JB11 and Flyboard Air: customized aircraft for armies
It should be recalled that various projects of jetpacks and other apparatuses of the past were also developed with the assistance of the armies - above all, the US armed forces. And now the Pentagon is interested in another bold proposal and even made the customer in one of the new programs. France is also taking real action to develop individual aircraft.
JB11 for the Pentagon
Since 2016, the American company JetPack Aviation, David Meyman, has been working on a promising jetpack. In the previous period, the company created several samples of individual aircraft of one kind or another. Its development interested the US military, which led to the appearance of the state order. In 2016, the United States Navy Special Operations Command (US SOCOM NSWC) special operations command ordered JetPack Aviation to develop a new pack in accordance with their own requirements.
The military want a compact vehicle capable of transporting a fighter with weapons and other equipment through the air over short distances. The product must have a limited size and weight, allowing it to be transported by a serviceman. The required flight performance is also set.
In accordance with the wishes of NSWC, a jetpack called the JB11 JetPack was developed. It is based on the developments in previous projects of the company D. Meiman, but also introduced new ideas. In particular, a different power plant architecture and recycled controls are used. All this has led to an increase in the basic characteristics, including the duration of the flight and carrying capacity.
The JB11 satchel is built according to the pattern traditional for such aircraft. There is a main frame to which the suspension system and controls are attached to the front. On the sides of the engine are placed, and inside and behind the frame are installed certain structural elements, including a fuel tank of increased capacity.
The power plant is built on the basis of the six turbojet engines of its own design with a load of 60 kg (total 240 kg). Motors are fixed rigidly and can not move. Existing engines should use kerosene or diesel. In the future, plans to develop engines for hydrogen fuel. With optimal fuel consumption, the flight duration is ensured (under normal load) to 10 min.
The knapsack is controlled with the help of two consoles placed in front of the pilot on the armrests. Implemented semi-automatic control principle. The pilot determines the direction of flight, speed, maneuvers, etc., and his commands are processed and converted into a digital computing unit responsible for the direct control of the units. Stabilization and maneuvering are performed due to synchronous or differential change of engine thrust.
The developers claim that the automation is capable of ensuring smooth flight, as well as compensating for the failure of several engines and safely lowering the aircraft to the ground. In case of more serious accidents, a parachute is provided. Its release is automated; the pilot is saved with his knapsack.
The dry weight of the JP11 jet pack is defined in 115 pounds (52 kg). It is capable of carrying a pilot and a payload weighing no more than 230 pounds (104 kg). Under these conditions, the flight speed exceeds 180-190 km / h, the range is limited by flight mode and fuel consumption. The theoretical ceiling exceeds 4500 m. The cost in the existing configuration - 340 thousand dollars.
It is assumed that with such characteristics, the new development of JetPack Aviation will allow to quickly transfer soldiers to a given area in the absence of other acceptable paths. During the flight, the pilot will be able to move in the right direction, hover, change altitude and perform simple maneuvers.
To date, the company has launched a JP11 JetPack for testing. The first flights were carried out not in the complete set and on a leash. In the future, the composition of the units was brought to the design, which allowed the start of free flights. How soon the finishing will be completed and the knapsacks will be handed over to the military for their own tests - not specified.
US SOCOM, by order of which a promising project was created, has not yet announced its plans for new technology. Apparently, in the near future, army specialists will have to study the samples presented and draw conclusions. It is required to determine the real characteristics and capabilities, as well as to analyze the hypothetical ways of using jet packs in real operations and their effectiveness.
For obvious reasons, the US Special Operations Forces Command has so far refrained from commenting on the JP11 product. The developer company, in turn, speaks about the big future of the project and the whole direction. In particular, it is argued that interest in reactive bags already shows not only SOCOM, but also other Pentagon structures. Whether this interest will lead to real contracts is a big question.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that the fact of ordering a jet pack by the official structure attracts attention and can speak volumes. Apparently, the American army once again became interested in individual aircraft and is ready to consider promising models created on the basis of existing technologies. The next "trial" has some chances for success, but is not immune from failure.
Flyboard Air for the French Army
At the end of last year, the French Ministry of Defense supported a domestic company engaged in the subject of individual aircraft. At the end of November, demonstration flights took place using a new model for military purposes, after which a decision was made. Now the Ministry of Defense is supporting a private company, which must continue to develop core technologies for promising projects.
This is an LA Flyboard Air from the company Zapata. This product is a compact platform with a power plant and other devices capable of lifting one person and a small load into the air. Already in the existing form of Flyboard Air is considered by the developer as a promising vehicle for special forces or the army as a whole. With the help of such products fighters will be able to quickly move over the battlefield or beyond.
