Aircraft engineering: development, production, service

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Humanity is constantly striving to improve the conditions of existence. Progress in various fields is constantly leading to an increase in the standard of living. It is enough to compare life some 150 years ago with the present to understand: progress is irreversible and very good.

One of the factors accelerating progress is the improvement of vehicles, the invention of new types. A couple of centuries ago, few people believed in the possibility of moving through the air in heavier-than-air aircraft. Today, aviation has firmly entered human life. Aviation technology is used in many areas of life: cargo and passenger transportation, agriculture, scientific research, the military industry and even recreation.

The birth of aviation

At the dawn of progress in this area, it was driven mainly by enthusiasts inspired by the idea. At that time, there was little knowledge of the laws of aerodynamics, so instances were built with flapping wings. The technology of materials was also far from perfect, so the first aircraft were very unreliable. Thanks to the cinemawhich made it possible to make accelerated shooting of the movement of the wings of birds, bright minds abandoned moving wings. Research and experiments in the field of aerodynamics began. It was one of the first steps in the right direction.

Then aircraft designers realized that the development of aviation technology would be more successful if you use models of future aircraft, explore the results of their blowing in wind tunnels. Thus, the scientific poke method has become much cheaper and safer.

It also became apparent that it was impossible to develop a sufficiently reliable aircraft alone. Too much heterogeneous information had to be taken into account in order to create truly reliable aircraft.

Difficulties at the initial stage of development

Another factor that held back progress was that the constructor itself had to take on many additional responsibilities. It was necessary not only to make calculations, but also to design and maintain aircraft at the development stage and in the future, to independently test the aircraft, which means that it was necessary to learn how to fly. Who? By myself.

And another important factor - you had to earn money to provide both your living and the promotion of your dreams. In addition, often it was necessary to overcome the ridicule and mockery of envious people, ill-wishers and skeptics. And this laid a heavy emotional burden on the inventors.

Design offices

Today, when this difficult stage in the development of the aviation sector is long behind us, we have a clear division. There are design bureaus that receive orders from interested departments to develop aviation technology. These developments are generously financed by the customer, whether it be the state or some other body. Design bureaus have all the necessary material base for research, calculations, modeling, production of prototypes.

From calculations to tests

When a specific instance of the aircraft is ready, it's time to test the aircraft. Trained personnel enter the business - test pilots and other flight crews with many years of experience in flying in various weather conditions and emergency situations when a unit breaks down or fails.

First, aviation equipment is tested on the ground. All operating parameters are recorded by the flight recorder and analyzed. If all the parameters are within acceptable limits, the next, most important stage begins - flight tests. At this stage, in addition to the flight recorders, much attention is paid to the impressions and sensations that the testers have during test flights. Based on them, measures can be taken to improve in those areas on which comments or suggestions will be made.

Prototypes are not the end of the process

After all this is taken into account in the design, comestime to establish the production of aviation equipment that has passed the test. The order goes to the aircraft factory, which has the necessary equipment to carry out the order. However, more than one plant will be involved in the manufacture of aviation equipment. Dozens of plants with a narrow specialization can participate. For example, they manufacture aircraft engines, navigation equipment, control devices for the operation of various systems in flight. Thousands of parts must be manufactured and tested for compliance with design parameters. This is a very crucial moment.

For example, in the production of jet turbine blades, only 3-5% of manufactured parts will pass technical control. The rest will be rejected and sent for smelting. The highest requirements are imposed on the quality of products. After all, the failure of important parts can lead to catastrophic consequences.

What we worked for

But here is our handsome man coming off the assembly line. Years of hard work should pay off. No one will stop at one instance. Dozens, maybe hundreds of aircraft will be produced.

The operation of aviation equipment will bear fruit. Now is the time to engage in this process well-trained flight crews, ground services personnel who will provide aviation equipment flights at many airports, airfields, stations of radar surveillance and navigation.

Heaven starts from earth

Of course, the personnel who will perform maintenance of aviation equipment on the ground will not stand aside.

Refilling with fuel, oils, compressed air, water… Pre-flight and post-flight equipment checks to identify possible malfunctions… Replacement and testing of units and assemblies that have served their service life for the possibility of further operation… Regular external inspection of the fuselage, wing, landing gear, engines, empennage… All this requires education and training of highly qualified personnel.

For some 150 years, aviation has moved from the category of fantasy and dreams to the category of high-tech industry. Millions of people are employed in this area. Long gone are the days when aviation was based on enthusiasm alone. Today it is an area of research, development, testing and production, bringing great benefits to mankind.

If we compare the appearance of modern aircraft with the first samples, we will see elegance and beauty, reliability and comfort. Newer sciences such as biomimetics and ergonomics are working for the benefit of people. Despite the tremendous success, aviation technology continues to develop. There is no doubt that it will continue to be the subject of further improvements and the pride of mankind.