmanned, manageable, capable of take-off or with the help of other machines - if the corresponding indicator reaches the above values, then it means that the hypersonic aircraft.

Main problems of hypersonic solutions

Concepts of hypersonic solutions - many decades. Throughout the years, the development of the appropriate type of apparatus devices, world engineers solve a number of significant problems, objectively interfering to put the release of "hypersonic" to flow - like the organization of the production of turboprop aircraft.

The main difficulty in the design of hypersonic aircraft is to create an engine that can be sufficiently energy efficient. Another problem is to build the necessary apparatus. The fact is that the speed of the hypersonic aircraft in those values \u200b\u200bthat we looked at the above implies a strong heating of the housing by friction about the atmosphere.

Today we will look at several samples of successful prototypes of the appropriate type of aircraft, the developers of which were able to significantly move forward in terms of successful solving the marked problems. We are now studying the most well-known world developments in terms of the creation of hypersonic aircraft under consideration.

from Boeing.

The fastest hypersonic aircraft in the world, according to some experts, is American Boeing X-43A. Thus, during testing of this unit, it was recorded that it reached a speed exceeding 11 thousand km / h. That is, about 9.6 times faster

What is especially noteworthy of the X-43A hypersonic aircraft? The characteristics of this aircraft are as follows:

The maximum speed, recorded on the tests, is 11,230 km / h;

Wingspan - 1.5 m;

Case length - 3.6 m;

Engine - direct-flow, SuperSonic Combustion Ramjet;

Fuel - atmospheric oxygen, hydrogen.

It may be noted that the apparatus in question relates to the most environmentally friendly. The fact is that the fuel used practically does not imply the allocation of harmful combustion products.

The X-43A hypersonic aircraft was developed by the joint efforts of NASA engineers, as well as Orbical Science Corporation and Minocraft. There was about 10 years. It was invested about 250 million dollars. The conceptual novelty of the aircraft under consideration is that he was conceived to test the latest technology to ensure the operation of the motor traction.

ORBITAL SCIENCE Development

Orbital Science, which, as we noted above, participated in the creation of the X-43A office, also managed to create its own hypersonic aircraft - X-34.

Its limit speed - more than 12 thousand km / h. True, in the course of practical tests, it was not achieved - moreover, it was not possible to achieve an indicator, which is shown by the X43-A aircraft. The aircraft under consideration accelerates when the Pegasus rocket is involved, operating on solid fuel. The X-34 machine was first tested in 2001. The plane under consideration is significantly more than Boeing apparatus - its length is 17.78 m, the scope of the wings - 8.85 m. Maximum height The flight of the hypersonic car from Orbical Science is 75 kilometers.

Aircase from North American

Another famous hypersonic aircraft - X-15 released by North American. This device analysts refer to experimental.

It is equipped with what gives a reason to some experts do not attach him, actually, to the class of aircraft. However, the presence of rocket engines allows the device, in particular, to perform during one of the tests in this mode, it was tested by pilots. The purpose of the X-15 apparatus is the study of the specifics of hypersonic flights, the assessment of certain design solutions, new materials, features of management of similar machines in various atmospheric layers. It is noteworthy that it was approved back in 1954. X-15 flies at a speed of more than 7 thousand km / h. Its flight range is more than 500 km, height exceeds 100 km.

The fastest serial planes

The hypersonic devices studied by us actually relate to the categories of research. It will be useful to consider some serial samples of aircraft approximated by characteristics to hypersonic or being (by a particular methodology) them.

Among these machines are American development SR-71. This aircraft are not inclined to relate to hyperzvukov, since its limit speed is about 3.7 thousand km / h. Among its most notable characteristics is a runway, which exceeds 77 tons. The length of the apparatus is more than 23 m, the scope of the wings - more than 13 m.

One of the fastest military aircraft is the Russian MiG-25. The device can develop speed of more than 3.3 thousand km / h. The maximum take-off weight of the Russian aircraft is 41 tons.

