Flight Vehicle Classification

A type of transportation device which capable of traveling in the air/atmosphere or to the outer space is called as Flight Vehicle. It include all type of transportation devices which have capability to fly, are considered as Flight Vehicle. It includes the simple hot air balloon, the conventional airliner, fighter aircraft, rockets, and even the space shuttle.

It is divided into two categories :-

1. Lighter than Air 

2. Heavier than Air 

Lighter than Air

Lighter than air means weighing less than the air it displaces, hence obtaining lift from aerostatic buoyancy. These type of aircrafts are lighter than air. Any aircraft kept aloft by gas, which is lighter than air, contained in the craft is known as an aerostat. 

 Examples of aerostats are hot air balloons and airships which is shown above in the images respectively. 

 Note: Nowadays, Lighter than aircraft are used only for enjoyment and entertainment purpose. 

Aerostats are further classified into three categories, 

 1. Airship 

2. Free Balloons 

3. Kite balloons

AIRSHIP 

These are aerostats having power plant for propulsion and means of steering the craft. They are made buoyant by enclosing a volume of gas which is lighter than air. In it the internal pressure of the gas keeps maintains the shape of the envelope without the need of any longitudinal members.

 Free Balloons

 These are balloons which are not anchored to the ground and are free to move with the wind. A free balloon travels at the speed of the wind, it is travelling with the wind so to a passenger the air feels calm and windless. To change its altitude above ground it must either adjust the amount of lift or discard ballast weight. Notable uses of free-flying balloons include meteorological balloons and sport balloons.

 Kite Balloons 

A Kite balloon is a balloon which is shaped and trimmed so as to derive stability from wind. It is a tethered balloon which is aerodynamically stabilised in windy conditions using similar principles to a kite. It typically comprises a streamlined envelope with stabilising features and a harness or yoke connecting it to the main tether. Kite balloons are able to fly in higher winds than ordinary round balloons and were extensively used for naval and military observation during World War I.

 Heavier than Air

This type of aircraft must have a power source to provide the thrust necessary to obtain lift. Simple heavier-than-air craft include kites. These are usually a flat-surfaced structure, often with a stabilizing “tail,” attached by a bridle to a string that is held in place on the ground. Lift is provided by the reaction of the string-restrained surface to the wind.

Aerodyne is the technical name for any type of heavier than air aircraft. This covers all aircraft that derive lift in flight principally from aerodynamic forces. Examples are conventional planes, gliders, helicopters etc. 

It is further classified into three parts :- 

1. Civil Aircrafts 

2. Military Aircrafts

3. Gliders 

Civil Aircrafts

All non military planes are civil aircraft. These include private and business planes and commercial airliners. It is divided into two categories, Commercial and general type. 

Commercial Aircrafts include aircraft which are designed for scheduled and charter airline flights carrying passengers or for business use.

General aircrafts are used for training purpose, or for business use.

Military Aircrafts 

They are the type of aircraft which are used or operated by a legal armed service of any type.  It is divided into two categories Combat or Non-combat.

 Combat :- Combat aircraft are designed to destroy enemy equipment using their own aircraft ordnance. Combat aircraft are normally developed and procured only by military forces.  

 Non- Combat :- Non-combat aircraft are not designed for combat as their primary function, but may carry weapons for self-defense. These mainly operate in support roles, and may be developed by either military forces or civilian organizations.

Gliders

A glider is a heavier-than-air aircraft that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Most gliders do not have an engine, although motor-gliders have small engines for extending their flight when necessary and some are even powerful enough to take off.