How do planes take off from aircraft carriers? Ammunition for operations on ground targets.

The action of the springboard is based on a short-term increase in the angle of attack of a running aircraft at the end of the run, combined with the addition of a vertical component of speed. Thus, the aircraft, which has not yet gained sufficient speed to take off, is in the air and receives additional lift, which allows it to stay in flight for a sufficient time for acceleration. This takeoff method is suitable only for aircraft with high thrust-to-weight ratio, because if there is a lack of thrust, the device will not have time to accelerate and fall into the water (with the ejection method, failure or insufficient force developed by the catapult gives the same effect).

As a rule, to take off from a springboard with a full combat load, aircraft engines are brought to the afterburner, while in order to avoid premature start of the takeoff run, the aircraft is held at the starting position by delayers.

The history of the appearance of springboards on aircraft carrier ships

On early aircraft carriers, the takeoff section of the deck was often given a slope towards the nose - this simplified the takeoff for light aircraft equipped with a low-powered engine of that time; the decrease in the angle of attack did not play a significant role, since on aircraft with a landing gear with a tail wheel, the parking angle is already large. In other words, it was the reverse of the modern springboard case. On aircraft carriers built in the 1930s, this practice has already been abandoned, and the decks have become horizontal. Moreover, for jet aircraft, when taking off from a catapult, a strictly horizontal take-off site was required.

In the 1970s, vertical take-off carrier-based aircraft were created - first the Yak-38 in the USSR (it was mass-produced since May 1974), then Sea Harrier in the UK (serially produced since September 1979). These were very small and light aircraft by the standards of conventional jet aircraft, not capable of carrying a lot of fuel and payload. In the event of a vertical takeoff, the Harrier could only lift itself - with incomplete refueling of internal tanks and without weapons; The Yak-38, due to its higher take-off thrust (due to the presence of lifting engines), took off vertically with a full refueling and 1 ton of combat load, but even this was considered insufficient. When operating in ground units, the British Harriers increased their takeoff weight due to a short (300 ... 400 m) takeoff run along an airfield or highway; on an aircraft carrier, this method was not suitable, since the deck length of even the largest aircraft carriers is less than 300 m, but it must be taken into account that VTOL aircraft were planned to be used from small ships.

These problems were clearly manifested during the formation of the first deck combat unit in the West, armed with VTOL aircraft - the 008th aviation squadron of the Spanish Navy, in 1976 equipped with AV-8S Matador aircraft (the same British ground-based Harriers, but manufactured in the USA according to order from Spain). They were based on the deck of the Daedalo, an American-built light aircraft carrier, already quite old and a small ship with a wooden flight deck; The Matador was practically the only relatively modern combat aircraft that could be operated from such an aircraft carrier. Having studied the experience of the Spaniards, the British in 1977 began testing the Harriers on the topic of take-off from a springboard, which allows this aircraft to get by with the length of an aircraft carrier deck for a short run. The tests were successful, and in July 1980 the British aircraft carrier was put into operation. Invincible, for the first time received a springboard for taking off VTOL aircraft. In the same 1980, the idea was proposed in the USSR to use a springboard for takeoff from the deck of conventional aircraft, which made it possible to do without a catapult. Ground tests were carried out that confirmed the theory, and in December 1990, the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, the first aircraft carrier, from which conventional takeoff and landing combat aircraft (Su-33 and MiG-29K) can take off, was put into operation.

see also

• Indian aircraft carrier "Vikrant" (equipped with a springboard during modernization)
• English aircraft carrier Hermes(equipped with springboard during modernization)
• Spanish aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias(designed with springboard)

Notes

Literature and sources of information

• Chechin A. A., Okolelov N. N. Takeoff vertically. - "Model designer", special issue. - M.: Model designer, No. 1/2007. - 64 p.

November 14, 1910 pilot Eugene Ely made the first takeoff from the deck of the ship. The pilot used a Glenn Curtiss biplane. Since then, aviation has been actively used on ships. We decided to talk about several well-known aircraft intended for use on warships.