Thus, in the market of serial decisions approximated by the characteristics to the hyperzvukov, the Russian Federation - among the leaders. But what can be said about Russian developments in part "classic" hypersonic aircraft? Are the engineers from the Russian Federation to create a solution, competitive machines from Boeing and Orbital Scence?

Russian hypersonic devices

Currently, the Russian hypersonic aircraft is under development. But it goes out quite actively. We are talking about the Yu-71 plane. His first tests, judging by the media, were held in February 2015 under Orenburg.

It is assumed that the aircraft will be used for military purposes. Thus, the hypersonic apparatus can, if necessary, deliver affecting agents for significant distances, monitor the territory, as well as to be used as an element of assault aviation. Some researchers believe that in 2020-2025. In RVSN, there will be about 20 aircraft of the appropriate type.

In the media there is information that the hypersonic aircraft industry in Russia will be placed on Sarmat Ballistic Rocket, which is also at the design stage. Some analysts believe that the developed hypersonic apparatus Yu-71 is nothing more than a warhead, which should be separated from the ballistic missile at the final portion of the flight, so that, thanks to the high characteristic of the maneuverability, overcome the pro.

Project "Ajax"

Among the most remarkable projects related to the development of hypersonic aircraft, "Ajax". We study it in more detail. Hypersonic aircraft Ajax is the conceptual development of Soviet engineers. In a scientific environment, talk about it began in the 80s. Among the most remarkable characteristics - the presence of a thermal protection system, which is designed to protect the housing from overheating. Thus, the developers of the Ajax apparatus proposed a solution to one of the "hypersonic" problems indicated by us above.

The traditional thermal protection scheme of aircraft vehicles involves accommodation on the case of special materials. The developers of Ajax proposed a different concept on which it was assumed not to protect the device from external heating, and intensify heat inside the machine, while at the same time increasing its energy resource. The main competitor of the Soviet apparatus was considered the Aurora hypersonic aircraft created in the United States. However, due to the fact that designers from the USSR significantly expanded the possibilities of the concept, the widest range of tasks was entrusted with a new development, in particular, research. It can be said that Ajax is a hypersonic multi-purpose aircraft.

Let us consider in more detail the technological innovations proposed by engineers from the USSR.

So, the Soviet developers of Ajax offered to use heat that occurs as the result of friction of the aircraft body about the atmosphere, transform into useful energy. Technically, this could be implemented by placement on the apparatus of additional shells. As a result, something like a second building was formed. Its cavity was supposed to fill in a certain catalyst, for example, a mixture of fuel and water. The heat insulating layer, made of solid material, was supposed to be replaced with the liquid, which, on the one hand, should have protected the engine, on the other, it would be promoted by a catalytic reaction, which, meanwhile, could be accompanied by an endothermic effect - heat movement with outdoor heat Parts of the housing inside. Theoretically, the cooling of the outer parts of the apparatus could be any. Excessive heat, in turn, was supposed to be used to increase the efficiency of the aircraft engine. In this case, this technology would make it possible to generate due to the fuel reaction and types of free hydrogen.

At the moment, information available to the general public about the continuation of the development of Ajax is absent, however, researchers consider very promising implementation of Soviet concepts into practice.

Chinese hypersonic devices

The competitor of Russia and the United States in the market of hypersonic solutions is becoming China. Among the most famous developments of engineers from the PRC - Wu-14 aircraft. It is a hypersonic controlled glider, placed on a ballistic rocket.

The ICBR launches the aircraft into space, from where the machine sharply dives down, developing hypersonic speed. The Chinese apparatus can be mounted on different ICBMs that have a range from 2 to 12 thousand km. It has been established that during tests the WU-14 apparatus was able to develop a speed exceeding 12 thousand km / h, thus turning into the fastest hypersonic aircraft according to some analysts.

At the same time, many researchers believe that the Chinese development is not quite legitimate to attribute to the class of aircraft. So, a version is distributed through which the device should be classified as a warhead. And very effective. When flying down, even the most modern systems do not be able to guarantee the interception of the corresponding target.

