The tenth anniversary of the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2011 ended with numerous record-breaking results. For example, participants in MAKS closed deals with a total estimated value of more than $16 billion.

Over 840 organizations and companies representing 40 countries showcased their achievements in the field of aviation and astronautics. The total number of visitors to the event this year exceeded 550,000 people. Among them: state dignitaries, designers, scientists, engineers, businessmen, members of the mass media and the public. It is obvious that interest in the salon is constantly increasing.

Given the main development vector of national science and industry, the Central Aerohydrodynamics Institute acted as organizer of a joint exposition by eight centers of aviation science.

In a single 400 square foot exhibition space, scientific and technological achievements were presented by: Federal State Unitary Enterprise TsAGI, Federal State Unitary Enterprise VIAM, Federal State Unitary Enterprise Baranov TsIAM, Gromov Flight Research Institute, Federal State Unitary Enterprise Chaplygin SibNIA, Federal State Unitary Enterprise GosNIIAS State Governmental Scientific-Testing Area of Aircraft Systems (FKP GkNIPAS) and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise ORPE Technologiya. As a result, visitors and participants in the International Fair saw a real cross-section of the opportunities and potential of Russian research organizations.

Over the 6 days of the air show, the TsAGI stand was one of the most popular areas, not only for Russian and foreign aviation science and industrial organizations, but also for companies in related industries, business structures, as well as with the mass media and visitors from the public. Visitors interested in establishing or continuing cooperation left more than two hundred reviews, suggestions and recommendations.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the airshow on August 17. The Prime Minister inspected the airshow in general. He passed through the combined exhibits of the state scientific centers, where TsAGI Director General Boris Aleshin presented a project at the Institute’s stand dealing with transition to an innovative system of creating the scientific and technological potential of the Zhukovsky National Research Center.

Our Institute presented five new developments. For the first time the public have been shown:

Sergei Lyapunov, TsAGI Deputy Director, head of the aircraft aerodynamics and flight dynamics complex:
“The model MS-21 aircraft exhibited is designed for testing in a vertical T-105 tunnel at high angles of attack, and tail-spin. It is made of advanced composite materials and has a high margin of safety. It is important to note that for this model the mass-inertia characteristics are similar in scale; that is, they reflect the characteristics of a real aircraft. During testing, we put the model airplane into tail-spin mode, and then remotely switch off the controls. The purpose of this experiment is to see whether the aircraft can get out of this state or other dangerous modes at high angles of attack, based on various actions by the pilot. In total, TsAGI tested more than a dozen different models of the MS-21. Separate investigations were carried out for air intakes, tail fins, and a whole range of different purpose models.”

Leonid Teperin, head of TsAGI department:
“The model unmanned aircraft presented at our booth was studied in the wind tunnels of the Institute to test the aerodynamic characteristics of a new rhomboid-shaped aircraft, with no tail and no fuselage. The new technology used when designing the aerodynamic components of the unmanned aircraft, in spite of its low aspect, made it possible to achieve high aerodynamic efficiency, comparable to passenger aircraft, as well as to maintain directional stability in the absence of a vertical stabilizer. The model attracted great interest from visitors to MAKS-2011, mainly due to its unusual shape. But besides this, the model may have potential for practical use due to its unique aerodynamic properties.”

Mikhail Tarasenko, engineer in hydrodynamics and low speed aerodynamics department:
“This model of unmanned aircraft with vertical take-off and landing is unique for Russia. The TsAGI unmanned plane has outstanding performance characteristics. Essentially it is a flying fan that does not require additional launchers to start it. The unmanned plane can take off from a limited space, on vehicles or containers. The advantages of the unmanned plane include its ability to maneuver in confined almost impassable spaces. The uses for this aircraft are: environmental monitoring, inspection of buildings and structures, oil and gas pipelines, monitoring of protected objects and areas, and fighting the illegal exploitation of natural resources. It has already been tested in a wind tunnel; all that remains is to work out the controls and piloting technology. There are already interested customers. For example, firefighters — they are interested in getting the finished complex. But at the moment, the creation of a complex on the basis of this type of unmanned aircraft is being delayed due to a lack of funding.”

