A Russian engineer has built a very light aircraft with unique properties, which can be used as a basis for building purpose-made aircrafts with specified characteristics.

The author of the invention is not a guest in building aircrafts – Victor Dmitriev performs research in the field of small aircrafts for over 30 years, studying ratios of speed, wind area, weight and size of flying machines. While building this aircraft, the inventor paid special attention to control automation and stability at low-speed flying. About 30 years ago, the engineer demonstrated an aircraft, weighing 24.5 kilograms without an engine and with 1.5 square meter wings. This invention became a part of Guinness Book.

Sporting airplanes of “Yakovlev” or “Sukhoy” design bureaus weigh about 1 000 kilograms and need a 360horse-power engine to get off the ground. New ultra-light aircraft weighs 20 times less than mentioned flying machines, and needs the speed of only 50-55 kilometers per hour to take off, while “Yak-18T”, for instance, needs a minimum of 125 kmph. In 1984 Victor Dmitriev was invited to take part in the most prestigious small aircraft show, which took place in the city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States. His exhibit was small enough to travel in a suitcase, thus shocking customs officers and aviation experts. The aircraft was so popular at the show that it was surrounded by a fence in order to prevent it from being stolen by fans.

Dmitriev’s airplanes are known for the best aerodynamics in the world. In theory, an airplane can be even smaller, with smaller wings and lower speed, but it would be almost impossible to fly such a plane. New micro-aircraft of Victor Dmitriev has the smallest possible size, when a normal flight is still possible. Wing’s double-slotted flap and automated tail, which were designed 30 years ago, remain unique. Such tail was a dream of NASA and Boeing engineers, who spent heaps of money and time, working on it. Dmitriev says that he managed to build an automated variable tail section with optimized flap settings almost accidentally.

During the 13^th Moscow international salon of inventions and innovative technologies “Archimedes”, which recently took place in Moscow, Victor Dmitriev presented a new test aircraft X-12h, weighing 50 kilograms without engine. The X-12h is based upon an original, cheap and simple scheme with the same high mechanization, as discussed previously. The aircraft requires 30-meter-long strip for takeoff and 60 meters for landing till it fully stops. The engine for such aircraft can weigh up to 16 kilograms and be as powerful as 30-50 horse powers.

The author recommends his invention as a cost-effective and adapted flying machine for sportsmen and tourists. The X-12h aircraft can serve as a basis for two- and even four-seater airplanes, and it will remain small anyway. Main advantage of this model is that a spin would never occur, even if a pilot is distracted from controlling the machine – perfect for beginners.

Source: Science & Life

Kizilova Anna