AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT A CENTURY OF INNOVATION GENERAL EDITOR: JIM WINCHESTER
lis edition firsl published in 2005 for Grange Books , imprint of Gl'1In~ Books pic Ie Grange ng;monh Industrial Estate )(), nr RochC'Ster nt
MEl 9ND
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.pyright Q 2005 International MiL'iters Publishers BV
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3N 1-84013-753-3
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CONTENTS Introduction Airco Beech Bell Boeing Cessna Consolidated Convair Curtiss Douglas Eurocopter Fairchild General Dynamics Grumman Hiller Hughes Kaman lockheed/lockheed Martin Martin McDonnell/McDonnell Douglas North American Northrop Piasecki Piper Republic Rockwell Seversky Sikorsky Vought Vultee
6
10 12
20 36 80 88
96
106 124 158
160 168 172
214 218
220 224 276 292 334 362 372
376 378
390 398 4DO 430 444
AMERICAN MIUTARY AIR CRAFT
INTRODUCTION This book features just some of the many hundreds of aircraft types developed for military use In the United States of America, and a few developed outside that have made a significant contribution to the US services. The early years The USA was one of the first nations to explore the use o f heavier-tha n-air cr.lft for military pu rposes, the Army testing :1 Wright biplane in 1908, and procuring their very first aircr.lft (anOlhcr Wright) for $25,000 in 1909, a fonu ne at the time. Progress was r.lpid, and in the years 1910--1 1 ma ny firsts were achie\' Wing, based a t RAF LBl<enl!eBth, operates the McDonnell Douglas F- I 5E.
8
combat aircraft in the world market. Vietnam proved that the most sophisticated aircr.:lft intended for use against the cities and massed forces of the Warsaw Pact were unsuitable for lise in 'limited w:u-s', although they were all that was available to begin with. The next generation of aircraft and weapons were flexible enough (as \vas the doctrine) to prevail without great losses in two Iraq wars and elsewhere.
Mergers Of the 20 or so major m,mufacnlrers of military aircraft active in 1950 and represented in this IXJOk, only four exist today under the S;Hlle name, The others have either ceased to be, stopped making complete aircraft or have joined to form massive defence and aerospace conglomerates,
INTRODUCTION
responsible for everything from battle wnks to submarines and satellites. Douglas, McDo nnell Douglas (itself the result o f a huge merger in the 196Qs), North Americ an :md Rockwell are just some of the companies absorbed by Boeing. In the TC'J lm of fighter aircraft they arc ch:llIcnged tod:IY o nly by Lockheed Martin within the US market , with Northro p Grumman o ne of the few large 'airframers' still competing for fixed -wing aircrJft contracts. The manufacture of certain classes of aircraft , such as military trainers, tactical transport :Iircr;lft and light helicopters, has JUSt abo ut slipped out of Americ:m hands :Ihogether. 111e pbyers in these fields :Ire mainly European . What was once the aircraft division o f the mighty Hughes Corporation is now Dutch-owned (altho ugh still building helicopters in
Arizona) . Internalio n:11 collaborJlive projects, such as the LockheecVAlenia C-27J , BeI VAgusla BA 609 tiltroto r and Lockhced/\XfestancVAgusta US- tO I (EH.101 Merlin) look like being the way fo rward in some areas to fulfil US military needs and s:nisfy laws about US content in arnts purchases. The most impressive o f toelay's American w arplanes, the B-2 Spirit, costs one hundred thousand times as much as the first US military aircraft. One way to cut costs is to eliminate the crew , their training and the space they wke up. Sooner th:m in other countries, the future for America 's combat, strike :lOeI reconn:lissance platfo rms may lie in unlllanned air vehicles, but for the bulk of militllJY uses, the development :md manufad ure o f piloted m:lchines still has a long future.
~
During the D-Day landing, thi, Doogla, C-47
flew from a Brithih base with the 8f,t Troop CarrieI" Squadron of the 436th Troop Carrier Group.
6. A US Marine (;{)rps McDonnell Doogla, TA-4F Slryhawk fires an unguided rocket while on a training sortie.
,
AMERICAN M,LlTARV AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
AIRCO
AIRCO
DH.4
DH.4
-'V
• Day bomber. British and US production. Powerful engines
... ON-4B air mail pioneer Surplvs DH-4s _
for the
convMed
us Postal Depaftment 10
est.tllish /UJ IIir mail service; /he front cockpit held maj/ bags. This aircnlft has wingtip landing lights.
.. 'Liberty Plane' With huooreds of surplus OO·4s available after World War I, many fouoo their way into civil opera tion. DH· 4s were used no t only as mall carriers, but also as airliners and Crop-dustflnl.
.. Steel-framed DH-4M-1 AS.23007 was one of . number of American-built OO-4s rebuilt by Boeing and A tlantic Aircraft dtJring the 1920$, wi th s teel- tube fuselages. These aircraft were designated OO-4M- l s and -2s, respec tively.
.. Cabin-equipped DH-4A OO-4A5 carried II pilot and two peS 'fIMI. Nine Wfl(8 converted from DH·4s, serving with the RAF and on early routes actOS5 the English Channel.
Army air ambulance .,..
numerous
us
Among 00· 4 variants to ent. military service Wfl(8. number of DH-4Amb-2s which went able to can)' two stretch« cases.
DH.4 was the first pupose-designed British bomber, and was one of the most successful aircraft of WWI. After its first flight In August 1916, the DH.4 was transfonned by the Rolls-Royce Eagle engine, which enabled the aircraft's perfonnance to match that of contemporary fighters. Nearty 7000 w ere built and production continued after the w ar, when severnl air forces, together wtth earty airlines, retained the DH.4.
1:
•
Belgium, Greece, Japan and Nicaragua.
10
DI p
b'.il., with 1ner"NMd' '''''
and two , ......W (2OO-hpI .... S .. After tIleK success In France 00ring World War I, British-built DHAs and Aroorfean.buiJt DH-4s foond Iurther sernce In toroign air fM::es, ~ those Of
.-
'ACTS AND PlGU.... Yl*tr IIIrerd __ built for 1M US Po.teI
• Hi __
wtnv-
To..' US OH-4 pi ; CI ~ UoI, ...Khed 48A6; buill In Belgium; 1449 in the UK.
•
OH.4s engines rallged in power output from 149 kW (200 hp) to 391 kW (52:4 hp).
• • •
A DH A ~ to New Z..a.nd bec.me the lint .wer.tt to tty ov.r thet C:~ "b." highest mountain, 311O-m (12,336-ft) ~ Cook. The Alreo OH.4 prototype flew I" August 1916 from Ib baM a t Hendon, l.ondon. For COliS'" patrol lasks, the RNAS fitted noets to at least one DH.4.
AIRe o DH .4
de Havilland's day bombing master
DH.4
In!I: light day t:>omt~:
---
one 28O-kW (3154op1 RoII-Ro.,.ca
UgIe Vln wa*-cooIed 12-q4indo1r ...... _ _ _ !eMf . . . .:
S
I:!ggered wings ""cre used on the 0 11.4 to gi\t' the PIlei: 1I good \K:"" of the
ground for bombing One or two Lewis guns were nued in
the observer's cockpit. :md one or
tWO
forw,lrd.flnng Vickers
guos .... ere rllOO llh.-d on the fuselage Mdcs. I" this form
the DII.4 made an itlllll(:diate impn.~ioll over the ,"l.~crn Front in 1917. Ne:lrly 1500 wcrt: buill hi the
Unillxl Kin,ltdom, and alnX'lSt 5000
with Z9$-kW (400-hp) Ubcny 12
engines, in the United StlICll, where the US Army used 1>11-45 until 1932. TIle US Navy and Manne CoI"ps also used the lypt'
Z)Q kmhI (143 mph)
E...-.ce: 3 hours 45 .....
.....: 700 Ion (435
After the .... 'al'. RAF aircraft were relill.'d. :md many were trJI15ferred to ()(heT Q)I.Jntn..."S. More than 1500 of the AmeriC'. m
miIeIl
'-'Ice ",Iiflt." 6105 m (19.930 It,) .I.bo¥e: In 1923. USMC DH...q concIvsNeIy demonsttated tJir-1o-air refueling for ttIe first time. T1Mt ~ was aIofl for OVlll'" 37 hours.
aircraft were modifted as DH-4Bs, while Boeing and Fokker Alblllie buill 285 modernized DH-4;\1s wilh steel tube fuselages. There were more than 60 modified \'crsions, including single-seaters, lish Ihe US ~ir 11"1:lil service, the :Iircr:.ft IoCr\"lng unt il 1927.
The
~ two forwaod·tmg 7.7-mm 1.303·clllq Vickars machine go.nsind 0IlII or two 7.7-rrm L-e rnactw. gunlajln the _ 0ClCi3,HW [85O-llpl Pran & Whrtney
c.n.oo PT6A-42 \urtlQpIOI)$
Mal. . . . . . .: 545 kmIto (339 mph) It
---
7620 m (25.000 tI)
IItItII
~
r.te: 747 nVmin (20451 Ipmj
IIMtr. 3641 11m (2:262 ~ MIll m.am..n tu.I
Above: A numbM o f Sovth American air anns, including that of Argentina. have purchased Super King Airs as affordable wrveillance and maritime patrol platforms.
III 10.670 m 135.000 It)
hrriUl ctlli..: ""'"' n..., 10.670 m (35.000 tI) "lfIttI: .A 1.,o:ldtt!i:M 1iI pn:Mded lor tIM) piQts \W'Id ICl to I 0 Qi11' ... IhlI $UIr'dIn:I Iran9pCWt
-,.:u. ~ "-'" ~ iI
caoneo lor ........... jlIIII'd. 8W01'"
II ~ 10 I m.am..n of ... ~ IC)OI'\ \he cb8tiQn of IhlI JiIt1I.
The B200 has I C1II1deYer T-tal 8IrucIlnI of -..4th ......,. ....,. an:! horilontIII ...... The ...,~---de-G1g 'boots' on \he ~ edges. Each ...... has 11nm lab.
1iItrt*"'-
...