Sergei Paryshev, head of TsAGI aero-elasticity, loads and strength norms department:
“The multifunctional aero-elastic model of the extended outer wing of a future long-haul plane, presented at the TsAGI stand is used to study aero-elastic phenomena in a subsonic wind tunnel. The main elements of the model were made using innovative prototyping technology — layering of parts from thermoplastic materials using a special installation, which is essentially a three-dimensional printer. This makes it possible to automatically, without manual labor, receive very high precision parts with absolutely arbitrary shapes, which ensures both the precision of reproduction of aerodynamic contours and the accuracy of reproducing solid, firmness characteristics, which is extremely important when creating aero-elastic models.”

In addition, visitors to the air show were presented with a unique object at the unified exhibit of national aviation research centers

Sergei Lyapunov, TsAGI Deputy Director, and director of the aerodynamics and aircraft flight dynamics complex:
“This MS-21 aircraft model is designed to test the aerodynamic design of the landing mechanism and controls. The landing mechanism is a very important part of the plane, which greatly affects its safety and performance. On the presented model there is a relatively simple mechanism. But nevertheless, the characteristics that were obtained and confirmed in experimental studies in the wind tunnel were quite satisfactory. And today, the aircraft meets all the requirements that were specified at the technical proposal stage.”

The specialists that visited out exhibit were mostly interested in the following issues:

• New scientific and technological solutions for future aviation industry projects;
• Problems of introducing advanced aviation technology;
• Creating effective, comprehensive approaches to the development of priority areas in the Russian aviation industry;
• The competitiveness of Russian aviation science and technology.

The visitors to our exhibition stand included: ISO, Boeing (USA), Lufthansa (Germany), Embassy of Belgium, EADS (Germany), All China Import-Export Company TOCHMA (China), DRDOADE (India), Rosoboronexport, IRKUT Corporation, NPO Mashinostroyeniye, MATI, the State Instrument Engineering University (St. Petersburg) and others.

International scientific symposium "Aviation Technology of the XXI Century"

Also as part of the MAKS-2011 airshow, the international scientific symposium “Aviation Technology of the XXI Century,” organized by TsAGI with the support of the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry, the Union of Aircraft Manufacturers and the Russian Academy of Sciences. Events at the scientific forum where held by: GosNIIAS, CIAM, DLR (Germany), CAE (China), the German-Russian Economic Alliance, Eurocontrol, ASD.

The seminar opened with a plenary meeting, where a welcoming speech was delivered by TsAGI Director General Boris Aleshin. “This is a great tradition — to conduct scientific and technical forums on the eve of the MAKS International Aviation and Space Salon,” Aleshin said. “Thereby, we emphasize the connection between science and the practical results of the aviation industry. The topics of the symposium are related to further progress in the development of aviation science and technology, which is a necessary foundation for the creation of a new generation of aircraft.”

TsAGI-DLR international seminar: Not breaking with tradition

The first of the scientific forums to open its doors to specialists was the international TsAGI-DLR seminar Promising Areas of Aviation Research, which has already become a tradition, and was held this year on August 15-17, 2011, in the TsAGI House of Scientists.

The participants in the seminar worked on four groups of topics:

• Modern engine development concepts;
• Increased aviation mobility;
• Aircraft construction from composite materials: modern concepts and development potential; and
• Advanced air traffic management concepts.

This is outstanding for being the first meeting between specialists from TsAGI and DLR.
“The beginning of cooperation between the two oldest aviation science and technology centers in Russia and Germany was laid in the spring of 2009 when we signed a cooperation agreement (from the organization of scientific and technical seminars and training of young professionals, to the organization of R&D),” DLR CEO Johann-Dietrich Wo"rner shared his memories. “Our employees meet regularly in Russia and in Germany as partners in the European Framework Program and as participants in seminars held as part of the MAKS international exhibition and ILA (Berlin).”

XI Russia-China conference

At the same time, TsAGI played host to the “XI international Russia-China conference Fundamental Problems of Aerodynamics, Flight Dynamics, Aircraft Stability and Aero-acoustics.”

The conference was broken into two sections: Aerodynamics, Flight Dynamics and Aero-acoustics, and Aircraft Stability. The event was attended by 22 foreign specialists from 14 Chinese organizations. From the Russian side, speakers included specialists from five national organizations — TsAGI, MAI, LII, SibNIA and VIAM. A total of 40 reports were heard from the Russian and Chinese sides.

