American planes. United States civil and military aircraft

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

American aviation today is considered a trendsetter in the field of aircraft construction. In the US, this situation is considered completely natural.

First flights

American aircraft trace their history back to the first flight of the Wright brothers. It was they who managed to build in 1903 not only a working prototype of the aircraft, but also to gain the first knowledge and experience of controlled flight.

While working on the machine they called the "Flyer", the inventors applied techniques that formed the basis of the entire subsequent aviation industry. But the brothers relied on the experience of their predecessors, who passed on to mankind the results of their achievements and failures. These include aircraft prototypes created in France, Russia, England and other countries. Therefore, the first successful aircraft gave impetus to further developments in all countries capable of conducting them.

Dawn of aviation

A sharp leap in changing the status of aviation from clumsy garagehomemade products to mass industrial machines, occurred during the First World War. US military aircraft took part in it only at the final stage. Therefore, the Americans have not accumulated sufficient experience in the use of combat aircraft.

In the interwar period, it is characterized by the development of mail and passenger aircraft, which made it possible to overcome the vast distances of their own country and conduct a business of delivering passengers and goods in South America, practically devoid of communications. During that period, the main aircraft manufacturing companies were created:

• Boeing.
• "Sikorsky".
• "McDonnell-Douglas".
• Lockheed and others

Pratt & Whitney and General Electric corporations were engaged in the production of aircraft engines. The US aircraft industry, due to the level of development of mechanical engineering, had a high potential, although the military direction in it turned out to be poorly developed. Nevertheless, the United States supplied aircraft and pilots for some pre-war conflicts. American planes and pilots participated in the Sino-Japanese war on the side of the Kuomintang regime.

World War II. Home

By the beginning of World War II, the United States had very limited capabilities in the field of combat aviation. Events in Europe have dramatically changed the situation in the aviation industry. Having entered the fray with the Third Reich, France needed a huge number of aircraft designed to make up for military losses. ATAmerican industry was flooded with French investment and technology to create the capacity to produce thousands of cars. After the fall of France, the United States became the industrial rear of Britain, placing its orders there.

Having received a powerful impetus, the US aviation industry has steadily increased output. American aircraft absorbed the technological developments of different countries and adapted to the experience of the ongoing war.

Participation in the war

The war years brought the US aircraft industry to the leading positions in the world. The United States created an advanced military aviation that included all types of aircraft. A light American reconnaissance aircraft, equipped mainly with photography equipment, opened the lineup closed by the B-25 super-heavy "flying fortresses". During the war, the United States gained invaluable experience in major strategic air operations on a continental scale. The war with Japan determined leadership in naval aviation, based on dozens of aircraft carrier platforms of various classes.

The destructive power of the new weapon has been fully realized. The Air Command is responsible for the most severe bombing of German cities, which left no hope of salvation for its inhabitants. American planes launched the world's first nuclear strike.

Despite the gigantic scale of the air force, the technical excellence of the machines did not always correspond to the era. US jet aircraft owe their origins to British developments in the fieldengine building and aerodynamics of high-speed flight.

Jet era

The leadership of the United States was well aware of the revolutionary changes associated with the advent of the jet engine. The first American combat aircraft were built by Lockheed. The F-80 Shooting Star fighter seemed to be easy to manufacture and operate, which made it a long-liver.

The first encounters with Soviet aircraft during the Korean War revealed his weaknesses. He could not withstand propeller-driven fighters due to low maneuverability. Soviet jet aircraft surpassed the F-80 in terms of speed and armament. The high technical potential of the American industry made it possible to quickly regain its leading position. A striking example is the American reconnaissance aircraft SR-71 "Blackbird", which combined a futuristic design with unique characteristics.

The development of jet bombers and transport aircraft began at the same time. Unlike light aircraft, these machines were equipped not only with turbojet engines. Good performance was achieved with turboprop and turbofan power plants.

US Modern Light Combat Aviation

After a long journey of development, the North American aviation industry continues to occupy a leading position in the world rankings. The main efforts of the developers focused on the creation of fifth-generation fighters. Long-term efforts have led to the creation of two aircraft models that embody the highest achievements of design thought.and technological capabilities of the United States.

The F-22 Raptor fighter-bomber manufactured by the Boeing Corporation became the first-born of the "fifth generation". A more versatile machine was supposed to be produced on the platform of the F-35 fighter-bomber, created by Lockheed Martin. Both models are controversial among experts and military specialists.

Together with the widely advertised advantages, they clearly have serious technological and operational problems. Superiority over combat vehicles of potential opponents is not obvious. Together with the fabulously high price of a unit of weapons, such an assessment of the machines led to the spread of the opinion that these US military aircraft were not successful models. Along with the saturation of the fleet with the latest aircraft, the modernization of aircraft of the old series, which still carry the main combat load, continues.

US heavy combat and civilian aircraft

The geographical position of America stimulated interest in large-scale air travel. The experience of world and local wars has constantly confirmed the effectiveness of the use of bomber aircraft. Today, the United States has a colossal fleet of passenger aircraft and is one of the leaders in their production. The main manufacturer of passenger airliners is the Boeing Corporation, which produces aircraft of almost all commercial categories.

US military transport aircraft are well illustrated by the C-5 Galaxy. Hertechnical capabilities are second only to Soviet or Russian heavy transport aircraft. In addition to the classic layout schemes, the Osprey hybrid machines are operated in the USA, combining the advantages and disadvantages of an aircraft and a helicopter.

US bomber aircraft looks rather strange. Futuristic F-2s, made according to the "flying wing" scheme, with an anti-radar fuselage configuration and coating, are adjacent to the archaic B-52s that fought at the beginning of the Vietnam War.

Prospects

The main direction in the development of American aviation projects is to increase the speed characteristics that US combat aircraft have and the carrying capacity of transport and passenger vehicles. The enticing results of achieving cruising hypersonic speeds are still being implemented in rocket technology. Civil vehicles are valued at the cost of delivering a unit of cargo per unit of distance. Therefore, the main technical research is aimed at increasing the carrying capacity and improving the fuel efficiency of transportation.