Innovation is necessary to create an airplane. Innovations for aviation. Air traffic control
Low-cost air travel will increase its market share. According to ICAO, in 2016, low-cost carriers accounted for approximately 28% of the total volume of global scheduled passenger traffic, while in 2003, according to estimates from consulting A.T. Kearney, it was about 10%.
Low-cost airlines are most popular in Europe: there they account for 32% of all passenger traffic. Similar figures in the Asia-Pacific region were 31%, in North America - 25%.
At the same time, the boundary between low-cost airlines and airlines with a traditional economic model is blurring. Currently, it makes sense to talk about hybrid air carriers that offer a wide tariff schedule, including low-cost fares with a minimum baggage allowance, and regular economy class tickets that provide free meals on board, as well as premium and business fares.
Yes, the majority Russian airlines, including S7, UTair, " Ural Airlines", launched tariffs that provide for the carriage of a minimum baggage allowance - 10 kg (in hand luggage or luggage compartment) instead of the previously usual 20 kg. Thus, according to the Russian Pobeda, in 2016, about 12% of the airline’s passengers used air transport for the first time in their lives. That is
The presence of a wide range of tariffs with the opportunity to take advantage of cheap air transportation allows you to attract new consumers.
This is also supported by rising prosperity in developing countries such as China and India. According to IATA, passenger traffic in these two countries jumped by 23.3 and 11.7% respectively in 2016. By 2035, global passenger traffic will reach 7.2 billion people (3.7 billion in 2016).
Low-cost air transportation is also increasing its share on long-haul routes. For example, Norwegian Air Shuttle has increased the frequency of flights from Europe to North America for 2016 by 44%, according to the British OAG. And the Asian low-cost airline AirAsia is thinking about launching flights from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur to Moscow.
According to IATA, air travel continues to become cheaper. According to forecasts of the International Association air transport, the average cost of a round-trip air ticket in 2017 will be reduced to $351. Compared to the 1995 level, this figure decreased by 63%.
Digitalization of communication with passengers
The world's airlines and airports are increasing the use of digital technologies in both internal management and communication with passengers. 6% of airlines are already testing, and 17% plan to begin testing artificial intelligence within the next five years. Among airports, the share is slightly higher: 21% of airports intend to test applications using artificial intelligence in the next five years, according to a study by aviation IT solutions provider SITA.
SITA estimates that 55% of the world's travelers have used some form of self-service technology when flying. Interest in digital services is growing: about 76% of passengers would like to receive notifications about the start of baggage claim on their mobile devices, almost the same number (74%) would prefer to learn about changes in flight schedules via mobile applications.
By 2019, the share of airports in the world that will provide flight status and baggage claim information directly to passengers' mobile devices will increase to 72%.
“Self-check-in, baggage drop-off, receiving an electronic boarding pass, independent movement between different areas of the airport - this will make life easier for the airport, because it will use fewer personnel, and the movements of passengers will be easier to track,” explained Avia.ru editor-in-chief Roman Gusarov .
Using mobile applications, it will be possible not only to find out about the gate number or rescheduled departure time, but also to rebook a ticket. Currently, this solution is used by about 21% of airlines in the world. For example, the Dutch KLM (part of the AIr France-KLM holding) allows you to rebook tickets via WhatsApp, and the Italian Meridiana, in case of a schedule change, offered passengers via SMS or e-mail to choose new option flight.
By 2019, the number of airlines using mobile applications, SMS services and chats for rebooking will increase to 73%.
Quiet airport
Thanks to digitalization and the use of mobile devices for information, airports will be able to eliminate annoying announcements over the loudspeaker. The concept of a “quiet airport” has become widespread primarily in Europe.
The idea is to reduce airport noise, which many passengers find annoying, to a minimum, limiting it to security announcements and urgent messages.
Among the pioneers, the concept of “silence” was introduced by the airports of Helsinki, Munich, London City Airport, and the air hub in Mumbai.
By doing so, airports strive to create a calm environment in which passengers can relax in restaurants and cafes without annoying loudspeaker shouts, said Angela Gittens, CEO of Airports Council International.
This policy is beneficial in that it will help increase non-aviation revenues: according to Munich airport representative Corinne Born, thanks to the “quiet airport” concept, passengers increase the time they spend in the terminal, preferring to arrive in advance.
The Moscow Domodedovo has also taken the path of reducing the frequency of voice notifications: only the most necessary messages are heard here. “Announcements in the common area are of an informational nature, related to the rules for transporting items in checked baggage and hand luggage, safety rules, smoking ban: messages sound once every two hours and are generated automatically by the system,” the airport press service said.