Airplane Curtiss

On November 14, 1910, pilot Eugene Ely made the first takeoff from the deck in a Glenn Curtiss biplane. The aircraft was launched from a platform that was installed on the nose of the American light cruiser Birmingham with a displacement of 3810 tons. At this time, the ship was stationed near the naval base of Norfolk, Virginia. After takeoff, as a result of touching the water, the propeller of the aircraft was damaged, but the pilot managed to bring it to the town of Tilloughby Spit, located 4 km from the ship.

The Curtiss airplane reached a length of 8.5 m. The width of the aircraft was 9 m. The main surfaces of the biplane consisted of two connecting rods and ribs. Each surface had an area of ​​12.5 square meters. m. Total - 25 sq. m. m. The transverse bars and the connection of the main planes were made almost entirely using bamboo and piano strings. The aircraft was equipped with an 8-cylinder V-engine with a capacity of 65 hp. from. The speed of the aircraft was 72 km / h.

Su-33

Su-33 is the main carrier-based aircraft of the Russian Navy. It belongs to the fourth generation fighters. The aircraft made its first flight in 1987. It was put into service in 1998. Now the aircraft is based on the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov". The first landing of the aircraft on the deck was made in 1989. The plane took off almost immediately.

A total of 26 serial Su-33 fighters were built, 20 of which are currently in operation on the aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov. The length of this aircraft is 21.185 m, the wingspan is 14.7 m. The maximum takeoff weight is 33 thousand kg. The Su-33 is equipped with two AL-31F bypass turbojet engines with afterburners. The ceiling of the aircraft is 17 km. Speed ​​at altitude - 2300 km / h, landing speed - 250 km / h.

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

The fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter-bomber is still being tested. It is expected to start service in 2016. The aircraft will be produced in several versions: F-35A (with standard takeoff and landing), F-35B (with short takeoff and vertical landing) and F-35C (takeoff from the deck of an aircraft carrier using a catapult, and landing on the deck using an arrester ).

The first landing on the USS Wasp F-35B amphibious assault ship at sea was made on October 3, 2011. On the same day, several takeoffs and landings were made on the deck.

To create the F-35B, technologies used in the Soviet Yak-141 vertical takeoff and landing fighter were used. This is due to the cooperation between Lockheed Martin and Yakovlev Design Bureau in the 1990s.

The length of the F-35 is 15.7 m. The maximum speed is 1900 km / h. Ceiling - 18.2 km.

Yak-141

The Yak-141 is a multi-purpose supersonic all-weather carrier-based vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft. The development of the aircraft has been carried out since the mid-1970s. The Yak-141 made its first flight in 1987. It was assumed that the Yak-141 will be part of the air group of heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers. But the trials dragged on. Yak-141 first landed on deck in 1991. After the collapse of the USSR, the project was closed. The impetus for the closure was an aircraft crash during landing. During a vertical landing, the car fell to the deck, a fire started, which was soon extinguished, the pilot ejected. The cause of the accident was pilot error.

Dassault Rafale M

The fourth-generation French multirole fighter Dassault Rafale was developed by the French company Dassault Aviation. The aircraft made its first flight in 1986. The fighter was put into service in 2004. Dassault Rafale M - carrier-based version of the aircraft. The first Rafale M prototype flew on December 12, 1991. The peculiarity of the modification is the increased mass of the structure by 750 kg, reinforced Messier-Bugatti landing gear. In addition, the maximum takeoff weight was reduced by 2,000 kg to 19,500 kg. The maximum speed of the fighter at high altitude is 1900 km/h.

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

The American carrier-based fighter-bomber and attack aircraft Boeing F / A-18E / F Super Hornet made its first flight in 1995. In operation since 2000. The maximum takeoff weight of the aircraft is 29,937 kg. Practical ceiling - 15 km. The maximum speed at altitude is 1915 km / h.

MiG-29K

The fourth-generation Russian carrier-based multirole fighter is currently operated by the Indian Navy. The development of the concept of the aircraft began in 1978, and the direct design of the machine began in 1984. The aircraft made its first flight on June 23, 1988. The maximum takeoff weight of the aircraft is 22,400 kg. Practical ceiling - 17.5 km. The maximum speed of the MiG-29K reaches 2300 km/h. It is assumed that after the resource of the Su-33s in service with the Russian Navy expires in 2015, the MiG-29K aircraft will form the basis of carrier-based fighter aircraft.

