The lightest aircraft in the world. VLG – personal jets Small jets

The first miniature airplanes appeared long before the outbreak of World War II. They were needed mainly for reconnaissance. The smallest aircraft in the world began to be actively created after 1945. Various biplanes, jets and monoplanes designed for one person are in great demand. Let's look at this topic in more detail and get acquainted with the most popular models.

Review of X-12N

This aircraft was developed by a resident of Russia. Who would have thought, but its mass is only 80 kilograms. When folded, it can be placed in a suitcase, and the device can be assembled into working condition in half an hour. Cruising speed is approximately 105 kilometers per hour, maximum is 125. This is with a wing span of 6.3 meters and a length of 3.6. It can be used in almost any area, since 30 meters is enough for take-off. The maximum carrying capacity is about 150 kilograms, including the fuel tank. Therefore, the pilot must be light in weight.

The smallest aircraft in the world, such as the X-12H, are great because you don't need to go to flight school or register your device to fly them. At the moment, the flight testing stage is underway; if it is completed successfully, then we can count on mass production.

History of Wee Bee

Three ambitious aircraft designers worked in California, who, despite everything, wanted to surprise the whole world with their invention. In the late 40s, the legendary Wee Bee (tiny bee) was created. The name is quite justified, because the dimensions are really tiny. The width is 5.5 and the length is 4.25 meters. We can safely say that the smallest airplanes in the world that already existed were significantly different from the Little Bee. It's all about the control, which was carried out while lying on the roof of the plane. It was quite inconvenient, but quite doable.

The optimal speed was 121 kilometers per hour, and the maximum was about 132. The flights were carried out over a short distance, up to 80 kilometers, and the Wee Bee could rise up to 3 kilometers in height. The maximum carrying capacity is 186 kilograms, this together with the weight of the aircraft itself, which was 95 kg. At the moment, "Little Bee" is in the San Diego Museum, but since the plane was damaged in a fire, its exact copy is kept there.

The smallest jet in the world

Now we will talk about the BD-5J, which was developed in 1971 by American aircraft designer Jim Bede. It was planned to use the aircraft exclusively for private flights or as a sports aircraft. A power plant with a power of only 65 horsepower allowed this baby to be accelerated to a speed of 350 kilometers per hour. Thanks to this, in 1972 it was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the lightest in the world.

Over the entire period of production, the company has produced about 5,000 kits for self-assembly and about 500 ready-made models. There was demand not only in the USA, but also in European countries. The empty aircraft weighed only 210 kilograms, and the maximum weight was about 390 kg, depending on the modification. The BD-5J aircraft could rise to a height of up to 8 kilometers, and the range was about 1,330 km. These are not only the smallest manned aircraft in the world, but also some of the most popular in the entire world.

Bumble Bee and Bumble Bee 2

The history of the creation of this aircraft began back in 1979. It was then that Robert Starr decided to repeat the success of Ray Stits and even surpass him. He worked on Bumble Bee for 5 years, from 1979 to 1984. The result was a very heavy biplane, weighing 248 kilograms and a maximum load of 328 kg. But the total length - only 2.9 meters with a wingspan of 2 meters - brought Robert what he so desired. His creation received the title of the smallest aircraft in the world. You can see a photo of this unit in this article. The flight speed reached about 290 kilometers per hour.

But Robert did not stop there and wanted to surpass himself. For this he created "Bumble Bee 2". The weight was reduced to 170 kilograms, and the length was only 2.7 meters. The wingspan has also decreased. If in the first modification it was 2 meters, then in the second it became 1.7. The plane reached a speed of 305 kilometers per hour. During the first tests on May 8, 1988, Bumble Bee 2 crashed at an altitude of 120 meters. The reason is engine failure. Robert himself controlled the biplane and was seriously injured in the fall.

Top smallest planes in the world

The Colomban Cri-cri, designed by French designer Michel Colomban in 1973, was 3.9 meters long with a wingspan of 4.9 meters. It entered the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest aircraft with two engines. His weight was only 79 kilograms. Average flight speed is 185 km/h, maximum speed is 225 km/h. You can fly by plane for 2-2.5 hours, the maximum range is about 460 kilometers.