Noise pollution has economic consequences: according to a study by the Dutch National Institute of Health and the Environment, proximity to an airport was associated with a 50 percent drop in the price of residential land. In the Netherlands, noise pollution from airports cost the country about €1 billion annually, the report's authors calculated. More than half of this amount was accounted for by Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
New generation aircraft will also help reduce noise pollution at the airport: for example, the Boeing 787 is 60% quieter and the Airbus A350 is 50% quieter during takeoff and landing than similar models of the previous generation.
Airport as a city
Airports will become not only major transport hubs, but will also compete with shopping and entertainment centers. Those air hubs that have large-scale transit flows will develop the “airport-city” concept. “This is a place where you can get a full range of services. And a hairdresser, and a cinema, and restaurants, and a hotel. This will allow transit passengers to find any option for spending their time,” explains Avia.ru editor-in-chief Roman Gusarov.
For example, in international airport Singapore Changi, which occupies 13 square meters. km and serves more than 50 million people annually (in 2016 - 58.7 million people), passengers can pass the time not only in shops and restaurants, but also swim in the pool located in the hotel for transit passengers in terminal 1, go to the movies or visit the flower garden in Terminal 2.
Airports will become multimodal transport centers, which will house both railway and bus stations. At the same time, this is partially happening now: for example, Aeroexpress passengers have access to the service of checking in and checking in luggage for the flight before boarding the train.
However, such a future awaits only large international hubs. Small airports will implement these innovations only partially, as needed, abandoning more expensive infrastructure and capital-intensive solutions, Gusarov emphasized.
Narrow-body and long-haul
The main demand of airlines in the next 20 years will be for narrow-body aircraft (90-230 passengers). According to Airbus, the global demand for such aircraft will be 24 thousand aircraft in the period from 2016 to 2035. Boeing estimates that demand for such aircraft will reach 28,140 units.
Analysts from both airlines unanimously state that narrow-body aircraft will account for more than 71% of the forecast demand.
The main buyers of such airliners will be low-cost airlines, according to Boeing.
Airbus also believes demand for long-haul aircraft will grow, as the number of passengers on such flights will double to about 2.5 million by 2035. The Asia-Pacific region will become the leader in the purchase of new aircraft in the next 20 years.
The Russian aviation industry today can be considered one of the key areas of development of the domestic economy. The stable operation of the aviation industry is a vector that creates all the necessary prerequisites for the development of a whole complex of high-tech enterprises, as well as their preservation. Provides “intellectualization” of the GDP structure, development of exports of advanced products of the engineering complex, as well as import substitution in key product segments.
Besides, aviation industry plays one of the main functions in social terms, taking into account its related industries, allowing to increase the number of new qualified jobs at production sites, in research and design areas, in universities and secondary special education educational institutions. The main segments of the industry are aircraft manufacturing, helicopter manufacturing, engine manufacturing and aircraft instrument manufacturing.
One of the most important developments of the Technodinamika holding is an aircraft movement system using an electric drive of landing gear wheels for regional and short-haul aircraft.
Also unique products include a crash-resistant fuel system (ATS). Taking into account the latest European aviation standards, which include significant increases in safety requirements, crash-resistant fuel systems must be used on all latest generation transport and passenger helicopters. The holding's solution makes it possible to ensure the safety of vehicles from possible consequences during a hard landing.
Technodinamika is the first Russian holding to create such a system and confirm its high performance characteristics. During the tests, a series of drops were carried out, during which mock-ups of fuel tanks successfully confirmed the effectiveness of the development. A number of successful tests of other units of the system were also carried out. The uniqueness of the vehicle lies in the fact that in emergency situations, the fuel tanks maintain their integrity, and ruptures in connections occur in specialized elements that prevent fuel leakage. Fuel tanks feature innovative materials that are impact sealed and puncture resistant, while PTFE sleeves and titanium fittings are designed to withstand high temperatures and pressures. Only Russian materials are used in the production of the system.
In addition, one of the latest systems, created by the Technodinamika holding, is a neutral gas system (CIS). It can be used on any type of aircraft. The solution fully complies with the requirements, including Russian and international standards and safety requirements. The system allows you to create an inert environment and prevent the formation of flammable fuel vapors in the fuel system tanks by reducing the oxygen content.