It can be noted that Russia and the United States are also engaged in the development of hypersonic devices involved in military purposes. At the same time, the Russian concept, on which it is planned to create machines of the appropriate type, is significantly different, as evidenced by data in some media, from the technological principles implemented by the Americans and the Chinese. Thus, developers from the Russian Federation concentrate efforts in the creation of aircraft equipped with a direct-flow motor capable of running from the ground. Russia plans to cooperate in this direction with India. Hypersonic devices created by the Russian concept, as some analysts consider, are characterized by a smaller cost and a wider area of \u200b\u200bapplication.

At the same time, the hypersonic aircraft of Russia, about which we said above (Yu-71), suggests, as some analysts consider, as the placement on the ICBM. If this thesis is true, then it will be possible to say that engineers from the Russian Federation work immediately in two popular conceptual areas in the construction of hypersonic aircraft.

Summary

So, probably the fastest hypersonic aircraft in the world, if we talk about aircraft without reference to their classification, this is still the Chinese Wu-14 apparatus. Although it is necessary to understand that real information about it, including concerning tests, can be classified. This fully complies with the principles of Chinese developers who often as much as they seek to preserve their military technologies in secret. The speed of the fastest hypersonic aircraft - more than 12 thousand km / h. It "catchies" the American development X-43A - many experts consider it the most high-speed precisely. Theoretically, the X-43A hypersonic aircraft, as well as the Chinese Wu-14 can catch up with the development of Orbical Science, designed for speed more than 12 thousand km / h.

The characteristics of the Russian aircraft Yu-71 are not yet known to the general public. It is possible that they will be close to the parameters of the Chinese aircraft. Russian engineers are also developing a hypersonic aircraft that can take off on the basis of the ICBM, but on their own.

Current projects of researchers from Russia, China and the United States are somehow related to the military sphere. Hypersonic aircraft, regardless of their possible classification, are considered primarily as carriers of arms, most likely nuclear. However, in the works of researchers from different countries of the world there are theses that "hyperzvuk", like atomic technologies, may well be peaceful.

It is case for the emergence of available and reliable solutions that allow you to organize mass production of machines of the appropriate type. The use of such devices is possible in the widest range of industries of economic development. The greatest demand for hypersonic aircraft will probably find in the space and research industry.

As the maintenance technologies are cheated by the production of relevant cars, interest in investing in such projects can begin to show transport businesses. Industrial Corporations, suppliers of various services may begin to consider "Hyperzvuk" as a tool for increasing business competitiveness in terms of the organization of international communications.

When can a new supersonic passenger aircraft be climbed into the sky? Business Jet based on the Tu-160 bombard: Really? How silently overcome the sound barrier?

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

Are there any supersonic passenger cars in perspective? - I asked not so long ago outstanding Russian aircraft designer Henry Novozhilov.

Of course have. At least a supersonic business aircraft will definitely appear, "answered Heinrich Vasilyevich. - I have repeatedly been talking to American businessmen. They clearly stated: "If such a plane appeared, Mr. Novozhilov, however expensive it would be worth it, you would have bought it instantly." Speed, height and range are three factors that are always relevant.

Yes, relevant. The dream of any businessman: in the morning to fly across the ocean, enter into a large deal, and in the evening to return home. 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 are the prospects for the business world!

That is why neither Russia nor America nor Europe have left attempts to create a new supersonic passenger car. But the story of those who have already flown - the Soviet Tu-144 and the Anglo-French "Concord", he taught a lot.

In December of this year, it will be half a century, as Tu-144 made the first flight. And a year later, the liner showed what is specifically capable of: overcame the sound barrier. He scored a speed of 2.5 thousand km / h at an altitude of 11 km. This event entered the story. There are still no analogues of passenger sides that can repeat a similar maneuver.

"One hundred and forty-four" opened a fundamentally new page in the global aircraft. They are told at one of the meetings in the Central Committee of the CPSU Designer Andrei Tupolev reported Khrushchev: the car is quite voracious. But he only waved his hand: Your business is to wipe the nose to capitalists, and I have kerosene - at least pour ...

The nose was lost. Kerosene - flooded.