According to the head of the Chinese delegation, Professor Hua Jun, the event was of a very high quality. This also applied to the content of the reports: The wonderful level of presentation, the variety of the topics, and the make-up of the foreign delegation (this year the age of the Chinese scientists who participated in the conference averaged at 30 years). It was also noted that, from the Russian side, a significant number of young specialists from institutes took part in the conference.

During the visit of the Chinese delegation, China Aviation Academy (CAE) Vice President Professor Hua Jun and First Aviation Institute (Xi’an) Vice President Professor Chen Lixing held talks with TsAGI Executive Director S. Chernyshev, Academician G. Byushgens, Deputy Director General and director of the aerodynamics and aircraft flight dynamics complex S. Lyapunov, and Deputy Director General for Flight Safety V. Sukhanov on the cooperation potential and the current state of affairs in Russian-Chinese contracts.

TsAGI, Russian Helicopters and Cytec discuss use of composites

A seminar that was held at the same time on the Use of Composites for Helicopter Constructions gathered together specialists from TsAGI, Cytec Engineered Materials (USA) and Russian helicopter companies. The participants met in the Congress Hall of the Europa Hotel to discuss the advantages of using high-tech materials in aircraft construction.

The moderator of the meeting, head of the aero-elasticity, strength and load standards department at TsAGI Sergei Paryshev noted in his welcoming speech the constant increase in the proportion of composite materials in the construction of airplanes and helicopters and in particular, in recent years, in the power load-bearing structures of aircraft.

Then Cytec Engineered Materials Vice President for Technology Carmelo Lofaro told the audience about the company’s main activities and about new types of composite materials with enhanced strength properties. The participants were also presented with products that confer composite structures with additional properties: Special built-in metal mesh lightning protection, a special coating that provides increased surface smoothness for laminar flow, etc.

TSAGI leading researcher Svetlana Smotrova shared her views on current trends in the use of polymer composite materials (PCM) for advanced aircraft structures and models: “The design and manufacture of modern aircraft with the extensive use of PCM, requires the development, research and implementation of a new generation of binders, reinforcing fillers and composites based on them,” Smotrova explained. “Therefore, the TsAGI strength complex has, over the past five years, carried out calculations and experimental work on the creation of PCM for high-load structures, including to solve the problems of aero-elasticity.” After the reports, representatives from TsAGI, Cytec Engineered Materials and the holding company Russian Helicopters, in particular OAO MIL Moscow Helicopter Plant and Kazan Helicopter Plant, gathered at a round table for a final discussion.

Also under the auspices of the international symposium “Aviation Technologies of the XXI Century,” the following specialized international events were held: the conferences, “Avionics ATM” and “Organization of flight safety management systems in companies developing and manufacturing aircraft in Russia and the EU,” the 4th European Congress on Transport Aviation and the seminar “Problems with Engine Building.”

The symposium was attended by over 200 representatives from Russian and foreign scientific research, design and production organizations and enterprises from the aviation and allied industries. Many of them later set off together to MAKS-2011.

On August 19 TsAGI Director General Boris Aleshin, spoke at the international scientific conference “100 years of Russia’s aviation industry (1910-2010),” which was organized as part of the business program of the MAKS-2011 air show. The head of the Institute presented the report, “Formation, development and achievements of aeronautical science over 100 years” in which he gave an overview of the main challenges currently facing scientific research centers. “I would like to express the hope that our institutions will produce outstanding scientific results,” Aleshin said. “Because, recently we have been too much involved in handling day-to-day tasks, testing the market, trying on the role of those who should look beyond the horizon. Right now we need to give integrated results for industry 20-25 years in advance.”

Also, as part of the TsAGI business program at MAKS-2011, 12 sets of negotiations were held with representatives from aviation research centers and companies from Russia, the CIS, the USA, Germany, France, China, India, Belgium and others.

TsAGI, LMS and SAMTECH

TsAGI has been cooperating with LMS for some time. In the strength, load and aero-elasticity norms department of the TsAGI aircraft strength complex, LMS equipment and software has been used for frequency testing of models and full-scale aircraft. In addition, specialists from TsAGI and LMS have produced a number of joint publications. The participants in the talks focused on new research challenges within the framework of developing cooperation.

