US Air Force is now considered by the legislator in the field of aircraft design standards.The US considers this situation perfectly natural.
first flights
American planes trace their history with the first flight of the Wright brothers.They managed to build in 1903 is not only a working prototype of the aircraft, but also to gain knowledge and experience of the first controlled flight.
While working on the machine they called "Flyer", the inventors used techniques, lёgshie the basis for all subsequent aviation industry.But the brothers relied on the experience of predecessors that were given the results of their successes and failures.These are prototypes of the aircraft started in France, Russia, England and other countries.Therefore, the first successful airplane gave impetus to further development in all countries, their ability to lead.
Dawn Aviation
dramatic breakthrough in changing the status of the aircraft clumsy homemade garage in massive industrial machines, occurred during the First World War.US warplanes participated in it only in the final stages.Therefore, the Americans have not accumulated enough experience with military aircraft.
In the interwar period, it is characterized by the development of postal and passenger planes, allows to overcome the vast distances of their own country and conduct business for the delivery of passengers and cargo in South America, almost devoid of Railways.In that period it was created by major aircraft manufacturers:
- "Boeing".
- "Sikorsky".
- "McDonnell Douglas".
- "Lockheed" and other
production of engines for aircraft engaged in the corporation "Pratt & Whitney" and "General Electric".US aircraft industry because of the level of development of mechanical engineering has a high potential, although the direction of the military in it, it was poorly developed.Nevertheless, the US supplied aircraft and pilots for some pre-war conflicts.US planes and pilots participated in the Sino-Japanese War on the side of the regime of the Kuomintang.
World.Home
By the beginning of World War II, the United States had very minor capacity in the field of military aviation.Events in Europe have dramatically changed the situation in the aviation industry.Come to grips with the Third Reich, France needed a huge number of aircraft, designed to compensate for military losses.The US industry an influx of French investment and technology to ensure the creation of capacities for the production of thousands of machines.After the fall of France, the United States became an industrial rear Britain to place their orders there.
received a boost, the US airline industry is steadily increasing the volume of the issue.US planes absorbed the technological development of different countries and adapted to the experience of the ongoing war.
participation in the war
Years War brought the US aeronautics in a leading position in the world.The United States has created an advanced military aircraft, including all types of aircraft.Light US reconnaissance plane, equipped mainly equipment for photography, open line is closed superheavy "Flying Fortress" B-25.During the war, the United States gained invaluable experience of large strategic air operations on a continental scale.The war with Japan determined leadership in naval aviation, based on dozens of carrier battle platforms of various classes.
destructive power of new weapons was implemented in full.Air Command is responsible for the most severe bombardment of German cities, residents do not leave it in the hope of salvation.US planes struck the world's first nuclear attack.
Despite the huge scale of the Air Force, excellence cars are not always consistent with the era.Jet Aviation US owes its origin to an English development in the field of engine and aerodynamics of high-speed flight.
Reactive era
Leaders of the United States was well aware of the revolutionary changes associated with the advent of the jet engine.The first US combat aircraft developed by Lockheed.Fighter F-80 Shuting Star seemed simple in production and operation, making it long-lived.
first clashes with Soviet aircraft during the Korean War revealed its weaknesses.He could not resist the screw fighters because of low maneuverability.Soviet jets were superior to the F-80 on the speed and armament.The high technical potential of American industry, allowing you to quickly return to a leading position.A striking example is the American spy plane SR-71 "Blackbird", combine futuristic design with unique characteristics.
Then he began to develop jet bombers and transport aircraft.In contrast to the light aircraft, these machines were placed not only turbojet engines.Good results were achieved with a turbofan and turboprop powerplants.
modern light combat aircraft US
After a long way of development, the North American aviation industry continues to occupy a leading position in the world ranking.Major development efforts have focused on creating a fifth-generation fighter.Long-term efforts have led to the creation of two models of planes, embodied the highest achievements of design ideas and technological capabilities of the United States.
Firstborn "fifth generation" fighter-bomber was the F-22 "Raptor" manufacturing corporation "Boeing".A more versatile machine was supposed to release on the platform of the fighter-bomber F-35, produced by the company "Lockheed Martin".Both models produce mixed reactions among experts and military experts.
Together with the widely advertised advantages they clearly have a serious technological and operational problems.Superiority over potential adversaries fighting vehicles are not obvious.In conjunction with the incredibly high price of units of weapons such evaluation machinery has led to a widespread belief that the US military aircraft are not the best model.Along with the saturation of the newest fleet of aircraft engines continued modernization of the old series, bearing still the basic combat load.
Heavy combat and civilian planes US
America geographical position has stimulated interest in the large-scale air travel.The experience of the world and local wars are constantly confirm the effectiveness of using bombers.Today, the US has a huge fleet of passenger aircraft and is a leader in their production.The main producer of passenger aircraft is a corporation "Boeing", producing virtually all commercial aircraft categories.
military transport aircraft the US is well illustrated by the car C-5 "Galaxy".Her technical ability is second only to the Soviet or Russian heavy transport aircraft.In addition to the classic layout schemes operated in the United States hybrid car "Osprey", combining the advantages and disadvantages of planes and helicopters.
Bomber US Air Force looks pretty strange.Futuristic F-2, made by a "flying wing" with anti-radar coating and configuration of the fuselage, side by side with archaic B-52, who fought at the beginning of the Vietnam War.
Prospects
main direction of development of American aviation projects remains build speed characteristics possessed by US combat aircraft and payload transport and passenger cars.Alluring progress towards hypersonic cruising speeds, while trying to implement in rocketry.Machines civil estimated cost of delivery of cargo units in the unit of distance.Therefore, the basic technical research aimed at increasing the payload and fuel efficiency of transportation.
