Why are there planes with sloping nose?

Only two passenger aircraft, the Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144 had this unusual feature: a retractable nose. But, what it was and why these commercial supersonic aircraft are well designed?

Although it is no longer easy to see, the distinctive shape of the Concorde or Tupolev Tu-144 with the nose tilted down, crossing the runway, it is still present. But why these planes twisted nose? Why seem the only models that have come to have a sloping nose? This measure, although unusual, has a reason to be as simple as important: to see the track. And the nose of the aircraft is so pronounced that prevented the correct view of the pilots during taxiing phases (scroll down the runway), takeoff and landing. So the solution taken was as striking as effective.

Supersonic Aircraft

The fact that only two aircraft have had this type of nose should be nothing less they are the first two (and only) commercial aircraft that have flown overcoming the sound barrier. Indeed, in our history only European Concorde and the Soviet Tupolev performed such a feat, although time “retired” does. These two aircraft come from a time when the aviation career promised huge profits to the winner of a bitter war. Something like the space race. Time has shown that the business of the flights is a very large niche; but back then it seemed that the secret was in supersonic flight, the fastest to reach everywhere.

So, both aircraft were developed quickly and following some similar characteristics. Among them, the characteristic nose inclined. And is that to reach the speed they get, breaking the sound barrier, its aerodynamic shape has to be perfect. The stylized figure with an elongated snout end allowed counteract the maximum air friction. The problem is that this prevents significantly the vision of pilots when operating in takeoffs and landings, as well as taxiing phase. In fact, part of the vision system of the Concorde had to be redesigned after the US authorities not to approve the visibility of aircraft cabin to set foot in the United States.

the first plane with sloping nose was probably the Fairey Delta 2 in order to solve this problem, the solution was simple: remove the nose by a hydraulic system. Thus, after taking off, the nose of these supersonic aircraft returned to its aerodynamic position, allowing the plane were to reach the appropriate speed. These two were not the only planes with sloping nose. The first aircraft with the sloping nose was probably the Fairey Delta 2, a British supersonic aircraft pilot who served as “proof field. ” It was this model that ideas were taken to build the sloping nose of the Concorde.

Building a sloping nose

But there is the idea behind a formidable challenge. What lies within challenge size? Slanted Concorde (and Tupolev) nose are retracted by an ingenious hydraulic system. The nose of the Concorde, for example, has four positions: the first is in the normal position, used in supersonic speed. The second part of the visor retracts and is used only at subsonic speeds. The third and fourth correspond to a drop nose five and twelve degrees and are used to take off, to move track or land. To the nose to properly lean, inside it has a system of rods and special guides.

These are controlled by a hydraulic system and a signaling system that tells the pilot the position and status of the operation which is the nose. Thus, in addition to see it, the pilot can operate knowing for sure what situation the system is. This is essential on two key moments. The first, of course, is at supersonic speed, where the nose of the aircraft exceeds one hundred degree heat by the huge air friction. Therefore, the nose is constructed thinking, especially in this condition. In addition, the visor protects the cabin during the flight.

On landing, crucial moment, the nose is lowered to twelve degrees The other time crucial is undoubtedly landing situation where the nose is lowered to twelve degrees. However, it is raised almost immediately by the crew to avoid damage. The system tilted nose, although effective, is somewhat cumbersome. Therefore, although we still have no new supersonic passenger aircraft, new aircraft probably do not need. And it is that although you obviously need a hyper-stylized form, novel camera systems might be more useful to design a new model with tilted nose

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