Topics

61

Combat Warplanes / Antonov AN-74

« on: September 29, 2021, 08:46:08 PM »

In 1982, the Antonov Design Bureau began work on a specialized version of the AN-72 for use in the Arctic and Antarctic. The modified aircraft received the designation AN-72A ("Arctic"). A year later, the name of the project was officially changed to AN-74. September 29, 1983 - the first flight of the AN-74 transport aircraft.

Like its predecessor, the AN-74 was a high-wing aircraft with a T-shaped tail. 2 ? D-36 engines with a thrust of 63.7 kN are installed above the wing to increase lift due to the Coanda effect. It differed from the AN-72 with a more powerful auxiliary power plant, larger tanks, an anti-icing wing system, etc. It took on board up to 10 passengers or 5000 kg of cargo. Cruising speed - 700 km / h, flight range - 4150 km.

After successfully passing the tests, the AN-74 was put into serial production. 81 aircraft were produced (the last one was in 2013). More than 50 of them are currently in operation in Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, Iran, etc.

62

Combat Warplanes / Avia B.35

« on: September 28, 2021, 01:53:44 PM »

In 1935, the Avia B biplane fighter entered service with the Czechoslovak Air Force.534. But it was already obvious that by the end of the 1930s it would become obsolete. Therefore, the Air Force published requirements for the development of a monoplane fighter to replace the B.534. Avia Company started working on the B. 35 project, which was headed by the designer Franti?ek Novotn?.

The B. 35 was an elegant low-wing aircraft with an elliptical wing and a non-retractable landing gear. It was equipped with a Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrs engine (860 hp) Maximum speed-495 km/h, flight range-550 km. Armament ? 20-mm Hispano 404 cannon and 2 ? 7.92-mm vz machine gun.30. September 28, 1938-the first flight of the Avia B.35 piston fighter.

Despite the promising design and good flight characteristics, the B. 35 was not launched into mass production. Two prototypes were lost in accidents. The last B. 35/3, with a retractable landing gear, was built after the occupation of the country by Germany, and it became the prototype for the Avia B. 135 fighter.

63

Combat Warplanes / Arsenal VG 90

« on: September 27, 2021, 09:19:05 PM »

Not wanting to keep up with global trends, the French Navy in 1946 announced a competition for the development of a jet carrier-based fighter. 3 companies took part in the competition. Arsenal de l'A?ronautique, based on its VG 70 prototype jet, presented the VG 90 project.

It was a single-seat high-wing aircraft with a retractable landing gear and a swept (25?) wing. The Rolls-Royce Nene 102 engine with a thrust of 22.2 kN allowed it to reach a speed of up to 855 km/h. The flight range was 1550 km. Armament ? 3 ? 30-mm guns + 2 ? 500-kg bombs. September 27, 1949-the first flight of the Arsenal VG 90 carrier-based fighter.

Tests revealed problems of the aircraft ? with air intakes, with ailerons, poor visibility during landing, etc.They were partially eliminated. But, unfortunately, both built Arsenal VG 90 prototypes crashed during test flights. In 1952, the project was closed. The third prototype was never completed.

64

Combat Warplanes / Yak-38 / Як-38

« on: September 22, 2021, 06:34:44 PM »

Although the first vertical take ? off and landing (GDP) aircraft in the USSR-the Yak-36 deck attack aircraft-did not go into mass production, it gave invaluable experience. This allowed the Yakovlev Design Bureau to continue working on similar projects. In 1967, the development of a new VTOL deck attack aircraft Yak-36M was started, which would later receive the designation Yak-38. On September 22, 1970, the first flight of the Yak? 38 deck attack aircraft was launched.

It was a medium-sized plane with a retractable landing gear. Combined power plant ? 1 ? lifting and marching engine R27V-300 with a thrust of 59 kN and 2 ? lifting engines RD-36-35FVR with a thrust of 29 kN. The maximum speed is 1210 km / h, the combat radius is 195 km. Armament ? up to 1500 kg of bombs/missiles on 4 suspension points.

