Extra 230

The original wooden wing Extra 230 was designed by company founder Walter Extra to meet the requirements of competition pilots with the Swiss Aero Club. First flight occurred during 1983. Unusually for an aircraft of its type the Extra 230 features a wooden wing with Dacron covering, while as on other aerobatic competition aircraft the 230’s wing has 0° incidence for sustained inverted flight. Production ceased in 1990 when Extra was experiencing difficulties in sourcing the correct type of wood.

Airbus A400M

The A400M program is a direct result of a commonly expressed need by 8 European air forces for a new generation military airlifter. 

Airbus A400M timeline: 

• The Airbus A400M development started in the seventies as the Future Large Aircraft project. Request for Proposal August 1997.
• Memorandum of Understanding is signed June 19, 2001 at the Le Bourget Air show.
• 
• On May 27, 2003, a contract was signed between Airbus Military and OCCAR (Organization Conjointe de Coopération en Matière d’Armement), representing Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey, and United Kingdom for a total of 180 aircraft.
• The industrial program was formally launched on May 31, 2003.
• Start production January 2005.
• First Roll out: June 26, 2008
• First Flight December 11, 2009, and the first deliverywill be in 2012.

 

First Flight December 11, 2009

The A400M Common Standard Aircraft (CSA) is capable of performing:

• strategic operations (long range, large capacity, high cruise speed).
• tactical missions (soft-field performance, autonomous ground operation, low speed / low level operations, aerial delivery).
• “in-theatre” tanking operations (receiving as well as dispensing fuel).

The A400M is designed to civil certification standards complemented where appropriate by specific military requirements. The aircraft design incorporates leading state-of-the-art technology including:

• Fly-by-wire Flight Control System with side stick controllers.
• Flight envelope protection system, already proven in Airbus commercial aircraft.
• Advanced structural design incorporating extensive use of composite materials.
• High performance turboprop engines, allowing operation in civil air traffic control environment.
• High flotation landing gear, allowing operation from short, unpaved airfields.

The Airbus A400M will play an essential role in enhancing Europe’s airlift capabilities, whilst enabling the establishment of common support, training and operational procedures and greater interoperability in multi-national humanitarian and peace-keeping missions. 

Air-to-Air Refueling: 

The A400M is also quickly convertible into a tactical tanker. The flight envelope of the A400M allows it to refuel a wide range of aircraft and helicopters, at the altitudes appropriate to their missions.

• A two-point trailing drogue system can be installed within two hours by fitting two standard air-to-air refueling pods (optional) to the multi-role attachment points on the wings. Each pod provides a fuel flow of up to 1200kg/min.
• A centre-line pallet-mounted hose drum unit can be fitted in the rear cargo bay. It provides a fuel flow of 1800kg/min. 

Developing nation:	European Nations.
Manufacturer/designer:	Airbus Military.
Production line:	Sevilla, Spain
Type aircraft:	Military transporter.
First flight:	December 11, 2009
First delivery:	2012
	Airbus A400M
Cockpit crew:	2 pilots, 1 loadmaster
Troops:	120
Cabin length:	17,71 m.
Cabin diameter:	4,00 m.
Cabin height:	3,85 m.
Ramp length:	5,40 m.
Cargo volume:	356 m³.
Wing span:	42,4 m
Wing area:	221,5 m².
Fuselage length:	43,8 m.
Fuselage diameter:	4,10 m.
Height:	14,6 m.
Engines:	- four Europrop International TP400-D6 each rated 11.000 Hp.
Propeller:	Ratier FH386 eight blades 5,33 m diameter.
Weight:	- empty: 70.000 Kg.- fuel:  46.700 kg.- max. payload: 37.000 Kg.
Max. take off weight:	130.000 Kg.
Max. landing weight:	114.000 Kg.
Cruise speed:	mach 0,68.
Max. speed:	mach 0,72.
Service ceiling:	8.840 m.
Max. ceiling:	12.190 m.
Max. range:	9.260 km.
Performance:	- take-off run 940 m at max. take-off weight.- landing run 625 m at max. landing weight.

 

Airbus A400M order book:
BelgiumChileFrance Germany Luxembourg Malaysia Spain Turkey United Kingdom	7350 60 1 4 27 10 25

Grob G180 SPn

Grob launched its first business jet project in complete secrecy in January 2004. Prototype assembly took place between October 2004 and January 2005.
Rumors that Grob was working on a business jet began to circulate in the spring of 2005, pointing to a very light jet. Surprise was therefore great when Grob presented its SPⁿ Utility Jet at the Paris Air Show on 13 June 2005, not only showing a cabin mock up but the real prototype.
Grob Aerospace’s new SPⁿ Utility Jet completed its maiden flight on July 20, 2005. It departed Allgäu Airport (EDJA) near Memmingen in southern Germany at 11:14 am. The aircraft was commanded by Capt. Gerard Guillaumaud and co-test pilot Tore Reimers. It landed 66 minutes later after performing initial handling tests and system checks. Previously, a test airframe had successfully passed a program of full strength testing on the fuselage and wing required for certification.
As the largest private jet to be certified for single-pilot operations, the Grob SPⁿ is equipped with the state of the art and newly improved Honeywell APEX integrated all glass cockpit which sets new standards for simplicity, reliability and technology. Propulsion consists of two rear mounted FADEC controlled Williams J44-3A engines with 1.270 kg of thrust, and a proven track record from use in many of today’s leading light jets.
A fully-equipped pre-production aircraft will enter service at the beginning of 2007 and will be used to complete final certification and reliability testing. It will be fitted with a full interior and major avionics options.