1hoC-1:!F._
-by"isrIJIoII' TIiIo _ .
h~' 1oIVW. ,_ _
.... 1hoo
_h_
C-12J~
240 • ~
-.-.-.,...-'8OO1_C-aA
--
--~
tltl UU
",
CI . . rat.: 388 mlmin (1273 fpm) It 3OSO m (10.000 ttl
1\aIItI: 1205 km (745 rriI$S) al 6100 m (20.000 It) Slme. celli . .: 9 145 m (3O.000 It)
...,IIts:
delivered in 1977. TIle T-3'iC will continue 10 trJ in US Navy pilotS until it is replaced by the Raytheon T-6A from 2004. Turlxl Mentors were also exported wa~ ftrst
empty 1193 kg (26.25 fb): ..............m tak&-Of! 1938 kg (4264 Ill)
T-34C TURBO MENTOR FuetZII.\ere. Ecuatorlanll operates u.. T-34C_l weapons trail*". From 1918 . tot811 of 14 T-34As and nine T-34C- I s w &nI d81iv®encfl (Cormntj ",rcratt Prnfpllllt: two 634·kW (85O·hp) Pratt 4 Whrtney Canada PTSA·41 turtlopgth Ild cost
AFB
to
Ih"
American taxpayer. One source of economk"s is that steve!":11
Ir:linees em be ukcn on each son it:: under the guid:mn: of one St:llior instructor pilo!. • Aiter.nions 10 Ihe :IITcnft
T-1A
JAYHAWK
T- 1A Jayhawk ' ' ' ' ; advanced jet traioMlubtily jet
POWIflIllltt: lwo 12.9-kN (29OO-lb-thrust) Pratt & Whitney Canada JlI SD-5B turbojets
were Tt"(J Ai racolxas wcn: thrown imo Waf sorlies "gains!
rhe Japanese during 1942/43. American pilots also flew it d uring the e~rly comlxl1 oper;l1 ions in the Middle East. Bdl impron..>J the aifer;ln, and when US fighler groups re-1...,.,.,0.; "'-39N _1O<ed .."... 0I1he _ ~ 01 !he MIIy" "'.311:0 br I"IoYing a """" -'L.i engine. ~ _ no boon .. than . 81 109. _ . Of"Id~_I!he_Yalc'.
I.I38IuI
The engne was
in
a r - t: one 37-,.,..." !Wing through ancrew
COMBAT DATA
A large perc:anlage 01 the 9568 Airaoobras bo...jl WOfll !he SoYieI red star. ~ IO the aile I
The pIoI eat i'l an ~ wet. t>o..*lIs. Thill was
wel",ll: empty 2566 kg (5657 Ib); IoacIed 3702 kg (8162 Ib)
left: "the RAF had only retained the P-39 with its original turbocharged engine, it might have found a winner. Instead, i/ was discarded due to chronic unreliability.
proIected cocI;C
programme. A signific:rnt number also went to Fn:c French forces, and a single ~'xampk was
delivcred
Below: All aircraft up to ths P-63A-5 were fitted with Ii cen tre-section rack but had no wing racks. The fewr t2.7-mm (.50-ca/ibre) machine guns were supplemented by Ii 37-mm cannon ;n the noss. to
the RAI'. Scver.. 1
TIlt: 1'-63 was a low-wing design which ~n·I."(1 Amcricm forces wdl in a lr:lining capacity but was nen:r used by them in comhat. The Ki ngcobra was not an l'asy aifer:lft to ny. howen>T, ~'spedally
in the circuit paHern
and lIeHen!.
Kingcobr:ls were given ~ "antly of st:cond-linc duties In one o f lhe most unusual. known
~1It: one 988·kW (1325-hp) AIIisorl V·171Q-93liquid·cooIed 12-cy1OndDr Vee PIston
engine driving a four-bladed
CTlIItI.1I ",eN: 608 kmIh (378 mph) bill': 724 kin (450 miles) Sltwln nlll", : 13.106 m (43.000 II)
W,llhts: empty 2892 kg
(6376 take-ff 4763 kg (1 0.500 tb)
Above; At least 300 P-63s were delivered to the Free French Armes de l'Air. This is a P-63C with its distinctive ventral fin.
as J>roj.;."Ct l'inb~Il , ITKXlified. amlOured Kin~cobr;,s ,LC1imom
wing·mounted and two nose·mounted) fixed forward·firing 12.7·nvT"I (.5O-caI.1 machine gu"IS. plus up to three 237 -kg (522-fbl bombs or !Ii>; ro f.... tho P·oION _ _ ....,. Iho ~tIgI>1"_~"""""..(I3 w_ _ _ us I\gI1t
23
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAR
PHOTO FILE
,
BELL
UH-1 B/C
B ELL
UH-1 B/C
IROQUOI~. 'I
IROQUOIS
f
• Airborne jeep. Multl·role helicopter . NATOworkhorse
... Navy rescue Thil TH·IL uses its sling hoist during a demonstration at 8Iyson Field, Pensacola, Florida.
... High-speed bird S6veraJ test configurations were used on the 'Huey ', Increasing the speed to 402 kmlh (250 mph). ~ Overseas success Built under licence by Agusta In Italy IS the AB 204, this 'Huey' serves in the anti-submarine role. Early versions 0' the UH· I remain In service throoghoot Europe.
... Weapons platform An Italian example demonst,ates the offensive capabilities of the UH·' by lifting off with two pylon-mounted machine QUns and 2 1 rockets.
Antl·tank
missiles "
the del e'op.."d I"" ...':.~w:,a:.':empIoyedln air-Io-ground trWssiIe lor the US.Ann): which was IJ$Iitd .n Vietna" diamelM
TH-1L Pict ..... lId tn nod and wtlile training colours, this TH. IL, the naY)' designation lor the ' H... ~ ', is used for pilot training. TI>ls Involves flying lrom airerall carriers and O\Ier-wat .... nnigation.
COMBAT DATA
CIr'ognaty on Ih8Iuft side of \he
L)'COfl"Ii"Ig T53·L·5 engO">e
tail boom. \he tail rotc>" illata. k:ence.buiI\ varian1s was posrtio::Md on \he tqlI.1\and side
powEIfed Ih8 lJH· l B. aIthourjl ~s 0UIpu! WIllS ~ il lata.
vaianIs.l...ioBnc&buiI! mo::leIII were pcM'er9d by RoIs·Roycto engi"Iee
"1"lIa tail size was also i1o:::feased. t>e lhe local VlP flighl.
~
UH· l H: All irnpro\Iemen1 of lhe UH- I B dItsign. advances included inc<eased bltiog capabhty and an entarged cabin area TIlis variant serves with lhe Taiwan a~ 1000e •
IIecauso of itt _1w.ry
i
Improving the breed
_.-...g 1N capabiIIy to COfly ~ - . • ....,.11 .....1-
IIhcr1
trre~. ""'-~. .,.aIerTS - - -
/
Vf
""'""' "ii·iiji~ibAii~~~~~~"" ~~~~~;;~"'~~"'~~"~"'~~.~"'~~'~"~~U~H.~,~a~"'~:=::ill ~=i~iiirli~ii~c;;;;;;;~~~~~~~~~~~;;~in.iii"iiiiiii .--'-*"'1-'." ...... ._-----...--.. tladllfIIIIw"lFWI.<XlIT1fliB>d _ 0"'IIt !hi t - ' at ltle g.n>III' in ltle IronI: .aI. The ~ t-. • oleN ot Itle bMtIeIeId, tn:I has ~.Yeion ~ hrn In ltle~.
e
-_ . -..... .... BII ~ II'e Cotn betonIlI'e
car- ot modem
sIrI.oClIn;'
~,
,
............. 1IIns 10 foreign air forces 11;1\'C been numerous. :tlthough ",,'oy of these h:t\'e [x:cn ci\'il
were sent imnll.:di,ttcly 10 Ihe VicIn"m \X 'ar. where Ihey
distinguished thcmscl\'(:s
trans.porl helicopter
, ..,.,.,IIIIIt: one 313-kW (42Q.hp) Allison 251).C2O.) tl.l..ot tn.1\;gt>w
piIo!-,,-" 'Mel-irl
' - IypeO ... 0< ..... ;0
'M1IIe the OH·58A was powered by a 236,5·kW AIiKIn T63·"· 700 hrllostIaII (a miIiIaty deo:'ivawe oIlhe 25().C frttoo to Ihe JetR!Lngtw1, the OH·sec iIllroduced the ~ 3t3·kW T63·A·700 _1. A cwwnon feato.xe of Ihe Kicrwa is an exposed tllit roIOO' driveshah 00 the taiIboom, whoch '" CO'to'8I'8d 00 tt.s ~
~
exh!Lu5ts lln:I imem81 rnpro.oemants. WnJ OJttl'W'S are often fit1ed 8bave IW>d beiow the bward fuselage.
~
MAXIMUM RATE Of CLIMB Willi I 30 potr C«1t ,...,.. pOWIrfuI r:ginoo finocl ....., .., _ _ """""'ioonly 11 potrc.nl_,hGor.k""""Il«I .. _
, . . ....... h
SMAongor. Tho 1.11·1 io I nw.>eh _
.,..,..,""" """
~
1~1nIII'b_·l"'....-gM<Mio"""'_~ I>eceI-. ita _1I'lginO """ _ _ _ _ .
CiWI
be fitted
US Army observation helicopters BELL OH-13 SIOUX, Famous lOt its duong the Koreao War, B&H's Mode! 47 eo1e<ed US ~ in 1946 •
,,~pIoits
•
HILLER OH-23
YOH-5: ThIS lobo oe.e..g. oed Iiglt putinto~,
civil FH·l100.
•
Lat .... to become 500, the 00-6
HUGHES OH-6 CAYUSE:
a big """'" as the civil
Madej
'Loach' was DWarded the tnt LOO contract.
31
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
BELL
BELL
OH -58D
KIOWA
OH-58D KIOWA • Two-seat armed scout helicopter . Special mast-mounted sight ... Mast-mounted sight The MMS is mounted on a non-vibrational bearing. It can swivel through 360" and tilt up Of down 30".
mart 1kId. a awing ladder • (:aT\ed Tn.. dropped down for !he rtIPId ....... 01 J)8O'3CII"n8I.
OH-58D scout mission A 0TWtj0r pan 01 the KIOWa Warrior .. lot> fa 10 act . . a KOUt IIJOIIoJng """" QUMhIp.I..,t i-armour t :: • lika the Atl-61 ApKtM. In \hii role the OH-58D . . . neIur8IIlMId .-vned8 1Mt.... as _ _ while KOUting lor ~
INTO THE TRAP, Hiding thil OH·580 is using the MMS to tmck the beyond.
......
Ian'"
Sane Kiowa 'NaTIcn IIflI O'1tended 10 be • 1nW1SpOrtabI8. wdh cctapsbIe . . . fI:*Ing st"II.*sef and fin .............. WQ-CIJIt.,. trod 9 so..pport "'""'" for !he rMSI~1ICl iIIQh!.
.1
.;ppM
'Ii lIliiI3i iliii tJ
APACHE SUPPORT, WI"' tIM! target in sight tIM! lICoul can then radio for 1lfl IIlti_IlITnOU' gunship helicopter 10 engage w~h rockala, missiles or gunllre •
;~ ~~=: ".
1IiQIIl"-
Hl-TICH lIGHT, The"-~ contaOns a TV _ _, . . ~.......,.,.... WldalMw _ a ........
