Small aircraft. Aircraft

The Martin Jetpack was the result of many years of work by Martin Aircraft, led by its founder, engineer Glenn Martin. Jetpack is a device about one and a half meters high and wide and weighing 113 kg. Carbon composites are used to produce the starting material.

The device rises into the air using a 200 hp engine (more than a Honda Accord, for example), which drives two propellers. The pilot, using two levers, can control the aircraft's climb and acceleration. The jetpack can fly non-stop for about 30 minutes, reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h. However, such a unit also consumes much more fuel than a car- about 38 liters per hour. The creators of the device especially emphasize its reliability: the jetpack is equipped with a safety system and a parachute, necessary in the event of an impact during landing or failure of the main engine.

The idea of ​​creating a personal jet device appeared about 80 years ago. The predecessor of the jetpack can be considered the rocket pack, the fuel for which was hydrogen peroxide.

The first devices of this kind, for example, Thomas Moore's jet vest, appeared after World War II and made it possible to lift the pilot above the ground for a few seconds. After this, many years of development began, commissioned by the American armed forces. In April 1961, a week after Yuri Gagarin's flight, pilot Harold Graham made the first ever flight using a personal jet device and spent 13 seconds in the air.

The most successful jetpack model, the Bell Rocket Belt, was invented in 1961. It was assumed that with the help of this device, military commanders would be able to move around the battlefield, spending up to 26 seconds in flight. Later, the military considered the development unprofitable due to high fuel consumption and operational difficulties. Therefore, the device was mainly used in filming films and staging shows, in which unusual flights always caused general delight.

The popularity of the Bell Rocket Belt reached its peak in 1965, when the new Bond film Thunderball was released, in which the famous special agent managed to elude his pursuers from the roof of a castle with the help of such a device. Since then, all sorts of variations of jetpack models have appeared. Soon the first gadget with a real turbojet engine was created - the Jet Flying Belt, which extended the flight to several minutes, but turned out to be extremely bulky and unsafe to use.

The idea of ​​creating his own jetpack came from New Zealander Glenn Martin back in 1981. He also involved his family in the process of creating the device: his wife and two sons. They were the ones who acted as pilots during the first test launches of the device in their family garage. In 1998, specifically for the development new version The Martin Aircraft company was formed. Its employees, as well as researchers from the University of Canterbury, helped the inventor achieve the desired result. In 2005, after releasing several trial models, the developers were able to achieve stability of the device during flight - and just 3 years later they successfully carried out the first demonstration flight at an air show in the American city of Oshkosh.

At the beginning of 2010, Martin Aircraft announced the release of the first 500 models, each of which will cost the buyer $100,000. The company believes that with increased production and sales, the jetpack will cost approximately the same as an average car. That same year, Time magazine named the Martin Jetpack one of the best inventions of 2010. Starting sales have already begun - according to the developers, the company has already received more than 2,500 requests.

Due to the light weight of the device, a jetpack pilot does not need a license to fly in the United States (conditions may vary in other countries). However, there is a mandatory training course from Martin Aircraft prior to launch.

“If someone thinks they won’t buy a jetpack unless it’s the size of a school backpack, that’s their right,” Martin says. “But you need to understand that then he will not be able to buy a jetpack throughout his life.”

A special system for regulating such air transport not yet in the United States, however, according to the creators, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is developing a project to introduce 3D highways in the sky based on GPS signals.

Humanity has been striving upward for centuries and millennia; legends, myths, traditions and fairy tales have been written about people’s attempts to overcome gravity. The ancient gods could move in the air on their chariots, some did not even need them. The most famous “sky pilots” include Icarus, as well as Father Frost (aka Santa Claus).

More realistic examples for history are Leonardo da Vinci, the Montgolfier brothers and other engineers, as well as enthusiasts passionate about their ideas, such as, for example, the American Wright brothers. The modern era of aircraft construction began with the latter; it was they who developed some fundamental principles that are still used today.

As with cars, efficiency aircraft grew over time, and designers received more opportunities to create some new, often revolutionary means of air travel. With sufficient funding and support from those in power (usually the military), it was possible to bring the most unusual projects to life. Often these were devices unadapted to life that could only fly on paper. Others did get off the ground, but their production turned out to be too expensive. There were also other restrictions, including technical ones.

We decided to list some both forgotten and promising aircraft for personal use. These are not planes for transportation large quantity passengers or bulk cargo, and individual means movements that attract with their unusualness and theoretically can simplify the life of a person of the future.

