Since the mid-sixties, the search and evacuation of cosmonauts and descent vehicles has been carried out using ultra-high cross-country vehicles of the PES-1 family. In the early eighties, new equipment for a similar purpose appeared, as a result of which the existing all-terrain vehicles were gradually decommissioned. However, they were not completely abandoned. So, within the framework of a new project, under the designation PES-1R, one of the existing machines was proposed to be rebuilt into an experienced all-terrain vehicle with a combined power plant. The standard gasoline engine was planned to be supplemented with jet systems.
All-terrain vehicles PES-1 were created by the Special Design Bureau of the Plant. Likhachev under the leadership of V. A. Grachev and went into production in the mid-sixties. Small-scale production of these machines continued until the end of the next decade. On the basis of the first all-terrain vehicle, two new models were created, distinguished by the presence of a closed passenger cabin (PES-1M) or a modified crane (PES-1B). In the early eighties, a new search and rescue complex PEC-490 was adopted to supply the Air Force, which had certain advantages over the existing PES-1. The emergence of new technology has led to the gradual abandonment of those already in use.
All-terrain vehicle PES-1R on tests. Shot from newsreel
By the time of decommissioning, two dozen all-terrain vehicles of the PES-1 family still retained a significant part of the resource, and therefore could be used in certain areas. In particular, SKB ZIL considered the possibility of using all-terrain vehicles in new research projects. One of the existing machines was proposed to be rebuilt according to a new experimental project and made a prototype to test the most daring ideas. It was planned to supplement the existing power plant and undercarriage with ultra-high cross-country ability with jet engines of various types.
It was obvious that such a restructuring would definitely change the characteristics of the car, and probably only for the better. However, the real potential of the proposed modernization could not be assessed by calculations alone. The construction of a prototype was required for running in different landscapes, including in the most difficult conditions.
General view of the all-terrain vehicle. Photo Russian-sila.rf
The new project of SKB ZIL, based on the existing machine, was launched in 1984. He received the designation PES-1R ("reactive"). It is easy to see that such a name for the experimental sample - for the first time in a long time - did not in any way indicate the development organization. At the same time, the most direct mention of the base platform has been preserved in it.
The all-terrain vehicle of the basic modification PES-1, which had the unofficial nickname "Crane", was chosen as the basis for the prototype PES-1R. This machine in its original role was intended for the evacuation of astronauts along with their descent vehicle. To work with the latter, the machine had a crane and a special cradle with mounts. The crane was located on the roof of the engine compartment near the center of the hull; the lodgement for the descent vehicle was located on the stern cargo area. An all-terrain vehicle with this hull layout was best suited for use in a new project.
AI-25TL turbojet engine. Photo Wikimedia Commons
During the restructuring according to the new project, the existing all-terrain vehicle had to retain a significant number of components and assemblies. It was planned to remove only cargo equipment from it, instead of which a new power plant should be mounted. All this did not require a significant alteration of the body and frame, and in addition, it made it possible to leave the power plant, transmission and chassis unchanged.
Based on the existing PES-1, the jet rover retained an aluminum welded frame assembled from profiles and reinforced with gussets. In the central part of the body, X-shaped braces remained, which increased the rigidity of the frame. The frame had fasteners for installing the engine, transmission units, etc. and took on all the loads.
To ensure buoyancy, the all-terrain vehicle was equipped with a sealed fiberglass hull. Such a body still had a curved lower frontal sheet, on the sides of which there were vertical sides. The sides provided for large arches to accommodate the wheels. The stern part of the hull was located vertically. All fiberglass panels received longitudinal stiffeners.
Hull feed and engine nozzle. Shot from newsreel
As part of the restructuring, the existing PES-1 sample had to change its layout noticeably. Previously used radio navigation equipment was removed from the front of the hull. Behind the vacated instrument compartment, as before, was the cockpit. The engine compartment was left behind the cockpit. The transmission units were to be placed inside the body, both on its longitudinal axis and at the sides. The former cargo area was now used for the installation of an additional power plant.
The all-terrain vehicle was equipped with a ZIL-375Ya gasoline engine with a capacity of 180 hp. Next to the motor, a 360-liter fuel tank and all other devices were placed inside the hull. The muffler was placed on the roof-deck of the hull. Through a torque converter, which served as protection against increased loads and stoppages, the engine was connected to an automatic transmission. Behind the second axle, inside the body, there was a transfer case. With the help of four cardan shafts, the power was distributed to the final drives of the second and third axles. There was also a shaft to drive a water jet. A pair of shafts, responsible for driving the front wheels, went forward from the gears of the second axle.
