It is difficult for modern youth, and even mature citizens, to understand how delighted these flying machines that seemed then fantastic. Silver droplets, rapidly dissecting the blue sky behind them, excited the imagination of young people in the early fifties. A wide inversion trace left no doubt about the type of engine. Today, only computer games like War Thunder, with their proposal to purchase a Soviet jet aircraft, give some idea about this stage of development of domestic aviation. But it all started earlier.
What does reactive mean?
A reasonable question arises about the name of the type of aircraft. In English, it sounds briefly: Jet. The Russian definition hints at the presence of some kind of reaction. It is clear that this is not about fuel oxidation - it is also present in conventional carburetor engines. The operating principle of a jet aircraft is the same as that of a rocket. The reaction of a physical body to the force of an ejected gas jet is expressed in giving it an oppositely directed acceleration. Everything else is already subtleties, which include various technical parameters of the system, such as aerodynamic properties, layout, wing profile, engine type. Here are possible options that engineering bureaus came to in the process of work, often finding similar technical solutions, independently of each other.
It is difficult to separate missile research from aviation research in this aspect. In the field of powder accelerators installed to reduce the length of the take-off and afterburner, work was carried out before the war. Moreover, an attempt to install a compressor engine (unsuccessful) on a Coanda airplane in 1910 allowed the inventor Henri Coanda to claim Romanian priority. True, this design was initially inoperable, which was confirmed by the first test, during which the aircraft burned down.
First steps
The first jet aircraft, capable of conducting in the air for a long time, appeared later. The Germans became pioneers, although scientists from other countries — the USA, Italy, Britain, and backward Japan technically back then — achieved some success. These samples were, in fact, gliders of ordinary fighters and bombers, on which engines of a new type were installed, devoid of propellers, which caused surprise and distrust. In the USSR, engineers also dealt with this problem, but not so actively, focusing on proven and reliable screw technology. Nevertheless, the jet model of the Bi-1 aircraft, equipped with a turbojet engine designed by A.M. Lyulka, was tested immediately before the war. The device was very unreliable, nitric acid, used as an oxidizing agent, consumed fuel tanks, there were other problems, but the first steps are always difficult.
Hitler's Sturmfogel
Due to the peculiarities of the psyche of the Fuhrer, who hoped to crush the "enemies of the Reich" (to which he ranked countries of almost the rest of the world), in Germany, after the start of World War II, work began on the creation of various types of "miracle weapons", including jet aircraft. Not all areas of this activity were unsuccessful. Successful projects include Messerschmitt-262 (aka Sturmfogel) - the first jet aircraft in the world to be mass-produced. The device was equipped with two turbojet engines, had a radar in the bow, developed a speed close to sound (more than 900 km / h), and turned out to be a fairly effective means of combating high-altitude B-17 ("Flying Fortresses") allies. Adolf Hitler's fanatical faith in the extraordinary capabilities of the new technology, however, paradoxically played a nasty role in the combat biography of the Me-262. Designed as a fighter, he, according to the instructions “from above”, was converted into a bomber, and in this modification did not prove himself fully.
Arado
The principle of a jet aircraft was applied in mid-1944 for the design of the Arado-234 bomber (again by the Germans). He managed to demonstrate his extraordinary combat capabilities by attacking the positions of the allies who landed in the vicinity of the port of Cherbourg. A speed of 740 km / h and a ten-kilometer ceiling did not give a chance of anti-aircraft artillery to hit this target, and American and British fighters simply could not catch it. In addition to the bombing (very inaccurate for obvious reasons), Arado made aerial photography. The second experience of using it as a percussion instrument took place over Liege. The Germans did not suffer any losses, and if fascist Germany had more resources, and industry could produce Ar-234 in the amount of more than 36 copies, then the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition would have been tight.
U-287
German developments fell into the hands of the friendly states during the Second World War after the defeat of Nazism. Western countries already during the final stage of hostilities began to prepare for the upcoming confrontation with the USSR. The Stalinist leadership took counter measures. It was clear to both sides that in the next war, if it takes place, jet planes will fight. The USSR at that time did not yet possess nuclear strike potential, only work was underway to create a technology for the production of an atomic bomb. But the Americans were very interested in the captured Junkers-287, which had unique flight data (combat load of 4000 kg, range of 1,500 km, ceiling of 5,000 m, speed of 860 km / h). Four engines, negative sweep (the prototype of future "invisibles") allowed the aircraft to be used as an atomic carrier.
First post-war
Jet aircraft did not play a decisive role during World War II, so the bulk of Soviet production capacities focused on improving designs and increasing the output of conventional propeller-driven fighter aircraft, attack aircraft and bombers. The question of a promising carrier of atomic charges was difficult, and it was quickly resolved by copying the American Boeing B-29 (Tu-4), but the main goal remained to counter possible aggression. For this, fighter aircraft were primarily required - high-altitude, maneuverable, and, of course, high-speed. The development of a new area of aviation technology can be judged by the letter of the designer A.S. Yakovlev to the Central Committee (autumn 1945), which found a certain understanding. A simple study of captured German technology, the party leadership considered an insufficient measure. The country needed modern Soviet jet aircraft, not inferior, but superior to the world level. At the 1946 parade in honor of the anniversary of the October Revolution (Tushino) they had to be shown to the people and foreign guests.