(Total 30 photos + 10 videos)

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HZ-1 Aerocycle (YHO-2)

1. The HZ-1 Aerocycle (YHO-2) is a personal helicopter developed by de Lackner Helicopters in the mid-1950s. The customer for the device was the American military, who intended to provide their soldiers with a convenient means of transportation. The “aerocycle” was a platform, from below which two propellers rotating in different directions were attached (the length of each blade was more than 4.5 meters).

2. They were powered by a 4-cylinder engine with 43 horsepower, maximum speed unit flight speed is up to 110 km/h.

3. The YHO-2 was tested by professional pilot Selmer Sandby, who became a volunteer in this matter. His longest flight lasted 43 minutes, others ended a few seconds after takeoff. There were some incidents: several times the blades of two propellers came into contact, which led to their deformation, as well as loss of control over the apparatus.

4. It was assumed that anyone could fly the YHO-2 after 20 minutes of instruction, but Sundby doubted this. The danger came from the huge blades, which could frighten a person, even though the pilot’s position was secured with seat belts. Engineers were never able to solve the problem with the propellers, and the project was eventually abandoned. Of the 12 ordered personal helicopters, one remained intact - it is exhibited in one of the American museums. By the way, Selmer Sundby received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service and participation in the YHO-2 tests.

Jetpack

5. In the 1950s, another promising individual vehicle was being developed - a jetpack. This idea, which appeared in science fiction back in the 1920s, and was subsequently embodied in comics and films (for example, “The Rocketeer” in 1991), but before that, engineers and designers spent a lot of effort on realizing the idea of ​​​​making a rocket man. Attempts have not stopped to this day, but the level of technology development still does not allow us to overcome some limitations. In particular, there is no talk of long-term flight yet; controllability also leaves much to be desired. There are also questions regarding pilot safety

6. The “pioneer” among rocket packs was distinguished by its incredible “gluttony”: a flight lasting up to 30 seconds required 19 liters of hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide). The pilot could effectively jump into the air or fly a hundred meters, but that was where all the advantages of the device ended. To maintain a single backpack, a whole team of specialists was required, its speed of movement was relatively low, and to increase the flight range, a tank was needed, which the pilot could not hold.

7. The military, who saw the prospect of creating space infantry or flying special forces in a very expensive project, were disappointed.

8. Subsequently, a modernized version of the device appeared - RB 2000 Rocket Belt. Its development was led by three Americans: insurance salesman and entrepreneur Brad Barker, businessman Joe Wright and engineer Larry Stanley. Unfortunately, the group broke up: Stanley accused Barker of embezzlement and the latter fled with a sample of the RB 2000. A trial followed, but Barker refused to pay $10 million. Stanley grabbed his ex-partner and put him in a box for eight days, for which in 2002, after fleeing insurance agent received a life sentence (it was reduced to eight years). After all these twists and turns, the RB 2000 was never found.

Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar

9. In the late 1940s, the so-called Roswell Incident occurred, which likely influenced the minds of Canadian engineers. They took part in the development of the aircraft vertical take-off and landings of the Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar. When looking at it, an analogy with flying saucers immediately comes to mind. At least three years and $10 million were spent on the pilot project. A total of two copies of the high-tech “donut” with a turbine in the middle were built.

10. It was assumed that the Avrocar, using the Coanda effect (since 2012, it has been used in Formula 1), will be able to develop high speed. Being maneuverable and having a decent range, it will eventually turn into a “flying jeep”. The diameter of the “plate” with two cockpits for pilots was 5.5 meters, height - less than a meter, weight - 2.5 tons. The Avrocar's maximum flight speed, according to the designers' plans, was to reach 480 km/h, and its flight altitude was more than 3 thousand meters.

11. The second full-fledged prototype did not live up to the hopes of its creators: it could only accelerate to an unimpressive 56 km/h. In addition, the device behaved unpredictably in the air, and there was no talk of effective flight. The engineers also found out that it would not be possible to lift the Avrocar into the air to any significant height, and the existing model risked getting stuck in tall grass or small bushes.

AeroVelo Atlas helicopter

13. In 2013, two Canadian engineers received the Sikorsky Prize, established in 1980. Initially, its size was 10 thousand dollars. In 2009, payments increased to $250 thousand. According to the rules of the competition, a muscle-powered aircraft had to rise into the air to a height of at least three meters, while having good stability and controllability.