Despite a number of disadvantages? a short flight range, the absence of an on-board radar, etc., the Yak-38 was adopted and put into mass production. It became the second GDP aircraft in the world, after the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, adopted into service. 231 Yak-38 attack aircraft were built.

65

Miscellaneous Subjects / PL.7 Tanker

« on: September 21, 2021, 11:11:37 PM »

Kingsford Smith Air Service was founded in 1946 and was engaged in the sale and maintenance of light aircraft. In 1955, she decided on an independent project. Under the leadership of Luigi Pellarini, the PL.7 Tanker agricultural aircraft was developed.

PL.7 was a biplane with a double-girder tail and a non-retractable landing gear. In fact, it was a large steel tank for chemicals, to which the wings, cabin and engine of the Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah X (400 hp) were attached. Cruising speed-180 km / h. On September 21, 1956, the first flight of the agricultural aircraft Kingsford Smith PL. 7 Tanker, Australia.

During the tests, the aircraft showed good flight characteristics. But potential customers were not interested in it. The only PL.7 Tanker built was damaged in a fire in 1962 and was soon dismantled. The experience gained by Luigi Pellarini was later applied in the development of the Bennett PL. 11 Airtruck and the Transavia PL-12 Airtruck.

66

Combat Warplanes / Grumman Cougar

« on: September 20, 2021, 06:43:36 PM »

The war in Korea showed that the future of jet combat aviation is behind the swept wing. Without this, it is impossible to overcome the sound barrier, and speed, as you know, is one of the most important qualities of a fighter. In March 1951, the US Navy ordered Grumman Aircraft to develop a carrier-based fighter with a swept wing.

To speed up the work, the F9F Panther was taken as a basis. The main changes affected the wing — it became swept (35°) and was equipped with flapperons instead of ailerons. Otherwise, this low-level plan remained without any special changes. The F9F-6 was equipped with a Pratt & Whitney J48-P-8 engine with a thrust of 32.2 kN. The maximum speed is 1053 km / h, the combat radius is 472 km. Armament — 4 × 20 mm guns + up to 907 kg of bombs/missiles. September 20, 1951-the first flight of the Grumman F9F/F-9 Cougar carrier-based fighter.

The F9F/F-9 Cougar turned out to be more successful than its predecessor. 1988 fighters were built. In addition to the US Navy (until 1974), they were in service with the Argentine Navy (until 1971).

67

Combat Warplanes / Fairey Gannet

« on: September 19, 2021, 03:42:43 PM »

Taking into account the experience of the Second World War, in 1945, the British Admiralty published requirements for a deck-based anti-submarine aircraft. The Fairey Aviation company presented its Type Q aircraft (aka Fairey 17), a prototype of the future Fairey Gannet, to the competition.

The Gannet was a three-seat medium-sized aircraft with a folding wing of the "reverse gull" type and a retractable landing gear. It was equipped with an Armstrong Siddeley ASMD.1 Double Mamba turboprop engine (2950 hp), which rotated 2 coaxial screws. The maximum speed was 500 km / h, there was enough fuel for 5-6 hours of flight. It could carry up to 900 kg of bombs/torpedoes/depth charges/missiles. September 19, 1949-the first flight of the Fairey Gannet anti-submarine carrier-based aircraft.

According to the test results, the Fairey Gannet was recognized as the winner of the competition and launched into mass production. A total of 348 aircraft of all modifications were produced. In addition to the Royal Navy of Great Britain, they were also in service in Australia, Germany and Indonesia.

68

Combat Warplanes / Amiot 150

« on: September 18, 2021, 05:45:21 PM »

Developed in the early 1930s, the Amiot 143 was a typical bomber of those years — clumsy and seemingly ignoring the laws of aerodynamics. Nevertheless, the Avions Amiot company in 1937 decided to create a torpedo bomber for the French Navy aviation on its basis. The aircraft received the designation Amiot 150.