DIStAUCT1ON: UeIrog lis ' ~. the _ can 1JUide ........ ..wi-tank mIuiI8$ fftIrn ........... without
the.u. . . . . . . 10 _
thtterglt.
33
AMERICAH M,UTARY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
BEll/BoEING
V-22
BELL/BoEING
V-22
OSPREY Sea trials"
OSPREY
The Osprey has shown tllllt if
can opentte
• Assault transport. Vertical take-off. Multiple roles
from any deck
_onooghro
give sideways clearance to the twin rot0r3 .
• Osprey's forerunner The Bell XV- IS was the culmination o f a long line ofaxperimental convertiplanes, and was the direct ancestor of the V-22. The Osprey comas equipped with a modem 'glass' cockpit. dominated by m ufti- function controls and computerized video displays.
Global reach .. The V-22 can be refuelled in fligh t. It can be deployed over intercontinental distances In less than a day - which is something that no helicopter can do.
lous
The Ospny tM" up a /01 o f space. which /s a t . premium aboard even the largest carrie(. To mal<e more room. the rotors fold and the wing swivels In
assaults.
line with the fuselage.
carry out
S Marines ha ve a phra se for it: the y call it 'Vert ical Envelo pment'. The Idea Is t o bypass a d e fen ded c oast by flying troop s over the t op, fa st , landing them In the enem y rear before the f oe can re act. And nothing can m o ve M arin es a s fast as the revolutio nary V-22 O sprey, which rtie s like an aeroplane but takes o ff and lands like a helicopter.
U 34
• Folding wings
PACTS AND PlGU.... ftrst flew on , . M.rd'I , _ . teldng of\' ... ~ from Bell.. - . r eh leclNty 8t Artlngton, T.....
~ The Y·22
•
~
First transition from ...ertIeeI to hortzontet
~
The Y· 22 has twice the ~ .nd twice the renge Of iI eompareble l\ellc09t ....
The prototype V-22 Osprey is
seen tf1fnsitioning to horizontal fright. It is this unique ability which will revolutionize the speed o f US Marine Cotps amphibious assaults.
fIItht ~
piece 01'114 Sept
,obec , _.
be J pla •• d _ I}IMI . . . In the world within 38 houra.
~ Y-22a CM'I ~
A ~I hetIcopter 1'IMd. thr.e times . . much malmen.nee •• the Y-22.
~
Oapreys can ' to dan~t:r from Ihe enemy's lon~
r.mgc :Inillcry and ml."ilcs.
~.
_
......
CtI*M,.... 1880 kin II t68 ~.-dl In:!
TIle O<prey has ch:mged all ~:ith
ib rutOfS p:mmng uP" Jrds, it cm take off ,md
th,,\.
bnd \cl1i(".dly 00 ship
Of
ashore
liul tilling the rotors forn~.Irds (:omct1-s them into propeller">. allo .... in!! the O:>prt.'y to fly '\\ icc as f;' !>l as the fa:.(c:."S\ helicopler. OpCr:Ltlll,loC in conjunction w,[h :>Ix-'c:.-dy ai r-cush io n landin~ craft.
[h" V-22 GLn ddiv"r Iroops or w ... apons o\·... r much gft';L1"r disl;mc...s [han ~ IK·licop[er. An
The tremefIdotIs width of the Osprey's 'OtOl' blades I, clear
II1II_ of cl....: 332 mhTwl (IO!I9Ipn't ~
~...:I'"
...,
--
-~"-'
1-'- up no mofII fQOI'll1hlWl_ fIWge
JlIlplllhll)US l;osl; fort·" COIlllll,lrKkr un now bunch h,s :lU~ck from o\er Ihe horizUfl.
• -*
...-..; 1000 kin !632 ~
~
...... hrotorl
In this photo of _ IMdinfI on It Wltsp '-class ItSS6lJn ship.
.'op!
The'llO'lflQ. IIted
on_PM:J/
'-"Ice ceIIiIII: 8000 m (26.250 fI3 1IIwri.. ceIIiIIF 4300 m 1'4,100 fI3
WIitJrts: empty 14,433 kg (31.81 9 ~.,..; 24.1M8 kg {55.000 III hyIoM: up kl25 ~ ~ \rocpI Of 45/X1 kg (9920 tIj CIWlI" internIIIy. Of 6EIOO kg 11 4.990 Ib! ..temellood
D"'. ''M: span("-''?fSlJrTWIgj 2SJlim(64lt8-u length 17.3:l m r-;8 It 10-U
:md ~li1I h,'le his [n)o~ ;, ~hore in J , ho ner lime liI;'n would h:l \'! rellx:mbcrcd among the 200 01" so of these aircraft which sa" :1('1;'" sen'ice with the N:II'Y
belongs to the \X'd"P engine, or R- I340, which W35 this ~riod's nnL'S( IL'Chnic:d achic'I'cllk"nI iJUI the re:ll IllC:lSure of th.... FiB ....~.IS ;1$ proWL"SS as 3 fighting plane
IX"IW(."t.-rl 1930 :md 1 9~.
"'....., .....
Touchdown I.rJnding on the wooden deck of the USS l exington. Landing and take-o ff aCCidents WfIf"fI common.
....1_.,...: 300 """"1186 mph) al 1830 m leooo It)
t.VlI ..::twImets --~ In the inter·w. period
..-.
In the h(.'yday of the bipl:lIlc, th iS ;1Ir-to-air dogfiglutcr could nOl be defeated. Unfonun:llt'1y, the rom.met: of this erJ ....-.IS all tOO brief By the late 1930s, faster mo no plane fighltcrs had consigned biplanes 10 hiSiOfy
WI, ... ts: empty 1068 kg (23551b): IoOOed 1638 IcQ (36 11 Ib/
" ' - t: two 1.62"","", 1.3o-caI.) /\xed Iotwwdfiring Browning m.:twle gurOI ()t OM 7 62-mm Ind OM 12.1-mm'.5Ck:IiI~ 8n:Iwning ~
IIIQ, fIIIe 12-1qj~) t:>ornt>. ()t OM 227-1\f.Ir 5QU8Ci"On VF~. ~ Irtrn USS SaraI'Ogi!lIn 1935. The badge .. at. tNoing . - : j tociay
MAXIMUM SPEED
on the F· I 4 TOITlClIls 01 VF-31
HI.., C11' ...... ,."". . " ..
F4B·4 nq F"a.. .... one of .t>out 200 I.IMd by
u.. us NIWY be--. 1i2!il..-d I e3&.
The F.8 .... .... aimiIar to UM AmIy'S P- t 2£. with . "' t o-kW lS50-hpI WaSp -..gine but wi'th the _ i a I _ ter hook and wing bomb rack..
The fo..oMtIIoge .,... 01 .. F46t was boA 01 ""IIIded steet II.t..
lor -vth- ~ metIII .... replaced Iabtic on the
later...... F48s r-.d alabnc·
~oIthe
boA"
CCi'IItII«I--.g.
The lAo:.teo .... ieO& 01 the F48 n.dId 10 be 1itt'O"lO. e...n wiIh the low ___ 01 btI:lIIIr-.lghI:8f$.
ItIndIvI on ~ dtId<s __ o/I$'l ~ I"Iun.i
The .... c,.Ola Ptan & 'M"itrley WIMp
_the fI:lrer'u"I".- 01 a larritfol .-.groat thi!I1 WCtOJd IXlW8i" US NiIYy foghIer. ~ 'M::w1d Wat.
n-. F.a _.,..."' ... _
~
..... _ . . . " . _ _
""""'~ ....... F~
_
radIij
.... _ _ car.--",- "' ...... _
~
"1 '\.,th
:=:::::::-..-::--::-..........:-........:-..........................-:::::::::::::::............~:::::::::::::;............................
ij
I'
.
===-~
Carrier Air Power - then and now USS KtTTYHAWK has ~ in HNicfI StnCe 1961 and d.spac. more lhan 90,000 10f1I'Ie*. II an .... -Mng 01 85 advanced combat jets. and willi rts r>lICINr ....... deploys more ~ u.... Ihe ..,t~e US Navy 01 the 193Otl. and is able 10 pr
~
P-26A PEASHOOTER
BS2m(27f111in) 7.19 m (23 It 7 in) 3.07m(IOfl 1 In) 13.69 m' (l50sq It)
COMBAT DATA
This P-26A carries the bad{Jtt alllM 95lh Pwsuil Squadron, known a s the ' Kicking Mules'. The squadron uMd the P-26 In the ground-all9Ck ro~.
The wide-d1otd wWlg and ch.ri:y tail 01 the P-26 WOlf.. ff!fllinISCfInt 01 &rioer Boeong designs soxh as the P- 12
'7t~IlOII""1
m_aJoI", . . . . .'.. ' "
•
91 tt>o 19X1o....,..~ _r..anol
Monoplane fighters of the 19308 Japanese carri« alllM most
POLIKARPOV 1_16! F¥ng only lwo years aher the P·26 enteetl·16 was the we he'llSged-skkl deeigl. a"ld the B·17 was IITIO!lQ the eMie8I ~·metaI rnonopIIro9 hl!av)t tx:mbolr's to 'lffi(lf ~
ibl; loaded
Anumellt: 13 12.7-mm (.5Ik:aI.) machine goos: 8000-kg (ll ,637 Ib) maximum 00mbI0ad
' Fu t Woman ' ""u one of lhe firs t Ame-rlcan B-171 to llniv. In Britain during World War II. Attached to the 359th Bomb Squadron of the 303rd Bomb Group, it ""35 bilsed . 1
prumier -..set 01 the 8-17 F¥ng Fc:)t ~.
FOItt'fI6Se8 .....ere delended by 8S f'TIIIIl)I as 13 hl!av)t
Dimel11luns:
----
31.62 m (103 It 9 in) 22.66 m (74 It 4 in) 5.82 m (19 It 1 in) 131.92 m' (1420 sq /I)
_--
a __ _
... ....... _
_
10
" --
1'~whicI'I CIUd _ _ tIWI
....
mac:hine go..ns. The __ voklarabI8 urdolrsidoo
CO>'8I"ed by a ball lo.rraI IIfId by the two waost 9'JYl8I'S
-....
""-
"lEAD COMBAT BOX
(7eOO ....,.,.,. II)
The Iotmalion commander flew In the lead bomber. with responsibi4ity !of navigation /WId Ofderino;j oimuItaneou!I
- ."' '''''''''
.. COMBAT DATA
.. -------.. +... ~ ,,IiIJ:IilJ
l im.'illfj
o.;g"... rt.
()1gO\aIIty -;...ty 1igI>\I)'_.ItIoO
----....,--- ---,-.-.. --- -- -_. ~
llIWTOI
~-
• •1/
~
ItIoO B-17 .....