14. The creators of AeroVelo Atlas were able to fulfill all the assigned tasks, presenting a futuristic vehicle in their own way, worthy of conquering the skies of a low-gravity planet. Despite its enormous size (the width of the helicopter was 58 meters, and the weight was only 52 kg), the worthy successor of da Vinci’s ideas took off and even in a sense surpassed the “competitor” in the person of Avrocar: its flight altitude was 3.3 meters, duration - more than a minute.

15.V peak moment the Atlas pilot was able to create 1.5 horsepower of thrust, which was required to reach the desired altitude. At the end of the flight, the thrust was 0.8 horsepower - the pedals were turned by a trained athlete, a professional cyclist.

The helicopter helicopter deserves attention as proof that, if desired, you can bypass many obstacles and make even something fly that does not inspire confidence even at rest.

Chris Malloy's hoverbike

16. Some people are inspired by UFO stories, but Chris Malloy is probably a Star Wars fan. So far, unfortunately, this is only an idea, partially implemented: the Australian continues to raise funds to produce a fully working prototype of the aircraft.

17. To do this, he will need $1.1 million, but for now there are miniature versions of the hoverbike on sale: these are drones, through the sales of which Malloy intends to partially finance the construction of his brainchild.

18. The engineer believes that his aircraft is better than existing helicopters (which is what he compares the hoverbike to). The unit does not require advanced knowledge in the field of piloting, since the main tasks will be performed by the computer. In addition, the device is lighter and cheaper.

19. It is planned that the device will be equipped with a tank for 30 liters of fuel (60 liters with additional containers), the consumption will be 30 liters per hour, or 0.5 liters per minute. The width of the hoverbike reaches 1.3 meters, length - 3 meters, net weight - 105 kg, maximum take-off weight - 270 kg.

20. The unit will be able to take off to a height of almost 3 km, and its speed will be more than 250 km/h. This all sounds promising, but so far it is unlikely.

21. A fully working prototype of a water-powered jetpack analogue was completed in 2008. According to its creators, the first sketch of the future device appeared eight years earlier. A promo demonstrating the capabilities of Jetlev was posted on YouTube in 2009, at the same time the developer company announced the cost of the first mass version of the device - $139.5 thousand. Over time, the water-powered backpack has noticeably decreased in price, which dropped for the R200x model to 68.5 thousand dollars. This became possible thanks to the emerging competition.

22. On our list, this is the first aircraft that actually exists, works and has a certain popularity. It is “tied” to water, but this does not detract from its advantages: the maximum flight speed of the current model is 40 km/h, the height is about 40 meters. If there was a sufficiently long river, a Jetlev pilot could cover almost 50 km (another question is whether there is a person capable of withstanding such a journey).

23. The development does not pretend to be a “serious” means of transportation, but it will make you feel like James Bond, who has at his disposal a new gadget from the research center of the British Secret Service.

M400 Skycar

24. One of the most controversial projects, which may ultimately not be implemented. Designer Paul Moller has been creating a flying car for decades. In recent years, he has found it increasingly difficult to attract attention to his vehicles that never took off. For all this time, the inventor has not been able to achieve significant and visible results, but at least since 1997 he has regularly attracted the attention of financial services and regulatory authorities.

25. Moller was initially caught releasing marketing materials in which he announced that his future cars would fill the airspace within a few years. Then doubts arose from operations with securities and possible deception of investors, as a result of which there were fewer and fewer people willing to invest money in the bottomless project. The Canadian made his last attempt at the end of 2013, but by January 2014 he had collected less than $30 thousand out of the required $950 thousand.

26. According to the designer, the M400X Skycar is currently under development. A car designed to carry one person (driver), on paper, is capable of reaching speeds of up to 530 km/h and taking off to a height of 10 thousand meters. In reality, the idea will most likely remain an idea, and the life's work of Paul Moller, who turns 78 this year, will end in nothing.

Flying motorcycle G2

27. In the future, it will definitely fly - this is evidenced by tests of the first model conducted in 2005-2006. In the meantime, the device, which managed to win the title of “the world’s fastest flying motorcycle,” would be suitable for Mad Max, Batman or Agent 007.

28. Thanks to the engine from the Suzuki GSX-R1000, the vehicle is capable of reaching speeds of more than 200 km/h, which was proven during races across the salt desert in the USA. According to the developer, the flying motorcycle will gain the ability to conquer the sky in the coming months.

