Sukhoi Shkwal
| Sukhoi Shkwal | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Interceptor |
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The Sukhoi Schkwal ( Russian Сухой Шквал , German Squall ) was a Soviet project for an interceptor in tail-sitter construction method.
history
In 1960, the young designer Rolan G. Martirossow (he later became chief designer) began with a team of 10 people on his own initiative with the construction of an aircraft of a completely new class - a single-seat, supersonic rear starter for interception. Soon the team was given permission to work on the project in their spare time and the project was named Schkwal-1 ( Bö-1 ). At the same time Jakowlew was working on the Jak-36 and Hawker Siddeley on the Harrier . Both designs were equipped with a conventional chassis . The Schkwal, however, should like z. B. the Lockheed XFV-1 can land and take off on the stern and therefore only need an extremely small space. After the concept had been drawn up and wind tunnel tests had been carried out at ZAGI , Pawel Sukhoi's team received official confirmation for this project. This enabled financing by the state authorities and access to various test facilities. A partial mock-up was built. In August 1963, the Ministry of Aircraft Construction carried out a project assessment. This led to heated discussions in which the project group was unable to answer all of the Commission's questions; therefore, although the achievements of the design team were recognized, funding for the construction of a prototype was refused. Another reason was the military doctrine, based on the views of the new Soviet head of government Nikita Khrushchev , to rely more on missiles as offensive and defensive weapons and to reduce spending on military aircraft construction.
construction
The Sukhoi Shkwal was designed as a twin-engine interceptor with radar, two built-in on-board cannons and afterburner engines arranged next to one another. Two designs were examined in the wind tunnel. These differed only in the shape of the air inlets and the position of the canards . The design with D-shaped air inlets, comparable to the Su-15 , and canards in front of the cockpit, which extend to the radome , could not prevail. The second concept with rectangular ramp air inlets (comparable to the air inlets of the MiG-25 ) and canards on the upper side edge of the air inlets was preferred. The fuselage itself is comparable to the fuselage of the Su-15 without landing gear, wings, vertical stabilizer and airbrakes. The four wings were firmly attached to the corners of the fuselage as a lying X (comparable to the fictional X-Wing fighter spaceship from Star Wars ). On the four wings there were cylindrical containers that house shock absorbers for take-off and landing in the lower part. The remainder of these containers, like the wings and fuselage, contained kerosene tanks. The outside of the containers was provided with a guide plate as a continuation of the wing. Each wing has a rudder that acted as aileron and rudder. In order to facilitate vertical landing, the entire ejection seat as well as the thrust lever and sidestick were pivoted in the cockpit so that the relationship between the ejection seat and these operating elements remained unchanged regardless of the pivot position. The pivoting device gave the pilot a better view of the landing area through a window in the cockpit floor. A cockpit section of the Schkwal with the window in the floor and the swiveling ejection seat / instrument combination was built, with which this functionality could be tested and demonstrated, which happened several times. A two-axle trailer for transporting and erecting the shkwal was also planned.
literature
- Jefim Gordon , Sergei Komissarow: Unflown Wings . Soviet / Russian unrealized aircraft projects 1925–2010. Ian Allen Publishing, Birmingham 2013, ISBN 978-1-906537-34-0 , pp. 444-446 .
- Jefim Gordon, Sergei Komissarow: OKB Sukhoi . A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft. Ian Allen Publishing, Hersham 2010, ISBN 978-1-85780-314-3 , pp. 515-518 .
- Tony Buttler, Jefim Gordon: Soviet Secret Projects . Fighters Since 1945. 2004, ISBN 1-85780-194-6 .