-,.wiIh a.-.,.IOc.ry
-~
[1. . . . . .
[2151 _ 1
_ _ ito
........
~
""'
_2SOI-kl ,,512.1111
...... ' -
-pIaI.-
on1 ..... ~'"'
.,;0, ... aI-n>und
~1I1.A
boo <JI Ie I>omt>«I .:.:...t:lbrio'lJ l_or
"*- _1O_on . . ","--
_ _ coming from
""I'dinIt >t ~
·t :
.1 ,c"T _ _________ ,,
staggered honz,ootal/y aoo vegII'* .............: 604 knv'h (400 mph)
&r.1sI. . . . . . 483 kIM> POO mph)
Above: Berw.n March find August 1965. the KC-97G. of the Wisconsin Air Nationsl Guard were brooght up to KC-971 . tandard.
c.... rat.: SO..., to 6096 m (20.000 fII bite: 8920 km (04300 miMI o,erati", e.m",: 9205 m (30.000 fII
t:lkt'l1 from Kll-29I>s 'nle aircrJft prQ\'ed to be a highly C"J.pahle Lanker, y, Ith the KC-r'C bt'Corning the n~t widely built model of the scrit'S. Sel'eroll KC-97 variantS were made and the ultin~te KC-97 I. scrvt.'(l wilh Air N;uional Guard n. t9l e·50-s¥e fin was I1trOO.Iced from the VC-97 A unlls uruil 19n. 0I"M'lII"ds. The aiIa'aft aIsIO
"I~ empty 37.• 21 kg (70.000 1bI: muirrun llIk&-oft 79.379 kg (130.000 IbI ~e
____ io.: 96 troops 01 69 stretcher
patieots. plus reII.>eIIing system
O.....IISI ....:
STRATOFREIGHTER
w..-.
In~ under u.. ... ing. 01 u.. u.. tlt~ AIr N ~ Guarll. Thll aircraft I>eIonge4 to the 1081h AIr Refueling Squadron (ARS) ..,.;I ..... u..llnt conv.ralon from KC-1I7G ,1anI:Iard.
J47
turbo~t.
KC_1I7L
b~
Each ~ the 28~ Prat1 & ~ rIdaIs pr!:M(lOO 2610 I<W (3,500 ~ tond turned a lcu·bIIIded propeIer. The e-97A _ abI9 10 trarepOrt two poopeI!n on !IIJ>(IC8 facks ~ the IoMa-(I
"-.
.305 m (141 ft 3 in) 33,63m(1tOfl.ln)
=:w. l~.~66mT(j~n~ ~
ACTION DATA
!=.._~~~_NO_.~~~G :.=~
span Ieng1h
inlr'OO..oced C>Itle< d'wlges. r-.ct..oing Il Ii(t1ler ~, Io!rgef
KC-97L
STRATOFREIGHTER
l3;iiiHi ["Uu i The
KC·~7G""".
~
_
w ... _ . ,
_"..,;";ng"",",, _
i'l1JSAf _ . Thio P (1290 Ipm) at sea
radius to offload 10.886 kg (24.000 Ib) of fuel 5552 kin (3450 miles); racJius 10 oIIIoad 54 ,432 kg 1120.000 Ib) of fuel 1850 kin (1,50 miles)
fud 3.V'Jilabie for transfer at a radius of 4630 km (lffT7 miles). FrJnce "''as the only expon customer for the StrJtQtankcr and bought 12, dcsign':l1ed the C-135F, to su ppon il~ Mirage IV Ikel. In USAF service the KC-135 will fly for m.:my more ye':l fS performing its ungLullorous, but vital, role.
SerYiee cellini: 13.71 5 m (44.997Ib) WelglIIs: operaU-"og empty 48,220 kg (106.3071b); J1'Ia>natoon of the t>oo.
as long as possi)I9. a was
eo
~II"
1IaIte: f$o'ry range 14.806 ~m (9200 miies):
operational readiness. They have the original short fin.
CFM tnt8ffiDtlOJllll FIOS-CF·I<X!
Stralegic Air Command be{IDn 10 receMo the KC_l ~ in July 1984 and it _....,1 .... a big leap In performance over ""mer variants.. The grey colour 01' Ih;" ""ri"f detw..y alrcfafl "" ....{Iefy be&n rep!&C .... by a dark-9re.n OVD
intalligence-gathering equipment.
airc,aft
.............: tour 8O,07·kN (18,OI6-tb-thrust) Pratt & Whitney TF-33·P-9 (JT3D-3B) turtxojets
T
he Boei ng HC-135 ,;[r..l trnc COfiUll:lnd post fur StTJlegic Air Comnund, and
the E--6 Mercury 51ill provides
....1 _ .......: 990 kmIti (615 mph) al 10,000 m (32.800 It)
[he san".: scrvi(.'e for the US N,tvy's missile submarines. RC-135s of the US Air Force's 551h Wing deploy worldwide to snoop on poIenti,,! adversaries in global trouble spot~_ During the Cold Wa r, Ihey new doser to the USSR more
OperIlio.... radlll$: 4300 km (2672 miles) $er,lce Clm. .: 12,375 m (40,600 11) Wllgllts: empty 47,650 kg (105,050 Ib); loaded 144.000 kg (3 17,46661b)
Above: Despite the end of the Cold War, the RC-135 fleet is as important as ever to too United States, During the wars In Vl(!tnam and the Gulf it proved it was iust as good at collecting Intelligence in a tactical war. as it was in the type of supe.power stand-off for which it had boon designed.
often than any other Western aircr:lfr. During OperJlion Desert Storm, the HC~1 35
gathert..-d vilal intelligence on Saddam Hussein's forces. Using rJd ios. mdar and electronic equipment to spy
RC-135V Known coltectively by the codename Rivet Joint, the US Air FrMth about 17 S'\'SIem8 oparatOOl in the cabin
39.88 m (130 11 10 in)
COMBAT DATA
As wei as 'lislering' wi1t1 extraordinary seositMty, the RV 135 iO '.,... • lOng -r into N \ar\J'It temtory. ho""_~.o.:..-
mrn
ThB elongated nose CCIIlI<Wls a 8idf!.1ooking radar, whic:h prcMdes an 8ICOrtNrt whtln snoopng doI:Ie to ~ hosIie <XllX1\rf:I ~.
;"1 to .... is It» io'lCicaptiO" II'd recotdng of miIiWy~. RC-I35s..-..y carry ~ ~ ~ts to help in rhos WCI'II.
FOIJ Pratt 8. 'M1itney TF·33 tt.moIaos proyide
-
1Ind~
IlIdequate pow!.l< aro ~ oparation. but wi be ~ in the next lew )'OOrS by more rnod!Irn erogioM. Missile WllrT'IO"IQIjIIf1lIl'i:lg gear is otten carried jusl abcNe the trlgir>EIs to proteI_ tn<M..-.:., FOI ~ _ _ RC-'3!io_ awoka. 11le aiKT.Ift were produ«:d by modifring three rorn~r \\-C- B5B ""'t":nhct reconn:l iss:mce plark"S and art." •:'quippctl wilh a number of photographic sensors indudin~ ,I p:anorJlllic carner.! for high Ie>d phow~rJphy. two obliqllO:moumo:d c;unerdS and a \'cnicJII)' mOllmed CJ1'\lcrJ for 10\\ -k·...d work 'nlis modific;n;on and C\';tlu,lt ion were comple1charged 'adial piston engones
T
he l30eing n-50 IX'gan life as a n im p roved H-29. Too bte for World \'('ar II but just in time for thc Cold "" ar, the n-5() was cap;tble of hauling atomic bombs and was expt."Cted to Ily long-mnge missions. On 2 ,'.larch 1949 the B-')() 'Lucky L"ldy II' com plelL-d the first no nstop round -tlw-world !light, covcri ng 37,742 krn (23.500 miles) in 94 hours and I minute. 'l1lC H-')() \\';IS pbgu~"(1
by early problems. As initi;llly designed its oomb-lxty was in;ldl....q u:tle for lhe hc;lVy,
plutonium-baSL-d Type III nucle3 f bombs of the 19-iOs It had th(' brgt\etNI r.cks
--
~. Hoo.n:j
~
Dog W89
OOJIll the 197011
'''''"d "'*hi
................
_er IInkI b !hit_tor ~ system
__ w.
wIIh a PIW of 2O-mn C*'W'ICIIl.,..... Tht .......... 'H' modi!iI UIld \I 2I).rrm rota'y C*'W'ICIIl n tt. po:.eQon.
no::.--
~
." .....
•
~
-.~
__ deleted
_.- ~ -_.-
r.om
!hit r8I1"II.'Iri'" B-52s ... I!le rrW::t I 000..
0AIId by !hIt.-.glloM ~ IlIka-ofIIO 1ttuIt.
,
~
"'-*-
~
371.60m' (39981q n)
rIoInQ 01 ......,. _ _ toovoI'Il"'" 0I1MN&'icing """"""'" lhII'*9O' ... _ b - • . - ........... _ ... B-II2Ao '1w.Igoo$2t_ _ _ _ "'ml ll p , .... 8-502&_.·_ · 18 _
.... __ Tho _
12.1......., ....-9JidOd
Tal
56.39 m (1&1 II I' In) 47.73m {t5611 7 In) '4.13 m {48 114 n l
COMBAT DATA Tho
Tht Ilol t..... on !hit B-.52F " 111«1 wIIh bJ
IrOl.nl 147.112 ttres (38,870 gsIiorIoj - In IaJgII onIamIIIlInkI in !hIt1ulelagt ...:I WngI.. Tht J57-~ models aIKo CWTY
--
c.ry !hit N3M-211 Hoo.n:j Dog ~ 8IlifIaoe-Io-IW miaaIe. !Is ~ Q'lgnI <XU.:I be ~ by the 8m'8ll1o IncnIa!te ItnIst on
-'I'~
enctI
~alll",:
Wlltllts: empty H.893 kg (16(.7651b1:
IrCroI1Iced CIri !hit B-52G ...:I1e\a' 1ItIed 10 _ _ aQ'8ft _ !hit capabIty 10
ExllirnllIuaI urb 01 ~ U. . . InIId 10 moat B-52s. B-52F , . . lwei of !hIt1lwgalt type. -=:h ~ , 1.356 ~!DX)gaIorL ThoM on !hit '0' fT"IOdeIl-o:;lkl • . . . 2660 tiuw (70 geIOnoJj.
IrG'Tl !hit tunvt 10 a codIpI ~ h'IJ t. ~ rwroWy.
F - l00~A-3borri1lem
U·2'..........