29. It was not for nothing that the inventor chose a bike as the basis for the aircraft: according to American law, it will be much easier to register and use it on the roads.

30. Dejö Molnar is now working to reduce the weight of the G2 and adapt the engine that powers the motorcycle to interact with the propeller. It is then that the engineer will publish a video in which he will demonstrate all the capabilities of the vehicle he is creating.

The dream of human conquest of air space is reflected in the legends and traditions of almost all peoples inhabiting the Earth. The first documentary evidence of human attempts to lift an aircraft into the air dates back to the first millennium BC. Thousands of years of attempts, work and reflection led to full-fledged aeronautics only at the end of the 18th century, or rather to its development. First the hot air balloon appeared, and then the Charlier. These are two types of lighter-than-air aircraft - a balloon, in further development balloon technology led to the creation of airships. And these aerial leviathans were replaced by heavier-than-air vehicles.

Around 400 BC. e. In China, kites began to be used en masse not only for entertainment, but also for purely military purposes, as a means of signaling. This device can already be characterized as a heavier-than-air device, having a rigid structure and using an aerodynamic force to maintain itself in the air. lift incoming flow due to jet air currents.

Aircraft classification

An aircraft is any technical device that is intended for flight in air or outer space. IN general classification A distinction is made between lighter-than-air, heavier-air and spacecraft. IN Lately The direction of designing related devices is increasingly developing, especially the creation of a hybrid air-space vehicle.

Aircraft can be classified in other ways, for example, according to the following criteria:

• according to the principle of operation (flight);
• according to the control principle;
• by purpose and scope of application;
• by type of engines installed on the aircraft;
• By design features concerning the fuselage, wings, tail and landing gear.

Briefly about aircraft.

1. aeronautical aircraft. Aircraft are considered lighter than air. The air shell is filled with light gas. These include airships, balloons and hybrid aircraft. The entire design of this type of apparatus remains entirely heavier than air, but due to the difference in the densities of the gas masses in and outside the shell, a pressure difference is created and, as a result, a buoyancy force, the so-called Archimedes force.

2. Aircraft using aerodynamic lift strength. This type of device is considered heavier than air. Their lifting force is created due to geometric surfaces - wings. The wings begin to support the aircraft in the air only after air currents begin to form around their surfaces. Thus, the wings begin to operate after the aircraft reaches a certain minimum speed of “operation” of the wings. A lifting force begins to form on them. Therefore, for example, in order for an airplane to take off or descend from it to the ground, mileage is needed.

• Gliders, airplanes, ground effect vehicles and cruise missiles are devices in which lift is generated by flow around the wing;
• Helicopters and similar units, their lift force is generated due to the flow around the rotor blades;
• Aircraft having a load-bearing body created according to the “flying wing” design;
• Hybrid are vertical take-off and landing devices, both airplanes and rotorcraft, as well as devices combining the qualities of aerodynamic and space aircraft;
• Dynamic air cushion vehicles of the ekranoplan type;

3. co SMIC LA. These devices are designed specifically to work in airless space with negligible gravity, as well as to overcome the gravitational force of celestial bodies to enter outer space. These include satellites, spaceships, orbital stations, rockets. Movement and lifting force is created due to jet thrust, by discarding part of the mass of the apparatus. The working fluid is also formed due to the transformation of the internal mass of the apparatus, which, before the start of the flight, still consists of an oxidizer and fuel.

The most common aircraft are airplanes. When classified, they are divided according to many criteria:

Helicopters are in second place in popularity. They are also classified according to various criteria, for example, by the number and location of rotors:

• having single-rotor a scheme that assumes the presence of an additional tail rotor;
• coaxial scheme - when two main rotors are on the same axis above each other and rotate in different directions;
• longitudinal- this is when the rotors are located on the axis of movement one after another;
• transverse- the propellers are located on the sides of the helicopter fuselage.

1.5 - transverse design, 2 - longitudinal design, 3 - single-screw design, 4 - coaxial design

In addition, helicopters can be classified by purpose:

• for passenger transportation;
• for combat use;
• for use as Vehicle when transporting goods for various purposes;
• for various agricultural needs;
• for the needs of medical support and search and rescue operations;
• for use as air valve devices.

A Brief History of Aviation and Aeronautics

People who are seriously involved in the history of the creation of aircraft determine that some device is an aircraft, primarily based on the ability of such a unit to lift a person into the air.