The use of a system with a membrane air separator module reduces its weight. If we compare the solution with a neutral gas balloon system, the reduction in weight characteristics reaches 2x–3x times. The time required for system maintenance during operation is also reduced.
The neutral gas system with air separation module does not require pre-flight maintenance. It can be installed on Various types aircraft, while the system operates in automatic mode so as not to distract the attention of the crew during the flight. The installation of a neutral gas system developed by Technodinamika ensures that aircraft comply with international safety standards.
The aviation industry is still a branch of the high-tech sector of the Russian economy, which has significant potential for innovative development. The companies of the Technodinamika holding successfully carry out innovative developments in the field of aircraft manufacturing, implementing the Industry 4.0 strategy at all stages of their work and annually replenishing the portfolio with new high-quality projects.
The air transportation market is growing rapidly, so designers regularly publish concepts for the flying transport of the future.
Aerospace giant Airbus has tested an unmanned flying taxi created as part of the Vahana project. The aircraft, called Alpha One, took off for the first time. The lift height was low - only 16 feet (4.9 m) - and Alpha One was in the air for only 53 seconds, after which it landed. Nevertheless, the aircraft performed all operations independently, in autonomous mode. The next day, the Vahana project team conducted another test takeoff of Alpha One, and it was also successful.
Airbus reportedly launched this project to “democratize private flying” using all the latest technologies, including machine vision and electric propulsion. Based on this concept, the Vahana team developed the Alpha One, an electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft for one passenger. The company's ultimate goal is to create a network of autonomous passenger drones, similar to the fleet of self-driving cars for ride-hailing services that Waymo is set to launch this year, but Airbus's project is even more ambitious.
However, before this happens, Airbus needs to continue to develop its technology and perform more flight tests, after which it can move on to testing horizontal flights.
Lockheed Martin & Aerion
A real battle is breaking out among developers of various manned aircraft over who will be the first to produce a supersonic aircraft that will become widespread. And recently, one of the largest manufacturers, Lockheed Martin, joined this race with its new supersonic business jet project.
Lockheed Martin is collaborating with Aerion on a new project, and the new aircraft will be called AS2. The main innovation in the production of the aircraft will be the design of three engines: two are located under the wings of the aircraft, the third is in the tail. This arrangement will have a positive effect on both the speed and aerodynamics of the future airliner. It is worth noting that Lockheed Martin engineers presented such a design back in 2014, but only now has it found a worthy application. In addition, the aircraft’s interior will be made to all standards corresponding to the premium segment, and, according to the creators, the flight from Los Angeles to Sydney will take only two hours.
Collaboration with Aerion was not accidental. The fact is that this company is one of the market leaders in the design of aerodynamic bodies, which is very important for any aircraft.
The founder of the American company SpaceX, Elon Musk, proposed using promising reusable BFR launch vehicles for passenger flights on planet Earth. According to Musk's Twitter account, thanks to such rockets, the flight duration between any two points on the planet will not exceed one hour. Today many developers aircraft are working to significantly reduce flight time. The creation of “quiet” supersonic aircraft is being considered as the main way to speed up air travel. passenger aircraft. The first such aircraft should appear in the early 2020s and will reduce flight times on conventional routes by an average of two times.
According to a presentation published on the SpaceX YouTube channel, BFR rockets with passenger modules could be launched from offshore platforms. Passengers would be transported there by high-speed ships. After launch and entry into orbit, the detachable stages of the BFR rocket would return to the ground, and the passenger module would fly to a target outside the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of 27 thousand kilometers per hour.
Toyota decided to invest 350 thousand dollars in a project to create a flying car. According to NHK, this will help complete development vehicle by 2019. The public premiere of the car could take place as early as 2020 at the Tokyo Olympics. According to preliminary data, the flying car will be called Skydrive. Several Toyota employees have been working on this project on a voluntary basis since 2012. The single-seater machine will receive four rotors, which will work in a similar way to modern quadcopters.
The maximum speed of Skydrive will be 100 kilometers per hour. The machine will be capable of taking off at a height of up to 10 meters. The car will also be able to travel on public roads.
It was previously reported that Toyota plans to create a hovercraft. It was assumed that this solution would reduce friction and, accordingly, increase the efficiency of the motor and improve control.
At the moment, several companies are developing flying cars. So, this year such a vehicle was presented by the Slovak company AeroMobil. The development of the machine took 25 years. At the moment, the new product is already available for pre-order. Prices range from 1.2 to 1.5 million euros.