Senlca
~ kuIV--n'fTi~5O-~,
IiIJlIiD _.h _
w•
~ ,~
'1 .11 •
-mI1ru.TOfOInul
11,na -tm'lII""
~n
_._---c:::.__ h
~ 8 ·28 .
- . ... ~ 1
l~::::~~~~~~~~__-=;-~~~~~~~;Boeing's strategic bombers •
e -17 FLYING FORTRESS: Taking 10 the
ali- "1935. lhe B-17 was buin iro eno<moUS 0UIi"0beq alter the US enl«ad World Wru It Moat of
~B
muionB took place ewer Europe.
• e-a
_____
--~~
a . _ I n ...
The ...... l,Iw .. ,.... II ..... up 01 lou' two-...nueI
~:;:;~~~~~==::=-=-=-=-~~~~;-;-;-;-~...~..~~.... ~~.:~~,~~~..
SUPERFOfITRESS: Tht 8 ,29 was .... lKIvanc«I ilifCran ~ Int"-In 1942. II was 10 bear the brunI 01 the bombO'>g campaign 0V'IIr .lapin: one dIIIoverad the liral atomic bomb.
""'*'
... _ _ IHITIIQI
:~.~~-1
.... crc.-Wn:IIIir'dVB- CuIrIggerI ~ !hit wi"Iga.
: l; t!: : ' ': . := ....
• . n._
.h_ ....
'*90'~_'
~
MAXIMUM SPEED • 8 -$0 SUPERFORTRESS: ProducUon 01 this more powerful de of the B-29 begao In 1945. AIthougto they uw action 0V'IIr Korea. 100II WWfI converted to triarI .. the Ke-5O.
aIop;,.,1
• a -47 STRATOJET: Predecessor of the 8-52 aod the lirsl swept·wong ie4 bomber bum in any
numbers. !he iiI'-enginad 8-47 II8IVed SAC !rom tllSt. At~. palik t.6IXI-.o in sarvIce.
w_"""
AI !ho _ 01_ w•• !ho 8-2e 01 !ho _ 1'1gInecI-.. Tho jet _ _ """"'" a...1 tMiInO _ IO IdCI ibo """ ogoinII ftgIlIIro ol IN __ _ _ 1,.1 • _ _. ~
~
"'
lour-
....-11>11'. "" ~ !_
!hotlmo!ho~_~
'II~
_mu.~
"_IIW ... ,...___•
61
AMERICAN MIUTAlIY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
BOEING
B-52G/H
BOEING
B-52G/H
STRATOFORTRESS
STRATOFORTRESS
... Sting In the tall
... Ertending the range
Most versions of
8 y using inflighf refuelling, the 8 -52 can cover any part o f the globe from jus t a few bases. This veleran is soon on its way 10 Vielnam in 1972.
the 8·52 had a
• Strategic bomber. Nuclear/conventional weapons . Global reach
fearsome rear defence of four ·5Q.caJibre' guns.
These were aimed using the radar mounted above.
Modern-day warrior ... 7Wo fully laden 8 ·52Gs launch from Riyadh In Saudi Arabia lor anothe( mission against massed II'fIQI armoored divisions during the Gulf War of 1991 .
... Nuclear deterrence
me 8 ·52 has an important role as a launch pla tform for nuclaar missi!&s. Here a SRAM is launched from the massive weapons bay. A fistful of throttles ... l1Ie 8 ·52's cockpit is dominated by the central engine control panel. Every dial and /ever is multiplied
eightfold.
onc eived as t he giant silver sword of the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command the 8-52 Stratof ortress was the biggest purely Jet- powered bomber 0' its time, a nd has been f lying 'or a lmost 50 yea r s. Flown for decades on a tomic alert, its only comba t use has been t he massive conventional bombing campaigns in Southeast A sia and the Persian Gulf.
C 62
PACTS AND PlGURU ~
The 8-52 hII •• er.w of nv., IneIudIng
~
two plIob, navigatOl', """bOilk: wan.. offk:er and borntNIrtht'. ... Displaying its enormous wingspan • 8 ·52 gets airborne trailing. thick plume of smoke as its eight turbojet eogffles straitl at full power to lift its 229.000 kg (504.859IbJ into the air:.
~ ao.Ing manufactured 744 . ~' and
,.
finished the last aircraft In Octobet' 1962. It 8 -52 coo reach any target In the world within 18 hours.
During Cpa auo.. Duart Storm, 8·52. 182& mtuIon., and dropped 5,829,000 kg (12,850,7441b) of bombs.
n.w
~
~h
,.
~cal
8-52 contains 90 km (56 miles) of wiring.
In 19$9, three 8 -528 s flew nons top around the world in under 50 hoUf'S.
BOEING B-52G/H STRATOFORTRESS
8-S2M Strato'lWtrHs
America's 'Big Stick'
. , .: ~ Iong--nonge stratego;; bomt...-
, . . . " . . .: t1igh175.62~ (17,014·lb-~ Ptatt & WhItnev TFJ3.P--3 ~
he lon~st·servi ng frontline "~I rplane in history. the lI-52 Strdtofonrcss W:IS the right aircrdft at the right tilne , It first new o n 15 April 1952 :md OC'C'J.m e the backbone of the West's nuclear PfCI>:lK-dness: h.ad the need :.IriS(."Tl, h undreds of R-S2s would have heaoc-d for Russia to drop hydrog«)duc tio n in 1991 a lte r 37 years.
E-3 AWACS SENTRY
BOEING
PR
ILE
Eye in the sky
G
etllng the Lodge
Versions of the Sentry built for the UK, France and Saudi Arabia fla"a much latter and far more fueJ-Ettt>cient oogines than their USAF cousins. 0\'1.''1"
the
enemy b)' u"lIlsa large
31f"{T:lft for surn'llbnce ","",s :t hOI. Kka III I9')S '" hen tlK' LockhL"'I..-d Super Constellatio n t~nlC the fiT"1 Airborne \\~arning 300 Control S),Stem ( AWACS). ToW)"~ 10-3 is a modern A\\~ACS :illl'Cr.lft ",hlch nit."S :u jt.'1 sp(:eds a rr,ing up 10
I scored I))' Alhl-d
and beautiful aircraft which ~\'olutionlS
:md dll\."CIing. D uri ng Operation DcS1\ 6096 m I2OJIOO ftj
--... .,.,atillg ....: 563 kmIh (350 "'4'h) •• 12.192 m (40.000 fI)
.....,
EMIrIIcr. .. ton, ~ 11\ 12,192m f«l,CUIl'II • dlst..ca 04 1609 km 1,000 miIeeI!rom baH lor • IOtaI n-...on •.,..,. in e.c.s 01 11 hours
knit.
~elU.,:
8850 m 129.035 ftj
WeI,kU: empty 77.966 kg (171.996 Ib); loaded 147.420 kg (325.000 Ibl
OI_lIIlan:
~ESMpOOI:I
\Iotoch tIcoJse II Lora!
d91ecuon system.
.... Span
44.42 m (145119 in) 4(>'61 m\lS2ft I I in) 12_7Jm(411t9in) 283_30 m' (30491ome Early Warning Foru In HI6 1.
AW/!CS ' - •
fi~hters
Type: aortx:..ne _rw-og ..00 control .~t"'"
~
'7
M' fTWl: MYar>ced ~ proc--.g systMla IIIIcJM AWACS to picIt-out ......1IiUd tavtI*...-rOd the chacItic clutI. 04 ...... .-ur'" fn:>m !he """'_ 04 \he _ .
1NT'IAUA'4D: AWN:,S ca"l swIIdl ~ mocIat_.. . . . . per MCOfId. Thit ___ \he
-.::ran ...cI turfIIce Ia'geII ~
big ~an to IIClOI1 for
'"'if
Tho
Son,.,... moot
~
~"'~
_
...
"'_Ing ,......
_ _ Ia1/OiO ....t-*Y""'II
,~. __ ~"'-'~dnc'a-ld_ mokinV inMn:epta. 100",_
'..... r . ._ . I-J"ACS SlIITIT
iii====:'iiJ,... 65
AMERICAN MIUTARY AIRCRAFT
BOEING
E-3D/F
BOEING
E-3D/F
SENTRY
SENTRY
importance of the
Sentry's mission,
• Airborne Early Warning (AEW) • Improved systems . Fighter control
that operations are flown around the c/oek .
.& Eighty year Sentry Outing 1995. No. 8
.. Waddington home
SqulIdron, RAF. appIi«1 t--~ .. special maridngs to one of its aircraft, in honour of the unit 's 80th anniversary. A
--.
RAF Waddington is the base for RAF Sentry AEw.Mk IS. The colours o f No. 8 Squadron are wom on the pott side, those of No. 23
MCOnd ...."" squadron has since
to starboard.
707 lineage ....
Even though it is a thoroughly modem, high-technology aircraft. the SentI}' still has the unmistakable lines of the BooIng 707, France
I'"""'" UK specified CFM56 engines which gNe
fTIOf'e power and lower fuel conwmption. btlt require ia"J6I" nacelles than those o f NATO E-3s.
I
"Y French visitor French E-3Fs are frequent visitors to Waddington, as afe NAEWF
E-3As. as seen to the rear.
... Extended endurance In -night refuelling is able to extend the E-3DIF's endurance to the limits of crew fatigue. Hose and drogue-equipped RAF VCIo, 01" Tristars are the most likely tankflfS kx the Sentry AEWMk I.
fter trying to develop an airborne early w a rning version of the Nimrod maritime reconnaissance aircraft, the UK finally gave up in 1986 and decided to buy a version of the Boeing E-3 instead. Fra nce followed s uit. Deliveries of seven E-3D s for the UK a nd four E-3Fs for France, were completed in M ay 1992. These aircraft are operated in conju nc tion with the E-3A Sentrys of the multinational NATO AEW Force (NAEWF).
A
..
i
PACTS AND PlQURU
.& Both the
Brit:·:,~., ~",,:=""""""""~:~
French air anns received a slgn/ficant boost to their capabilities with the introdrx:tion o f the Sentry. All the .m:tlIft see intensive operations.
• • •
8rbIn ortgNIt,- ordered only ... Sentrys, but t.t...- .HrCi8ed .... option on • - - . t t l eIrc,-.n.
RAF s.ntrys Mg.n constant J)4ttroIs 0_ Bosnia in November 1992. M aritime sUlVeillance Is an Important secondary role for RAF E-30s.
• • •
F~ order.cI ..... E-3Fs, eonftrmed .... option on.~, but canc.-.cl optIone, lor tis ftfttI tIftd sixth s.ntrys.
BrItlIin ordered Its first six aire..." In Dec. mber 1986. Initial French orders w a re placed In February 1987.