However, the European competitor who took off later, also did not differ in economy. So, in 1978, nine "Concorders" brought about $ 60 million to their companies. And only government subsidies saved the situation. Nevertheless, "Anglo-French" flew until November 2003. But the Tu-144 has written off much earlier. Why?

First of all, Khrushchev optimism was not justified: the energy crisis and the price of Kerosene rushed up to the world. The supersonic firstborn immediately dubbed the "Aeroflot" with the "bonus". A huge fuel consumption knocked out and the project distance of flights: Tu-144 did not reach Khabarovsk, nor to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Only from Moscow to Alma-Ata.

And if only it. 200-ton "Iron", krused over densely populated areas on supersonic speed, literally blew up all the space along the route. Complaints fell: Nadodiy at the burenok fell, the chickens stopped rushing, the acid rains were crushed ... where the truth, where the lie - today you can not say unequivocally. But the fact remains the fact: "Concord" flew only over the ocean.

Finally, the most important catastrophe. One thing - in June 1973 at the air show in Paris Le Bourget, which is called, in sight of the planet of the whole: the crew of the Tester pilot Kozlov wanted to demonstrate the capabilities of the Soviet liner ... Other - five years old. Then the test flight was performed with the engines of the new series: they just had to pull the aircraft to the required range.

"Concord" also did not escape the tragedy: the plane crashed in July 2000 when departing from Charles de Gaulle airport. Ironically, he collapsed almost there, where the Tu-144 once. 109 people were killed on board and four on Earth. Regular passenger transportation resumed only a year later. But another train of incidents followed, and on this supersonic, also put a fatty point.

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

Today, on a new turn of technology development, scientists need to find a balance between contradictory factors: good aerodynamics of a new supersonic aircraft, low fuel consumption, as well as tight restrictions on noise and sound blow.

How really it is to create a new passenger supersonic on the basis of the Tu-160 bomber? From the point of view of purely engineering - quite, experts say. And in history there are examples when military aircraft successfully "filmed straps" and flew "to civil": so, Tu-104 was created on the basis of the Tu-16 long bombarder, and the Tu-114 - Tu-95 bombarder. In both cases, it was necessary to redo the fuselage - change the wing location scheme, expand the diameter. In fact, these were new aircraft, and quite successful. By the way, a curious detail: when Tu-114 first arrived in New York, there was not a suitable in the height of the ladder, nor a tractor ...

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

How much such aircraft do you need? Who and where will they fly? How commercially available for passengers? How soon will the costs for development pay off? .. Tickets on the same Tu-144 cost 1.5 times more expensive, but even such a high cost did not cover operating costs.

Meanwhile, according to experts, the first Russian supersonic administrative aircraft (business jet) may be designed for seven or eight years if there is an embossed engine. Such a plane will be able to accommodate up to 50 people. The total demand in the domestic market is predicted at 20-30 cars at a price of 100-120 million dollars.

Serial supersonic passenger new generation aircraft may appear around 2030

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

Tsagi specialists are developing a project of SDS / ATP ("Supersonic Business Airplane / Supersonic Passenger Airplane"): on the idea, the transatlantic flights to a distance of up to 8600 km can perform with cruising speed of at least 1900 km / h. Moreover, the interior will be transformed - from 80-bed in a 20-seater VIP-class.

BUT last summer At the air show in Zhukovsky one of the most interesting was the model of a high-speed civil aircraft, created by the scientists of the TsAGA within the framework of the international HEXAFLY-INT project. This aircraft should fly at a speed of more than 7-8 thousand km / h corresponding to the number of Maha 7 or 8.

But in order for the high-speed civil aircraft to become a reality, a huge range of tasks will remain. They are associated with materials, hydrogen power installation, its integration with the glider and obtaining the high aerodynamic efficiency of the aircraft itself.

And that is already quite accurate: the design features of the designed winged machine will be clearly non-standard.

Competent

Sergey Chernyshev, General Director of TsAGI, Academician RAS:

The sound impact level (sharp pressure drop in the shock wave) from Tu-144 was 100-130 Pascals. But modern studies have shown: it can be brought to 15-20. Moreover, reduce the volume of sound impact up to 65 decibels, and this is equivalent to noise big City. Until now, there are no official standards for the permissible level of sound impact. And most likely it will be determined not earlier than 2022.

