Contour flight
The contour flight is a flight maneuver by helicopters and military aircraft in which the pilot flies close to the ground. This is to prevent the aircraft from being detected by enemy units or enemy radar . However, the introduction of look-down / shoot-down radar systems has reduced this advantage.
Helicopters fly at a speed of around 80 knots (= 150 km / h) at a height of 40 feet (= 12 m) above the ground. Here, contour flight is also referred to as a compromise between normal flight and nap-of-the-earth (NOE), in which the risk of being discovered is minimized with an even lower flight altitude, but also only speeds of 50 knots (= approx. 90 km) / h) are possible.
Modern guided missiles such as the Taurus cruise missile are capable of contour flight in the high subsonic range.
In military aircraft is also called a Terrain subsequent flight or terrain following flight , which attempts, the unevenness of the terrain to follow. This can be controlled manually or automatically using a terrain follower radar .
Individual evidence
- ^ Helicopter glossary of terms: helicopter / helicopter. In: heliport.de. Retrieved February 28, 2014 .
- ↑ In the sign of the Taurus. Successful shoot. In: luftwaffe.de. November 16, 2011, accessed February 28, 2014 .
- ↑ Alpha Bravo Charly Delta Echo Fox ... the aviation alphabet. FLIGHT MANEUVERS in the motorized area. (No longer available online.) In: grossflugtage.de. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014 ; accessed on February 28, 2014 .