Grumman F-14 Tomcat

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a fourth-generation, two-seat variable wing interceptor fighter jet. The first flight of the aircraft took place on December 21, 1970. From the very beginning of work on the project, the F-14 was conceived as an aircraft capable of gaining complete air superiority in close proximity to the aircraft carriers from which these aircraft were supposed to be used. As an additional task, he also had to be able to strike at tactical ground and surface targets. The fighter was even exported to Iran. Now they are still in service with the Iranian Air Force.

On November 14, 1910, an airplane took off for the first time from the deck of a ship.

In September 1910, a year after the Army acquired the first aircraft, Captain 1st Rank Washington Irving Chambers, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Materiel, was ordered to collect information on the progress of aeronautics and report on his thoughts on the suitability of airplanes for the needs of the fleet.

A month after his appointment, Chambers received, as assistants, two officers - designer William McEntee, from the Bureau of Shipbuilding and Repair, and Lieutenant Nathaniel Wright, from the Bureau of Steam Engines, who, after being posted to Fort Myer, where they supervised flights Wright brothers, offered Chambers flight plans for aircraft from the deck of a battleship. He reported this to the fleet command and received permission to perform a test flight from the deck of a warship.

For the experiment, Chambers was allocated the light cruiser USS Birmingham.(CS-2)(3750 tons). Now they needed to find an aircraft and a pilot who dared to carry out the planned enterprise.

Loading the Curtiss aircraft on the USS Birmingham (CS-2) using a floating crane.
The photo was taken at the Norfolk Navy Yard. November, 1910

At the same time, the Hamburg-America steamship company, together with the World newspaper, planned to purchase an aircraft so that it would fly from a platform installed on a passenger liner. It was officially announced that the purpose of the experiment was to improve the postal service on passenger ships (however, there were suspicions that the German navy was behind these experiments).

Installation of the Curtiss aircraft on the takeoff platform of USS Birmingham (CS-2).
The photo was taken at the Norfolk Navy Yard. November, 1910

Captain 1st Rank Chambers did not wait for McCurdy's second attempt and shortened the preparation time for the flight. The sailors of the cruiser "Birmingham" at first were simply surprised that they were forced to work on Sunday, building a wooden platform above the cruiser's forecastle. But when the next morning the plane was raised to this platform, they decided that the whole fleet was just crazy.

Eugene B. Ely aboard USS Roe. November 1910.

Around 1500, the weather cleared up a bit and the order was given to prepare for takeoff. Eli started the 50 horsepower engine. The cruiser had not yet had time to move, the anchor was just rising from the water, and Eli's patience was already over. He signaled to the mechanic to release the plane and started the engine at full power. At 15.16, the plane rolled down an inclined plane, only 17 meters of deck remained in front of it.

When the plane reached the end of the platform, it disappeared over its edge and glided down to the water. Eli pulled the control stick towards himself, but still the plane's wheels, floats and the tip of the propeller touched the water. Both wooden propeller blades were damaged, but it did not stop spinning. This did not affect the speed of the aircraft, nor the controllability, and the aircraft began to slowly rise into the sky.

1912 Curtiss D.III Headless Pusher biplaneat the SmithsonianmnationallymmuseeAir and Space in Washington, D.C..
One of the first production aircraft in the world. In a similar aircraft, Eugene B. Ely flew a historic takeoff from the Birmingham in 1910.
Photo by Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Two months later, on January 18, 1911, Ely made the first successful landing of an aircraft on a ship, landing a Curtiss platform mounted on the deck of the cruiser USS Pennsylvania. The ship during the experiment was anchored in San Francisco Bay. This flight was also the first time that a tail hook and a tightrope system were used to decelerate an aircraft.

Eugene B. Ely never became a US Navy military pilot, although he applied to do so, butthis was before the US Naval Aviation was organized.He died during one of the demonstration flights on October 19, 1911.

