Types of aircraft and their names. Passenger aircraft
Flight geometric and weight characteristics, general layout, equipment used, as well as the design of individual parts are largely determined by the purpose of the aircraft. By purpose, all aircraft can be divided into two large groups: 1) civil and 2) military.
Civil aircraft
Civil aircraft are used to transport passengers, cargo, mail and to serve various sectors of the national economy. They, in turn, can be divided into the following main types.
1. Passenger aircraft designed to carry passengers, baggage and mail. Depending on the flight range, the number of passengers carried, the size and type of runways, these aircraft are divided into mainline and local line aircraft.
Long-haul aircraft, depending on the flight range, are divided into:
a) close ones with a flight range of 1000 ... 2000 km;
b) medium with a flight range of 3000 ... 4000 km;
c) long-range with a flight range of 5000 ... 11 000 km.
Aircraft of local lines are divided into:
a) heavy with the number of passengers 50 ... 55;
b) average with the number of passengers 24 ... 30;
c) lungs with the number of passengers 8 ... 20.
2. Cargo aircraft, the main purpose of which is the transportation of various goods.
3. Special purpose aircraft used in various areas of the national economy. These are polar, agricultural, air ambulance aircraft, aircraft for geological aerial reconnaissance, to protect forests from fires, for aerial photography, etc.
4. training aircraft for pilot training. They are divided into initial training and transitional aircraft. Initial training aircraft are two-seat aircraft that are quite simple in learning and piloting techniques. Transition aircraft are used to train pilots to fly serial aircraft in operation.
Military aircraft are used to deliver air strikes against military installations, communications, manpower and equipment of the enemy in his rear and in the front line, to protect their facilities and troops from enemy aircraft, for landing troops, transporting troops, equipment and cargo, for intelligence, communications, etc.
Depending on the specific purpose, military aircraft can be divided into the following types.
1. Bombers, the purpose of which is to carry out bombing strikes on the most important objects, communication centers, places of concentration of equipment and manpower of the enemy in his rear.
2. Fighters that serve to combat enemy aircraft. They, in turn, can be divided into several types:
a) escort fighters designed to protect their bombers performing a combat mission from enemy aircraft;
b) front-line fighters that protect their troops from
enemy aircraft over the battlefield and in the frontline;
c) anti-aircraft fighters - interceptor fighters, the purpose of which is to intercept and destroy enemy bombers.
3. Fighter-bombers equipped with bombs, rocket and cannon weapons and serving to strike at objects in the area of \u200b\u200bforward positions and in the near rear of the enemy and to destroy his aircraft.
4. Military transport aircraft used for landing troops, transporting troops, equipment and various cargoes.
5. Reconnaissance aircraft designed to conduct aerial reconnaissance behind enemy lines and over the theater of operations.
6. Auxiliary aircraft, which include spotter aircraft, communications aircraft, sanitary aircraft, etc.
The main parts of the aircraft and their purpose
The main parts of an aircraft are the wing, fuselage, empennage, landing gear and power plant.
The wing is the bearing surface of an aircraft designed to generate aerodynamic lift.
The fuselage is the main part of the aircraft structure, which serves to connect all its parts into one whole, as well as to accommodate the crew, passengers, equipment and cargo.
Plumage - bearing surfaces designed to provide longitudinal and directional stability and controllability.
Chassis - a system of aircraft supports used for takeoff, landing, movement and parking on the ground, on the deck of a ship or on the water.
The power plant, the main elements of which is the engine, is used to create traction.
In addition to these main parts, the aircraft has a large number of various equipment. It is equipped with main control systems (control of control surfaces: ailerons, elevators and rudders), auxiliary control (control of mechanization, cleaning and landing gear, hatch doors, equipment units, etc.), hydraulic and pneumatic equipment, electrical equipment, high-altitude, protective equipment, etc.
Classification of aircraft according to the scheme
Classification of aircraft according to the scheme is carried out taking into account the relative position, shape, number and type of individual components of the aircraft units. The aircraft scheme is determined by the following features:
1) the number and arrangement of wings;
2) fuselage type;
3) the location of the plumage
4) chassis type;
5) type, number and location of engines.
It is possible to fully characterize the aircraft layout only on the basis of all these five features. Classification according to only one or several of them cannot give a complete picture of the scheme.
According to the number of wings, all aircraft are divided into biplanes and monoplanes, and the latter, depending on the relative position of the wing and fuselage, are divided into low plans, medium plans and high plans. According to the type of fuselage, aircraft are divided into one-fuselage and two-beam. Depending on the conditions of takeoff and landing, aircraft may have wheel, ski, or float landing gear. In seaplanes, the fuselage can also serve as boats. There are mixed schemes: wheel-ski chassis, amphibious boat.
