High altitude two-engine subsonic single-seat aircraft M55 Geophysica was designed to order of Air Force of Russia. During its flying tests 16 world records have been set up including the climb up to the altitude 21360 m while carrying payload 2000 kg. The aircraft is capable to fly in any geographic latitude in visual and instrument meteorological conditions in accordance with ICAO instrument flight regulations. The aircraft unique performance enable its operation as a flying platform for the upper atmosphere exploration, the Earth remote sounding over large areas using sensors developed on the base of various physical principles (including the side-looking radar) as well as for instruments testing before their installation on space vehicles.
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| Crew |
one pilot |
| Takeoff weight |
24000 kg |
Payload weight |
1500 kg |
| Cruising speed |
640-720 km/h |
| Flight ceiling |
up to 21 km |
| Maximum endurance |
6,5 h |
| Aerodrome category |
II class, concrete |
| Takeoff / landing distance |
1500 m |
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| The aircraft geometry: |
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| Wingspan |
37,5 m |
| Overall length |
22,9 m |
| Overall height |
4,83 m |
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| Fuel capacity |
7600 kg |
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On the aircraft the payload may be arranged in 10 bays:
| Bay |
Volume |
Electrical power |
M |
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| ¹ 1 |
2,052 m3 |
| 115V 400Hz - 100 VA, |
27V - 1200W |
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360 kg |
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| ¹ 2 |
1,963 m3 |
| 115V 400Hz - 1600 VA, |
27V - 250W |
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430 kg |
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| ¹ 3 |
1,135 m3 |
| 115V 400Hz - 200 VA, |
27Â - 1300 W |
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100 kg |
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| ¹ 4 |
0,315 m3 |
| 115V 400 Hz - 800 VA, |
27V - 200W |
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60 kg |
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| ¹ 5 |
0,600 m3 |
| 115V 400 Hz - 120 VA, |
27V - 1800W |
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80 kg |
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| ¹ 6 |
0,580 m3 |
| 115V 400 Hz - 100 VA, |
27V - 200W |
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25 kg |
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| ¹ 7 |
0,380 m3 |
| 115V 400 Hz - 200 VA, |
27V - 200W |
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30 kg |
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| ¹ 8 |
0,558 m3 |
| 115V 400 Hz - 700 VA, |
27V - 1500W |
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80 kg |
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| ¹ 9 |
3,300 m3 |
| 115V 400 Hz - 100 VA, |
27V - 400W |
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300 kg |
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| ¹ 10 |
0,240 m3 |
| 115V 400 Hz - 200 VA, |
27V - 200W |
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30 kg |
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In the Bay ¹ 1 there are 2 windows each 300 mm in diameter with optical axes -"up" (zenith) and "down" (nadir) closed with quartz glasses.
In the Bays ¹2, ¹3 there are 2 open windows 200 x 280 mm in dimension and 120 mm in diameter, correspondingly, protected with controllable mechanical shutters.
In the Bay ¹ 6 there are 3 windows, one 200 mm in diameter (zenith), two 120 mm in diameter (right, left) closed with quartz glasses.
In the Bay ¹ 6 (zenith) and in the Bay ¹ 8 (nadir) there are open windows 300 and 120 mm in diameter, correspondingly, protected with the controllable shutters.
To increase net volumes the structure of two underwing pods was designed, in each of them the payload weighing up to 250 kg may be placed.
All bays where scientific instrumentation may be installed are non-pressurized.
Conditions for instrumentation may reach the following:
| - pressure |
up to 40 mm Hg |
| - temperature |
up to 70oC below zero |
| - humidity |
up to 100% |
If required special pods will be designed and manufactured in which in compliance with the Customer requirements special conditions for research instruments operation will be provided.
| 3.0 AIRCRAFT BASING CONDITIONS |
There are no any peculiarities regarding the aircraft operation in foreign airports.
The runway length is not less 1800 m.
The ground power supply - 115V 400 Hz.
Fuel type - Jet-A, Jet-A1, JP4.
Oxygen, nitrogen, air - under pressure 210 kg/cm2.
The ground refrigeration plant (when required).
| 4.0 CONDITIONS FOR SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION OPERATION |
The aircraft is equipped with standard aids and devices:
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navigation complex comprising: |
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| inertial navigation systems (2), |
| GPS, |
| ILS, VOR, DME, |
| receiver-indicator of OMEGA, LORAN systems, |
| computing system of the air parameters of the aircraft motion, |
| Dopler velocity and drift sensor; |
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radio communication equipment of USW and SW bands; |
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radar system of ATC; |
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automatic flight control system with characteristics of the flight stabilization: |
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| Channel |
Accuracy |
Range |
Duration |
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| Roll |
0,7° |
±3° |
5 s |
| Pitch |
0,7° |
±5° |
8 s |
| Yaw |
0,7° |
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40 s |
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To provide the interaction of the standard aircraft equipment with the scientific instrumentation there is an onboard equipment that forms and distributes the data flow among the standard aircraft equipment and the units of the scientific instrumentation in RS422 standard. The protocol of data exchange is agreed with each Investigator.
The scientific instrumentation installed on M55 aircraft should operate during flight in fully automatic mode. To ensure the control of the normal operation of the scientific instrumentation by the pilot on the instrument panel a panel is provided with the light warning of failures which than through the communication channel are transmitted to the Manager of the Scientific Program to make a decision.