The earliest known flight in history dates back to 559 AD. In one of the states on the territory of China, a person sentenced to death was secured kite and after launch it was able to fly over the city walls. This kite was most likely the first monocoque glider.

At the end of the first millennium AD, in Muslim Spain, the Arab scientist Abbas ibn Farnas designed and built a wooden frame with wings, which had a semblance of flight controls. He was able to take off on this prototype hang glider from the top of a small hill, stay in the air for about ten minutes and return to the starting point.

1475 - the first scientifically serious drawings of aircraft and a parachute are considered to be those made by Leonardo da Vinci.

1783 - the first flight with people was made in a Montgolfier hot air balloon, in the same year a balloon with a helium-filled balloon rose into the air and the first parachute jump was performed.

1852 - the first airship with a steam engine completed a successful flight and returned to the starting point.

1853 - a glider with a man on board took off.

1881 - 1885 - Professor Mozhaisky receives a patent, builds and tests an aircraft with steam engines.

1900 - Zeppelin's first rigid airship was built.

1903 - The Wright brothers perform the first truly controlled flights in piston-engined aircraft.

1905 - The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) is created.

1909 - the All-Russian Aero Club, created a year ago, joins the FAI.

1910 - the first seaplane took off from the water surface, in 1915 the Russian designer Grigorovich launched the M-5 flying boat.

1913 - the founder was created in Russia bomber aviation"Ilya Muromets".

1918, December - TsAGI was organized, headed by Professor Zhukovsky. This institute will determine the direction of development of Russian and world aviation technology for many decades.

1921 - Russian civil aviation is born, transporting passengers on Ilya Muromets aircraft.

1925 - ANT-4, a twin-engine all-metal bomber aircraft, takes flight.

1928 - the legendary U-2 training aircraft was put into serial production, on which more than one generation of outstanding Soviet pilots would be trained.

At the end of the twenties, the first Soviet gyroplane, a rotary-wing aircraft, was designed and successfully tested.

The thirties of the last century were a period of various world records set on aircraft of various types.

1946 - The first helicopters appear in civil aviation.

In 1948, Soviet jet aviation was born - the MiG-15 and Il-28 aircraft, and in the same year the first turboprop aircraft appeared. A year later, the MiG-17 was launched into mass production.

Until the mid-forties of the 20th century, the main building material for the aircraft there was wood and fabric. But already in the first years of the Second World War, wooden structures were replaced by all-metal structures made of duralumin.

Aircraft design

All aircraft have similar structural elements. For air vehicles lighter than air - some, for heavier-than-air devices - others, for spacecraft - others. The most developed and numerous branch of aircraft are heavier-than-air devices for flight in the Earth's atmosphere. All heavier-than-air aircraft have basic common features, since all aerodynamic aeronautics and subsequent flights into space began with the very first design scheme - the design of an airplane, or airplane in other words.

The design of an aircraft such as an airplane, regardless of its type or purpose, has a number of common elements that are required for this device to fly. The classic scheme looks like this.

Airplane glider.

This term refers to a one-piece structure consisting of a fuselage, wings and tail. In fact, these are separate elements that have different functions.

A) Fuselage - This is the main power structure of the aircraft, to which the wings, tail, engines and take-off and landing devices are attached.

Fuselage body assembled according to classic scheme comprises:
- bow;
- central or load-bearing part;
- tail section.

In the bow of this structure, as a rule, radar and radio-electronic aircraft equipment and the cockpit are located.

The central part carries the main power load; the wings of the aircraft are attached to it. In addition, it contains the main fuel tanks, central electrical, fuel, hydraulic and mechanical lines were laid. Depending on the purpose of the aircraft, inside the central part of the fuselage there may be a cabin for transporting passengers, a transport compartment for stowing transported cargo, or a compartment for stowing bombs and missiles. Options for tankers, reconnaissance aircraft or other special aircraft are also possible.

The tail section also has a powerful power structure, since it is designed to attach the tail unit to it. In some modifications of aircraft, engines are located on it, and for bombers such as IL-28, TU-16 or TU-95, this part may have an air gunner’s cabin with guns.

In order to reduce the frictional resistance of the fuselage against the incoming air flow, the optimal shape of the fuselage with a pointed nose and tail is selected.