Unique technical characteristics have made Colomban Cri-cri extremely popular and in demand. Today there are about 110 working copies in France, about 20 in the USA and another 30 in Germany, Canada and the UK. In 2010, the biplane was improved and received 2 more electric motors. Thanks to this, it was re-entered into the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest aircraft with 4 engines.

"Nano" and "Junior"

The seaplane, powered by the Nano electric motor, was developed in Finland at the end of 2011. The wingspan is 4.8, and the length is 3.8 meters, and all this with a mass of only 70 kilograms. Significant weight reduction was achieved through the use of carbon fiber in the structure. The Nano is designed exclusively for takeoff and landing in water, so there is no landing gear. It was planned to create 2 modifications of the Nano with an electric and a gasoline engine. But they decided to abandon the second one in favor of the environmental friendliness and ease of use of the electric motor. Currently only one copy has been released. With the launch of mass production, Nano will be available to customers for 35,000 euros.

"Junior" is the brainchild of Ray and Martin - American designers. The main goal was to get into the Guinness Book of Records due to its miniature size. The length of the biplane was 3.4 meters. It is surprising that with such proportions the wingspan is only 2.8. Cruising speed - 240 km/h. This is the smallest passenger aircraft in the world, for which it was included in the Guinness Book of Records.

Let's sum it up

We looked at the smallest planes in the world. Every year new models appear and old ones are modified. For the most part, designers strive to break existing records for the purpose of monetary profit. But not all biplanes and monoplanes are designed for this reason. Many are designed for further exploitation and distribution. Take, for example, the development of the Finns. The company did not try to make the dimensions completely tiny. Here the emphasis is rather on safety and comfort. That is why such solutions will always be in demand. Besides, who wouldn’t want to buy a small airplane and fly on it. Now, however, this is very difficult, but in the near future all this will become more than possible.

Most small aircraft were developed for military purposes; they are ideal for fighter or reconnaissance roles. After the end of World War II, demand for tiny biplanes, including those for one pilot, increased greatly in Europe. And then an unspoken battle began between manufacturers to see who would produce the smallest aircraft in the world.

BD-5J

In 1971, American designer Jim Bede developed this device. Its mass was only 162 kilograms, length - 3.6 meters, wingspan - just over 5 meters. Such tiny dimensions allowed the BD-5J to accelerate to 480 km/h, and the fuel tank capacity allowed it to fly 1,500 km. If we take into account the prices of gasoline at that time, it turned out that flying on a private plane was even more profitable than on public airliners.

The BD-5J entered the Guinness Book of Records as the lightest jet aircraft.

The developer paid special attention to the ease of control of the aircraft, so that the jet could be controlled even by a novice pilot. In addition to ease of use, the model is easy to store: if you remove the wings, the BD-5J can be placed in a standard car garage. Initially, the price for the aircraft was set at $1,800, but after some time, after all the tests, it increased to 2,600. However, this did not hinder the popularity of the model; in 2.5 years, five thousand copies were sold out, and another twelve thousand were reserved. No airline on Earth could boast similar sales.

One of the interesting features of the jet delivery: it was sold disassembled and with detailed assembly instructions. The installation process took an average of 700 hours, and in the first versions of the aircraft the presence of welding operations was assumed, and later all this was replaced with screws.

One of the BD-5J models is in the Arizona State Museum

In appearance, the aircraft resembles a hybrid of a sports jet with a fighter. The body is quite streamlined, with a propeller at the back. All this combined with low weight gives exceptional speed and maneuverability. The smallest aircraft regularly took part in air shows and enjoyed the love of the audience there. But safety is not the strong point of this model. Suffice it to mention that out of the first 25 tests, 14 ended in disaster. As a result, 9 people died. As it turned out, the planes had defective parts and defects in engine operation.

In 1979, production ceased due to the bankruptcy of the manufacturer. The purchased models were subjected to various amateur modifications, and several services for servicing these aircraft were opened in the United States.

BD-5J took part in the filming of the Bond film "Octopussy"

American engineer Robert Starr was able to design in 1988 an aircraft that became the second heaviest (180 kg) and with a wingspan of just over 1.6 meters.

