Black birds

21
The tradition of massively painting planes in black appeared during World War II. It was assumed that this would make it difficult for the enemy to detect it at night, this applies both to night bombers and to those who should have fought them, night fighters.


Bomber USAF A-26 "Invader"


Night fighter USAF P-61 "Black Widlow"

It would seem that the mass use in the post-war time of radar stations (radar), all-weather fighter-interceptors, anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) should have made such masking not relevant. But nowadays, “black birds” continue to fly. This is connected not only with the desire to make the plane barely visible visually at night, but also with the use of special heat-resistant or radio-frequency absorbing materials.

It is noteworthy that planes painted in a similar way, as a rule, were created in the framework of "black" ones. secret programs. And still shrouded in an aura of secrets and legends.



Such a legendary plane is considered to be Lockheed’s U-2. Its designer is no less legendary Clarence Johnson.

In 1955, the first copy of a new Lockheed reconnaissance aircraft, Lockheed U-2, which was developed and built under the strictest secrecy in the so-called Skunk Works company, took to the air. He had high flight characteristics that ensured him the ability to fly at high altitude and long range, which were the result of advanced engines and successful layout of the aircraft. The Pratt-Whitney J57 engine with a reworked fuel supply system was used as a power plant; the wing of the aircraft with a large elongation (like a glider) allowed to increase the flight range.

Designed to work at altitudes above 20 km, where detection and interception were unlikely, the U-2 was equipped with a large number of data acquisition devices. Intelligence flights over the countries of Eastern Europe began on June 20, and the first flight over the USSR was performed on July 4 of the year 1956.

The fact that the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft was detectable and vulnerable was demonstrated on 1 on May 1960, when this plane was shot down by a ground-to-air missile during a regular flight over the Soviet Union. It was the last flight of the U-2 over the USSR. In total, X-NUMX reconnaissance flights of U-24 aircraft were performed over the territory of the USSR. However, flights continued in other regions, it was U-2 that discovered the preparation of launching positions for ballistic missiles in Cuba. Modern versions of "U-2S" equipped with side-looking radar to date are in service with the US Air Force. It is assumed that they will be decommissioned by 2 year.


Google Earth Satellite Image: U-2 at the United Arab Emirates Airfield

It is known about the 7 downed U-2. One by one over the USSR and Cuba, the rest over the territory of the PRC. All of them were destroyed by Soviet-made air defense systems C-75.


There are special relations with C-75 U-2.

The vulnerability of U-2 forced the development of the next generation intelligence officer. The pledge of his “unbreakability” was supposed to be high speed, allowing him to evade anti-aircraft missiles and interceptors. Led the development, all the same Clarence Johnson. The prototype aircraft A-12, was used by the CIA, the aircraft for the Air Force received the name Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird", which literally means "Blackbird".



At that time, the SR-71 was the fastest aircraft in the world - approximately 3300 km / h and had one of the highest ceilings of maximum height - 28,5 km. It was originally planned to use it for reconnaissance over the territory of the Soviet Union and Cuba, however, the plans had to be changed in connection with the event that occurred on 1 in May 1960, when the predecessor of the Titan Goose U-2 was hit by a Soviet anti-aircraft missile system. The United States decided not to risk expensive aircraft and used reconnaissance in the USSR and Cuba using satellites, and SR-71 sent to North Korea and North Vietnam.

The Blackbirds photographic equipment, capable of shooting in 150 radius, allowed the US military intelligence to photograph the coastal zone of the Kola Peninsula without disturbing Soviet airspace. However, one day the not very agile SR-71 still went too far. 27 May 1987 of the year SR -71 entered Soviet airspace in the region of the Arctic. To intercept the command of the Soviet Air Force sent a fighter-interceptor MiG-31.


Fighter-interceptor MiG-31

With a speed of 3000 km / h and a practical ceiling height of 20,6 km, the Soviet aircraft successfully drove the “Blackbird” into neutral waters. Shortly before this incident, two MiG-31 aircraft also intercepted the SR-71, but already in neutral territory. Then the American intelligence officer failed the mission and flew to the base.

Some experts believe that it was the MiG-31 that forced the Air Force to abandon the SR-71. It is difficult to say how plausible this version is, but there is reason to believe so. Also could cause the departure of the SR-71 and the Soviet anti-aircraft missile system C-200, which could easily reach the “Blackbird” at the maximum height. Of the 32 aircraft built, 12 was lost in various incidents. The Air Force stopped using SR-71 on 1998. due to excessively high operating costs. For some time the flights continued in the interests of NASA.


Launcher ZRK C-200



The next "black" aircraft in all respects was Lockheed F-117 "Night Hawk" - "Night Hawk", which made the first flight in 1981. and built in the number of 64 copies., the very existence of which has long been denied. The design of the aircraft is based on stealth technology. The aircraft itself is built on an aerodynamic scheme "flying wing" with a V-shaped tail. The wing of a large sweep (67,5 °) with a sharp leading edge, a wing profile outlined with straight lines, a faceted fuselage formed by flat trapezoidal and triangular panels are so completely relative to each other in order to reflect electromagnetic waves away from the enemy radar radar. Located above the wing on both sides of the fuselage, the flat air intakes have longitudinal partitions of radio absorbing materials. The plane has no external suspensions, all the weapons are located inside the fuselage.