The AeroMobil automatically enters flight mode within three minutes. The power reserve in the ground version is 700 kilometers, and in the air version - 750. The maximum speed of the car is 160 kilometers per hour. Moreover, in air mode this figure reaches 360 kilometers per hour. The vehicle can accelerate to 100 kilometers per hour in 10 seconds. The weight of the car is 960 kilograms.
Boom
British billionaire Richard Branson supported the American company Boom in its development of a supersonic passenger airliner. The company presented a prototype yesterday of this aircraft, dubbed the XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator.
Financial and technical support for the project is provided by Branson's company Virgin Galactic. The first test flight of the airliner is scheduled for the end of next year, tests will take place in Southern California.
The prototype shown is a 1:3 scaled-down copy of the production model. The plane is made of composite materials and has only 40 standard first-class passenger seats, arranged one abreast.
It is expected that the new supersonic passenger plane will be able to cover the distance between London and New York in 3.5 hours, the road from San Francisco to Tokyo will take four hours, and from Los Angeles to Sydney it will be possible to fly in six hours.
“I have long been passionate about aerospace innovation and the development of high-speed commercial flight. Virgin Galactic is an innovator in space and it was an easy decision for them to work with Boom,” says Richard Branson.
Evolution civil aviation has received a major boost in the last few years, both technologically and economically. The number of people traveling by air is growing rapidly every year, and therefore designers regularly publish very interesting concepts for the flying transport of the future, from airplanes on autopilot to personal air taxis. Currently most of These projects are still going through the stages of research, testing and developing a strategy for economic implementation. This is not surprising: the slightest mistake during design can cause the death of many people, and therefore excessive haste is highly undesirable. The Wendover Productions channel collected in one video the most interesting and promising projects of aircraft of the future and tried to answer the question of whether airlines will be able to bring this or that idea to life in the foreseeable future:
When it comes to innovation, the main criterion for a successful project is its practicality and efficiency. The ideal passenger aircraft of our time has medium dimensions and is at the same time capable of serving the maximum number of passengers. Its scope is transatlantic flights over short and medium distances, since the Boeing 787 now copes well with long-distance flights. For a long time, the “universal” passenger airliner was the twin-engine small Boeing 757, the peak of its popularity came during the period when such aircraft were officially allowed to make transatlantic flights . Despite the fact that it is still quite good at what it does, the 1983 design has a number of shortcomings that more modern aircraft do not have, in particular the presence of a composite frame and wing design features. Production of the 757 model was stopped in 2004.
Electric planes as a way to make flights cheaper
As a result of this decision, airlines have a window between the small 737 and the overly large 787, which can carry 230-280 passengers and fly over distances of up to 7,400 km. The company is currently working on a new model, the Boeing 797, whose design will include modern engines and a sectional body design that will allow it to operate at its maximum efficiency. After completion of testing, it is he who can take on the role of transport for an ever-increasing number of passengers around the world.
In the field of regional flights, there are much more ambitious projects that over time could completely change the pricing system for air travel: electric planes. Currently, there are many restrictions for their implementation as full-fledged transatlantic transport, from power limitations of electric motors to low battery capacity. But for local flights they are perfect. The main obstacle for them is not even technical, but economic limitations: traveling by train or car will cost several times cheaper (especially for Europe, where suburban train in a few hours he can cross the entire country from edge to edge). In order for electric aircraft to seriously compete with other types of transport, aircraft designers have to look for innovative ways to reduce the cost of flight. For example, the Zunum Aero project is distinguished by a significant reduction in the cost and consumption of jet fuel due to the hybrid design of their aircraft. Its testing should begin by 2020 and, according to the official website, the price of flights will not exceed $100 at current exchange rates. The company says it has found a way to cut fuel costs for small aircraft by 40-80% - agree, this is a significant saving.
Near future
Of course, these planes will not solve all problems. The emergence of new products will inevitably provoke new difficulties, for the solution of which aircraft of the next generation will be created - and so on, until finally the industry either turns into something more perfect and devoid of the shortcomings of our time, or gives way to new technologies (all of us, of course , we can’t wait until scientists finally invent working teleports). But the fact remains: sooner or later new medium-haul aircraft and electric small cars will enter production, and this may be what will make air travel cheaper and much more accessible.
Birds have them. In bats and butterflies. Daedalus and Icarus wore them to escape from Minos, king of Crete. We are talking about wings, or aerodynamic surfaces that allow the aircraft to rise. As a rule, the wings have the shape of an elongated teardrop with a curved upper surface and a flat lower surface. The air flowing through the wing creates an area of higher pressure under the wing, thereby lifting the aircraft off the ground.