The first flight almost ended tragically. The plane lasted in flight just long enough to set a record, demonstrating sufficient stability, but then suddenly began to behave completely unpredictably. Having reached a height of 120 meters, the engine of the mechanism stalled. The plane fell down along with the pilot. There was practically nothing left of the device, and Starr escaped with multiple fractures.

Bumble Bee II was pieced together after testing to be put on display in a museum

Bumble Bee

An earlier creation by the same Robert Starr could also easily fit into a standard garage shell, having a wingspan of 168 cm and a weight of 180 kg. Experts said about the “bumblebee” that it would never be able to take off, but the predictions did not come true: the world’s smallest biplane easily flew a sufficient number of kilometers.

Having learned about Starr's planned development, another engineer, Ray Stits, immediately got the idea to outdo him. True, his son Donald took up this task. Back in 1980, he began designing a new model in his own garage, with his wife and children not only supporting him, but also helping him. Baby Bird is based on a monoplane (an airplane with only one wing). Stits placed the wing higher and reduced the wingspan to 190 centimeters. True, the monoplane does not have a high speed - only about 170 km/h. Over the 5 years of operation of the first copy, it made 35 flights, all quite successful.

In 1989, the engineer donated his creation to the museum

This aircraft, 210 cm long and weighing 200 kg, was also designed by Ray Stits with a claim to the title of the smallest in the world. The device has one engine, a standard chassis and wings based on the biplane principle. The fuselage is made of welded steel tubes with fabric covering.

The upper wings have flaps, the lower wings have ailerons. While most airplanes use a flat firewall between the engine and the pilot's legs, the Sky Baby is designed with the enclosed motor above the pilot's knees and the pedals under the oil pan at the front of the hood.

The short plane, with a tricycle landing gear and a relatively light tail, requires a pilot weighing approximately 77 kg to maintain its center of gravity. The model took part in various air shows, including advertising ones.

At the end of 1952, after 25 hours of flight, it was retired and donated to the National Air and Space Museum. Stits continued to work on aircraft design.

Sky Baby first flew in 1952

Another brainchild of Ray Stits, created in collaboration with Martin Young. The wingspan of the aircraft was 280 cm, the speed reached 240 km/h. It was not built from scratch, but based on the TaylorCraft L-2 model, released for military purposes. For the tiny plane, engineers selected single-piston engines that were quite powerful. After successful tests, Junior was recognized as the most successful monoplane existing at that time.

The success of Junior inspired Stits to continue working with aircraft.

In 2011, Finnish developers surprised the world with a new masterpiece of the aviation industry. This is a seaplane powered by an almost silent electric motor, which in itself is quite unusual. In addition, the body of the device is made of carbon fiber, an environmentally friendly material. Thus, the device as a whole is as environmentally friendly as possible, and this quality is highly valued these days.

At the moment, the aircraft can operate continuously for about an hour. In Finland, the cost of the device is 40 thousand dollars, for Russia this amount is increased by another 7600.

The model weighs 154 kg and is capable of reaching speeds of 140 km/h at an altitude of three kilometers

Back in 1971, an aircraft designer from France, M. Colomban, decided to build a very small-sized and economical aircraft. And within two years his creation was ready to soar into the sky. The wingspan was 2.9 meters, the length was 3.9 meters, and the weight was only 78 kg. Thus, it became the world's smallest twin-engine aircraft.

The recommended speed of the aircraft is 185 km/h, and it can easily fly for no less than 2.5 hours without refueling. Thanks to such pleasant technical characteristics, Cri-Cri quickly gained popularity around the world, and what is most surprising: it is in demand to this day. There are 110 in France, 20 in the States, and another 30 in other European countries. In 2010, the model underwent renovation; four electric motors were installed on it, thanks to which the baby once again stormed the Book of Records, this time as the smallest aircraft equipped with four engines.

The model received its name Cri-Cri in honor of Colomban’s little daughter

This unusual model was created by three dedicated engineers back in the 1940s in California. The name in translation sounds approximately like “tiny bee,” which is justified by its small dimensions - 425 cm in length and 550 in width. At that time, the device was truly unique, and even now it seems quite unusual: in order to fly, the pilot did not have to climb into the cockpit, but simply lie on the body of the aircraft. I must admit that this control was very inconvenient.