Temporary Yaks and MiGs
There was something to show, but it did not work out: the weather failed, there was fog. The demonstration of the new aircraft was moved to May Day. The first Soviet jet aircraft produced in a series of 15 copies were developed by the Design Bureau of Mikoyan and Gurevich (MiG-9) and Yakovlev (Yak-15). Both samples were distinguished by a redanny scheme in which the tail part from below is washed by jet jets discharged by nozzles. Naturally, to protect against overheating, these plating sections were coated with a special layer made of refractory metal. Both aircraft differed in weight, number of engines and purpose, but in general corresponded to the state of the Soviet aircraft construction school in the late forties. Their main purpose was the transition to a new type of power plant, but in addition to this, other important tasks were fulfilled: training of flight personnel and development of technological issues. These jet aircraft, despite the large volumes of their production (hundreds of pieces), were considered temporary and subject to replacement in the very near future, immediately after the appearance of more advanced designs. And soon this moment came.
Fifteenth
This plane has become a legend. It was built in unprecedented peacetime series, both in combat and in a paired training version. The design of the MiG-15 used many revolutionary technical solutions, for the first time an attempt was made to create a reliable pilot rescue system (catapult), it was equipped with powerful cannon weapons. The speed of a jet aircraft, small but very effective, allowed him to defeat the armada of heavy strategic bombers in the sky of Korea, where war broke out shortly after the advent of a new interceptor. An American “Saber”, built according to a similar scheme, became a certain analogue of the MiG. During the fighting, the equipment fell into the hands of the enemy. A Soviet plane hijacked a North Korean pilot, seduced by a huge monetary reward. The crippled “American” was managed to be pulled out of the water and delivered to the USSR. There was a mutual "exchange of experience" with the adoption of the most successful design decisions.
Passenger jet
The speed of a jet plane is its main advantage, and it applies not only to bombers and fighters. Already in the late forties, the Comet liner built in Britain entered international airlines. It was created specifically for transporting people, it was comfortable and fast, but, unfortunately, did not differ in reliability: seven catastrophes happened within two years. But progress in the field of high-speed passenger transport could not be stopped. In the mid-fifties, the legendary Tu-104 appeared in the USSR, a conversion version of the Tu-16 bomber. Despite the numerous flight accidents that occurred with the new aircraft, jet aircraft increasingly took control of the airline. Gradually, the appearance of a promising liner and an idea of how it should be. Propellers (screw propellers) were used less and less by designers.
Generations of fighters: first, second ...
Like almost any technique, jet interceptors are classified by generation. There are currently five of them, and they differ not only in the years of production of models, but also in design features. If the concept of the first samples basically had an accumulated base of achievements in the field of classical aerodynamics (in other words, only the type of engine was their main difference), then the second generation had more significant features (swept wing, a completely different shape of the fuselage, etc.) In the fifties it was believed that air combat would never be maneuverable, but time has shown the fallacy of such an opinion.
... and from third to fifth
The Sixties' dog dumps between the Skyhawks, Phantoms and MiGs in the skies over Vietnam and the Middle East indicated the course of further development, marking the arrival of the second generation of jet interceptors. Variable wing geometry, the ability to repeatedly exceed the speed of sound and missile weapons in combination with powerful avionics became signs of the third generation. At present, the basis of the Air Force fleet of the most technologically advanced countries is the fourth-generation aircraft, which have become a product of further development. Even more advanced models, combining high speed, super-maneuverability, low visibility and electronic warfare, are already coming into service. This is the fifth generation.
Bypass engines
Outwardly, today, the first jet aircraft do not seem to be mostly anachronisms. The appearance of many of them is quite modern, and the technical characteristics (such as ceiling and speed) are not too different from modern ones, at least at first glance. However, with a closer look at the performance characteristics of these machines, it becomes clear that in recent decades a qualitative breakthrough has been made in two main directions. Firstly, the concept of a variable thrust vector appeared, creating the possibility of a sharp and unexpected maneuver. Secondly, combat aircraft today are able to stay in the air much longer and travel long distances. This factor is due to low fuel consumption, that is, efficiency. It is achieved by the use, expressed in technical language, of a two-circuit scheme (low degree of two-circuit). Specialists know that this technology of fuel combustion provides more complete combustion.
Other signs of a modern jet
There are several of them. Modern civilian jets are characterized by low engine noise, increased comfort and high stability in flight. Usually they are wide-body (including multi-deck). Samples of military aircraft are equipped with means (active and passive) to achieve low radar visibility and electronic warfare. In a sense, the requirements for defense and commercial designs intersect today. Profitability is needed for all types of aircraft, however, for various reasons: in one case, to increase profitability, and in the other, to expand the combat radius. And today you need to make noise as little as possible, both civilian and military.