Hereinafter a standard profile of the flight is shown.
| 5.0 POSSIBLE VARIANTS OF HIGH ALTITUDE PLATFORM OPERATION AND THE LIST OF THE EXECUTED MISSIONS |
5.1. M55 Geophysica aircraft may be operated to perform:
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all-weather complex remote sounding of the atmosphere and the Earth surface from the altitude 18-21 km using the set of the onboard surveillance sensors, operating in optical, IR, radio bands and within other parts of the emission spectrum;
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active effect on cloud processes by application of special means thrown to dust crystallizing reagents over a cloud to prevent hail precipitation, to initiate precipitation and to decrease the intensity of heavy rains;
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radar surveillance;
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inspection flights for ecological monitoring;
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gathering of telemetering data from ground
automatic sensors of various physical nature including those that are carried and dropped by the aircraft itself;
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aerophysics investigations and astronomical surveillance onboard the aircraft at high altitudes up to H=21 km.
5.2. Information obtained from the surveillance sensors (excluding aerial camera) is transmitted by the wide-band radio link in the rate of its receipt on the ground data receiving and processing stations, and collected on board the aircraft in the digital form in the recorder of high capacity.
The onboard complex of sounding equipment allows the unlimited increase of the surveillance sensors package installed in the removable pods enabling the following extend of operating potentialities of Geophysica aircraft and the fields of its application.
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The suggested list of the remote sounding missions is as follows:
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Agriculture.
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Inventory of lands, evaluation of the current condition of soil and plants at agricultural arable lands, evaluation of humidity content in the soil, harvest forecasting.
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Discovery of underground water springs near the surface.
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Detection of plant cover breaks.
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Evaluation of biological and chemical compounds effect upon crops.
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Evaluation of snow reserves over vast territories.
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Detection of the saline and erosive areas of soil.
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Monitoring of lands exploitation.
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Investigation of processes of deserts formation.
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Meteorology.
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Weather reconnaissance
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Measuring of meteorological
parameters of the atmosphere using the dropped radio-telemetering sondes, the operative gathering of meteorological information over the vast territory.
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Forestry.
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Inventory making of forest tracts, detection of forest tracts in stress conditions. Early detection of forest fires, inflammation in peatbogs.
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Environment ecology.
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Monitoring of radiological situation in the atmosphere. Control of ejections into the atmosphere.
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Escorting of radiation-dangerous clouds and spraying of aerosols from the aircraft to precipitate the radiation dangerous clouds.
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Collection of information from ecological radio beacons.
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Flying over atomic power plants, test ranges.
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Monitoring of flowing into water reservoirs including deep-water flowing.
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Monitoring of dumps and burial places of wastes.
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Monitoring of mining enterprises activity.
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Monitoring of natural resources condition, detection of polluters and control of their spreading.
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Hydrology and waterwork.
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Collection of data on water reserves in the snow cover and glaciers.
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Monitoring of moisture content of lands, of in-land water reservoirs, control of water plants.
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Forecasting and monitoring of floods.
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Detection of surface-active films and other polluters. Investigation of patterns of salts transferring in water basins.
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Detection of the plankton and forecasting fish reserves in in-land and foreign water reservoirs.
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City and regional planning.
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Gathering of data on keeping of the municipal and regional land evaluation cadaster regarding the lands use.
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Obtaining of initial data for engineering supplies to enable future development of infrastructure of regional and municipal economy, construction.
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Monitoring of heating mains and main gas lines.
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Monitoring of extreme situations.
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Detailed mapping of regions of ecological and natural calamities.
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Determination of areas, the extent and consequences of extreme situations all day around in conditions of zero visibility, in clouds, in fog and rain conditions.
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Detection of zones of natural and technogenic catastrophes maturing.
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Convoying of search and rescue operations.
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Convoying of search and rescue ships, aircraft and expeditions, etc.
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Ice patrol over the water area of the Arctic Ocean and seas, ship steering.
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Minerals reconnaissance
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Geological survey.
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Investigation of geomorphological soil structure dozens meters deep, subsurface hydrogeological mapping, including water-bearing layers, lenses of fresh and mineral waters, detection of oil and gas structures.
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Monitoring air environment.
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Detection of dust, gaseous and radiation pollutions of the atmosphere.
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Investigation and monitoring of ozone content in the upper atmosphere.
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Formation of digital thematic maps banks.
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- Introduction and renewal of digital maps of relief, minerals, water and other resources. Geographical mapping in various parts of spectrum.
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Frontier service.
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Supervision of navigation in the area of sea and ocean channels in the international waters.
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Control of electronic activity round the perimeter of the state frontier over the contiguous territory.
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Detection of camouflaged military equipment concealed in the forest, jungle.
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Monitoring of 200-mile sea economic area.
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After one hour of Geophysica aircraft flying information on radar sensing of the Earth surface over the territory more than 40000 km2 may be obtained with the cost of radar mapping not more $1 US / 1 km2.
| 6.0 SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT PARTICIPATION AND SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION INSTALLED ON M55 GEOPHYSICA AIRCRAFT. |
High altitude (up to 21 km) aircraft research flying test-bed M55 Geophysica.
Weight of scientific instrumentation 2000 kg
Stratosphere investigation on M55 Geophysica flying test-bed
APE-POLECAT program
1996-1997,
Rovaniemi, Finland
45 flight hours.
Investigation of polar stratospheric clouds, ozone "hole", gravitation waves.
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APE-THESEO program, 1999,
1999, Mahe Island, Seychells,
80 flight hours.
Investigation of troposphere-stratosphere air mass exchange.
Tropical cyclones, "hot towers".
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APE-GAIA program , 1999,
Ushuaia, Argentina,
90 flight hours.
Investigation of polar stratospheric clouds, ozone "hole", gravitation waves.
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