Recent Advances in Long Range and Long Endurance Operation of Aircraft (Les Progres Recents dans le Domaine des Operations Aeriennes a Longue Distance et de Longdue Duree).

摘要

Over the past few years, the use of aircraft in what can be termed long range and/or long endurance operations has proved to be a successful use of military resources. Operations such as tactical strikes mounted from bases thousands of miles away, to the use of long endurance patrol aircraft over either the battlefield or the maritime environment demonstrate the ability now contained in the NATO operational forces. The use of military airlift to position forces where they are most needed clearly is another operation where the range and endurance of the aircraft are pivotal to the success of the operation. Technologies which improve the range and endurance of aircraft have seen considerable advances over the past ten years. Aircraft design for these features has matured considerably while the procedure of air-to-air refueling has made global deployment and 24+ hour operations a reality. When not generally perceived as long range aircraft, the possible range and endurance of fighters (both subsonically and supersonically), V/STOL aircraft and even rotorcraft have improved considerably over the last generation of vehicle design. With the current requirements to fly farther and longer, this Symposium was conceived to summarize the latest technological advances in the various fields which in a combined manner define the range and endurance of airborne vehicles. The Symposium was divided into four specific elements: (1) airframe design technologies, including aerodynamics and structures, (2) propulsion technology, (3) the human factors problems associated with these types of missions and, (4) air-to-air refueling technologies and procedures.