The model made only a few flights, after which it was placed in the San Diego Museum. The irony is that the flights did not harm Wee Bee, but he was injured in a fire while in the museum. The exhibit displayed there now is just a copy.

The maximum flight speed on an airplane is 80 km/h

X-12H

In tenth place is a product developed in Russia by Armavir resident V.P. Dmitriev. He created a tiny airplane weighing 80 kg. The wingspan was 6 meters, length - 3.5 meters. This miracle of aviation can reach a speed of 125 km/h. When disassembled, the aircraft takes up so little space that it can fit into a regular suitcase, and assembly takes only about half an hour.

To take off, the device only needs an acceleration of 30 meters, so it can be used almost anywhere. No pilot license or registration is required to operate. The only condition is that the pilot must be light in weight, since the aircraft has a low carrying capacity including fuel.

The X-12H is in the process of flight testing, upon successful completion of which it is planned to launch the model into mass production

The developer, Viktor Pavlovich, states that he has been interested in aviation all his life and strives to develop the smallest aircraft in the world. The X-12H is not his only creation, and all of the devices he made are easy to operate and accessible even to beginners. They are easy to learn because they are forgiving of minor mistakes. Victor also claims that a similar aerodynamic design is also suitable for ultra-high-speed aircraft, only in this case the machine must have a powerful all-metal fuselage, as well as a jet engine.

Victor considers the main feature of his aircraft to be well-developed wing mechanization and extremely effective stabilization. All cracks are carefully profiled. All this provides the aircraft with an impressive lift coefficient, responsive handling and sufficient stability in the air.

These are the smallest aircraft today, but almost every year new models appear and old ones are improved. Manufacturers continue to break records, focusing mostly on comfort and safety. That is why the demand for such solutions has not fallen for several decades.

The concept of “ultralight aviation” appeared in our country more than forty years ago. It was then, in 1973, that this designation was officially adopted in the USSR for aircraft with particularly low mass. According to established standards, in Russia this category includes aircraft weighing less than 495 kg and having a minimum flight speed of up to 65 km per hour. This class does not include lighter-than-air aircraft - balloons, airships, aerostats, as well as all unmanned models - radio-controlled bench models, combat UAVs, etc. In most countries of the world, this concept refers to motorized aircraft equipped with wings: airplanes, helicopters, gyroplanes, motorized hang gliders, and motorized paragliders.

Meanwhile, in different countries, ultra-light aircraft are classified differently. For example, in Brazil, the “ultralight” (“ultralight”) class includes aircraft weighing less than 750 kg, and in the United States, the “ultralight” class includes only those aircraft whose weight does not exceed 115 kg. The same applies to determining the minimum speed: in the USA it is 45 km/h, in Europe (including Russia) - 65, and in New Zealand - 83 km/h.
The lightest aircraft in this class are various types of motor hang gliders and motor paragliders. Due to the peculiarities of their design, the main mass falls on the engine, while other mechanical control systems are practically absent. However, paragliders and hang gliders, even those equipped with motors, can hardly be considered full-fledged vehicles with which you can cover the distance between neighboring cities. A real air vehicle is an airplane, even if it is an “ultralight” aircraft. There has been an unofficial competition between aircraft designers for decades to see who can create the lightest aircraft in the world. The Guinness Book of Records contains several record models of ultra-light aircraft, but, unfortunately, they are not practical. Therefore, these “champions” were created in a single copy with only one purpose: to set a record. The notorious microplane “Bumble Bee” - 2, built in 1988 by the American designer R. Starr. This baby, 2 m 70 cm long and with a wingspan of less than two meters, was able to get off the ground, but fell from a height of hundreds of meters. Its creator received severe injuries, but the plane was still included in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest aircraft in the world.
Undoubtedly, such curious aircraft models can hardly be regarded as something serious. However, among the “ultralights” there are quite functional and safe models that have been put into mass production. If we consider full-fledged aircraft, made according to the traditional design for aircraft, their rating in this case will look like this (in order of increasing mass):
Most ultralight aircraft models weigh more than 100 kg. And only a small number of serial ultra-light aircraft can boast a weight of less than a hundredweight.
1. Aeropraktika E-12 (Russia). The “dry” weight of the aircraft is 45 kg.