Piston and gas turbine engines are used as the main engines on modern aircraft. The most widespread at present are gas turbine engines, which, in turn, are divided into turboprop, turbojet, turbojet with afterburner and turbojet bypass. The choice of the type of engines, their number and location is determined to a large extent by the purpose of the aircraft and has a significant impact on its layout.
Military aircraft are aircraft used for military front-line or combat sorties, respectively, designed for high power without regard to economy, in contrast to civil aviation aircraft.
From military aircraft, first of all, a high rate of climb is required, as well as high speed, altitude and flight range. For the operational conduct of air warfare, long-range bomber aircraft and missile carriers are used to destroy military installations. Tanker aircraft, which have only fuel on board, have the ability to refuel combat aircraft directly in flight. Military aircraft include long-range reconnaissance aircraft with long range, altitude and airspeed. Tactical military aircraft include fighter (or fighter) aircraft, fighter-bombers, light bombers, and tactical reconnaissance aircraft. Modern military aircraft are often designed as multipurpose, i.e. they are intended for combat use as attack aircraft, fighter-interceptors and reconnaissance aircraft.
1) Fighter aircraft (fighters)
A fighter aircraft is a very fast one- or two-seat combat aircraft for destroying (search) of enemy combat aircraft, unmanned missiles, etc. All modern fighters, as a drive, are equipped with one or two air-jet engines. The speed exceeds the sound speed and is currently about 3,500 km/h, the rate of climb near the ground is over 200 m/s, and the maximum operating altitude is up to 30,000 m. .7 cm) and ballistic, radio-controlled or homing air-to-air missiles. In addition, for the most part, fighter planes have extensive electronic equipment such as radar, recognition device, etc.
Heavy fighter aircraft or fighter-bombers combine the flight power and flight qualities of fighters - high combat speed and rate of climb, high maximum flight altitude, good maneuverability - and the qualities of light and medium bombers - long flight range, good armament, high payload, extensive electronic and radar equipment. In their combat capabilities, they are highly versatile. Their intended purpose, among other things, includes actions to intercept and storm ground targets, search for submarines, support formations of ships and ground combat operations, combat use as an escort fighter or reconnaissance aircraft. Armament and equipment correspond to the tasks assigned. Radar installations are standard; armament consists, as a rule, of large-caliber guns and missiles (air-to-air or air-to-ground), as well as bombs and torpedoes as bomber weapons. Since there is no free space in the fuselage of these military aircraft, bombs, rockets and additional fuel tanks are suspended under and at the ends of the wings. The speed indicators of heavy bombers are between Mach 0.2 and 2, the maximum flight altitude is from 15,000 to 20,000 m, and the flight range is from 1,500 to 4,500 km.
Previously, there were special night fighters that were used specifically for combat operations at night, as they were equipped with devices for blind flight. Most modern fighter planes are all-weather, i.e. they can make sorties in bad weather conditions, as well as at night. Also, often all-weather fighter aircraft are called heavy fighters, since they are in most cases two-seat and equipped with two engines.
The essence of effective air defense is to “intercept” an incoming enemy and prevent him from completing his combat mission, and therefore destroy him. This requires fighter aircraft with good takeoff power, high speeds, high maximum flight altitude and good armament, namely interceptor fighters. First of all, they are deployed in close proximity to the border of industrial centers and other protected objects.
The use of high-speed and high-flying combat aircraft (bombers) with a jet engine has significantly increased the requirements for rate of climb, speed and maximum height interceptor fighters. The following power characteristics follow from this: the maximum speed is from 2000 to 2500 km / h, the flight range is 2000-3500 km. Such indicators require, with an average takeoff weight of 7 to 12 tons, the use of engines with a thrust of 3000 to 5000 kgf, whose power can be increased by another 50% due to additional fuel combustion. For short-term acceleration, especially when climbing, additional rocket propulsion systems can serve.
2) Bomber planes (bombers)
Fighter aircraft are primarily used to solve defensive tasks, while for bombers, offensive operations are put in the foreground. A bomber is a large, heavy military aircraft with multiple turbojet engines (jet turbines or turboprops). On short runways or when overburdened, bombers are often equipped with auxiliary launch rockets.
Bombers are tasked with quickly and at high altitudes to attack distant targets with bursting charges in the form of bombs. Due to the great danger when approaching a target in an enemy area, more and more bombers are being upgraded to missile carriers that launch missiles at long distance from the target and remotely controlled until it is destroyed, while the bomber itself is outside the area controlled by enemy forces. The take-off weight of modern bombers reaches 230 tons, and the total thrust is over 50,000 kgf, or, accordingly, the total power is approximately 50,000 hp. Bomb load depends on tactical range; it is up to 16,000 km without refueling, and even more with air refueling. The flight altitude reaches 20,000 m, and the crew can be 12 people. The speed of modern bombers exceeds 2000 km/h; on the this moment bombers are being designed that will have even greater speed. Defensive armament consists of missiles, machine guns and automatic cannons.