It should be noted that despite such radical decisions, the designers failed to achieve the ultimate goal - to build a plane that is invulnerable to the enemy. First, because of the degraded aerodynamics, the F-117 was poorly defended against enemy fighter attacks if they could detect it. Secondly, the ideas embodied in the design could reduce visibility only up to a certain limit, and also did not provide a very low ESR for radar systems in which the receiver and transmitter were separated at different points. As a result, the Soviet C-200 and C-300 anti-aircraft systems could fire at it with greater chances of hitting, while the older, upgraded C-125 could not guarantee defeat, but could also pose a threat. In particular, during the raids on Yugoslavia, the F-117 was shot down with the help of the C-125 complex. Low performance and vulnerability were ultimately the cause of its decommissioning in the 2008 year.

The most expensive in the world today is the “black” Northrop B-2 “Spirit” - “Ghost”.



American heavy unobtrusive strategic bomber, developed by Northrop Grumman. Designed to break through the dense air defense and deliver conventional or nuclear weapons.


Google Earth satellite image: B-2 at Andersen airbase

To ensure inconspicuous stealth technology is widely used: the aircraft is covered with radio-absorbing materials, the “flying wing” aerodynamic design is created, and the jet streams of engines are shielded. The exact ESR value for B-2 is not reported, according to various estimates, it is the value from 0,0014 to 0,1 m².

Total built from 1989 to 1999 year: 21 aircraft. Unit cost $ 2,1 billion (1997 year). (~ $ 10 billion in comparable prices 2012 year) One of them crashed in 2008 year at Andersen air base, the island of Guam.

Black birds [Center]
Crashed B-2

The first combat use took place during a NATO operation in Yugoslavia in 1999. More than 600 precision bombs (JDAM) were dropped on targets. At the same time, B-2 made a non-stop flight from the Whiteman Air Force Base to the unit. Missouri to Kosovo and back.

In subsequent years, B-2 were used in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. With an in-flight refueling, B-2 made one of its longest combat missions, taking off from the Whiteman Air Base in Missouri, completing the combat mission and returning to its home base.

During the military operation “Iraqi Freedom” in 2003, B-2 made combat missions from the atoll of Diego Garcia. From these positions, 22 combat sorties were made. From the Whiteman air base, 27 combat missions were made. During 49 departures, more than 300 tons of ammunition were dropped.

The duration of combat missions was more than 30 hours. During one of the sorties, the B-2 remained airborne without landing for 50 hours.
March 19, 2011, during the military operation "Odyssey. Dawn, ”three US Air Force B-2s were raised from Whiteman Missouri Air Force Base. Together with two B-1B bombers from South Dakota, they were sent to Libya. During the entire operation, B-2 destroyed 45, and B-1B 105 targets, among which were weapons depots, air defense facilities, command and control points, service facilities aviation and other military equipment.

[Center]

Google Earth Satellite Image: Pamsdale Air Base Memorial

Paradoxically, in operation today are the “oldest” - U-2 and the most expensive - B-2. The rest can be seen in aviamuseums and memorials of air bases in the United States.
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  1. -1
    April 20 2013 09: 47

    Former employee of President Slobodan Milosevic, now a Roman military consultant, Zoran Kusovac, said that the wreckage of the aircraft was captured by Chinese and Russian allies. It is likely that Russia could use the results of the study of these fragments in the creation of its fifth generation T-50 fighter. The same opinion is shared by some Western experts.


    so that maybe F-177 was useful)
    1. +6
      April 20 2013 12: 14
      And what is it that we used from minke whales during the construction of the T-50? Our ideas are full of bins.
      1. +5
        April 22 2013 02: 14
        Quote: Skeleton
        And what is it that we used from minke whales during the construction of the T-50? Our ideas are full of bins.


        There was a lot of interesting things. An optical station, for example ... a radar, a friend-or-foe warning system and some little things. fellow
        1. Kassandra
          0
          8 January 2015 16: 05
          of the F-117 of the survey things was only a thermal imager.
    2. Shawnee
      0
      April 21 2013 19: 04
      Chegozh not come in handy, an expensive thing ...
    3. 0
      April 22 2013 10: 11
      http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CF%E5%F0%F1%EF%E5%EA%F2%E8%E2%ED%FB%E9_%E0%E2%E8%E
      0%F6%E8%EE%ED%ED%FB%E9_%EA%EE%EC%EF%EB%E5%EA%F1_%F4%F0%EE%ED%F2%EE%E2%EE%E9_%E0%
      E2%E8%E0%F6%E8%E8
  2. fenix57
    0
    April 20 2013 09: 59
    So it pleases ... "We eat watermelons and discuss "- and finished ....
  3. 0
    April 20 2013 13: 49
    It’s a pity that they didn’t shoot down the B-2!
    1. 0
      April 22 2013 02: 14
      Quote: Sheva777
      It’s a pity that they didn’t shoot down the B-2!