BOEING
---
Anglo-French Sentry service
C
Olllpared
to
the original
E-3A, both the RAF's E3D Scntry AEW,1\1 k 1 :md
the French air force's E-31' are POweK-d by quieter, ~ po\H:rfu l and more fuel-effICient
CfM $6 turbofans. Mission sfS{cms lla\t: also b.:en u~"'.Idcd. wilh eXp3nded computer memory and processmg. colour displays to n:.-ducc opcrJlor workio:ld and fatigue , and betlt-r pm-resbt:mt rJdios, TIle RAF :lire...... f, also l'\;l\c wingtip pods for intcgr,I\ed elL-drooic w:lff: ....! systems. ,1le'o(! :dlow the E-3 D's cl(:ctronic "uppon measures ( ES:-.I) L'quipn'k!nI to ck1t"Ct :md
c b s:>ify :m y target which i~ using a r.:Id:IT. lkxh the E-3D :md the 1':-31' are filled wilh In-IIItoII'IIIUIIIng probM _1Itt4od to lilt E-3D.-.I
E-3F.
~
w""utiJlty
with 1he FW''' . . . . !Ieee.
""-
--
a·3D Senby &aW.MII. 1 lftw. ...oom. ..ty wwning and oontroI and
,. fW acral! ,.....
,...1: """""
'III'IW:tlhoo..-LcnItO , 7 "YtIIow Gale' ESM ~.n-
refuelling pl\Xles for use With hose-t'..'Qu ipped ta nkers as wel l :IS Ihe st:md ard receptacle for USAF-style booms
-111C airer'.!f! are flown by a CIl;!W o f two pilots. an engineer :md a o;l.vigator. 11ley also C',olrry a conununic-.ltic:ln$ opcr.llor and thr('e technicians t!':lined to tCM, oper.llc and any Ollt limitoo airbomc maintcn.;mce of the C'ommun ic".lIions, computcr and !':Idar ~)'Slcms. 'Inc main cabin houses nint' mission spL-cialists. l n e t:lclic il dir..-cto r is in o\'er:t ll c h:trge o f th e three fighter intercept C'onlrollcrll, Ihl"L'e survei ll ancc
o per:IIOfS , ;1 data link manager an F...s.\I systems Opt.'r.llor
;lIld
SENTRY
AEW.MK
All Mven AAF IlircnPtt _
(;{)mmitments to Bosnia, Operation 'Warden' over Northern Iraq and constant exercises, mean that the E-30 fleet Is stretched to the limit.
E-3D/F SENTRY
"Wil IOU" 108.8-kN (2 •. o:JFG.lb-1hNII) CfM lnMmIIlionaI CFM5fi..2A2 ~
......
&low ~ 0Meeti0n 01
....1_ ...-I: 853 krnr1"Il5lO mph) at
/!IlIlrI"i.IldtlrIr... ,........ 10 E·3F•.
_....
lind on not frded
10.973 m (36,000 II)
l IMlIJallC': fl"IOfII l h.an 1 I houno UOfII!ueIed, IIJc hours 00 IlIIion at 1609 km (1ooo millll)
or
Semee celli. .: 12,192 m (otO,ooo ft)
WeftIIts: empIy T7.2 131q;J (HO.2561b1;
~1.83m16fU
.......
i'l dIIpIh..-1 i 14 m
An ~ 01 t"qHIt ~ rcl.d"Q 1Ieding-edge slits.
f!\IIlUmu'n tIIk..aft 1.7.4\7 Iq;J P2.500 IbI
~1I)i'l~.ChII
"""""'"
'III'i"G IfPC)IIrs on - . : I by
. . . . . . ~oIChII
Ac:c-atl...: u:suaI OIIW 0111. CO'ISiIIting 01 • IIight CNW of IOU". IOU" support and ninI
ChII E-3 fIoQm b ...... ~
~1>P"(·2
mission OIIW rnIIfTlbtn
b.Ii' Idge IIlIpund CMfI'-
rader. h f"QI81ef; at ...
4U 2m(' 45 1t. i'l)
~ per PT"nJIe
""* PTIiMoof-. a ~ 0117 is C8I'TIed.
~
For
the fader is n .....
268.67
Th& ..ork 0I1t1e
-fIY$1~ ()pOlfjItOfS
46.61 m(1S2ft II In) 13.00 m (42 It 8 In) ~
(2892 sq It)
is
WilY ;"8flI8 8I'ld dImIning. 'MIll e.:tl I*tOI'I ........aging a
~.-
1
pooled betwMn two
kIO ad 01 .... No. 8 Squadron was ChII origInIol unit lind was)olned by No. 23 Squadron on I April llMM1, giving the Senlly !leet much uree1er manpower.
CFM56111'9*' Il"'llIhe E-3D'F ~"""Ioo".caWllh"" ~~ ChII-vr- on can'iIId muc:tt ~ 10 ChII gn:uld 1hBn IhoI!e 01 ..... 5enIry ~ RAF ..:rlIfI ' " - ~ /of two
lR.IIIfwino ~, v.hCfI lOW
apparently not <eed,
ModiIoc8b01'l$ 10 It-. ....... 01 t-= 707 ....... l1l1I lew ~,..- Th& PTlOIJt otMws In Ihf!IItItga POlodome auppon struts and tt1e IPId< 01 cabi'l windows lilt
+
Ii
""nilb'
_ ........ (.x:.-. 01 ...... usSonIry IVt Faco."",,"_ f"Iar lhcrm;.1 shielding, protection ag High-frequency communication probes are filled under" the wing, and the wIngtips are fitred with pods COIl/Billing ultra-high Ireqooncy safellite receiv8I'S.
aintaining communication links wi th Ame rican missile submarines at sea is the unique Job of the Boeing E-6 M ercury. The E-6, f ormerty the ' Hermes' , was the final version of the Boeing 707 off the production line in Renton, Washington. The 707 airframe, originally designed in the 19505, encloses the hi-tech comms s ystem known as TACAMO (Take Charge and Move Out).
M 70
FACTS AND 1'I0URES
... Equipped with the lates t communications systems, the E-6 Mercury will remain It vital component Itt the US chaJn o f command weIIlttto the next centuty. A crew of 18 operators Is required to COIl/roi the systems.
~ The maiden night of 1M _ _ prototype aircraft took piaca on 19 February 1e87; 1M aircraft hava sean combat.
~
The E-e c.m.. axtra bunks for rellaf crawmambaft because of its long andurance nights of up to 72 hours.
~
~
Boeing manufactured 18 E-6s for service with the US Navy.
On 2 August 1989 the first operational E-6 Mercury entered service.
~ Two squadrons, each with eight E-6s,
are operated by the US Navy.
~ Training for M ercury pilots is camed out
in Waco, Teltas, by civilian contractors.
BOEING E-6 MERCURY
PROFILE
Co-ordinating the submarine fleet or sc\cral )'cars the US N;l\'Y used the EC· I3OQ Hercules in the TACA....O
F
role, which ffialmalOS lowfrequency communlC.llions
between American commanders
and ,heir nuclear submarines. ~I owevrt, a more modern aircrJft, especially o ne th:,! could provide extrJ space and impro\'t.'ti crew comfort. was fC(luin.' (] as a replacement for the ;tgcing HCfC\Llcs. Navy cXpcT1S dl"Citk:d lhat the Boeing 707·320 !.irlincr offc11.--d the
rllOl>t
suitable
ba~is
for
the neW :lircrJf\, :m d i:OSlOl'!.] a
cont r:lC! in 1983. l 'he 707 airfr.ornc, from
which the E-6 " "JS d ....vdop..:d . pro"idl'd m:lximurn ronunon:,I,ly with the E·) Scmry AWACS
(Airborne W:.rnmg and A
tV>!;
IrCI
~
tt.¥ .., !he '""
a..,.,.,iba. wno '-.n WIIIIde ~
'* no
. . , tn:m tnr p(lr1I'(:IIM
i'l1I'II~""'docn.
"
Conullunkations System) aircraft. for ease of servicing. The huge CFMS6 engines. c hosen because of thei r outstanding fuel effKieocy, resulted in ultr.t·1ong endurance while on p;ttrol. In fact . since il can be refuelled alo(l, lhe endurnnce of the Mercury is limik"(l only by its engine oil C"J padty. To communic)le w it h submarines, the Mercury uses IWO trnilin)o: wi re antenn:as wh ich lre hardened against the effects of nuclear bb st a nd ;are dcploYl-d frolll its t:lilcone (1220 n1l4000 fl lonK) and underfuseb ge (7925 mI 26,000 fl long). When Ihe aircrafl flies .. tighl orbil Ilwse :mlcnn ..s hang vcrtk"".. 11y down and allow COfI"Illlunic;llions 10 be Irnnsrlliued
...... .,.n: 981
knvtl (l5Ot!I....,n)
. . .1 _ tnllsI", speN: 1W2 knVh (522 mph!
bite: 11.760 km (7291 miIasl Abo.,.: Departing Rooton ftx the short f/tght to BoeIng Field in Seattle, lhe US Narry's first Mercury flew in 1987. l1HJ first two operational
. .~ empry 78.375 "" (112,431
. Ircraft flew Into "'AS Barbtlrs Point, HawaJIln Augotlst 1989 to SEll"V6 with VO-3 squadron In the P.clfic tlleatre.
Iangth heoghl
to subnurinl'S lowing thdr own ae n:11 fUr-I )' . After defence cuts in the 1991);, and as the thre:ll of nuclc:lr "'"Jr Ix:corm:s increa:.inKI )' unlikely , the Navy has rllOl'"C E-6s 1I~1l il 1l..'rtIs and Ill:ly ass iWl some of Ihe m to St'COfl(bry duti ..'S suc h as IrJining o r 1r.lIlsport.
Senica celli..: 12.800 m {42.ooo ftI ~tak&-ofIl55.I28
beIwld the !IIn>:;too ~ 707-32O(;!WInwnas 101' the procl.ctJon (·88 was changed on cost grourds;
corMIItocl air'i'lefs are IJeir.g used instead, the
"'cc--utlll: piIOI, co-piIOI, IIigtrt
E·8BII - . 10 be powered t¥.- GElSNECMA Fl06
~,na'l:'ar). Auslralia Egypt. Ir.ln. lIaly, Japan, UIl}~,1. and Taiw;lI"I.
reSistance. TIle US Army ordcr..:d an upgr;lde of its fleet in the 1980s [0 CH-47D 'I:Ulgth
CHINOOK
10.-'
•
0ewI0pMI1n ~ from IN 5pKi.! Opeqtions F........ _ MH ~7 E WH derived from CH ... 7D, but Ia titl..s with .ll~
_.""""-'1
aophIabt..s .'o'IonIca.
-e-
_
-_.-.INITIAL CLIMB RATE
?