Today, the E-12 is the lightest mass-produced aircraft in the world. This model was developed by a group of specialists in the field of aircraft construction, who created the Aeropraktika production company in Ulyanovsk. The main goal of creating this organization was to develop the latest models of ultra-light aircraft - simple and reliable in operation, and most importantly - inexpensive. The result of the hard work of Ulyanovsk aviation specialists was the creation in 1999 of the E-12 model, which became the lightest aircraft in the world put into production. When disassembled, the Ulyanovsk baby can be easily carried by two people. The plane can be disassembled and assembled in the field in just an hour.
The design feature is a completely collapsible wing, which separates in 10 - 15 minutes to the individual tubes of the duralumin frame. During assembly, this metal frame is covered with light material - lavsan, Kevlar, etc. The pilot sits in a reclining position in the cockpit, which improves overall aerodynamics. Two modified motors from the Ural chainsaw are used as the driving force. At the same time, the designers managed to give their brainchild such remarkable flight characteristics that the plane can continue to fly even if one of the engines fails. The aircraft has been in production since 1999, mainly in small series and to order.
Specifications:
* Length - 4 m 10 cm
* Wingspan - 4 m 60 cm
* Empty aircraft weight - 43 kg
* Power of two engines - 14 hp.
* Maximum speed - 130 km/h
2. UFM Easy Riser (USA). The empty weight of the aircraft is 54 kg.
According to experts, the United States is the world leader in the number of ultra-light aircraft. The exact number of aircraft available to Americans weighing less than 115 kg (the maximum weight of the class of “ultra-light” aircraft in the USA) is unknown. The fact is that aircraft of this class are not subject to mandatory registration, and you do not need to obtain any permission to fly them. Due to such a low weight limit, it was in the USA that the production of ultra-light aircraft “for individual use” became most widespread.
One of the firstborns of the American “ultralight aircraft industry” was the UFM Easy Riser. This model was developed by designer Mauro in the early 1970s, and was produced by Ultralight Flying Machines for a quarter of a century. The model, which is a synthesis of a motor hang glider and a light aircraft, turned out to be so successful that with minor changes the UFM Easy Riser was produced until 2002. This aircraft also went down in history as the first solar-powered aircraft. In 1979, Mauro installed solar panels and an electric motor on one of the UFM Easy Risers for experimental purposes. This modification, assembled in a single copy, was named Solar Riser.
* Length - 2 m 70 cm
* Wingspan - 9 m 15 cm
* Empty aircraft weight - 54 kg
* Engine power - 11 hp.
* Maximum speed - 64 km/h
3. “Pterodactyl Ascender” (USA). The empty weight of the aircraft is 56 kg.

Another “baby” from the United States, which first took to the skies in 1977. Like many ultra-light motor vehicles of those years, the Pterodactyl traced its lineage back to motor hang gliders. The aircraft was created by aircraft designer McComack from California by improving the control system. Thus, “Pterodactyl” received elevators and steering rudders, which radically separated it from the class of hang gliders. The Pterodactyl had a 16 hp two-stroke engine. After successful testing, the ultra-light aircraft was put into mass production. True, “Pterodactyl” was produced in the form of a semi-finished product, or a do-it-yourself toy. The plane as a ready-made kit was sent to the customer by mail, and all he had to do was assemble the “Pterodactyl” using the included instructions. Mass production of the aircraft continued until 1984. During this time, approximately 1,400 assembly kits were produced. However, the idea of ​​a mini-aircraft sent by mail turned out to be so successful that in 1991 the rights to produce Pterodactyl were acquired by D. Frobl, who launched the production of a modernized version of Pterodactyl Ascender - 3. Small-scale production of the popular aircraft designer continues to this day.
* Length - 3 m 50 cm
* Wingspan - 10 m 15 cm
* Empty aircraft weight - 56 kg
* Engine power - 16 hp.
* Maximum speed - 80 km/h
4. FlyNano (Finland). “Dry” weight – 70 kg.