Based on materials from the National Naval Aviation Museum, Naval History & Heritage Command, N. Polmar, and others.

Despite the wave of criticism of the concept of vertical takeoff applied in the aircraft, the need to resume production of aircraft of this class has recently been increasingly discussed in Russia 15 December 2017, 11:33

One of the most expensive "toys" of the Pentagon - the F-35B fighter-bomber - this week took part in a joint US-Japanese exercise aimed at cooling the DPRK's nuclear missile fervor. Despite the wave of criticism of the concept of vertical takeoff used in the aircraft, the need to resume production of aircraft of this class has recently been increasingly discussed in Russia. In particular, Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov recently announced plans to build aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). About why Russia needs such an aircraft and whether the aviation industry has enough strength to create it.

The Yak-38, which was put into service in August 1977, became the most massive domestic combat aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing. The car has earned an ambiguous reputation among aviators - out of 231 aircraft built, 49 crashed in accidents and aviation incidents.

The main operator of the aircraft was the Navy - the Yak-38 was based on the project 1143 aircraft-carrying cruisers "Kyiv", "Minsk", "Novorossiysk" and "Baku". As veterans of carrier-based aviation recall, the high accident rate forced the command to drastically reduce the number of training flights, and the flight time of the Yak-38 pilots was a symbolic figure for those times - no more than 40 hours a year. As a result, there was not a single first-class pilot in the regiments of naval aviation, only a few had a second-class flight qualification.

Combat performance was also dubious - due to the lack of an onboard radar station, he could only conditionally conduct air battles. The use of the Yak-38 as a pure attack aircraft looked inefficient, since the combat radius during vertical takeoff was only 195 kilometers, and even less in hot climates.

Yak-141 supersonic VTOL fighter-interceptor

The more advanced Yak-141 was supposed to replace the "difficult child", but after the collapse of the USSR, interest in it disappeared. As you can see, the domestic experience in the creation and operation of VTOL aircraft cannot be called successful. Why did the topic of vertical takeoff and landing aircraft become relevant again?

Naval character

“Such a machine is vital not only to the Navy, but also to the Air Force,” military expert, Captain First Rank Konstantin Sivkov told RIA Novosti. “The main problem of modern aviation is that a jet fighter needs a good runway ", and there are very few such airfields, it is quite simple to destroy them with a first strike. Vertical take-off aircraft in a threatened period can be dispersed even over forest clearings. Such a system of using combat aviation will have exceptional combat stability."

However, not everyone sees the expediency of using VTOL aircraft in the land version as justified. One of the main problems is that during vertical takeoff the aircraft consumes a lot of fuel, which severely limits its combat radius. Russia, on the other hand, is a large country, so fighter aviation must have "long arms" to achieve air supremacy.

"The combat missions of fighter aircraft in the conditions of a partially destroyed airfield infrastructure can be ensured by short takeoffs of conventional aircraft from a runway section less than 500 meters long," Oleg Panteleev, executive director of the Aviaport agency, believes. "Another question is that Russia has plans for the construction aircraft carrier fleet, here the use of vertically taking off aircraft will be most rational. These may not necessarily be aircraft carriers, these may also be aircraft-carrying cruisers with the lowest cost parameters. "

Fighter F-35

By the way, the F-35B today is a purely naval aircraft, its main customer is the US Marine Corps (the aircraft will be based on landing ships). British F-35Bs will form the basis of the air wing of the newest aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, which was recently commissioned.

At the same time, according to Konstantin Sivkov, in order to start work on creating a Russian analogue of the F-35B, Russian design bureaus do not have to wait for new aircraft carriers. "VTOL aircraft can be based not only on aircraft carriers. For example, a tanker is equipped with a ramp and becomes a kind of aircraft carrier, we had such projects in Soviet times. In addition, VTOL aircraft can be used from warships capable of receiving helicopters, for example, from frigates," our interlocutor said.

We can if we want

Meanwhile, it is obvious that the creation of a Russian vertically taking off aircraft will require impressive resources and funds. According to various estimates, the cost of developing the F-35B and its horizontal takeoff counterparts has already reached $1.3 billion, and several states participated in the creation of the machine at once.