Interestingly, some books invoke Bernoulli's principle to explain how wings work. According to their logic, the air moves along the upper surface longer, and therefore faster, to arrive at the trailing edge at the same time as the air that moves along the lower part. The difference in speed creates a pressure difference that causes lift. Other books reject this principle, turning to Newton's proven law: the wing pushes the air down, so the air pushes the wing up.
The flight of heavier-than-air devices began with gliders - light aircraft that can fly for long periods of time without the use of an engine. Gliders were the flying squirrels of aviation, but pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright wanted true falcons with powerful, quality flight. To provide traction, a propulsion system was needed. The Wright brothers designed and built the first airplane propellers, as well as the water-cooled four-cylinder engines to turn them.
The theory and practice of creating propellers have come a long way. The propeller acts like a rotating wing, providing lift, but in a straight direction. There are different propellers: with two blades and with eight, but they all meet the same tasks. As the blades rotate, the propellers push air back, and this air, thanks to Newtonian forces of action and reaction, propels the vehicle forward. This force is known as thrust and works against air resistance, which slows the vehicle down.
Jet engine
Aviation took a giant leap forward in 1937 when British inventor and engineer Frank Whittle tested the world's first jet engine. It worked completely differently than the modern one. Whittle's engine drew air from a forward-facing compressor. The air passed into the combustion chamber, where it was mixed with fuel and burned. A superheated stream of gases was ejected from the exhaust pipe, pushing the engine and the plane forward.
Hans Pabst van Ogein of Germany took Whittle's basic design and based it on the first jet plane in 1939. Two years later, the British government finally got the aircraft - the Gloster E.28/39, or Gloster Meteor - off the ground using Whittle's innovative jet engine. Towards the end of the Second World War, Gloster Meteor aircraft flown by Royal Air Force pilots were chasing and shooting German V-1 rockets out of the sky.
Today, turbojet engines are reserved primarily for military aircraft. Passenger airliners use turbofan engines, which still gulp air with forward-facing compressors. Only instead of burning all the incoming air, in a turbofan engine - as they are called in the literature - the air flows around the combustion chamber and mixes with a stream of superheated gases coming out of the exhaust pipe. As a result, turbofans are more efficient and produce less noise.
Jet fuel
The first piston aircraft used the same types of fuel as cars - gasoline and diesel fuel. However, the development of jet engines required diversity. Although a few fools advocated the use of peanut butter or whiskey, the aviation industry quickly became accustomed to kerosene as the best fuel for powerful jets. Kerosene is a component of crude oil obtained by distillation or separation into its basic components. In general, a lot of things are made from oil.
If you've ever owned a kerosene lamp or heater, you may have seen this straw-colored fuel. Commercial aircraft, however, require a higher grade of kerosene than grandma's kerosene stove. The fuel must burn cleanly but have a higher flash point than automotive fuel to reduce the risk of fire. Also, jet fuel must remain liquid in cold air upper layers atmosphere. The cleaning process removes all water that can turn into ice particles and block fuel paths. The freezing point of the kerosene itself is also carefully controlled. Most jet fuels do not freeze at temperatures down to minus 50 Celsius.
Flight Control
It's one thing to get a plane into the air. Managing it effectively to prevent it from falling back to the ground is another matter entirely. In a simple light aircraft, the pilot transmits steering commands using mechanical connections to control surfaces on the wings. These surfaces are, respectively, ailerons, lifts and rudder. The pilot uses the ailerons to move from side to side, the lifts to move up and down, and the rudder to turn left and right. Roll, for example, requires simultaneous activation of the ailerons and rudder to bring the aircraft down on one wing.
Modern military and commercial airliners are controlled by the same surfaces and use the same principles, but have done away with mechanical control. The first airplanes flew on hydraulic-mechanical systems, but they were vulnerable to damage and took up a lot of space. Today, almost all large aircraft rely on digital flight-by-wire, allowing elements to be finely controlled using the on-board computer. This clever technology allows just two pilots to fly a commercial airliner.
Aluminum and aluminum alloys
In 1902, the Wright brothers flew their most ingenious airplane yet—a single-seat glider made of muslin “skin” stretched over a spruce frame. Over time, wood and fabric gave way to laminated wood monocoque, an aircraft structure where all or most of the stress was placed on the skin of the aircraft. Monocoque fuselages allowed for more powerful and streamlined aircraft, leading to a number of speed records in the early 1900s. Unfortunately, the wood used in such aircraft required constant maintenance and deteriorated when exposed to the elements.