The Amiot 150 differed from its "parent" by an increased wing area, a float landing gear, a two-keel tail and engines (2 × Gnome-Rhône 14Kdrs with a capacity of 740 hp each). Otherwise, it was still the same massive high-wing aircraft. The maximum speed is 302 km / h, the flight range is 680 km. Armament — 4 × 7.5 mm machine gun + 1 torpedo or up to 800 kg of bombs. September 18, 1937-the first flight of the Amiot 150 torpedo bomber.

The installation of a float landing gear worsened the already poor flight characteristics. The test results were found unsatisfactory and the Amiot 150 did not go into the series. Only 1 prototype was built.

69

Combat Warplanes / La-200

« on: September 16, 2021, 05:39:49 PM »

Against the background of growing tensions in relations with the United States, the Soviet government invested significant resources in the development of new types of weapons. One of them was the all-weather jet fighter-interceptors, which the leading design bureaus of the country have been working on since 1947. The project, being developed in the Lavochkin Design Bureau, received the designation La-200.

The La-200 was a two-seat medium-sized plane with a swept wing. It was equipped (in the La-200 variant) with 2 × VK-1 engines with a thrust of 26.47 kN. The maximum speed is 1070 km / h, the flight range is 2170 km (with outboard tanks). Armament — 3 × 37-mm guns. September 16, 1949-the first flight of the La-200 interceptor fighter.

We built 3 prototypes of the La-200. They differed in the installed radar (and the shape of the nose) and engines. Although the aircraft showed good flight characteristics, it was not put into mass production. The tests continued until 1952 and the military opted for the Yak-25 interceptor.

70

Miscellaneous Subjects / Hughes H-1 Racer

« on: September 13, 2021, 03:12:48 PM »

Millionaire actor and aviator Howard Hughes met aviation engineer Glenn Odekirk during the filming of Hell's Angels. In 1932, they founded the company Hughes Aircraft. Her first project was the H-1 Racer racing aircraft, work on which began in 1934.

The H-1 was an aerodynamically clean low-wing aircraft with a retractable landing gear. It was equipped with a Pratt & Whitney R-1535 engine (700 hp) with a maximum speed of 567 km / h. On September 13, 1935, the first flight of the Hughes H-1 Racer racing aircraft took place.

In the first flight, the H-1, piloted by Hughes himself, made an emergency landing after the engine stopped. But before that, he managed to break the world speed record. The plane was restored and it set several more records, including a transcontinental flight. Since 1975, the H-1 Racer has been located in the National Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Replicas of the aircraft were built — both static and flying.

71

Combat Warplanes / Miles M. 38 Messenger

« on: September 12, 2021, 04:41:02 PM »

In the summer of 1942, Phillips and Powis (since 1943 — Miles Aircraft) presented the M. 28 Mercury aircraft to British Army officers for evaluation for training, communication and artillery fire correction. The officers liked the M. 28, but they offered to modify it — to improve the characteristics, simplify the design, etc. The modified aircraft received the designation M.38 Messenger. September 12, 1942-the first flight of the Miles M. 38 Messenger communication aircraft.

It was a low-wing aircraft with a non-retractable landing gear and a three-keel tail. It was equipped with a Blackburn Cirrus Major III engine (150 hp) Cruising speed — 245 km / h, flight range-657 km. The cabin housed 2-3 passengers + 1 pilot.

During the tests, Messenger showed excellent flight characteristics. Despite the fact that it was developed without the knowledge of the British Aviation Ministry, it was put into mass production. 93 aircraft were released. After the Second World War, they were also used by private owners.

72

Miscellaneous Subjects / de Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth

« on: September 09, 2021, 07:47:29 PM »

In the late 1920s, the boom of amateur pilots began. They needed simple and reliable tourist planes. To meet this demand, the de Havilland Aircraft company in 1929 began work on a new project — the DH.80A Puss Moth.

