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Aeralis Dart Jet

History

The new generation of 5th generation fighters requires equally new methods of flight and combat training. Currently, the world's leading Air Force relies on a two-tier approach that includes basic (turboprop or jet-powered) and advanced jet training to attract new candidates.

This provides students with a relatively gradual progression from low and slow to high and fast, and then into reality. British start-up Aeralis (founded in 2015) and its "all-in-one, end-to-end" training solution (considered a "first-of-its-kind" in the military sector) could well be brought to bear through a new cost-effective design approach Filling this void - a common modular airframe design built around a common cockpit with a common training system.

This unique aircraft will be used to meet the integration, adaptability and more efficient training needs of pilots migrating to 5 larger numbers of new flight platforms around the world, while maintaining the ability to support modern 4th/4th. Fifth generation platform.

The usual cockpit displays (helmet display = HMD) can be customized to suit flight requirements - basic training and advanced training - the system will be part of a fully configurable fuselage: main aircraft with straight wings and back - tilt control Features and performance of a derated, non-afterburner turbofan engine with 3,500 pounds of thrust. Maximum take-off weight (MTOW) will be around 3,500kg, with an estimated top speed of 350 knots. The same platform can then be converted with relatively little work into an advanced trainer form factor with the same configurable cockpit displays and helmet integration, but with swept variable camber airfoil elements that allow for supersonic flight. Power will come from an upgraded afterburner turbofan engine that provides 9,000 pounds of thrust. Alternatively, a 12,000 lb (2x6,000 lb) thrust twin-engine option can be added.

This version, with an estimated MTOW of 5,000kg and a speed of Mach 1.2, offers fighter pilots the "next step" in supersonic performance training. Other aspects of the cockpit can be customized according to customer requirements, eg.

B. HOTAS (hand throttle and stick) orientation of the control sticks (side or center mounted) to better simulate the position of modern fighter platforms.

The original aircraft concept introduced in 2015 was called the "Dart Jet". The two different modern versions are now called "Aeralis A" and "Aeralis B", the former representing the Advanced Trainer model and the latter covering the Basic Trainer conceptual form. With a modular shared airframe, aircraft will share up to 90% of common components between them.

A third, very high-performance, aerobatics-focused shape can also be added to the mix to complete the family offering.

The basic aircraft shape mimics widely accepted design lines such as competing aircraft such as the BAe Hawk and Aero L-39 (detailed elsewhere on this site). Two crew members (students and instructors) have tandem seats, with the rear seats higher than the front operator's shoulders (this position is usually reserved for students). The nose is sharp and tapered downwards, providing excellent visibility from the cockpit to the front and sides of the aircraft. Regardless of the number of engines installed, the aircraft will use a split air intake system to inhale the jet propulsion scheme. The main plane of the wing is mounted high to ensure a good balance between drag and lift, and the tail contains a vertical fin with a slight downward sloping horizontal plane.

A retractable tricycle landing gear will provide the necessary facilities for ground operations.

The completely unique concept of the modular trainer is interesting, and if this project comes to fruition, it will revolutionize the procurement process for military trainers. The logistical advantages are most evident in production costs and maintenance/repair, while both next-generation platforms and students require extensive training.

Only time will tell if the concept catches onAeralis estimates that their approach can save 30 percent of the life cycle compared to the traditional two-fuselage layout.

In addition to securing additional funding, the next step for the project is to select an engine capable of powering the flexible design. So far, this has focused on the usual defense aircraft industry players like Honeywell, Rolls-Royce and Williams International.

Again, this suggests it could be an F124, "Adour" or FJ44 family of compact turbofans. Aeralis plans to be in the air as early as the next decade, and engine selection will play a key role in that timeline.

A potential key customer for the Aeralis concept is the Royal Air Force, which currently operates a fleet of T.1 and T.2 versions of Hawk jet trainers. The Royal Navy also has access to 17 T.1s. While these platforms are still capable, the aircraft date back to the Cold War era (1947-1991).

The British military also recently received its first prototype F-35 fighter jets aboard its new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Some of the values ??on this page are estimates by the author and will be updated with the program.