By 1930, almost all aircraft designers favored all-metal construction on laminated wood. Steel was a great candidate, but too heavy. Aluminum, on the other hand, was light, strong, and easily adaptable to any component. Fuselages made of aluminum panels held together with rivets have become a symbol of aviation. But this material also had its problems - in particular, metal fatigue. As a result, manufacturers have developed new techniques to identify problem areas in aircraft metal parts. Repair crews today use ultrasonic scanning to detect cracks and breaks, even the smallest defects that cannot be seen.
Autopilot
In the early days of aviation, flights were short, and the pilot's main concern was not crashing to the ground after a few exciting moments in the air. As technology has improved, long flights across continents and oceans, even the entire world, have become possible. Pilot fatigue became a serious problem during these epic journeys. How could a lone pilot or small crew remain awake and vigilant for hours, especially during monotonous cruises at high altitude?
This is how it appeared. Created by Lawrence Burst Sperry, son of Elmer A. Sperry, the autopilot, or automatic flight control system, linked three gyroscopes on the plane's surfaces that controlled pitch, roll, and yaw. The device made adjustments depending on the angle of deviation from the direction of flight. Sperry's revolutionary invention made stable cruising flight possible and could also take off and land independently.
The automatic flight control system of modern aircraft is not much different from the first gyroscopic autopilots. Motion sensors - gyroscopes and accelerometers - collect information about the spatial position of the aircraft and its movement, deliver it to the autopilot computers, and they issue signals to adjust the course using the wings and tail.
Pitot tubes
When pilots are in the cockpit of an airplane, they have to keep track of a lot of data. One of the most important things is the speed of the aircraft - relative to the air mass in which it flies. For specific flight configurations, be it landing or economy cruise, the aircraft's speed must remain within a certain range of values. If a plane flies too slowly, aerodynamics may suffer, meaning the lift force will not be enough to overcome the force of gravity. If the plane flies too fast, structural damage can occur.
On commercial airplanes, airspeed is measured by pitot tubes. The device got its name from Henri Pitot, a Frenchman who needed to measure the speed of water in rivers and canals. He created a straight tube with two holes, one at the back and one at the side. Pitot oriented his device so that the front opening faced upstream, allowing water to flow through the tube. By measuring the pressure difference across the front and side openings, he was able to calculate the speed of the moving water.
Aeronautical engineers realized they could do the same thing by installing pitot tubes on the edge of the wing or on top of the fuselage. The air flow flows through the tube and allows the aircraft's speed to be accurately measured.
Air traffic control
So far we've talked about aircraft designs, but one of the most important innovations in aviation has been air traffic control, the system that allows an airplane to take off from one airport, fly hundreds or thousands of kilometers, and land safely at its destination. In the United States, for example, there are more than 20 flight control centers that are responsible for moving aircraft throughout the country. Each center is responsible for a specific geographic area, so when a plane takes off, it is “handed over” to another center.
Radar surveillance plays a key role in air traffic control. Major ground stations located at airports and control centers emit shortwave radio waves that enter the aircraft and are reflected back. These signals allow air traffic controllers to control the positions of aircraft within the scope given to them. airspace. At the same time, most commercial aircraft carry transponders - devices that report the aircraft's type, altitude, heading and speed when interrogated by radar.
Landing a commercial airliner represents one of the most incredible feats of technology. The plane must descend from 10,000 meters to the ground and slow down from 1046 to 0 kilometers per hour. Well, yes, it needs to put all its weight - about 170 tons - on several wheels and stands, which must be strong, but completely retractable. Is it any surprise that chassis are number one on our list?
Up until the late 1980s, most civil and military aircraft used three basic landing configurations: one wheel on a strut, two wheels side-by-side on a strut, or two wheels side-by-side and another two wheels side-by-side. As aircraft became larger and heavier, landing systems became more complex to reduce stress on the wheels and strut assembly and reduce the impact force on the landing strip. The landing gear of the Airbus A380, for example, consists of four chassis - two with four wheels and two with six wheels each. Regardless of configuration, strength is more important than weight, so you'll find steel and titanium, but not aluminum, components in the chassis.
Aviation has reached the point where they already want to equip aircraft. Well, let's hope that in a couple of years we will have to write, plowing the endless expanses of the big theater.