Scientific and technological progress never stops, and new developments are implemented regularly. However, it happens that some obstacles prevent the development of even the most promising project. This is exactly what happened with the creation of the unique Bella-1 aircraft, which does not require an airfield for landing. Indeed, despite the successful tests, the promising project was on pause for almost two decades.
The history of the Bella-1 aircraft began in the Soviet Union, at the end of the eighties of the last century. The reason for the start of such a development was the need to find a more universal and cheaper way of transport communication with hard-to-reach regions - Siberia, the Far East and the Far North. The main feature of the new aircraft is the ability to land, in fact, on any relatively flat surface. That is, the plane had to be able to land equally successfully on land, on water, and on snow.
The device was created according to the "flying wing" type of layout. It is 10 meters long and has a wingspan of about 11 meters. The wing consoles were designed to be foldable in order to simplify the transportation of the aircraft itself. In addition, with its own weight - with a full fuel tank - 1400 kilograms, it can lift up to 600 kilograms of payload or 5-6 passengers.
Among other design and technical characteristics, there are two piston engines for horizontal flight, the total power of which is 420 hp, and it is also equipped with one lifting engine with a power of 100 hp. In addition, Bella-1 is capable of flying at a maximum speed of 250 km / h for distances of up to three thousand kilometers; the maximum flight altitude is three kilometers.
The main feature of Bella-1 - the ability to land without the need for an airfield - is provided by several design features at once. Thus, composites were used on a large scale in the production of an aircraft, and this significantly reduced its mass. Special attention should be paid to the actual takeoff and landing device, which consists of several elements at once: under the fuselage, the creators placed an air cushion, a wheeled chassis, and even skis. At the same time, the takeoff and run of the aircraft are very short. Moreover, "Bella-1" is extremely economical in terms of fuel consumption, consuming even less than "maize".
But only with the implementation of a promising project and its further promotion, serious problems arose. The only prototype was built back in the nineties, and after that the lack of funding put the project on pause for almost twenty years, and only in the early 2010s was a new investor found who, perhaps, will be able to put a promising development on its feet.
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