TsAGI develops light multi-purpose aircraft for regional aviation

21 June 2019

The Arctic region, Siberia, the Far East are known for their vast expanses, remote settlements and small amounts of austere airfields. However, the necessary condition for the development of these territories is the access to transportation. Today, scientists of the Zhukovsky Central AeroHydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI, a member of the National Research Center “Zhukovsky Institute”) are developing an aerodynamic configuration concept of a light multipurpose short take-off and landing aircraft, intended to carry passengers, oversized cargoes, as well as to participate in medical and rescue operations in rigorous climate.

The research on this topic is conducted by a team of specialists under the supervision of the Chief of TsAGI’s Division of System Study and Conceptual Design of Aerospace Equipment Vyacheslav Kazhan. In comparison with the existing analogs it is expected to increase the airspeed from 300-350 to 650-700 km/h, flying range-from 700-1,000 to 2,000 km and the reduced runway from 600-700 to 300-400 m. “It is quite difficult to combine such contradictory requirements in the aircraft layout,” notes Vyacheslav Kazhan. “For example, you can take off only slowly from a short runway and the lift-to-drag ratio and the flight speed suffer in cruise mode.”

Examining the modern aircraft’s possibilities and the achievements of scientists from TsAGI and CIAM, the specialists of the Institute have found the optimum solution. They have decided to use the energetics of a distributed hybrid propulsion system. It consists of a turboshaft, 20-30 electro fan-driven motors, an electric generator and a standby storage battery. This system is heavier than a usual one, but the combination of a low aspect wing with jet flaps that increase the lift, compensates for the weight and gives the opportunity to take on board more fuel for long-range flight. Thanks to a smooth integral concept of the aircraft layout, the wetted area is reduced and accordingly, the drag is reduced as well. As a result, the aircraft power is sufficient to achieve the declared speed.

The research is currently at the computer simulation stage. Preliminary assessments have been conducted. It is planned to continue the work in 2020, including the experimental research of light multipurpose aircraft models.

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