We had to save fuel and resources accordance with the provisions of the Party and the Government . Especially for this, Riga Engineers Institute of Civil Aviation was tasked with identifying rates of fuel on flights to all departments of civil aviation.
Alexander L., my only and unquestioned authority in fact and in the navigation said that fuel economy is certainly not at the expense of safety, quality training is the result of the entire crew.
How can possible to save fuel? You can fly shorter. Using straightening, but it is not always possible. Military aircraft flew well, because there was a state called USSR. То descend with low engine’s power and only add when released flaps and wheels.
The calculation approach had performed very accurate , and therefore beautiful. There were no any extra kilometer no extra kilograms, it should be clearly justified. During this economy we received 50% of the cost of fuel, but most importantly, that such flights were beautiful!
Whether it was necessary to save fuel, putting aside financial reward?
As it is known, the lower the temperature, the denser the air. Consequently, higher efficiency for engine.
The atmospheric pressure is the same. The higher it is, the air is denser. When the air is denser, the aircraft easier to fly. In aerodynamics adopted the so-called standard atmosphere when the earth, which is at sea level, the temperature is 15C, and the pressure is 760.(1013 mb)
The minimum length of the run way is 2000 meters band. At a temperature of 20C can be already come limitations. Limitations start to press harder at low pressure. All of these factors, of course, were taken into account. But there may be situations when the tickets were already sold, the passengers are waiting, and the temperature went up, and the pressure had dropped.
When the maximum takeoff weight and a short strip we usually began the run with flaps (which is not only increase the lift force, but also create additional resistance) 10 degrees. Then with increasing speed and the approaching end of the strip to release them to 20. Plane takes off with the last plate, and very slowly, climbing. The lighter the plane, the easier it is to climb. And if you overload it on these very 200-300 kilograms and the engine refuse? I doubt very much in a favorable outcome.
I flew with Minenko already in Leningrad who told me this, in my point view an outstanding case in which knowledge and experience are closely intertwined with intuition.
They flew in Krasnodar with the old run way 05, the length of which a little more than 2000 meters, the temperature was about 30, and only plane took off, as a bird fall into the engine. Engine failure and a height was only 20 meters.
Plane was not pulling up. Speed was not growing, landing gear and flaps were not up. That was the maximum air resistance, and accordingly the minimum quality (ratio of the lift-to-drag ratio, or to make it easier to imagine the aerodynamics at the moment, slightly better than a brick).
It seems necessary to remove the chassis. But it landing gear doors, and even increase the resistance but there was not speed!
There was arable land and reservoir for arable . There was a thought to land on this reservoir. There is always updraft over arable, and indeed, the plane went up slightly. It had been enough to wheels down. The speed immediately began to grow, and the height can be slightly dial now and 120 meters. And flaps can be removed. When the flaps were removed, then there was a reduction of lift and the plane slightly went down. So, removing flaps at a height of not less than 120 meters and strictly defined speed for the Tu-134 at least 330 kilometers per hour.
The engine temperature was 890 degrees, and it was a guaranteed fire, but there was no fire! Gennady Ivanovich decided to land with back track - time is not only money! There was no back track landing for havy planes until 1984, prior to this event, landing heavy aircraft with back track!
But he remembered how in the 70 IL-18 was in fair and made the standart approach and fell down in couple of kilometers from the run way/ ... The whole standart approach takes -12-13 minutes, and he landed in 6 minutes!
Why does not light up the engine? The birdie it jammed and fuel was stopped. On the run way were the band blades of the engine but were not allowed to take as a memory...
The crew celebrated birthday modestly. New engine was set and they flew home empty.
As soon as they landed, they were sent on the simulator. If it is possible to land such a way! It is typically for the officials!
I am continue ...
Taking off from the last plate, we slowly pull up the altitude. Originally we stop on the 9100 or 9600 meters. We overclock the plane and continue to climb.If there is no inversion, another words the temperature drops to -35 - 40 we continue to climb 10100 or 10600. Sometimes we climbed on 11100 or 11600. It's cold -70 in winter. Why do we climb so high?
Do you remember physics? The coefficient of performance (COP) depends on the operating temperature of the engine and the temperature of the refrigerator, or outside air temperature . Than the temperature difference is higher than the efficiency higher. The truth is that that the radiation begin to grow from 8000 meters, but we would learn about it later. The fuel consumption is also reduced. That savings in that 200-300 kilograms! The alternative airdromes for Arkhangelsk is far away - the closest was 608 kilometers Syktyvkar. Later, however, allowed to fly directly to Murmansk, which is 599 kilometers against 647.
So we approaching to Arkhangelsk .The descending calculated by navigator and started about 200 kilometers , depending on the course of landing . To idle , even though it was not supposed to , put almost immediately and we slid down . The approach for the implementation of the scheme is almost flogged then, and I personally came to the very creative approach procedure and no margin for error. But the safety of flight was the most important.
I tried not to fly any extra kilometers and such a reduction we usually save even 300 kilograms . Such approaches , if implemented is called as beautiful . The almost all the crews in Arkhangelsk enjoyed such beautiful approaches . If the Red Army did not fly, all approaches were beautiful . And if they were flying , then the shortest distance was not possible and we had not been given the permission for landing. These guys from the Red Army came in to land at a speed of 400 kilometers per hour , and while they did not land we was not allowed to close to the run way! ! Then, of course , no savings and I grumbled on the Red Army.
In generally,it is necessary to stand up and take off hats , when a military pilot goes!