•
\
\
\
"*"
-
IoIIowir'l(I ...0. lind FUR ,,,,",, u-.. MH_47 I'Iy at I~"""""'" low ...... In .. _1t>eta. IIowIog the rapid ) u.,,\ 01 SpM:iat F~
U1'BCIIID AAHGe: To ~ '-"*"".....,. ~ .... MH~1 .. fitted WIth • ~ in_~ ~ probe wtIich elIII8nds forward, Thia ...... con*, WIth. ~ tank.- lIiro"aft .....tIk:h trIlIIIl drogue'-"*"" lIS fI.eaIIge.
n
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
BOEING-VERTOL
CH-46
B OEING-VERTOL
CH-46
SEA KNIGHT
Americ811 intervention in Grenada. One o f the weaknesses o f the Sea Knigh t is tha t it has little armour and is vulnerable to small arms fire.
""" Jeep carrier The CH-46 C811 even carry a light vehicle in its hold, thanks to its integral rear loading ramp. This can be opened in flight to allow psratroop drop!J, or while the Sea Knight is 011 the water for rescue duties.
Storm service ... The biggest deployment for the CH·46 in recent years was Operation Desert Stonn. Sixty were used for such varied ta$ks as casualty evacuation, ruupp/y and veftical rep/enishmfHlt.
ith its familiar t andem-rotor configuration, th e CH· 46 Sea Knight is easily recognised as the US Navy's and M arine Corps' version of the civil Model 107. Thi s practical , versatile workhorse has operated since the 19605 and saw action in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. The Navy relies upon the Sea Knight to supply its warship s at sea, while the Marine Corps uses it as an assault helicopter. Despite its age, the CH· 46 is stili in service.
W 78
'ACTS AND PlQURU ~
The prototype flew on 22 Apria 1M&. with tha first pi C ~ :1Ion CH-40 following on
~
Some eee Se. Knights were buln; US Navy and M.rina COIln models served In Oper.,lon 0..." Stonn.
~
The US Army tested a version of tha CH-46 but oeclOed not to operate It.
~
Other military versions 01 this helicopter are employed In Canada, Japar'I and Sweden.
~
In 1965 the Sea Knight replaced the Sikorsky H-34 with Marine units In Voetnam.
~
The \/-22 tin rotor will begin replacing the CH-46 In the year 2000.
t6 October 1962. ... Twin-rotor lifting power givu the old CH-4(; impressive perlormance, end the aircraft wiU be more than 35 years old when it retires. The Sea Knig/lt has notched up .. good combat record.
BOEING-VERTOL
CH-46
SEA KNIGHT
PROFILE
The Marine Corps' 'flying bullfrog'
Type: troop-canyirlg miIiIary heIicoph,. Po.~: two 1394-kW (181O-lIpj General Electric T58-GE-16 turbosI'Iaft engines
_...
MII.IIIIIIIII speed: 256 kmlh (159 mph)
W
provided
hen the lwin-\uroinl: CIl-46 Sea Knight was inlroduct'(! it ~
new standard of
performance to the N~ vy and Marine Corps. 130Ih needed a strong, roomy, vt:rs:ltilt: helicopter fOT combal support To the Navy, this meant 'vcrtiC'll replenishment ' - using helicopters to ha ul C'.Irgocs to ships at sea. TIle Marine Corps u.o;ed the CH-46 to C'.Irry combat troop:; din:."(11y into banle, and many who served in Vk"tnam are alive today lx:lla L-19 Bird Dog. '111is highwing, all-melal i.ircrJfl achieved an unprt:'Cedcmed record of service in Korea, \rM:lnam and in many ocher parts of the world )(:'1:11 lit fiN as simply a light
die Bird I~ pron:d ind,spcns;lblc 10 many
oIl5Cf\;IUOfl craft,
\";11,.,..d 1llilil;ol)' opcr:alions
aro
By the 19E108 the Dog was 01 the IIowesI IWCIlIh In ~
seNIoe.
~ .. d"""'.
one
h If,9.kW
(213-f1>j COnIr>entaI pISIon .-one I'I'lIIdII ~ KlNI for low IttIng In __ ....::t1 as VoeInBm. _ Iha .........,.
0 · 1 E Bini Dog Below: Two early L· I9$ in flight. Originally delivered in nat~ metal, US Army aircraft began to adopt 1M overall darl< green catnO(Iflage in 1951. Marlcings were toned down In the t960s during the Vietnam War.
In Vie1nam, lxMh the US AIr Force and Ihe South Viet namese cmploy ...xI lhe Bird l)og in the pcrilou ~ f01>" .. rd air control (I'AC) 10k. 111 ~.bad< 1aiIfW'eIrudder.
the ~ ' - o I h IU8l' Io.asoeIiIge
01 tut>ocl*irid t66-kW 1225-1lIl TSIO-3eO ungn9I!I ,,~----
157 -kWI216-hp1T~
ftat-.o. jlOSIQI'I Max. . . . . . . 320kmho(I98mph)&t_ ......
., t, .,
___ o-2a. - . t fitted ..... a tq..~ .... hit ~..:I B6JI
A cxmmon the i'lItaIaIIon
two
COntin&ntaI ~
"I~ ~ 1292 kg (2840 Ib): IIOke-oII 2449 kg (5390 Ib)
l.lSN' I*Jd
the~,
ru __ l
communications rOl' a psychological warfare role.
T-..oOll'~weI known_"",,~
G-2A Skyngater r"r. Iorwwd ... c:onIrOI L .alloo. aon::raft
Below: At the time that the 0-2A WIt.5 ordered, the USAF COIItracted (or 3 1 'off-the-s/IeIf' St!per Skymasters designated 0-2B. They W8tlt equipped with Ioodspeakers and advanced
..
ortIIr 10 IT'IEWIt.n .-.gone ~111111~uda
ACTION DATA
!..!:h'·I.witH
13
_ I n ...... , - . . . USN"II 0-2 - - . . • • In
.. -....-
~"" ....... ~ aotnpCOIWOt.
--_--..... ----
_....,...lns.:....
--~
0 -2A
",
mission
......... NOOTH
USAF flQ hl .... "
337FB SUPER SKYMASTER Stt Lanka took de"'-l' 01' .tJ: Supeo- Sk.)'INs t ..... IlJ\cludinfllour Model 337fe. 1ritto an incfened II'IIWmum taQ-Q" ..eight. .... hIo... MIca bMn Ntlrad..
~..mtIIn~bylh&i""""" IMw;h In ' - Y t o _
UoeIItga ~
•
""""""""
",
-
"
"
.-,-'
ZIg-zag fOUta .,... _', North \IItInIm, f;gm.· bon'bart hom Oa Nang I
..:I - " n..;Iand ___,0II1wld to bomb
-
• ••
'"
lor the light... 0uMg the FAe flies I t right angles to lhe bombln 10 avoid being hit.
.-
, . OM'
.':
'_,
c.gMS marI000,1\>01_"......,...., - . ..-.:17.62-
,on';n_,,~". !~~~r~~~~~~~~~~~~:j
The T-37 will be III' replaced by the T-6 Texan /I from 2001.
~ Foreign 'Tweets' The T-37's excellent handling qualities make il the perfect mount for precision flying. T-37s are used by the Portuguese na/ional aeroba/ic team .
... Trainer with teeth Cessna developed an armed version of the T-37 for light attack as the A-37 Dragonfly. Sidewlnrfflr missiles were not part of the standard armament.
N
icknamed the 'Tweet' or ' Tw eety Bird' after an appealing cartoon characler, the Ces sna T-37 has been the USAF's primary training aircraft since the mid 195Os. The visually pleasing design has not changed externally in 40 years, although the instruments and equipmen t bene ath its skin have been c o ns tantl y improved. Genuinely lo ved and admired , the T-37 will s till be training most USAF pilots well into the 21 st century.
86
~
... Cessna stuck to conventional wisdom by deSigning its T-37 trainer with sidfJ-by-side seats. Like many air arms, the USAF Is now tumlng to a tandem arrangement for basic training.
~
'ACTS AND FIGURES ~ en- be>pn dH6gning tM T-37 a. a
Many student pilots briefly fly a pi cpa"a aWer8fl before advancing to primary training In the T-37. The USAF currently ha s about 550 T-37Bs in training squadrons.
~
Tile prototype for the T-37 series made Its first flight on 12 OctOber 1954.
private WII1twe, aimed at 6ntroducing jet po_ to the primary training mission. ~
_re
In total, 1269 T-37s manufactured for the US Air Force and for ellport.
fl_ tile first production T-37 on 27 September 1955.
~ Cessna
C eSSNA T- 37
Long ~serving
T· 37B &How: Most USAF T-37s are based In Tuas where fPying cOlldiIions are ideal for much of the year.
USAF trainer
prmaty trW*
~ twO 4.56--kN (10'.!&-t>-1IIrw'Q ConIIfl«Jlal ..I69-T·25 I\.Irbot8I ~
..............: 68S.......,. (425 mpI1)
T
ens of' thous.1rlds of USA F pilOl$ ha\'e their fi~ experience of jet flying in the T-37 'Tweet'. The T-37 was desigIX' IW"9B of attad< ~ Iht ~ ~ .. 1he IIlIIItMlIy
_ "" rap .-. ez.:r,...t.·28.__ t>r ",. _1<MQIoW ....,.rap.-_ .. _IO_1rorn
~~.thut~!he
III ""*'11_ """ quddy..... - . g ..-...g ......
III'CQft t.:m e'lIO"ng a deep lUll
T-31Ca ' - an .......... tr--.g If"d ~ I(tII anad< CIIPII*Y ,..... 10 a WQI8 ~ IIdIr eac:tl...-.g. n. ca'1 "d _ _ _
n.
fjgnI-. _ _
~_ IO"'in~
lOtri-oij~oI~IO_,,"'-"'-"
'Tegg;. Ann' WM It. command -'tip lor It. '~ ', _
_UMl~,""", j'''• •_
37f11h 80mb Group. ThII unit W" ~ mauled IoIowW>g .-tt.cks on It. Aom.nIIon oIIfIeIdJI ~ PIonIIIn 1944.
J'' __•• _"
_~ II1''"''''' ''''
.,,,_111' .... .,m.! lit! 1,.
-
•....... I
•=
.
AMERICAN MILIT~Y AIRCRAfT
PHOTO FILE
CONSOLIDATED
8-24
C ONSOLIDATED
8 - 24 (US NAVY) ... Great white bird
(US NAVY)
High 0V8I' the Atlantic a P84Y- t Liberator flies an anti-submarine patroJ. Operating far from Its land base, the Liberator was one o f the few forms o f protection for convoys against the hunting 'Wolf-packs ' of German U-boats.
