Укажите, какие утверждения соответствуют содержанию текста. Исправьте не- правильные утверждения.

 

1. Today's aircraft will be replaced with a new form of super­sonic transport in a few years' time.

2. The new hypersonic aircraft that looks like a rocket will cover the distance between Tokyo and Moscow in less than two hours.

3. The future superliner of this class will have large windows that will allow passengers to watch the panorama of the Earth.

4. Airliner's routes will mainly lie in the stratosphere because the air resistance in the lower atmosphere is too great.

5. Designers can easily make all the necessary thermodynamic calculations to build a reliable hypersonic plane.

6. It is pos­sible to lighten the aircraft by substituting conventional metal alloys for new composite materials.

7. Cryogenic fuels are used as both coolants and propellants.

8. The great advantage of propeller planes is that they fly faster than jet planes.

 

2. Ответьте на вопросы. Работа в парах.

 

1. What kind of aircraft may begin a new age in aviation? (a hy­personic passenger liner)

2. What is the shape of the new liner? (an elongated fuselage with a sharp nose)

3. What distance can the new liner cover in less than two hours? (the distance between Tokyo and Moscow)

4. What are the main problems of building a reliable hy­personic liner? (developing an economical engine and new heat in­sulating materials combined with better aerodynamics)

5. What is one of the ways to make a hypersonic liner as economical as possi­ble? (using new composite materials)

6. What will be used for cool­ing a hypersonic craft? (cryogenic fuels)

7. What combined engine was developed? (a ventilator propeller engine).

 

 

Т EXT

Переведите устно.

TYPES OF COMBAT PLANES

 

The Air Force may be charged with numerous combat missions for the performance of which various types of aircraft are required.

The main types of combat planes are:

1) fighters;

2) bombers;

3) attack planes;

4) reconnaissance planes.

The main task of fighters is to fight enemy bombers. They may also be used to destroy ground targets. Fighters are generally single-seaters. They are armed with cannons, machine guns and rockets and possess a very high speed and ceiling.

The bomber is an offensive weapon. The basic mission of bombers is to attack various enemy objectives. Sometimes they may be used for distant reconnaissance. The defensive armament of bombers consists of machine guns; besides, they carry a great load of bombs.

Attack planes are designed for low-level attacks against enemy tanks, troop concentrations and communication lines.

Reconnaissance planes obtain information of the enemy.

LESSON 8

How High Are We Flying?

ACTIVE TERMS AND EXPRESSIONS

altimeter                                                                     

linear                                                                          

to bounce off                                                          

                                                                              

airborne                                                                     

On track                                                              

Altitude                                                                  

Obstacle                                                                   

Pounds per square inch                                  

Barometric pressure                                       

Pressure altitude                                                  

Cruise altitude                                                       

Vent                                                                  

Radar altimeter                                                  

- альтиметр

- линейный

- отскакивать  рикошетом  от  чего-

либо                                                

- переносимый по воздуху

- по курсу, по пути (полета)

- высота

- преграда

- фунты на квадратный дюйм

- барометрическое давление

- высота по давлению

- крейсерская высота

- снижать (давление)

- радиолокационный радар

INTRODUCTORY EXERCISES

1. Ответьте на вопросы по тексту.

 

1.Why must a pilot know how high a plane is flying?

2. What types of altitude do you know?

3. How does atmospheric pressure decrease?

4.What are air traffic controllers monitoring?

5. When is a radar altimeter used?

6. Why do jet transport systems use three independent altimeter systems?

Найдите в тексте эквиваленты словосочетаний.

Направление движения, высота над уровнем моря, измерять, точный прибор, определять высоту, база данных, постоянно следить, безопасное расстояние, аварийная система, спутник.

 

Подберите синонимы.

 

Obstacles                    

To function             

To conduct              

To move                  

To monitor                  

Warning                      

Global                         

 

total

caution

to operate

obstruction

to supervise

to accompany

to shift

TEXT

 

HOW HIGH ARE WE FLYING?

 

Have you ever wondered what keeps pilots "on track" in the sky? A pilot must know how high a plane is flying as well as its direction of travel. Key in measuring altitude or the plane's elevation, is the altimeter, since the aircraft must maintain a safe distance from terrain and other obstacles. How does the altimeter function and how does the information it provides help the pilot safely conduct the flight?

Depending on the reference point used, there are several types of altitude. The most commonly used is true altitude, or an aircraft's height above mean sea level. Height "above ground level" (AGL) is, quite simply, the absolute or actual altitude of an aircraft. Pressure altitude, also used in flight planning, represents the height of the aircraft above standard sea level pressure. Aircraft flying above 18,000 feet use "flight levels" (FL), which represent pressure altitude in hundreds of feet. For example, FL 210 represents a pressure altitude of 21,000 feet, FL 240 is 24,000 feet, and so on. The pressure at sea level, about 15 pounds per square inch, is caused by the weight of the atmosphere. As altitude increases, the associated pressure decreases, although not in a linear manner; decreases occur in smaller and smaller amounts. Atmospheric pressure decreases by one-half for every 20,000-foot rise in altitude. At 20,000 feet the pressure is about half of that at sea level, so at 40,000 feet (cruise altitude) the pressure is approximately one-quarter of that at sea level. The height of the aircraft can be determined by measuring this decrease in pressure. As high and low pressure systems move overhead, changes occur in the pressure at sea level. So why is the altimeter not tricked by these constant changes? The pilot is able to set the altimeter to the existing sea level pressure; the altimeter then indicates how high the aircraft is above this pressure level. Air traffic controllers are constantly monitoring the changing barometric pressure and relaying this information to pilots.

The aneroid altimeter is very similar to a barometer. Inside, sealed wafers expand as the pressure around them decreases. The pressure inside the altimeter is vented to a static port on the outer surface of the aircraft so that it can measure the outside pressure.

A highly accurate device known as a radar altimeter is used when the aircraft is close to the ground. A radar signal is bounced off the terrain below to determine the aircraft's AGL height. This information is used in a ground proximity warning system that alerts the pilot before the altitude becomes dangerously low. Future systems will benefit from the global positioning satellite system (GPS) because an airborne GPS receiver can determine position as well as altitude. A computer database that is part of the system stores the elevation of terrain and obstacles and constantly monitors the safe separation of the aircraft.

Because maintaining a safe distance from obstacles is of utmost importance to aviation safety, jet transport systems use three independent altimeter systems. Altitude information is backed up by a radar altimeter and ground proximity alerting system. Even though the current system is incredibly safe, future innovations using satellites and computers will undoubtedly enhance air safety even further.

 

EXERCISES

 

1. Поставьте вопросы к выделенным словам.

 

1. Depending on the reference point used, there are several types of altitude.

2. The most commonly used is true altitude.

3. The pressure at sea level, about 15 pounds per square inch, is caused by the weight of the atmosphere.

4. The pressure inside the altimeter is vented to a static port on the outer surface of the aircraft so that it can measure the outside pressure.

5. Future systems will benefit from the global positioning satellite system.