Driver's control post. Shot from newsreel
The existing undercarriage with three pairs of large wheels was retained. The first and third axles had an independent lever-torsion bar suspension, the second was rigidly fixed to the body. Wheels with tires with a diameter of 1.52 m were used. The wheels were connected to a centralized tire pressure regulation system. To obtain the required maneuverability, the front and rear axles were linked to the steering devices.
In the stern, a water jet propeller was preserved, completely placed inside the hull. Through an intake window in the bottom, water entered the impeller and was thrown out through a rectangular opening in the stern sheet. The thrust vector was controlled by a pair of deflected vertical rudders, also located within the hull.
Additional panel with jet engine controls. Shot from newsreel
The greatest interest in the PES-1R project, for obvious reasons, is the additional power plant, developed specifically for the new prototype. To radically improve off-road mobility, it was proposed to equip the all-terrain vehicle with new means. First of all, an aircraft turbojet engine with sufficient thrust parameters should have been installed on it. In addition, during some checks, it was planned to equip the car with powder accelerators.
The AI-25TL turbojet engine, developed for some training aircraft, was chosen as the main element of the additional power plant. It was built in a two-circuit design with two rotors. With a mass of no more than 400 kg, this product had a length of about 3, 36 m and a diameter of less than 1 m. The engine developed a thrust of 1720 kgf, which, according to calculations, made it possible to obtain a certain increase in the mobility of a ground vehicle.
PES-1R off-road. Shot from newsreel
The aircraft engine was proposed to be mounted in the rear of the all-terrain vehicle, inside a cylindrical casing. The front part of the casing, which served as an air intake, received a protective mesh designed to trap large particles of dirt. The engine nozzle was led out into a relatively small hole in the rear wall of the casing. Below the sides of the body of the machine there was about half of the casing, and for this reason, a small semicircular cutout for the engine nozzle had to be provided in the tailgate.
Part of the free volume of the hull was allocated for the turbojet engine's own fuel tank. On board the PES-1R all-terrain vehicle, it was possible to place several hundred liters of kerosene. This could be enough for a fairly long trip using both power plants.
From a certain time, the prototype was equipped with additional solid-fuel accelerators. In their capacity, engines from 9M39 anti-aircraft missiles of the portable Igla complex were used. On the rear of each side of the hull, it was proposed to install a clip for eight such engines: two vertical rows of four each. To obtain the correct thrust vector, the engines were mounted with a noticeable forward inclination. These motors were controlled by an electrical system and could only be started at the same time.
Swamp and tall grass are not an obstacle. Shot from newsreel
The use of new systems has led to certain improvements in the cab. Like the base all-terrain vehicle, the PES-1R car had a wide four-seater cabin, covered from above with a fiberglass cap. The hood, which had developed glazing, could be folded up and back. In addition, two hatches remained in its roof. At the driver's workplace, all standard devices that corresponded to the basic design have been preserved. The driver controlled the engine, transmission, chassis, etc. To the right of the main dashboard, an additional shield with a reactive power plant control lever was placed. There was also a second panel with control devices. The driver and the second crew member could fully control the operation of the turbojet engine and launch solid fuel boosters.
Being an exclusively experimental model, the PES-1R machine was deprived of the ability to transport any significant cargo. Moreover, almost the entire load capacity margin was spent on the installation of the AI-25TL engine, a fuel tank for it and other new devices. However, this was not a problem, since the all-terrain vehicle was intended only for practical testing of the original proposal. The operation of such equipment in the troops or in the interests of the national economy, of course, was not envisaged.
Jet all-terrain vehicle on the water. Photo Kolesa.ru
As a modified version of the existing all-terrain vehicle, the prototype had similar dimensions and weight. The length slightly exceeded 8.3 m, the width - 2.6 m. Dismantling the crane led to a noticeable reduction in the vertical dimension. The engine casing slightly rose above the level of the cab roof, but the overall height of the car was still less than 2.7 m. The track and base remained the same - 2, 15 m and 5 m, respectively. The total mass of the PES-1R all-terrain vehicle with a fuel supply for two engines was at the level of 11, 5-12 tons.
