Aircraft nose

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The first aircraft had a drive on the aircraft's nose

The aircraft nose is the foremost part of an aircraft . It is also called the bow based on a ship . It is part of the fuselage .

history

The type of propulsion of an aircraft determines the design of the aircraft nose. The first powered aircraft in aviation history were single-engine; their propeller was mostly on the nose of the aircraft. At first, no great emphasis was placed on the aerodynamic design of the nose, but on the accommodation of the engine and the propeller . The flight speed was low at that time (example: the Ju 52 has a top speed of 290 km / h).

Through various types of further development, the appearance of the aircraft nose also changed. On the one hand, the propellers or engines could also be attached to the wings or to the side of the aircraft fuselage ( propeller pod ). The nose mostly only had the task of accommodating on- board cannons and improving the aerodynamics of the aircraft. Its shape has been continuously developed and adapted to the streamline course on the aircraft fuselage.

Above all, the ever increasing airspeeds due to improved or more powerful engines and finally the introduction of jet engines drove the redesign of the aircraft nose. It often took the form of a rocket nose .

Since the Second World War, the nose of aircraft has had a new role: radar and sensor systems are installed in it that "scan" the area in front of the aircraft and, after processing the data obtained, give the pilot a far-reaching picture of the airspace in front of him. This data is also input for the autopilot . In English, the aircraft nose subsequently received (dt. The name "Radom" radar dome ). Fighter planes usually have attack or passive radar and friend-foe detection in the aircraft nose .

In commercial aircraft located there is often a weather radar and other flight instruments . The tip of the Concorde is a hydraulically lowerable nose with a retractable, transparent visor. At speeds of over 460 km / h, the nose and the protective shield were pulled up completely for reasons of aerodynamics.

In the second half of the 20th century, it was particularly common for large military and civil airliners from the Soviet Union to design the aircraft nose as a glazed dome in which the navigator's workplace was located.

Modern sports and training aircraft (also for military purposes) still have a propeller drive, which is housed in the aircraft nose (and not in propeller pods on the wing). In gliders , the tow coupling for aircraft tow is also attached to the aircraft nose.

In certain military aircraft, windows are built into the ground to allow gunmen on board weapons to see the ground; these are often installed below the cockpit , for example on the Boeing AL-1 .

Illustrations

Individual evidence