Considering the heavy loads on this part of the structure during flight, it is made of all-metal elements using a rigid design. The main material in the manufacture of these elements is duralumin.

The main elements of the fuselage structure are:
— stringers — providing longitudinal rigidity;
- spars - providing transverse rigidity to the structure;
- frames - channel-type metal elements, having the form of a closed frame of different sections, fastening stringers and ailerons into a given fuselage shape;
- outer skin - metal sheets made of duralumin or composite materials prepared in advance according to the shape of the fuselage, which are attached to stringers, spars or frames, depending on the design of the aircraft.

Depending on the shape specified by the designers, the fuselage can create a lift force from twenty to forty percent of the entire lift force of the aircraft.

The lift force, due to which an aircraft heavier than air remains in the atmosphere, is a real physical force generated when the oncoming air flow flows around the wing, fuselage and other structural elements of the aircraft.

The lift force is directly proportional to the density of the medium in which the air flow is formed, the square of the speed with which the aircraft moves and the angle of attack formed by the wing and other elements relative to the oncoming flow. It is also proportional to the area of ​​the aircraft.

The simplest and most popular explanation for the occurrence of lift is the formation of a pressure difference in the lower and upper parts of the surface.

b) Airplane wing- this is a structure that has a load-bearing surface to generate lifting force. Depending on the type of aircraft, the wing can be:
- straight;
- arrow-shaped;
- triangular;
- trapezoidal;
— with forward sweep;
- with variable sweep.

The wing has a center section, as well as left and right half-planes, which can also be called consoles. If the fuselage is made in the form of a load-bearing surface like that of a Su-27 type aircraft, then there are only left and right half-planes.

Depending on the number of wings, there can be monoplanes (this is the main design of modern aircraft) and biplanes (an example is the An-2) or triplanes.

Based on their location relative to the fuselage, the wings are classified as low-mounted, mid-mounted, high-mounted, “parasol” (that is, the wing is located above the fuselage). The main structural elements of the wing are spars and ribs, as well as metal skin.

Mechanization is attached to the wing, providing control of the aircraft - these are ailerons with trim tabs, and also related to takeoff and landing devices - these are flaps and slats. After their extension, flaps increase the wing area, change its shape, increasing the possible angle of attack at low speed and provide an increase in lift during takeoff and landing. Slats are devices for leveling the air flow and preventing turbulence and jet stalling at high angles of attack and low speeds. In addition, there can be spoilers-ailerons on the wing - to improve the controllability of the aircraft and spoilers-spoilers - as additional mechanization that reduces the lift and braking the aircraft in flight.

Fuel tanks can be placed inside the wing, for example, like on the MiG-25 aircraft. Signal lights are located at the wingtips.

V) Tail unit.

Two horizontal stabilizers are attached to the rear fuselage of the aircraft - this is the horizontal tail and the vertical fin - this is the vertical tail. These aircraft design elements provide stabilization of the aircraft in flight. Structurally, they are made in the same way as the wings, only they are much smaller in size. The elevators are attached to the horizontal stabilizers, and the rudder is attached to the keel.

Take-off and landing devices.

A) Chassis - main device belonging to this category .

Landing gear strut. Rear trolley

An aircraft landing gear is a special support designed for take-off, landing, taxiing and parking of an aircraft.

Their design is quite simple and includes a stand with or without shock absorbers, a system of supports and levers that ensure a stable position of the stand in the extended position and its quick retraction after takeoff. There are also wheels, floats or skis depending on the type of aircraft and the take-off and landing surface.

Depending on the location on the glider, various schemes are possible:
— landing gear with a front strut (the basic design for modern aircraft);
— a landing gear with two main struts and a tail support (an example is the Li-2 and An-2, which is currently practically not used);
— bicycle chassis (such a chassis is installed on the Yak-28 aircraft);
— a chassis with a front strut and a rear bar with a wheel that extends during landing.

The most common design for modern aircraft is a landing gear with a front strut and two main ones. On very heavy machines, the main racks have multi-wheeled trolleys.

b) Brake system. Braking of the aircraft after landing is carried out using brakes in the wheels, spoilers, spoilers, braking parachutes and engine reverse.

Propulsion power plants.

Aircraft engines can be located in the fuselage, suspended from the wings using pylons, or located in the tail of the aircraft.

