Flying wing

The advantage of the “flying wing” scheme is that the entire surface of the aircraft creates lift force, and not just a part of it, as happens in the classic layout. The absence of the need to lift the fuselage and large control planes significantly reduces the specific weight of the airframe and makes it possible to significantly increase the mass of the payload. Also, the shape of the aircraft is very easily optimized to reduce the effective dispersion area and radar visibility of the aircraft, which is extremely important for military aircraft.

The disadvantages of the scheme are a continuation of its advantages - a small distance of the control planes from the center of mass causes their low efficiency, which makes the plane very unstable - yawning - in flight. The inability to solve this problem before the introduction of remote control systems that automatically support straight-line flight has led to the fact that aircraft of this design have not yet received widespread distribution.

USSR

In the USSR since 1922, Boris Cheranovsky was engaged in the design and construction of gliders and light aircraft of the "flying wing" type (gliders of the Beach ).

In 1930-1940, the aircraft designer Nikitin developed a light torpedo bomber — a special-purpose glider PSN-1 ( English ) and PSN-2 ( English ) of the “flying wing” type in two versions: a manned training sighting and unmanned with full automation.

Germany

In Nazi Germany, before the Second World War and during it, the Horten brothers worked with the “flying wing” scheme. They designed and built several experimental gliders and airplanes for various purposes. In particular, according to the program “1000 * 1000 * 1000” (delivery of 1000 kilograms of bombs per 1000 kilometers at a speed of 1000 km / h), since 1943 the world's first large flying wing scheme aircraft, the Horten fighter-bomber, was developed and put into trial operation Ho 229 with jet engines. ^[one]

Argentina

In post-war Argentina , the Horten brothers , Walter and Reymar, who left Germany, were engaged in the design and construction of gliders and light and medium-sized aircraft of the “flying wing” type. Built in single copies, were tested:

• FMA I.Ae. 34 Clen Antú
• FMA I.Ae. 37 Ala Delta
• FMA I.Ae. 38 Naranjero
• FMA I.Ae. 41 Urubú

United States

In the United States , Northrop has been in the flying wing business since the 1930s. John Northrop - the founder of Northrop - was a big enthusiast of this design scheme and tried to carry it out in projects where the aerodynamic scheme was left to the discretion of the developer. So, he resorted to the “flying wing” scheme when developing the 1941 Northrop N-1M prototype and the promising P-56 Black Bullet fighter during the war.

The first XB-35 long-range heavy bomber was created and began to pass tests in 1946, the program of which was closed after all flying prototypes crashed in 1949. On the basis of it, in 1947, a new Northrop YB-49 bomber was created, for which three pre-production XB-35s were converted for Allison J35-A-5 jet engines with a thrust of 1814 kgf. Test flights continued throughout the 1950s, although the B-49 program was also closed.

The experience gained as a result of the development of these aircraft was developed only a few decades later, in combination with a comprehensive program to reduce radar and infrared visibility (stealth technology) . Lockheed companies based on what was made in 1977-1978. Have Blue pilot prototype created the first modern production aircraft with a “flying wing” scheme and stealth technology - the F-117 Nighthawk strike fighter, which began flying in 1981, was used in a number of conflicts, was manufactured before 1990 and was decommissioned in 2008 year.

Then Northrop again created a heavy strategic bomber with a “flying wing” scheme and B-2 Spirit stealth technologies, which became the most expensive aircraft in the history of aviation, began to fly since 1989 and continues to be operational, although production was discontinued in 1999 year.

Boeing / Lockheed Martin and Northrop are developing less expensive than the B-2 long-range strategic stealth bomber of the Flying Wing B-3 (NGB - Next-Generation Bomber, 2018 Bomber, LRS-B - Long Range Strike Bomber) and Northrop B -21 Rider for armament after 2025.

The triangular “flying wing” scheme has been assumed to be in arsenal by the United States since the late 1990s, the highly classified hypersonic strategic stealth reconnaissance SR-91 Aurora .

Varieties of the “flying wing” were implemented in the Boeing X-48 UAV and other projects.

China

In China , Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation is developing the Xian H-20 long-range strategic stealth bomber, the prototype of which became the second modern heavy flying wing aircraft and began flying in 2013 with the prospect of becoming operational by 2025.

Russia

In Russia, the Tupolev Design Bureau is developing a heavy long-range strategic bomber of the “flying wing” scheme with PAK DA stealth technologies, which should be tested after 2025.

• Bearing body
• ECIP

Kostenko I.K. Flying wings. Vol. 2, revised. and add. M, 1988.104 p.

• Aircraft BICH-3 (p. 7).