In 2015, designer A. Suokas designed the first Finnish ultra-small seaplane. The low weight of the aircraft was achieved thanks to the widespread use of carbon plastic in the design. Despite its modest dimensions, FlyNano is capable of lifting two people to a height of over three kilometers, and covering over 70 km on one tank fill. An electric motor powered by a battery is available as an option. True, in this case the flight range is halved. Serial production of FlyNano began in the summer of 2016, and, according to the designer, the plant is already provided with orders for the year ahead.
* Flight range - 70 km
* Speed ​​- 200 km/h
* Ceiling – 3 km
5. Beaujon Mach .07 (USA). Weight - 73 kg.
The aircraft was designed by engineer G. Beaujon from Oklahoma. The frame is made of aluminum alloy and covered with thick fabric. The wings are made according to the monoplane - high-wing design and are strengthened with the help of struts connecting them to the fuselage frame. The aircraft is equipped with a 22 hp engine. It rests on three chassis, the rear of which is the steering one. The fuselage, like the pilot's seat, is open; the engine is installed in the bow. Fuel tank capacity is 9 liters.
* Empty aircraft weight - 73 kg
* Engine power - 22 hp.
* Maximum speed - 78 km/h
Among other serial ultra-light aircraft currently being produced and claiming the title of the smallest aircraft in the world are:
6. American Eaglet (USA) - weight 80 kg, speed - 100 km/h, engine power - 15 hp.
7. “Manta Foxbat” (USA) - weight 86 kg, speed - 56 km/h, engine power - 30 hp.
8. Ultraflight Lazair (Canada) - weight 95 kg, speed - 97 km/h, engine power - 10 hp.
In addition, in recent years, more and more ultra-light aircraft have been developed. This becomes possible, on the one hand, thanks to the improvement of aircraft manufacturing technologies and the emergence of more compact and powerful engines. On the other hand, thanks to the introduction of new lightweight materials, such as carbon fiber and other lightweight polymers.

In the modern world, airplanes have become commonplace. The routes of huge passenger airliners connect different parts of the planet with invisible threads. But there is another world of aviation, it is not very well known to the common man.

The so-called small and ultra-small aircraft production line. Already in the middle of the twentieth century, designers began to create small aircraft of various configurations. The need for small-sized units arose in the post-war years, when the need for mini-reconnaissance aircraft arose.

Professional engineers and self-taught inventors have been creating interesting models for decades and improving existing ones. Some of them go into mass production, others make a single flight. All of them deserve attention because of their originality and exclusivity.

It is almost impossible to create a ranking of the popularity of the world's smallest aircraft based on just one parameter, for example, wingspan. Aviation masterpieces are the smallest in weight, length, carrying capacity and other characteristics.

Officially recognized as the smallest passenger aircraft. It was created by the Canadian aviation concern Bombardier and is a shorter version of the previous model. Length – 29.5 meters, wingspan – 28.65, maximum speed up to 950 km/h, flight range of almost 10 thousand kilometers without refueling. Quite a powerful, universal example of its class. It can make intercontinental flights; a short runway is suitable for it.

This is very convenient for owners and charterers: a small airfield, not far from business sites, is suitable. Another unique feature is increased comfort inside the cabin. Up to seventeen passengers can comfortably spend their time during the flight. The height of the cabin allows you to straighten up to your full height - 1.91 meters; it is possible to arrange a berth. Reduced noise and vibration levels. Global 5000 rightfully occupies its niche in small aviation in terms of versatility, comfort and flight range.

The smallest attack aircraft is a world-class fighter. The aircraft is intended for carrier-based aviation and marine corps. Dimensions: length - 17.07 meters, wingspan - 11.43 meters. This monoplane has the ability to fold its wings, then their span becomes only 8.33 meters. Such characteristics of a full-fledged combat fighter Hornet are amazing, considering the number of formidable weapons on board it carries.

Soviet military aircraft. The first flight took place in 1937. It's hard to believe, but its body was made of wood (plywood). Length - 8.5 meters, front wingspan 11 meters, rear wingspan - 7. Weight without armor was 3 tons. With such small dimensions, it was highly technological. For a short time it was used in the Soviet Union as a reconnaissance aircraft.