Design features of other aircraft

1. Helicopter. The ability to take off vertically and spin around its axis, hover in place and fly sideways and backwards. All these are characteristics of a helicopter and all this is ensured thanks to a movable plane that creates lifting force - this is a propeller that has an aerodynamic plane. The propeller is constantly in motion, no matter at what speed and in what direction the helicopter itself is flying.
2. Rotorcraft. The peculiarity of this aircraft is that the take-off of the device is carried out by the main rotor, and the acceleration and horizontal flight are carried out by a classically located propeller installed on the theater, like an airplane.
3. Convertiplane. This aircraft model can be classified as a vehicle with vertical take-off and landing, which are provided by rotary theater engines. They are attached to the ends of the wings and after takeoff are rotated into an airplane position, in which thrust is created for horizontal flight. The lift is provided by the wings.
4. Autogyro. The peculiarity of this aircraft is that during flight it relies on the air mass due to the freely rotating propeller in autorotation mode. IN in this case the propellers replace the static wing. But to maintain flight, it is necessary to constantly rotate the propeller, and it rotates from the incoming air flow, so the device, despite the propeller, needs minimum speed for the flight.
5. Vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Takes off and lands at zero horizontal speed, using jet engine thrust, which is directed in the vertical direction. In world aviation practice, these are aircraft such as the Harrier and Yak-38.
6. Ekranoplan. This is a device capable of moving at high speed, using the effect of an aerodynamic screen, which allows this aircraft to stay at a height of several meters above the surface. Moreover, the wing area of ​​this aircraft is smaller than that of a similar aircraft. An aircraft using this principle, but capable of rising to a height of several thousand meters is called ekranolet. A special feature of its design is its wider fuselage and wing. Such a device has a large carrying capacity and a flight range of up to a thousand kilometers.
7. Glider, hang glider, paraglider. These are heavier-than-air aircraft, usually non-motorized, which use lift to fly due to the air flow around the wing or lifting surface.
8. Airship. This is a lighter-than-air apparatus that uses an engine with a propeller for controlled movement. It can be with a soft, semi-hard and hard shell. Currently used for military and special purposes. However, a number of advantages, such as low cost, high carrying capacity and a number of others, give rise to discussions about the return of this type of transport to the real sector of the economy.

It's amazing what kind of aircraft you can put together with a lot of effort, creativity and a lot of money. I bring to your attention a selection of unusual and sometimes quite strange aircraft.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flying saucer. VZ-9-AV Avrocar is a vertical take-off and landing aircraft developed by the Canadian company Avro Aircraft Ltd. The development of the aircraft began in 1952 in Canada. On November 12, 1959, it made its first flight. In 1961, the project was closed, as officially stated due to the inability of the “plate” to rise above 1.5 meters from the ground. A total of two Avrocar devices were built:

The Northrop XP-79B flying wing fighter, equipped with two jet engines, was built in 1945 by the American company Northrop. It was supposed to dive on enemy bombers and destroy them by cutting off the tail section. On September 12, 1945, the plane made its only flight, which ended in disaster after 15 minutes of flight:

Airplane-spaceship. Boeing X-48 is an American experimental unmanned aerial vehicle created jointly by Boeing and NASA. The device uses one of the varieties of a flying wing. On July 20, 2007, it was the first to rise to a height of 2,300 meters and land after 31 minutes of flight. The X-48B was named the Times' Best Invention of 2007.

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

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

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

Reverse sweep. Su-47 "Berkut" is a Russian carrier-based fighter project developed at the Design Bureau named after. Sukhoi. The fighter has a forward-swept wing; composite materials. In 1997, the first flying example of the Su-47 was built, now it is experimental:

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

Vertical take-off. The LTV XC-142 is an American experimental tilt-wing vertical take-off and landing transport aircraft. Made its first flight on September 29, 1964. Five aircraft were built. The program was discontinued in 1970. The only surviving example of the aircraft is on display at the US Air Force Museum:

Caspian Monster. “KM” (Mock-up Ship), also known abroad as the “Caspian Monster”, is an experimental ekranoplan developed at the design bureau of R. E. Alekseev. The ekranoplan had a wingspan of 37.6 m, a length of 92 m, and a maximum take-off weight of 544 tons. Before the appearance of the An-225 Mriya aircraft, it was the heaviest aircraft in the world. Tests of the “Caspian Monster” took place in the Caspian Sea for 15 years until 1980. In 1980, due to a pilot error, the KM crashed; there were no casualties. After which no operations were carried out to restore or build a new copy of the CM:

Air whale. Super Guppy is a transport aircraft for transporting oversized cargo. Developer - Aero Spacelines. Released in five copies in two modifications. First flight - August 1965. The only flying “air whale” belongs to NASA and is used to deliver large items to the ISS:

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

For flights to the moon. This lander, built in 1963, was part of Project Apollo, which aimed to achieve the first manned landing on the Moon. The module was equipped with one jet engine:

Rotorcraft. Sikorsky S-72 is an experimental helicopter. The S-72 made its first flight on October 12, 1976. The modernized S-72 flew on December 2, 1987, but after the next three flights, funding was stopped:

Rocket plane. The Ryan X-13A-RY Vertijet is an experimental vertical take-off and landing jet aircraft created in the United States in the 1950s. Developed by Ryan. Customer: US Air Force. A total of two such aircraft were built:

Lunar module. Another VTOL lander, built in 1964, was part of Project Apollo, which aimed to achieve the first manned landing on the Moon.

Man never lost his desire to fly. Even today, when traveling by plane to the other end of the planet is a completely common thing, you want to assemble at least the simplest aircraft with your own hands, and if you don’t fly yourself, then at least fly in first person using a camera, for this they use unmanned vehicles. We will look at the simplest designs, diagrams and drawings and, perhaps, make our old dream come true...

Requirements for ultra-light aircraft

Sometimes emotions and the desire to fly can win common sense, and the ability to design and competently carry out calculations and plumbing work is not taken into account at all. This approach is fundamentally wrong and therefore several decades ago the Ministry of Aviation prescribed General requirements to homemade ultra-light aircraft. We will not present the entire set of requirements, but will limit ourselves to only the most important ones.

1. A homemade aircraft must be easy to control, easy to pilot on takeoff and landing, and the use unconventional methods and device control systems is strictly prohibited.
2. If an engine fails, the aircraft must remain stable and ensure safe gliding and landing.
3. The aircraft's run-up before take-off and lift-off from the ground is no more than 250 m, and the take-off speed is at least 1.5 m/s.
4. The forces on the control handles are in the range of 15-50 kgf, depending on the maneuver being performed.
5. The clamps of the aerodynamic steering planes must withstand an overload of at least 18 units.

Requirements for the design of an aircraft

Since an aircraft is a high-risk vehicle, when designing the aircraft structure, the use of materials, steels, cables, hardware components and assemblies of unknown origin is not allowed. If wood is used in the structure, it must be free of visible damage and knots, and those compartments and cavities in which moisture and condensation can accumulate must be equipped with drainage holes.

The simplest version of a motorized aircraft is a monoplane with a pulling motor propeller. The scheme is quite old, but time-tested. The only drawback of monoplanes is that in emergency conditions it is quite difficult to leave the cockpit; the monowing gets in the way. But the design of these devices is very simple:

• the wing is made of wood according to a two-spar design;
• welded steel frame, some use riveted aluminum frames;
• combined or full linen cladding;
• closed cabin with a door operating according to an automobile circuit;
• simple pyramidal chassis.

The drawing above shows a Malysh monoplane with 30 hp gasoline engine, takeoff weight is 210 kg. The plane reaches a speed of 120 km/h and has a flight range of about 200 km with a ten-liter tank.

Construction of a braced high-wing aircraft

The drawing shows a single-engine high-plane Leningradets, built by a group of St. Petersburg aircraft modelers. The design of the device is also simple and unpretentious. The wing is made of pine plywood, the fuselage is welded from steel pipe, classic linen covering. Wheels for the landing gear are from agricultural machinery so that it is possible to carry out flights starting from unprepared soil. The engine is based on the design of the MT8 motorcycle engine with 32 horsepower, and the take-off weight of the device is 260 kg.

The device proved to be excellent in terms of controllability and ease of maneuvering and was successfully operated for ten years and took part in rallies and competitions.

All-wood aircraft PMK3

The all-wood PMK3 aircraft also showed excellent flight qualities. The plane had a peculiar shape of the nose, a grounded landing gear with small-diameter wheels, and the cabin had a car-type door. The aircraft had an all-wood fuselage covered with canvas and a single-spar wing made of pine plywood. The device is equipped with a water-cooled Vikhr3 outboard motor.

As you can see, with certain skills in construction and design, you can not only make current model an airplane or a drone, but also a fully-fledged simple aircraft with your own hands. Be creative and dare, have a good flight!