The DH. 80A was a three-seat high-wing aircraft with a non-retractable landing gear. The fuselage frame was made of steel pipes and covered with canvas. It was equipped with a de Havilland Gipsy Major engine (130 hp) Cruising speed-174 km / h, flight range-480 km. September 9, 1929-the first flight of the de Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth light multi-purpose aircraft.

The aircraft turned out to have excellent flight characteristics and was mass-produced until 1933. A total of 284 units of the DH.80A Puss Moth were produced. They were in great demand and were often used for long-distance flights. Several DH.80A aircraft have survived to this day.

73

Combat Warplanes / Vultee P-66 Vanguard

« on: September 08, 2021, 08:24:07 PM »

In the late 1930s, Vultee Aircraft began working on the implementation of the idea of using common parts — the wing, tail, etc. - for different aircraft. One of the 4 parallel projects was the V-48 single-seat piston fighter, later renamed the P-66 Vanguard.

It was an all-metal low-wing aircraft with a retractable landing gear. It was equipped with a Pratt & Whittney R-1830-33 engine (1200 hp) Maximum speed-550 km / h, flight range-1370 km. Armament — 4 × 7.62 mm machine gun + 2 × 12.7 mm machine gun. September 8, 1939-the first flight of the Vultee P-66 Vanguard fighter (aka P-48 Vanguard).

Although the P-66 showed good flight characteristics, the command of the US Army Air Corps quickly cooled down to it. Vultee Aircraft started looking for foreign customers. The government vetoed the deal with Sweden, but the planes were sold to China. A total of 146 P-66 Vanguard fighters were built. A small part of them was also used by the training units of the Air Corps.

74

Combat Warplanes / Bell AH-1 Cobra

« on: September 07, 2021, 07:10:45 PM »

The US Army actively used helicopters during the Korean War. First of all, for performing transport tasks. After the war, Bell Helicopter decided to develop a gunship helicopter. The first projects were only armed versions of conventional helicopters, but the AH-1 Cobra was originally developed as a combat one.

The AH-1 was designed on the basis of the UH-1 Iroquois (they took the engine, bearing and steering screws). The fuselage became narrower, a small wing was added, 2 crew members sat in tandem. The Lycoming T53-L-13 engine (1100 hp) allowed to reach a speed of up to 276 km/h. The flight range was 570 km. The armament could include 7.62 mm machine guns, a 20 mm cannon, a 40 mm grenade launcher + guided / unguided missiles. September 7, 1965-the first flight of the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter (aka Model 209).

The AH-1 Cobra became the world's first mass-produced combat helicopter, and its layout is a kind of standard. 1116 AH-1s produced were operated in more than 10 countries around the world — from Israel to the Philippines.

75

Combat Warplanes / GASN

« on: September 06, 2021, 03:38:26 PM »

While the British had already used torpedo bombers, the Russian Empire fleet did not have a single such aircraft. In 1916, the naval officer I. I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov proposed his project of a torpedo-carrying seaplane. Due to lack of experience, he attracted the designers of the aviation plant S. S. Shchetinin — M. M. Shishmarev and D. P. Grigorovich to the GASN (special-purpose hydroaeroplane) project.

It was an all-wood float biplane with 2 × Rolls-Royce (250 hp) or Renault WC (220 hp) engines, the maximum speed was 120 km/h, there was enough fuel for 7 hours of flight. Armament — 450-kg torpedo or up to 480 kg bombs + 2 machine guns. September 6 (August 24, old style), 1917 — the first flight of the GASN torpedo bomber.

Tests revealed a weakness in the design of the floats and work on the project was suspended. In 1921, Grigorovich restored the GASN, but in the first test flight, the plane makes an emergency landing due to a motor stop. This time, they did not restore it.