Page 418 - (DK) The Ultimate Visual Dictionary 2nd Ed.

SEA AND AIR

Supersonic jetliners

Strake Fin
SUPERSONIC AIRCRAFT FLY FASTER than the speed of sound
(Mach 1). There are many supersonic military aircraft, but only
Standby
two supersonic passenger-carrying aircraft (also called SSTs, or
pitot head
supersonic transports) have been produced: the Russian Tu-144,
and the Concorde, produced jointly by Britain and
France. The Tu-144 was withdrawn in 1978,
COMPUTER-
DESIGNED SST after only seven months in service. The
Nose-
Concorde remained in service from 1976 until 2003, with a Inboard
Starboard gear
break for modifications from July 2000 until October 2001. Its outboard elevon- leg
jack
features included a droop nose, which lowered during takeoff engine air-intake fairing
and landing to aid visibility from the cockpit; the pumping of fuel between forward
FRONT OF THE CONCORDE
and aft trim tanks helped stabilize the aircraft. The Concorde had a narrow fuselage
Toilets
and short span wings to reduce drag during supersonic flight. Its noisy turbojet engines
Electrothermal
with afterburners enabled it to carry 100 passengers at a cruising speed of Mach 2 deicing panel
at 50,000-60,000 ft (15,000-18,000 m). Once an aircraft is flying faster than Mach 1, Starboard
it produces a continuous air-pressure wave, which is heard as a “sonic boom.” forward trim tank
Overhead luggage bin
OVERHEAD VIEW OF Passenger
THE CONCORDE Underfloor air- accommodation
conditioning duct
Seat
attachment
Life raft rail
VHF
Wardrobe antenna
Variable Leading edge
nozzle
Forward galley
Additional crew’s seat
Aluminium-alloy layers
Third pilot’s
and insulation
Erosion- Cockpit seat
resistant windshield
radome Lateral bracing strut
Retractable Telescopic strut Port
visor Nose- forward
gear Steering trim tank
“A” frame Plug-type leg actuator
passenger
Standby door Nose-gear Machined
flight-control door Multi-ply skin panel
hydraulic jack high-pressure
tire
Captain’s
seat Upper Fin
Weather rudder
radar Dorsal fin
Droop- Cockpit air- Emergency exit
Visor jack nose hinge conditioning
duct
Pivoted
retractable frame Tail cone
Aft door
Elevon (combined elevator and aileron)
Hot-section steel and titanium skin
Landing gear door
Engine cowling
Bogie main landing gear
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