Aeroburan Analogue - Aeroburan Analogue in landing flare Credit: from Semenov, et. al., Buran, 1995.. 13,802 bytes. 322 x 267 pixels.

OK-GLI for horizontal flight tests. This Buran OK-GLI 'analogue' had the same aerodynamic, centre of gravity, and inertial characteristics as the orbiter. Its purpose was to conduct the repetitive tests necessary to develop the automated landing system. The OK-GLI differed from the space-rated orbiters in being equipped with four AL-31 turbojet engines, with a total thrust of 40 tonnes, mounted at 4 degrees off the horizontal axis. These allowed the analogue to take off from conventional air fields. After reaching 5,000 m altitude, the engines would be shut off, and a manual or automatic landing would be accomplished. The analogue was equipped with the same essential systems as the orbiter, including the RM-1 and RM-2 ejection seats, the GSP and VIU navigation systems; the landing gear, landing system antennae, thermal sensors, and first and second group accelerometers. Prior to completion the OK-GLI was used on the 3M-T transport to test fight characteristics of the 3M-T/orbiter combination, the OK-launch vehicle interface attach points, and to develop the optimal transport configuration. It has been claimed that some of these tests were to be manned, and that on the first such flight cosmonauts Georgi Shonin and Yevgeni Khrunov were involved in an accident when the 3M-T ran off the runway. However it is now known that the payload capacity of the 3M-T was limited to 50 tonnes, so this story seems unlikely (an empty orbiter would weigh at least 70 tonnes). After these tests the OK-GLI was returned to the shop for completion. Thereafter it began a series of test flights to verify the subsonic aerodynamic characteristics of the design and develop the manual and automatic flight and landing systems. The aircraft was retired to the Zhukovskiy test center near Moscow, where it is often rolled out for exhibition during air shows.

Maximum speed 45 kph. Time 5 minutes. Thereafter to PRSO test stand for full-scale equipment tests; then to PDST pilot-dynamics test stand for further tests.

Maximum speed 200 kph. Time 14 minutes.

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Aeroburan back view 18,949 bytes. 326 x 238 pixels.

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Maximum speed 300 kph.

Maximum speed 480 kph. Maximum altitude 1500 m. Time 12 minutes.

Maximum speed 170 kph. Time 12 minutes.

Maximum speed 520 kph. Maximum altitude 3000 m. Time 36 minutes.

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Aero Buran In Flight Credit: RKK Energia. 17,475 bytes. 334 x 238 pixels.

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Maximum speed 540 kph. Maximum altitude 4000 m. Time 23 minutes.

Maximum speed 530 kph. Maximum altitude 4000 m. Time 22 minutes.

Time 25 minutes.

Time 23 minutes.

First automatic landing from 4000 m altitude. Time 24 minutes.

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Aeroburan Crew - Aeroburan Crew after flight Credit: RKK Energia. 15,730 bytes. 306 x 238 pixels.

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Time 17 minutes.

Time 17 minutes.

Time 28 minutes.

Time 19 minutes.

Time 2 minutes.

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Aero Buran - Aero Buran on display at Ramenskoye. 8,963 bytes. 299 x 150 pixels.

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Time 20 minutes.

Time 19 minutes.

Automatic landing. Time 21 minutes.

Time 19 minutes.

Time 22 minutes.

Time 32 minutes.

Time 20 minutes.

Time 19 minutes. Final Buran Analog flight test. At the same time development of the auto-land system aboard the Tu-154 test bed is completed as well.

• 81 - Matthews, Henry, The Secret Story of the Soviet Space Shuttle, X-Planes Book 1, Beirut, Lebanon, 1994.
• 189 - Semenov, Yu P, Lozino-Lozinsky, et. al., Mnogorazoviy orbitalniy korabl 'Buran', Mashinostroenne, Moscow, 1995.