An unusually miniature jet aircraft, which is officially confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records. American Jim Bede invented this aircraft in the seventies. For private use only. The length of the aircraft is 3.6 meters, its wingspan is a little over 5 meters, and its weight is about 162 kilograms. This sample took part in various entertainment and sports air shows. The model was sold disassembled with assembly instructions, but was quite unsafe to use. Its release was discontinued. The airplane took part in the filming of the James Bond film Octopussy.

"Colomban Cri - Cri"

In the seventies, the French engineer Michel Colomban created a small single-seater model. Soon it appears in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest aircraft with two engines. Its length was only 3.91 meters, its wingspan was 4.9 meters. The all-metal low-wing aircraft, weighing 63 kilograms, could, if desired, be assembled by one person at home. Recently, four electric motors were installed on the Cri-Cri, and the airplane is once again conquering world positions in the Guinness Book of Records.

"Junior"

A small-sized monoplane created in California by engineer Ray Stits based on the Taylorcraft L - 2 military aircraft. Length - 3.4 meters, wingspan - 2.8 meters. Despite its modest dimensions, the model had quite powerful characteristics - a 65 hp engine. With. and speed 240 km/h. “Junior” announced itself and was immediately placed in the Guinness Book of Records. This inspired the author of the invention to further create small-sized aircraft.

The next model, invented by engineer-inventor Ray Stits. In 1950 - 1952, he assembled this mini-plane at home. Two wings on top of each other - this version is called a biplane. Incredibly, its length was only 3 meters, its wingspan was 2.18 meters, and its weight was 205 kilograms. “Sky Baby” developed a fairly impressive speed of 290 km/h. It was not easy to control, because the pilot could almost lie down in the cockpit.

The mini plane with bright colors was created by Robert Starr, a test pilot and engineer from America. Twenty years after the release of Sky Baby, his Bumble Bee appeared. Very amazing dimensions: its length is 2.9 meters, its wingspan is 1.98 meters, its weight is 248 kilograms, and its speed is up to 290 km/h. This was in 1984. Starr built his creation solely with the goal of breaking the Sky Baby achievements and setting a world record. The plane was a success!

His fame did not give reassurance to his competitors, when they were “breathing down their necks”; Robert Starr planned to break his 1984 record. He brought to life the new brainchild “Bumble Bee II”. The length is 2.7 meters, and the wingspan is extremely small - 1.68 meters. The flight speed is 305 km/h, and the load capacity is 250 kilograms including fuel. The test was carried out by the 64-year-old inventor himself in 1988. The plane crashed due to engine failure, and the pilot barely survived. To this day, the Guinness Book of World Records holds the record for the Hornet, the world's smallest biplane.

A modern seaplane, which is indispensable on the list of the smallest aircraft in the world. Created in Finland, it has an original ergonomic design. The public could get acquainted with him for the first time in 2011 at an exhibition in Germany. The body is made primarily of carbon fiber and has no chassis. Consequently, it can take off and land only in the water area of ​​a reservoir. The length of the model is 3.8 meters, the wingspan is 4.8 meters, the weight is 70 kilograms. The engine runs on electricity, which is environmentally friendly. Flight speed up to 140 km/h.

Small domestic aircraft. It was created by Russian inventor Viktor Dmitriev. The uniqueness of this aircraft is its easy assembly and disassembly: it takes less than an hour. When assembled, the unit can fit into a suitcase and is easy to transport. The author of the development transported the aircraft in hand luggage during trips to the USA and Germany. The length of the model is 3.6 meters, the wingspan is 6.3 meters, the curb weight is 150 kilograms. The plane has a speed of 125 km/h. The weight is small - only 55 kilograms, this is the lightest aircraft in the world! In 2013, at the MAKS air show, Dmitriev presented his smallest, lightest aircraft. A quarter of a century spent on the construction of the device was not in vain: the aircraft took its place in the universal Guinness Book of Records.

Despite the toy size and the use of a small number of parts, the production of such models is not a cheap pleasure. This does not stop true inventors; they dream of world records, participation in air shows, exhibitions and competitions.

Such aircraft always attract the attention of the public and professionals; original exhibits arouse people's admiration and pleasure.