Like all types of aircraft, bombers can also be classified according to different aspects, such as bomb load and thus takeoff weight (light, medium and heavy bombers) or depending on their combat mission (tactical and strategic bombers).
Tactical bombers are aircraft that are designed to solve certain particular tasks of operational warfare, namely for tactical missions. This refers to such actions that change the situation on a certain sector of the front and subjugate the entire target, and therefore the destruction of enemy troops, assembly areas, firing positions, airfields, supply routes, etc. in a certain area of concentration of enemy troops.
Proceeding from such a statement of the problem, it is possible to formulate the main requirements for tactical bombers: high combat speed, bomb load up to 10 tons, maximum flight range up to 6000 km. As a result of these requirements, design features are defined that can be summarized as follows: aircraft with one, two, three or four jet engines with a takeoff weight of 20 to 50 tons, with remotely controlled defensive weapons or air-to-air missiles, electronic and radar equipment, with a robust housing capable of withstanding heavy loads when flying at low altitudes. From all this, it can be argued that tactical bombers have a certain similarity with heavy fighters, both in their tasks and in terms of parameters.
strategic bombers. Strategy is the science of waging war on a large scale. The word strategic means large-scale military operations. This also explains the combat mission of strategic bombers. These military aircraft are designed to perform combat missions deep behind enemy lines.
All bombers are equipped with radar devices to search for targets and determine the location of attacking fighter aircraft. A sortie is made in small groups or alone. Since modern bombers have almost the same speed as fighters, the same range as them, and significant defense capability thanks to air-to-air missiles, fighter cover is often abandoned today.
For the first time, bombers began to be used during the First World War alone or in small groups. In the Second World War, "massive" sorties took place as part of large groups, which numbered several hundred bombers and flew under the cover of fighter planes. The then bombers had several engines, were relatively slow, designed for a maximum bomb load and a large number of defensive weapons. Modern ones, on the other hand, are designed for long range, altitude, and flight speed. In most cases, reconnaissance aircraft flew ahead and were intended to search for a target. Unlike the bombers of the time, they were equipped with radar instruments. Thanks to the luminous aerial bombs dropped by parachutes, the target was designated. A dive bomber was considered a special type, which, with high altitude approached the target, then rammed it in a fast dive flight, and dropped one or more bombs from a short distance. After that, the bomber again leveled its position in flight. After the design of intercontinental missiles, there was an opinion that strategic bombers were outdated. But thanks to their improvement to missile carriers and flying launchers in recent times they have regained their importance.
3) Reconnaissance aircraft (scouts)
These are multi-seat, lightly armed fighters or bombers (without bomb load), which are equipped with aerial cameras, radar instruments, often devices for transmitting television signals, or also shipborne aircraft for aerial reconnaissance, i.e. for reconnaissance of positions, objects, etc. of the enemy, territory and weather conditions in the interests of all parts of their own armed forces. Previously, depending on the maximum flight range and scope, short-range and long-range reconnaissance aircraft were distinguished. Today they talk, depending on the combat mission, about tactical and strategic intelligence officers. There are special reconnaissance aircraft for conducting artillery fire from the air, for reconnaissance of the area in the zone of fire of their own artillery thanks to visual reconnaissance or aerial photographs, as well as to control the camouflage of their own artillery. Such aircraft are called artillery aircraft. They refer to short-range reconnaissance or tactical reconnaissance.
4) Military transport aircraft
These are large aircraft that have from 2 to 8 engines and a flight range of 3000 km or more. They are lightly armed or not armed at all and are designed to transport supplies for the troops (food, fuel, ammunition, weapons, as well as guns, tanks, vehicles, etc.). Military transport aircraft are used for landing (landing) airborne troops, as well as the transportation of troops during regroupings. The park Vehicle military transport aviation consists of transport aircraft, cargo gliders and helicopters, which are suitably equipped.
The Russian military-industrial complex is one of the most modern in the world, so the Russian military aviation is also one of the most modern on the planet.
The Russian military-industrial complex is capable of producing almost any type of modern military aircraft, including fifth-generation fighters.
Russian military aviation consists of:
- Bombers of Russia
- Russian fighters
- Stormtroopers of Russia
- AWACS aircraft of Russia
- Flying tankers (refuelers) of Russia
- Military transport aircraft of Russia
- Russian military transport helicopters
- Russian attack helicopters
The main manufacturers of military aircraft in Russia are PJSC Sukhoi Company, JSC RAC MiG, the Moscow Helicopter Plant named after M. L. Mil, OJSC Kamov and others.