The company SAMTECH is a well-known developer of advanced software for multi-disciplinary computational research. Following the talks, a plan was drawn up for joint action by strength specialists from TsAGI and SAMTECH as part of European and other projects.

TsAGI, GosNIIGA and MAS

Representatives from TsAGI’s Center for Examination and Certification of Flight Simulators (TsESAT) met with managers from the State Civil Aviation Scientific Research Institute (GosNIIGA) and agreed areas of cooperation to resolve issues with carrying out qualified assessments of airplane and helicopter simulators. Valery Sukhanov, TsAGI Deputy Director for Flight Safety and Vladimir Shibaev, Director of TsESAT, took part in the negotiations on behalf of TsAGI.

In addition, at the TsAGI stand talks were held with the head of OOO “Modernization of Aircraft Systems” (MAS) on joint work as part of projects to create and launch the Aerocopter-131 and Robinson-44 flight simulators and an unmanned helicopter-based aviation system. They also agreed on the further expansion of cooperation through TsESAT’s participation in the analysis of documentation and qualification assessment of Cessna 172/182 aircraft simulators, and others.

Staff at TsESAT also participated in organizing and conducting meetings of a Working Group of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). As part of the subcommittee ISO/TC 20/SC 8 “Aerospace terminology” proposals were made relating to the development of new sections of the international standard relating to the mechanics of aircraft flight, and reports were made on topics related to flight simulators, unmanned aircraft systems and rotary-wing aircraft. TsESAT Director and ISO expert V.M. Shibaev was appointed head of the working group WG 2, dedicated to the development of ISO 1151 “Flight dynamics — concepts, quantities and symbols.”

TsAGI and Lufthansa

TsAGI Deputy Director General and head of the aircraft aerodynamics and flight dynamics complex Sergei Lyapunov, and deputy director of the flight dynamics and control systems department Yuri Shelyuhin held talks with Lufthansa. At the meeting a presentation was made of the main flight rig of the MS-21, for testing: Stability and controllability, maximum performance constraints, interaction between manual and automatic control systems, active side sticks, and flight safety in extreme abnormal conditions. Guests also examined models of the MS-21 aircraft, designed for testing landing gear and to study the characteristics of the aircraft in tailspin, and at high angles of attack. Following the talks, Lufthansa Vice President Henning zur Hausen expressed strong interest in the development of this project.

Some of the negotiations ended with agreements being signed.

We support innovative projects!

On August 17, 2011 a cooperation agreement was signed between JSC Center of Scientific and Technical Services Dinamika, JSC Russian Bank for Small and Medium Enterprises and Novikombank.

The documents for the joint project were signed by CSTS Dinamika Director General Alexander Litvinenko, SME Bank board member and First Deputy CEO Dmitry Golovanov and Novikombank President Ilya Gubin.

This agreement is the result, and continuation of a cooperation agreement signed on December 24, 2010 by TsAGI, the state corporation Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank) and OJSC Russian Bank for Development. The aim of this agreement is to establish a strategic partnership between the parties in support of innovation and modernization projects for small and medium-sized enterprises.

TsAGI and MATI signed a cooperation agreement

On August 19, 2011, TsAGI Executive Director Sergey Chernyshev and Russian State Technological University — MATI Director Artemy Nikitov signed an agreement on cooperation in training and joint research. The first step in implementing this agreement was the creation, based at TsAGI, of a department of material engineering and mechanical testing of materials.

The leaders of the two organizations decided to focus their cooperation on training and conducting joint research in the mechanical testing of materials.

We talked about the main events in which our institute participated in the airshow. Undoubtedly, some things escaped our notice. But even the material presented suggests that it is difficult to overestimate the value of MAKS as a unique information platform that is ideal for maintaining and establishing business and scientific contacts, on both a Russian and international scale. And TsAGI has tried to make the most of the unique opportunities offered by the salon. As a result, the Institute’s activities were not limited to the exhibit. TsAGI also acted as an organizer and participant in research seminars held at the International Scientific and Technical Symposium “Aviation Technologies of the XXI Century,” held talks with Russian and foreign companies and signed an agreement with the Tsiolkovskiy Russian State Technological University, and much more.

All of this is a wonderful foundation for the future and a great stimulus for further achievements!