 

Dassault Dornier Alpha Jet

The Dassault Dornier Alpha Jet is a French / German jet trainer and strike aircraft. The French version is a trainer, and the German version primarily a strike aircraft. The Alpha Jet is a twin engine aircraft with a high-site, moderately wing. 

German Alpha Jets were flown almost exclusively as single-seat close support weapons trainer, or battlefield reconnaissance aircraft. Weapons load and avionics do not match those of more advanced jets, but the Alpha Jet is maneuverable, easy to fly and simple to maintain. It’s equipment allows it to obtain great efficiency when planning and executing missions. 

The Head Up Display (HUD) saves the pilot from looking down in the cockpit to read the instruments, by superimposing data on a clear plate mounted at the pilot’s eye level.

The naviagtion and fire control computers are rather precise and permit a great flexibility on attack missions, the use of AFA computer makes it simpler, quicker and more efficient to plan a mission. There is also other equipment that allows the crew members to have a good combat survivability.

NB. The Alpha Jet A has a ’sharper nose’ then the Alpha Jet E 

Developing Nation:	France and Germany
Task:	Trainer / strike and close support
First Flight:	- Alpha Jet A: January 9th 1974 (D-9594)- Alpha Jet E: October 26th 1973 (F-WZRO)
Prototypes:	- Alpha Jet A:02/D-9594 (ff: January 9th 1974)04/D-9595 (ff: October 11th 1974 crashed 23 January 1976)- Alpha Jet E: F-WZRO (ff: October 26th 1973) F-WZRV (ff: May 6th 1974 )
First Delivery:	- French Air Force: May 4th 1979- Luftwaffe: March 20th 1980
Crew:	2
Ejection seat:
Wing Span:	9,11 m
Length:	- Alpha Jet A: 13,23 m- Alpha Jet E: 12,29 m
Height:
Engine (s):	- Alpha Jet A: GRTS (SNECMA Turbomeca) Lazarc 04-C20 (2x)- Alpha Jet E: GRTS (SNECMA Turbomeca) Lazarc 04-C6 (2x)
Weight:	3515 kg
Max.Take off weight:	6100 kg
Max. Speed:	917 km/h
Max. Range:	- Just on internal fuel: 2780 km (1900 liters)- With extra external fuel: 4000 km (extra 600 liters)
Operation altitude:	14630 m
Weapons:	- Mauser BK.27 cannon or DEFA 553 gun-pod- AIM-9 Sidewinder- R.550 Magic II- AGM-65 Maverick - GP Bombs - Hunting BL755 cluster bombs -Matra RL F4 - Rockets & Bomb rack SUU 20A - BLG-66 Belouga - Bombs MK82 ‘Snake Eye’ - Exercise bombs MK106 - Bombs BLU-1CB
Extra:

Countries who use(d) the Alpha Jet: 

Belgium	33 Alpha Jet E
Cameroon	7 Alpha Jet MS2
Egypt	30 Alpha Jet MS1 & 15 MS2
France	175 Alpha Jet E
Germany	175 Alpha Jet A
Ivory coast	12 Alpha Jet E
Maroc	24 Alpha Jet E
Nigeria	24 Alpha Jet E
Portugal	50 Alpha Jet A **
Qatar	6 Alpha Jet E
Thailand	20 Alpha Jet A **
Togo	5 Alpha Jet E
United Kingdom	12 Alpha Jet A **

** Ex German Air Force

 

 

 

 

Me-262 Schwalbe

The Messerschmitt Me 262 was not exactly the first turbojet-powered fighter in the world (that honor was for the Heinkel He-280) but it was the first turbojet fighter that entered active service as the first in the world. 

The first flight was made without turbojets, but with Jumo 210G piston engines, due to problems and late delivery of the new power source jet to come. All but one (Me-262 V3) of the first eight airframes were lost during test-flights 

The first production model was the Me-262A-1a single seat interceptor, and was know under the name ‘Schwalbe’. This first model was powered by two 900 kg. thrust Jumo 004B-1 engines.

Four 30 mm MK 108 cannons, and later added 12x 55 mm R4M rocket missals under each wing was standard armament for this type. 

The first 28 production model Me-262 were delivered to the Luftwaffe  in June 1944. The first interception missions were flown by the EKdo 262 trials unit. By the end of October of that same year 315 Me-262’s were accepted by the Luftwaffe, and by the end of April 1945 1065 Me-262’s were in active service in at least 4 configurations. (probably many more) 

The first ‘arrival’ of a Me-262 in air-combat with the allied forces must of been a shock to those pilots, it had almost 100 Kph more speed, something that was very important in those days. If it had arrived earlier and in greater numbers the Me-262 could of made a difference in defeating the Nazi’s. It would have almost certainly delayed the allied victory for moths or even years..

 

Underneath you can find the characteristics of the Me-262A-1a, B-2, and C-1a