You can see photos and descriptions of the products of some companies at the links:
Let's look at each class of ships military aviation with descriptions and photographs.
Bombers of Russia
Wikipedia will explain what a bomber is to us very accurately: A bomber is a military aircraft designed to destroy ground, underground, surface, underwater objects with bomb and / or missile weapons. .
Russian long-range bombers
Long-range bombers in Russia are developed and produced by the Tupolev Design Bureau.
Long-range bomber Tu-160
The Tu-160, unofficially called the White Swan, is the fastest and heaviest long-range bomber in the world. Tu-160 "White Swan" is capable of developing supersonic speed, not every fighter is able to keep up with him.
Long-range bomber Tu-95
Tu-95 is a veteran long-range aviation Russia. Developed back in 1955, having gone through many upgrades, the Tu-95 is still Russia's main long-range bomber.
Long-range bomber Tu-22M
Tu-22M is another long-range bomber of the Russian Aerospace Forces. It has variable sweep wings, like the Tu-160, but its dimensions are smaller.
Front-line bombers of Russia
Front-line bombers in Russia are developed and produced by PJSC Sukhoi Company.
Front-line bomber Su-34
The Su-34 is a 4++ generation combat aircraft, a fighter-bomber, although it would be more accurate to call it a front-line bomber.
Front-line bomber Su-24
Su-24 is a front-line bomber, the development of which began in the USSR in the early 60s of the last century. Currently, he is being replaced by the Su-34.
Russian fighters
Fighters in Russia are developed and manufactured by two companies: PJSC Sukhoi Company and JSC RAC MiG.
Su Fighters
PJSC "Company" Sukhoi "delivers to the troops such modern combat vehicles as the fifth generation fighter Su-50 (PAK FA), Su-35, front-line bomber Su-34, carrier-based fighter Su-33, Su-30, heavy fighter Su- 27, Su-25 attack aircraft, Su-24M3 front-line bomber.
Fighter of the fifth generation PAK FA (T-50)
PAK FA (T-50 or Su-50) is a fifth-generation fighter developed by Sukhoi Company PJSC for the Russian Aerospace Forces since 2002. As of the end of 2016, tests are being completed and the aircraft is being prepared for transfer to regular units.
Photo by PAK FA (T-50). 
Su-35 is a 4++ generation fighter.
Photo Su-35. 
Su-33 carrier-based fighter
Su-33 is a 4++ generation carrier-based fighter. Several of these aircraft are in service with the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.
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Fighter Su-27
Su-27 is the main combat fighter of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Based on it, the Su-34, Su-35, Su-33 and several other fighters were developed.
Su-27 in flight 
MiG fighters
JSC "RSK" MiG "" today supplies the troops with the MiG-31 fighter-interceptor and the MiG-29 fighter.
Fighter-interceptor MiG-31
The MiG-31 is a fighter-interceptor designed to perform tasks at any time of the day and in any weather. The MiG-31 is a very fast aircraft.
Fighter MiG-29
MiG-29 - is one of the main combat fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces. There is a deck version - MiG-29K.
Stormtroopers
The only attack aircraft in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces is the Su-25 attack aircraft.
Attack aircraft Su-25
Su-25 - armored subsonic attack aircraft. The machine made its first flight in 1975 since then, having undergone many upgrades, it has been reliably fulfilling its tasks.
Russian military helicopters
Helicopters for the army are produced by the Moscow Helicopter Plant named after M.L. Mil and OJSC Kamov.
Kamov helicopters
JSC "Kamov" specializes in the production of coaxial helicopters.
Helicopter Ka-52
The Ka-52 "Alligator" is a two-seat helicopter capable of performing both attack and reconnaissance functions.
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Deck helicopter Ka-31
The Ka-31 is a carrier-based helicopter equipped with a long-range radio detection and guidance system, which is in service with the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.
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Deck helicopter Ka-27
Ka-27 is a multi-purpose carrier-based helicopter. The main modifications are anti-submarine and rescue.
Photo Ka-27PL Russian Navy .jpg)
Mil helicopters
Mi helicopters are being developed by the Moscow Mil Helicopter Plant.
Mi-28 helicopter
The Mi-28 is a Soviet-designed attack helicopter used by the Russian army.
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Mi-24 helicopter
Mi-24 is a world-famous attack helicopter, created in the 1970s in the USSR.
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Mi-26 helicopter
The Mi-24 is a heavy transport helicopter, also developed back in Soviet times. At the moment it is the largest helicopter in the world.
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