The device Flyboard Air is designed as a compact platform, in the center of which is a block of four low-power turbojet engines. Next to them is the control equipment. On each side of the main power plant are the seat belts for the pilot. On the sides of the platform are two more engines. On the bottom provides the simplest chassis in the form of four fixed supports.
The pilot is invited to stand on the platform. In its place, it is fixed with safety straps for the legs. For safety during flight test pilots use backpack parachutes. The control is carried out with the help of a remote control having all the necessary organs on it. As in the case of jetpack from JetPack Aviation, the pilot commands must be processed by the on-board computer and transferred to control signals for the engines. Flight control and balancing are also carried out by changing the thrust of the engines in different combinations.
In its current form, the individual Zapata Flyboard Air LA weighs about 25 kg and can carry loads up to 100 km. The maximum flight speed reaches 140 km / h. Reached ceiling 150 m, flight duration - 6 min. The company-developer plans to develop the existing structure, as a result of which a sharp increase in characteristics is expected. They are going to bring the speed to 200 km / h, the ceiling to 3000 m, and the flight duration to half an hour. The capacity of the improved platform will double.
The company Zapata for a long time led its individual aircraft to the test and is now engaged in its promotion on the market. The main customers are civilian structures and extreme sportsmen. At the same time, the company intends to compete for contracts of the military department. To this end, last year were held demonstration events in which the device was used Flyboard Air.
Vigorous maneuvering
24 last November, the French Special Operations Command (COS) assessed the real capabilities of the Flyboard Air product as part of the Defense Innovations Forum. In the presence of the country's leadership, a training battle took place with the use of standard samples and new equipment. During a demonstration event, special forces soldiers disembarked from a boat on the river pier and freed the hostages. At this time, the air was special forces with LA Flyboard Air. He provided air observation and cover for the main group.
The event was attended by the Minister of Defense Florence Parley. She noted that products like the Zapata Flyboard Air can be useful for COS units. It soon became known that the project could be developed with state support. In December, Zapata was connected to the RAPID program of the General Directorate of Arms (DGA). She relies on a grant for technology development and the creation of new designs.
Government funding is intended to improve existing technologies and search for new solutions. The main goal so far is to increase the basic flight performance, such as flight duration or payload. An additional goal of the program will be the creation of new compact turbojet engines with reduced noise. The search for improved technology in the field of engines is carried out in a separate subproject Turbine Z Air. Two years are allocated for all these works.
Probably, the deeply upgraded version of the Flyboard Air LA, which can take more load, fly longer and farther, as well as produce less noise, will have certain chances to enter into service with French special forces. In COS units or other structures of the French armed forces, such products can be used as light vehicles, ensuring high mobility of fighters. They can be used for quick delivery of soldiers to the desired area or for emergency evacuation.
The Zapata Flyboard Air project is already well known to the public, and the French command has recently become familiar with this aircraft. Based on the results of the study and demonstrations, a grant was issued for further work. Perhaps the existing product Flyboard Air will not go into service with France, but its improved version with enhanced performance may be subject to the order of COS.
Transportation of the future?
It should be noted that JetPack Aviation and Zapata are not the only creators of modern jetpacks or other individual aircraft. Similar devices are being developed by other organizations, but it is the projects of the American and French companies that are currently the most successful in the context of military use.
Flyboard Air as a vehicle for the machine gunner
While other developers are only demonstrating their projects and are trying to attract the attention of armies, American and French experts have already been able to enlist the support of military departments. The American company JetPack Aviation is developing its new project on the order of US SOCOM, and the French Zapata received a grant from the DGA for the further development of an existing aircraft. Their competitors in the field of individual aircraft cannot yet boast such success.
The result of ongoing work on both sides of the Atlantic in a few years should be two improved aircraft. American special forces will be offered a machine in the form of a jet pack, and their French colleagues will be offered a platform with engines. In the future, two samples will have to go through factory and military tests, on the results of which the army will be able to draw conclusions. What will be these conclusions, and what awaits a new technique - time will tell. Despite all the efforts of a number of enterprises, it is too early to talk about the beginning of the era of jetpacks in armies.
On the materials of the sites:
https://jetpackaviation.com/
https://zapata.com/
https://janes.com/
https://businessinsider.com/
https://theverge.com/
- Ryabov Kirill
- JetPack Aviation / jetpackaviation.com, Zapata / zapata.com
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