      It’s a pity that only one ...
      1. Kassandra
        0
        8 January 2015 16: 06
        F-117 in Iraq-2 generally before ...
  4. +8
    April 20 2013 13: 56
    U-2 --- the "favorite" aircraft of the USSR air defense.
    1. +8
      April 21 2013 05: 05
      The Chinese loved it even more, they "got" 5 pieces of U-2 + another 2-3 RB-57 (American version of Canberra). They were piloted by Taiwanese pilots.
  5. +7
    April 20 2013 14: 28
    During the military operation “Iraqi Freedom” in 2003, B-2 made combat missions from the atoll of Diego Garcia. From these positions, 22 combat sorties were made. From the Whiteman air base, 27 combat missions were made. During 49 departures, more than 300 tons of ammunition were dropped.

    One wing that worked from Saudi territory delivered more gifts to the enemy during the night.
    1. +8
      April 21 2013 04: 58
      Certainly, but each weapon is worth something if it is tested in combat ...
  6. +5
    April 20 2013 16: 28
    The blackbird was covered with black (dark blue) ferrite paint due to the fact that during a long flight on M> 3, the body made of titanium materials heated up to 500 degrees. Celsius and this paint protected the radio-absorbing coating from destruction and contributed to better airframe cooling.
    1. +3
      April 21 2013 02: 05
      There was no coating on the thrush. The fire-resistant paint (still black) served to remove heat, or rather to displace the thermal barrier, and had to be renewed after each flight with 3Max.
  7. +5
    April 20 2013 19: 33
    Night aircraft, during the Second World War, were all black. These were mainly bombers, transport and communications aircraft flying behind enemy lines, such as Li-2, Po-2, etc. In addition, black is not easily soiled.
    1. +1
      April 21 2013 03: 44
      The most serious work on the visual invisibility of aircraft was carried out by the Germans since 40. They came to the conclusion that black is far from the most "invisible" color for night aviation. The result of this work can be found by looking at the color of any German night fighter from the end of 42 AD. , the British were the first. The fact is that the basis of black paint is often gas soot, which contains derivatives of paraffin and graphite, absorbing microwave radiation, as a result, the "mark" flickered "contact" was unstable. Of course, the effect is negligible, but for radars that time enough. It was this phenomenon, incidentally, discovered by engineers when they tested the British air defense, and it was believed that the reflection most strongly comes from the lower part of the wing. This explains the extravagant coloration of the lower surfaces of the British "Spitfires" and "Hurricanes" so-called. "Chess". Specialized night aircraft had a completely black "bottom." In 42, all the results of these experiments were transferred to the allies (i.e., us and the USA). In the USA, work continued, it was determined that the effect of the effect is somewhat enhanced if; the aircraft is completely painted black and matte paint. So they began to paint the "night lights." Most of the planes have special detachments of transport aviation. Until the middle of 43rd photo, other cars are found but extremely rare. After that time, almost all cars of "night lights" have a black "bottom", but completely black, I did not see Soviet cars in the photo, not in skins. The exception is Ep-2, but it is dark purple (another topic). On account of the markings; don't let you ... when you grow up, of course, have a "non-marking" black or white car.
  8. +2
    April 21 2013 12: 53
    Quote: Thunderbolt
    U-2 --- the "favorite" aircraft of the USSR air defense.

    This plane flew over the union with impunity for three years, until they made a normal rocket that could intercept this miracle at any height.
  9. +5
    April 21 2013 13: 33
    The British "Canberra" also got out. In 1958, my father was the commander of an air defense unit (Vinnitsa region). Only accompanied, and shoot down ... alas.
  10. +2
    April 21 2013 14: 12
    And ours did not succumb to the fashion for black planes. "We will go our own way :))
    1. +1
      April 22 2013 02: 18
      Quote: xomaNN
      And ours did not succumb to the fashion for black planes. "We will go our own way :))


      We have a fashion for black helicopters. And so, in principle, for air defense there is no difference black-white-blue.

      I think if you bring down blue then laughing there will be comments like "how the sixth crew drove homosexuals" or something like the LGBT branch in the NATO Air Force ...
  11. Dmitriy292
    -1
    April 22 2013 05: 00
    It seems to be so bad, but no, we have to do worse. The authorities do not cease to amaze. This site just recently came across: http://link.ac/jrY10, where information about each of us has been publicly posted. I don’t know why to do this, but it personally scares me. Nevertheless, I somehow managed to delete my data, though I had to register, but no one could "dig up" anything on me.
  12. sashka
    0
    April 22 2013 05: 39
    Quote: Dmitriy292
    It seems to be so bad, but no, we have to do worse. The authorities do not cease to amaze. This site just recently came across: http://link.ac/jrY10, where information about each of us has been publicly posted. I don’t know why to do this, but it personally scares me

    Flood in all its glory .. Yes, my friend you did not get there.
  13. P-15
    +3
    April 22 2013 16: 40
    Yeah, he drank my blood pretty much.

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