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� AMAZIG ANSWERS TO CURIOUS QUESTIONS -------------------

What's insid

The fighter plane that is so advanced it
can't be flown by a human without
the help of a computer

he Eurofighter 'JYphoon may be the world's
most advanced killing machine, but it is a I so an
T extraordinary symbol of peace and co­
operation. After centuries of fighting, a handful of Front end
European countries came together to produce this
Includes in· flight
incredible aircraft. refuelling probe.
From a plan that started way back as 1979, the
Eurofighter was developed by Germany, Italy, Spain
and the UK !France was involved for a while but then
snuck off to do its own thing), and production is split
between the four countries. At present there are plans
to produce no fewer than 707 examples of the fighter
jet. As well as the four core countries, the plane is also
being used by other air forces around the world,
including those of Austria, Saudi Arabia and Greece.
Why? Because it's quite simply the most
technologically advanced fighter jet on the planet, and
Radar Fore wings Ejector seat
also the most capable.
Advanced ECR-90 radar Made from titanium, Pilot can eject from
It's what's known as a swing-role weapon system, can track multiple these aid agility and the plane at speeds
which means that it is capable of different operational targets at long range. responsiveness. of up to 600 knots.
tasks and can even switch from one duty to another on
a single mission. For instance, it can be used as an
air-to-air !short and medium range) fighter to gain to take-off or land I the 747you go on holiday in Twin seat
all-important air superiority, while at the same time requires over 3,000 metres).
A special twin-seater
carrying large, long-range ground-attack weapons for More impressively, the Eurofighteris incredibly Eurofighter is used
taking out an enemy's air defence systems. manoeuvrable. This is thanks in part to its 'relaxed for training.
This flexibility is further enhanced by the plane's stability' design, which is a reassuring way of saying
incredible flying prowess. It boasts STOL !short take-off that the aircraft is inherently unstable, especially at
and landing) which means that it needs just 700 metres subsonic speeds. Put simply, the plane's delta wings Stealth fuselage
and small fore fins create a pressure (lift) point which A low frontal cross-section
and the use of carbon fibre
is forward of the centre of gravity during subsonic (70 per cent) and glass
flight. And that means it is impossible for a human to reinforced plastics (12 per
fly the plane without the aid of a complex computer cent) help ensure the
Eurofighter can avoid
system that makes constant adjustments to the wings' detection by enemy radar.
flaps quicker than the pilot could. Once the speed of Metals, mostly aluminium
and titanium, make up just
sound is broken, though, the pressure point moves
15 per cent of the body.
back and the aircraft becomes much more stable
!although the computer aids remain).
The same flight control systems also make the
Eurofighter surprisingly easy to fly, therefore freeing Weapons
up the pilot to concentrate on tactical tasks. There are 13 external
A stunning machine with No wonder the Eurofighter 'JYphoon is changing the weapon stations on
awesome firepower the underside.
way the world's air forces think about fighter planes. 0
It is impossible for a human to fly the plane without
the aid of a complex computer system that makes

constant adjustments to the wings' flaps

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