When the Wright brothers invented the first airplane in 1903, they had no idea that the aviation industry would become an extremely profitable business 100 years later. In addition, aviation has made a huge leap forward. While the Wright brothers' plane only flew about 35 meters, a modern Boeing 787 can fly more than 16 thousand kilometers on a single fill-up. Our review contains little-known and very interesting facts about the aircraft industry.

1. Pressure difference

If the door to the aircraft cabin suddenly opens at high altitude, this can lead to people being literally “sucked out” due to the difference in pressure in the cabin and outside. However, in a flying plane it is almost impossible to open the door, precisely because of the same pressure difference.

2. Boeing 747

A Boeing 747 can carry about 230,000 liters of jet fuel, which weighs about 180 tons.

3. Contrail

The contrails that planes leave behind them are made of water vapor. A thin trace indicates that the air humidity is low and the weather is clear. And a thicker, longer trail could be an early sign of a storm.

4. Passive safety

A study conducted by Popular Mechanics found that passengers sitting near the rear of an airplane are forty percent more likely to survive a crash than those sitting in the front rows.

5. Less than three liters of fuel

The Airbus A380, Boeing 787, ATR-600, and Bombardier C Series aircraft use less than three liters of jet fuel per hundred passenger kilometers. This matches the efficiency of most modern compact cars.

6. Air on board

The air on airplanes is filtered using the same technology as hospital air filters, so it is almost germ-free.

7. Fuel dump

If a plane must make an emergency landing, the pilot may decide to dump fuel from the tanks in the wings. Although this does not happen very often, this is done in order to reduce the weight of the aircraft. The fuel usually evaporates before it reaches the ground.

8. Turbulence

Aircraft radars cannot detect turbulence. Turbulence can form both in clear, cloudless weather and in bad weather.

9. Ninety seconds to evacuate

The FAA requires that any aircraft be able to be evacuated within ninety seconds. This deadline was set because in one and a half minutes the flame can consume the entire plane, and in four and a half minutes the plane burns out completely

10. Autopilot

The autopilot is usually engaged for most of the flight. The computer can make more precise adjustments, resulting in lower fuel consumption, with the exception of turbulence. The autopilot is not usually used during takeoff and landing, although this is possible.

11. Only the flights will be paid for the pilot...

Most airline pilots are paid only for the time spent in the air, and not paid for the time spent getting to the airport, taking flight assignments, and time spent waiting in line for takeoff.

12. With Buran on board

The An-225 cargo jet is the largest aircraft in the world. It's almost as big as a football field. The aircraft was originally built to transport shuttles.

13. Airbus A380

The world's largest passenger aircraft is the Airbus A380. This double-decker, four-engine jetliner made its maiden flight on April 27, 2005.

14. One hundred tires

A Boeing 767 sucks enough air into its engines during flight to fill the Good Year blimp in about seven seconds. The material from which the landing gear of the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker jet refueling aircraft is made is enough to make one hundred car tires.

15. BD-5 Micro

The world's smallest jet aircraft is the BD-5 Micro. Its wingspan ranges from 4 to 6.5 meters, and the aircraft weighs only 160 kg

16. Mercury

Mercury is considered the biggest threat to any aircraft and for this reason it should not be brought on board. Even small amounts of mercury can seriously damage the aluminum that most airplanes are made of. Airplanes that are exposed to mercury are typically quarantined.

17. 3,530 km/h

The fastest plane in the world is the Lockheed SR-71. This supersonic reconnaissance aircraft has held the speed record (3530 km/h) for almost forty years.

18. Windows on airport control towers

Windows in airport control towers should be angled exactly fifteen degrees to reduce the possibility of glare on the glass.

19. In English please!

Fifty-eight people per year.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), turbulence encountered during flight is the leading cause of injury to airline passengers and flight attendants in non-fatal accidents. Every year, an average of fifty-eight people in the United States are injured when they do not wear a seat belt while flying.

22. 80% of plane crashes

Research shows that eighty percent of plane crashes occur in the first three minutes after takeoff and the final eight minutes before landing.

23. Boeing 747-400 cockpit windshield

A single windshield or cabin window frame on a Boeing 747-400 costs the same as a BMW car.