In 1984, one of the serial search and evacuation units PES-1 with the tail number "55" arrived at the Plant. Likhachev to restore technical readiness and modernization for a new project. More and more unnecessary units were removed from this machine, instead of which an additional power plant and its auxiliary devices were installed. In just a few weeks, the finished mock-up was sent for factory tests.
The result of the AI-25TL engine operation. Shot from newsreel
The new experimental prototype was based on the existing chassis, and therefore could show similar driving characteristics. The maximum speed on the highway, developed only by the gasoline engine and wheels, reached 68 km / h. The fuel range is 560 km. The all-terrain vehicle could swim at a speed of no more than 7.5 km / h. Without much difficulty, the car overcame various land obstacles. She could go down to the water and ascend on the coast along the slopes of moderate steepness.
Nevertheless, the essence of the PES-1R project was to develop a bundle of a wheeled and jet propulsion device. For this reason, ZIL specialists quickly started checking the new power plant. Moving on simple sections of rough terrain, an all-terrain vehicle with an AI-25TL engine running could show increased speed. When sailing, his thrust brought the speed to 12-14 km / h. The presence of an additional power plant made it easier to overcome obstacles. Without much difficulty, the all-terrain vehicle drove in or even took off on large bumps. Improved performance in mud and swampy areas. The ascent from the water to the shore has been greatly simplified.
Since a certain time, the PES-1R prototype has been tested in the Vorkuta region, where there were large snow-covered fields with a large cover thickness. In deep snow, the all-terrain vehicle showed fairly high speed and cross-country ability. When using the AI-25TL engine, the speed on the snow reached 42-44 km / h. The combined power plant, using wheels and a jet stream, gave a tangible increase in performance.
PES-1R on skis. Photo Kolesa.ru
An interesting experiment was also carried out near Vorkuta. Experimental vehicle PES-1R was installed on skis. On each of the six wheels, with the help of chains, they were attached to a ski of medium elongation with a raised nose. Such skis significantly increased the surface area of the support surface, correspondingly improving the performance of the machine on the snow. The presence of separate skis on all wheels made it possible to use the existing steering system. The resulting "snowmobiles" showed themselves well on virgin snow. Using only one jet engine, the all-terrain vehicle moved at high speed in the snow and showed good maneuverability.
From a certain time, the task of the testers was to determine the maximum characteristics and limiting capabilities of the prototype on the most difficult surfaces and landscapes. This stage of testing was the most difficult for the prototype. She was specially "planted" in the mud along the bottom, after which attempts were made to get out of such a trap using wheels and a jet engine. Also, the maximum parameters of the slopes and beaches were determined, along which the all-terrain vehicle could move.
An all-terrain vehicle on a particularly difficult track. Photo Kolesa.ru
It was at the stage of searching for the limiting parameters that the PES-1R prototype was equipped with solid fuel accelerators. 16 jet engines from anti-aircraft missiles made it possible to increase the total thrust of the gasoline and turbojet engines for a few seconds. In some cases, the joint work of three power plants gave the desired results, while in other conditions even she did not help. However, such a result of the next check was also useful, since it supplemented the existing amount of data.
For several months, the designers of the SKB Zavod im. Likhachev collected various information about all aspects of the work and operation of the prototype with unusual equipment. After the completion of the tests, the prototype PES-1R returned to the manufacturing plant. Her further fate is not known for certain. Probably, the all-terrain vehicle was subsequently used as a platform for new research, and in the distant future it was disposed of when a resource was depleted.
In fact, the PES-1R got stuck where other vehicles could not reach. Shot from newsreel
After analyzing the collected data, the designers of SKB ZIL proposed a new version of the combined power plant for an ultra-high cross-country vehicle. This concept again involved the use of a turbojet engine. The gasoline engine, in turn, was proposed to be replaced by a pair of rotary piston internal combustion engines. It was planned to combine the latter with a hydromechanical transmission with on-board power distribution. As far as is known, the project of such an experimental all-terrain vehicle remained at the preliminary study stage. Its implementation was hampered by financial problems, the actual lack of prospects and other factors.
For several decades of work in the field of off-road vehicles, the Special Design Bureau of the Plant im. I. A. Likhachev was able to create a large number of various all-terrain vehicles with outstanding characteristics. When, it would seem, the limiting parameters were reached, the engineers found a way out of this situation and supplemented the finished three-axle chassis with jet engines. Tests of such a machine made it possible to collect a large amount of data, which, however, no longer helped to obtain practically applicable results. The direction of jet all-terrain vehicles in our country no longer developed.