We have already suggested the appearance of the demonstrator of the supersonic civil aircraft of the future. The sample should show the possibility of reducing sound impact in supersonic cruising flight and noise in the airport area. Several options are considered: the aircraft is 12-16 passengers, also by 60-80. There is a variant of a very small business aircraft - by 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 start with the first of the designated supersonic aircraft.

According to different estimates, today there is an unrealized need for the market the need for quick flights of business people on aircraft with a passenger capacity of 12-16 people. And, of course, the car should fly at no less than 7-8 thousand kilometers along transatlantic routes. Cruising speed will be 1.8-2 Mach, that is, about twice as fast as the sound speed. Such a speed is a technological barrier for use in the design of ordinary aluminum materials in the design. Therefore, the dream of scientists is to make the aircraft completely from temperature composites. And there are good developments.

The clear requirements for the aircraft must determine the starting customer, and then at the stages of the sketch design and conduct of experimental design work, it is possible to some change in the original appearance of the aircraft obtained at the pre-design stage. But the reasonable principles of reducing sound strike remain unchanged.

The short-lasting passenger exploitation of supersonic Tu-144 was limited to flights from Moscow to Almaty. Photo: Boris baskets / photo chronicles TASS

I think that the flying prototype separates us for 10-15 years. In the near future, according to our plans, a flying demonstrator should appear, the appearance of which is being worked out. His main task is to demonstrate the main technologies for creating a supersonic aircraft with a low level of sound impact. This is the necessary stage of work. The serial supersonic new generation aircraft may appear on the horizon of 2030.

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

Make a Tu-160 passenger supersonic. For our engineers - quite real. Not a problem. Especially since this car is very good, with wonderful aerodynamic qualities, a good wing, fuselage. However, today any passenger aircraft must first of all comply with the international requirements of flight and technical fitness. Missing, if we compare the bomber and passenger aircraft, more than 50 percent. For example, when some say that when reworking it is necessary to "inflate the fuselage", it is necessary to understand: the Tu-160 itself weighs more than 100 tons. "Blind" is to add weight. So it means to increase fuel consumption, reduce speed and height, make the device on its operational expenditures absolutely unattractive for any airline.

To create a supersonic aircraft for business aviation, you need a new avionics, new aircraft engines, new materials, new types of fuel. On Tu-144 kerosene, what is called, rushed by the river. Today it is impossible. And most importantly - such a plane should be massive demand. One or two cars on request from millionaire financial problems will not be solved. Airlines will have to take it into lease and "work out" cost. On whom? Naturally, on passengers. From the point of view of the economy, the project will become failed.

Sergey Melnichenko, General Director of MKAA "Security of Flights":

For nearly 35 years since the beginning of the serial release of Tu-160, the technology went ahead, and this will have to be taken into account when the existing aircraft is deeply upgraded. AirChanges say that much easier and cheaper to create a new plane in accordance with the new concept, than rebuilding the old one.

Another question: if the Tu-160 will be rebuilt under a business jet, do they still be interested in Arab sheikh? However, there are several "but". The aircraft will need to receive an international certificate (and for its issuing the European Union and the USA), which is very problematic. In addition, you will need new economy engines that we do not have. Those who are available, fuel do not consume, but drink.

If the plane is re-equipped for the carriage of economy passengers (which is unlikely), then the question is where to fly and whom to carry? For the past year, we have just gotten to the figure of 100 million passengers transported. In the USSR, these indicators were much higher. The number of airfields 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 "drinking fuel plane" will be more expensive than "Boeing" and "Erbasi".

If the plane is planned to rebuild purely under the interests of the leaders of large companies, then it is likely to be. But then this question concerns their purely, not the Russian economy and people. Although in this case it is difficult to imagine that flights will be performed only in Siberia or the Far East. Problem with noise on the ground. And if the updated plane is not allowed on Sardinia, then who needs it?