OK-GLI

The OK - GLI is a 1984 -built prototype of a space shuttle of the Soviet Buran program. He served the aerodynamic testing of the flight characteristics and the automatic landing system. Was the only space shuttle launch worldwide as a four-engine aircraft on its own without additional missiles and land this model.

History

The model Buran OK - GLI (or BTS -02), the prototype of the space shuttle program was the only model equipped with own engines and completed successfully 25 atmosphere Flights to test the landing system. In December 1989, the tests were completed. The aircraft was considered to be worn and stored in Baikonur.

Russia sold it before the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000 as an exhibit to Australia. In consequence, it should then be exhibited as part of the Summer Festival in June 2002 in Bahrain, remained there but due to financial problems of the organizer, where it apparently fell into oblivion. Satellite images show on Google Earth that OK - GLI in the port area dismounted behind a warehouse to himself rots (26 ° 11 ' 54 "N, 50 ° 36 ' 10" O26.19833333333350.602777777778 with date 31 December 2006).

In May 2002, OK - GLI was offered in an auction of the radio station 980 News KFWB-AM in Los Angeles with a starting price of six million U.S. dollars to purchase, without, however, reported serious bidders.

When filming for the Formula 1 in Bahrain, a German television crew in the fall of 2003 came back to the OK - GLI. End of 2003, she was then estimated from the Technik Museum Speyer for a six-figure euro amount bought and should be there originally issued as early as mid 2006. Due to ongoing litigation between the final buyer and NPO Molniya, the transport to Speyer delayed again and again. Finally, the ferry should have been brought even to Malaysia, where they dated 5 June 2007 should be issued to August 7, 2007 at the Malaysia International Aerospace Exhibition 2007, but this event has been canceled. In spring 2008, was finally able to start the transport to Speyer.

The OK - GLI was transported by sea from Bahrain to Rotterdam and then on the Rhine to the Technik Museum Speyer, which she reached on April 12, 2008. There she has been issued since October 2008. The total cost of the purchase, transport and purpose built new exhibition hall amounted to the Technik Museum Speyer to about ten million euros.

Technology

Compared to the orbiter Buran was OK - GLI with four Ljulka AL -31 jet engines, as used in the aircraft Su -27 and Su-30, equipped and was thus able, with its own drive like an airplane of a runway lift, which neither the Orbiter nor the U.S. Space Shuttle could. The top two engines side of the vertical tail are part of the original Orbiter designs, the proposed two cruise engines to extend the range on landing. The engines are equipped with a heat protective casing and flaps on the engine intakes. They arrived at the Buran orbiter but due to technical problems and the associated risk to delay the project, never used. The installation bays of the jet engines, however, were present on all orbiters and sealed with a cover.

Buran OK - GLI has a total length of 36.37 m, a width of 5.5 m largest fuselage and a wingspan of 23.92 m. The maximum takeoff weight was 105 tons and a payload up to 30 t. The landing weight could be 82 t, here were at a landing speed of 312 km / h to 15 t payload and at 360 km / h to 20 t payload allowed. The ferry had room for up to 10 people.

Test flights

Nine taxi tests and twenty-five test flights in the atmosphere were performed with OK - GLI in Baikonur.

Picture gallery

OK - GLI in Sydney, (2001)

Buran at King Winter, (2008)

OK - GLI on the Rhine at Duisburg -Ruhrort, (2008)

Cockpit OK GLI on the Rhine near Bonn, (2008)

OK - GLI in Speyer

OK - GLI in Speyer front view

OK - GLI in Speyer open cargo hold hatch

OK - GLI in Speyer side view

Entrance of the OK GLI

Wing of the OK - GLI