Ilyina, engineer

"Hunter, MOSQUITOES"

In February 1990, the airfield, the Mojave (Calif., USA) climbed into the sky plane Skeyld Composites ARES ( Agile Responsive Effective Support - maneuverable aircraft in direct support of a small reaction time), built under the leadership of Elbert (Burt) Rutan. Like other Aircraft created by this outstanding American aircraft designer, author of the famous Voyager, which in 1984 was made ​​the first circumnavigation of the world flight without refueling, the new machine has the original aerodynamic layout and design solutions. However, the unusual "appearance" of aircraft, particularly the lungs, it is hard to surprise anyone. However, ARES from all previously created different combat aircraft and another appointment - this is the first fighter helicopters

Using a rotary-wing aircraft for combat operations began during the Second World War, when helicopters Sikorsky designs were used to evacuate the wounded from the battlefield. Until the early 70's helicopters were used mainly as transport, intelligence and a connected vehicle.Projects to create combat helicopters, advanced by, inter alia, by Bell and OKB Mil, then were not implemented. Also not developed a means of combating air with helicopters: a proposal for use as a fighter helicopters, training aircraft Yak-11 in the Soviet Union was seen in the 50's, but did not receive support. Rapid improvement of anti-tank guided missile systems has allowed the helicopters to turn into a powerful tool to combat armored vehicles, especially as means of combating the helicopters themselves almost was not. So, conducted in Germany in the 80's experiments have revealed the ineffectiveness of existing helicopters to intercept fighters. Similar results were obtained in attempts to intercept a light helicopter in. 105 combat trainer aircraft Alpha Jet ", having a relatively high maneuverability and the suggestive to the helicopter by commands from the ground. More successful, but also turned out to be insufficiently effective use of helicopters against one of two aircraft, when one of correcting the actions of another. To combat helicopters, needed a special plane. At the same time, modern combat helicopters, which have powerful weapons, learned to "snap". Thus, during the Iran-Iraq war, they repeatedly engage in defensive battles with enemy fighters and the Iraqi Mi-25 shot down, even ATGM Iranian fighter F -4 "Phantom". In the United States in 1981 began developing the concept of a light aircraft designed specifically to fight the enemy helicopters and close air support. For advice on working on this program was brought E. Rutan, already known at the time the constructor sport aircraft. For an experimental proof of concept aircraft, the designation LCBAA ( Low Cost Batllefield Attack Aircraft - strike aircraft of the battlefield, having low costs), was used ultralight aircraft E. Rutan "Long-Easy." Then formulate the preliminary requirements for the plane LCBAA: the main purpose - fighting helicopters; minor - providing direct support to ground troops, additional - forward air controller, intelligence, electronic warfare. However, work on the program has not received at the time of further development, which can partly be explained by disinterest in the military-industrial complex in the implementation of relatively simple and inexpensive software. Since 1985, in secrecy, the British firm BAE "under contract with the Ministry of Defense conducted research to find a shape of a light maneuverable tactical fighterSABA ( Small Agile Battlefield Aircraft ), designed to destroy helicopters over the battlefield.Has been studied several variants of the aircraft and power plant, including the single-seater two-beam scheme and two versions of the aircraft circuits "tailless" with a triangular wing, but ultimately for further studies was chosen aircraft canard with gearless TVVD and pusher propeller, has 12 -18 blades. Program SABA not come out of the stage of conceptual studies, and any reports on the plans of construction of full-scale aircraft have been reported.

Rutan ARES airplane began to develop in the late 80 hgodov own initiative, using the experience of participating in the program LCBAA . Besides the task of fighting with nearly all existing helicopters he had applied for close air support, patrol borders, to participate in operations to combat drug trafficking, ultra-light aircraft, and in a double form - for advanced aircraft guidance and as training aids.

ARES made ​​on a "duck" with a double sweep wing leading edge and rounded wingtips. Canards has a negative sweep. - Wing without flaps. Vertical tail - dvuhkilevoe, keels are made ​​on the back of the wing beams. The axis of the fuselage is shifted by 76 cm to the right relative to the plane of symmetry of the wing. The design of an aircraft for more than 50 percent by weight is made ​​of fiberglass. Control surface and part of the structure, located near the gun, made ​​of fiberglass and Kevlar. Cockpit - single, having a boost for protection against weapons of mass destruction, with good visibility forward - down to the sides, with the ejection seat. Book a cabin - Kevlar. Aircraft control system - bezbusternaya. Hydraulics is used only for registration and landing gear and air brakes. Big brake pads installed at the root of the tail section of the wing, between the beams and ailerons. The aircraft is equipped with a turbojet bypass engines Pratt & Whitney JT 15 - D -5 to pull 1,340 kg and electronic fuel control. The engine is mounted at an angle relative to the fuselage. Output device is curved to "align" thrust line. The air intake is located at the top of the left side of the fuselage, at a great distance from the muzzle of the gun, which helps prevent the engine propellant gas. In what is possible to install the engine with greater thrust. ARES is armed with a gun General Electric GAU -12 U 25 mm caliber gun with 220 rounds, set on the right side of the fuselage. Adopted arrangement eliminates the reaction of the aircraft to yaw, which can lead to unstable operation of the engine is fired from the gun. In addition, the armed might include a guided missile air-to-ground and air to air A1M-9 "Sidewinder". In the central part of the fuselage is cut off to accommodate the payload, including a variety of sensors and instrumentation for photoreconnaissance. Access to the compartment is provided through a hatch located on the right side of the fuselage. Start testing the aircraft ARES was not quite fortunate: in the second flight out of service the hydraulic system, but the test pilot, using an emergency mechanical system, landing gear and successfully landed. Held until a few days later the first demonstration flight of attack aircraft, helicopters, fighter aircraft hydraulic system has not yet been fixed, and the plane flew in front of reporters with retracted landing gear.Ministry of Defence and U.S. Air Force, though concerned about the protracted debate about the choice of a new type of attack aircraft designed to replace the A-10 does not fully meet modern requirements for the aircraft of the battlefield as well as finding means to combat helicopters and ULA, not in a hurry to show interest to the aircraft, Rutan created, but firm "Skeyld Composites", in all probability, and not count on rapid recognition "in his own country." It is assumed that the aircraft will demand in developing countries who can not afford expensive aircraft classical types, while the cost of aircraft ARES is estimated at 1-2 million dollars, which by the standards of this market very inexpensively. Will the expanded scope of the aircraft - to be seen.

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF AIRCRAFT

Wing span, m 10.0

Length, 9.0 m

Height, m ​​3,0

Takeoff weight, t 2.8

Maximum speed, km / h 650

Cruising speed, km / h 555

The angular velocity of steady rotation

(In a combat configuration), deg / 36

(Maximum rate steady

reversal of one of the most maneuverable

U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft F -16C (in a combat configuration) - 10.6 deg / sec.)