• land-based bomber . Anti-submarine patrols . Surface radar
Proven design '" Early model Libera tors
Navy differed very littlfl from their Anny Air Force countetplllfS. operated by the US
!=~~=~~~~~~~~~~~~~;~~~~~~~~~~
Coastal Command ...
Its radar /owtK&d, a Britishoperated Liberator .searches the ocean for Getman wbmarines. In addition to guns bristllnQ from all angles. armament could inclucJe rockets mounted on either side of the nose on pylons, which were very effec tive against ships.
... Gear up Under"caniage dangling, .. Liberator takes off from GUedaicanei in 1943. The fighting around the Solomon Islands was some of the heaviest of the war.
Twin tails ... A distinctive feature of all Liberaton; was their twin tai/s, said to offer beller handling at high aititude. Later a/reraft were fitted with a single tail, and the type, renamecJ Privateer. had 811'tensive post-war S&fVice.
L
OSseS of Allied shipping in the Atlantic to German submarines hunting in ' wolf-pac k s' highlighted the urgent n eed for a long-range patrol aircraft for the US Navy. With British Coastal Command already having dem onstrated the suitability of the Libera tor, the US Navy received its first aircraft in August 1942. Designated PB4Ys, the se Liberators - with their e xceptionally long range - saw extensive service in Europe and the Pacific .
90
FACTS AND !'IQUR. . .. n.B-240...-wd ... ....."u-tre.and ... 1842-43 w. . the mo.t ~ bomber ... the P.cHIc.
A
Naval Liberators were instrumen tal in closing the area of ocean known as the 'Atlantic Gap', where German U-boats /Xeyed on AJlied convoys deliv&fing vttaJ supplies to Britain.
.. By 19421he Uberator equipped 15 ..nti.....bmarine squadrons. ~
More than 917 examples Of the Uberator were ope.-ated by the United States Navy.
.. brty N.vy Uber.tors _ ~ to heed-on
pertlcuWtymad • • gun
8ttec:ks by - . - ngtrten..
• n. first operational untt of naval Liberators was based In Iceland. •
Reconnaissance ve rSions remained In naval sefVice until 1951 .
CONSOLIDATED 8 - 24
(US NAVY)
PROFILE
Consolidated's convoy protector
D
PB4Y·1 Llbemor
T".: Iand-bMoId fOIrIUmI patrol iIrCrIOft
es pilt: having :alre:ady
were L"quippc:d with air-to-
b..:en supplying Urila;n
~u rracc
with the essential mmcrbls for WOlf by way of
convoys :across the Atlantic, AmericA cnlae in ehe Korean W'J f in French service. in Sucz
~nd
Indo-China.
s:lW
'111C last i'ril';LIL'Crs in US service werc tiler QP4B dmne alrcr.lft relir(:d in ehe C;!rly 1960s. Others SC("l.o:..J in Laein AmcriC"J.
guns in nose. twin dorsal and tail tumrls and in two fuselage blislLln, plus up to 5806 kg (\2,780 11)) of bomt>s or ott- 51"""" indJd;"g two ASM-N-2 Bal rndar-hom"'ll ",,\i..t>!p missiles
us Navy .rns rec:eN9d 736 F'I1vat98fS. the transpOrt versKlI'\ 01 which ~ oo:Ier8d by the
....
DllllensloRS:
U5AAF as the C-S7C) woo Iem up. Howe\«. on take -on lhe aisi\"c aircraft. only 15 1X'GIIlJe operaTional before the \\':Ir'" end, equipping lhe 386m llollibardmem Squadron on Okin:I\\"d. Fany TB-32s wen:: also uSt:
Oil",,,,II"':
The [)(wnin(Jtor\l enormous 181 was a neces&It\I n order to fflPIicaIa Iha !ll.riaoe ... 01 !he 1WO l8I)i!rIIIe lab 01 !he p!OICJtrl)e aortr8It. Secat.ee 01 hunied rr&""kJIacIIIe. !he tlyStem _
ar. 01 ... gu"l1U'NU • ..:h vrMIlwO 121-mn 1.50-ornt>f; In two bornb-t>ays: 10 12.7-rrrn (.50-cal.) machine guns In live barbell. . but 14 weapons n MVeip,lk"lnbs on G..'rnlOlny from t);lS.I
~:
The NB-36H carried a nuclear reactor to lest Its effect on the aircraft. The nfMt step WOtJId have been • nuclearpowered bomb«.
'*'"
70.10 m(230 II) .9.40 m (162 II 1 In) U.22 m (46 II 8 In! 443.32 m' (4772 MI II)
To QMlthe tuge bont:>er on ex1ra bu"st 01 the 9·36 _ fitted wdtllour J4 7 t...no,ats to augmen1the iii>; ~ pstoo ~ driving 1M propeIe(s
.-:l CMiIl the tlll"\l!M area,
COMBAT DATA MAXIMUl'll SPEED I-UtTU-..a111U1 MbI,4I ......
J...._ ....~
" " '_ _ _ 111 10M IUS_
...
J....___
I-n_==I_
,
Sl'IluIo1Ipst_
~"'. _ _ ~""'_~oI.".-.gB-2lI, "",c.w__ . ___ .... ..- _ _ _.· .... __ bo _ _ -.g~,
,...
_ _ _ . _ _ >c>ouIporlarm ............... III '*lIN.
FORCE
iMM!3i dill ...... ----....
.. ...... --
----. -_ _....--
I..
-~
~
"~AOOH
-~
........
N
_
~.
•
,MIII
~I
,
,
lUll.
""~. " ,111 •
"''''.
i~ ~
I !
__ u
_N --_.--~ the
u~_
'*'1/11. _
_ u ....
'*"YinII.,."..,;ty to
....-
~~
.
-~.~-~~ _ ... B-52
99
AM ERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
CONVAIR
8-58
C ONVAIR
8 - 58
HUSTLER
HUSTLER
• $upersenlc strategic bomber . Delta wing . Nuclear-armed
Hustlers landed fast - a typical touchdown speed with a high fuel load remaining was around 350lemlh (2 17 mph). A brllleing paTliChute was orten used to prolong the life of the wheelbraJces.
A Fast mOyer Without Its huge fu6land weapon pod the 8 -58 looked Ulee a fighter, and perfomled Uke one too. With artlltfbut1HK selected, the H ustler cOCJkJ climb at around ' 1,500 m (37,700 rt) per minute.
Flyi ng capsules IIIThe tmoo-man crew sat in IndMdual cockpits. They liked their personal escape capsules. but disliked the laclf o f adequate air-conditioning.
A High altitude Hustlers performed vet}' we/I at altitude, and cooJd climb to atOIJnd 20,000 m (65,000 rt). This enabled them to escape the attentions of most fighters, but the shooting d own o r the U-2 spyplane in 1960 by a surlliCe-to-alr missile showed high a/titvde did not guarantee safely.
B
rillia nt b ut brief - tha t was the c areer o f the Convair B· 58 Hustler o f t he USAF's Strat eg.lc Air Command. Fro m a re a-rule fuselage thro u g h crew escape cap sules t o its rev o lutiona ry J79 e ngine s, everyth ing a b o ut the B-58 pushed back the fron tiers; it w as a t o wering e ngineerin g a chiev ement. Had it gone into b a ttle, the Mach 2-cap a ble Hustler, w ith its imme nse perfo rma nc e and advanced podded weapons, would h ave bee n a ble to penetr a te Soviet d e fen c e s w ith Impunity.
100
PACTS AND PlOURU
.& The 8 -58
was a te;:;hnoJogk;al wondet; with blistering perlormance. But its operationallfeJIibilify was limited to the strategic role by Its UfNJsuaJ comb inOO fu6I- and weapon-pod concept.
.. The B-!8's ftrat ftIght took pCece on 11 No ....bee 1950, -'" tl booe...-. operational In 1960.
.. n,. ftrat SAC HuotSer w6ng Nt 1e wortd recont., incIucIng supenonk: flights to
.. A 8 -58 can"ied a five-toone bomblottd to
... /It fully lo.ded Hustle~ had to exceed 400 km/h (250 mph) before it could get aklft.
a .-.cord height of 26,018 m t85,339 ftl. .. The Hust ler could fly at I 128 kmlh
(698 mph) at low level, neve~ climbing ab ove 155 m (500 ft) .
or from London , Tokyo and Paris.
.. To t est the escape s yste m a bear was eject ed f rom a 8 -58 at 1400 k mlh (868 mph).
PROFILE
T
he Convai r !j·SS Hustler was the world's first
cock pits; ,I tW, as ()!!tT-.;o.Ji'Iage
COMBAT DATA
wasl"()(~1or
fW1 8IrCr8ft that WCltAd ~bI.I-,1rum
llboYe
It) tI) It) It)
MAXIMUM SPEED
Tho 8·5/1 . . . Iho _ _ _ 01 ......... _ _
n OCbon
~
Ihon
Iho_·&lCId ·_~....,_~._Tho _ogic _... _ oIIhoF"III1g/"11 _ _ _ in Iho _1Il600 ... 1.1•• but
_
B-5SA HUSTLER
~ .,.,..,
mooinIainltatop
. . - "" orif. '-"'......,...; Iho _ . , . , . . , kooplJOinlr .. MactI 2 lor ....... Ihon .. hour.
The " 6 B-58s Itquipped two winga of Strate-gic ...... Command, HIVing from ' 1160 to '970, d uring which li me the type set Hveral ~ ..... payload records.
Feu e>fIII(h the ' - dMI\Jn, r.ot
t::Uges were added each ..- oIlh1i ... fUe8IsQ8 Th9se were~. lor ~..-.....Mar'tynI'
_ _ F-.;cn ~-..
....-~
-~ owe. ro.MlQ.I~
ccUd""'_" r..o,:.ow. F_ 102'1
fllAXIMUro'l SPEED
.. __ ......
,
~
-.~
'...._
1_~""(IM_ ' lJa-..f'IS"
f-l . . . . _
U.S . AIR pORCE
WUPONI DIJIl.OYB): The F- l 02 Nod ttnoe weapon ~. -=:h hoicIong twO Falcons ... tandem ....... one oI1he IiW beys 01 opened UIueIIy ttnoe heat-seeloog FaIc:orII -.!i caroiId w!tI1 ttnoe rad8r-
......
-
-
...
u.s. A1Ri'~O~.C~
Ihe t;.(C 195(ls, the
F- I06 was one of the r..Slcs( fighters in the:: world. It had twice the .\o!X-"t!d of the preceding f-102, and m...'1 all
SAGE (se.ll,-:oulom:l1 k
~rollnd
(,'fIv,ronrncnl) air defence
system, the 1'-106 V.~IS r~ than the .\oum of its 'hb ck boxcs'
F -1 08A Dettll Dart
Below: Patrols 01'/1( Alaska were an Important task !Of' F· 106 crews, as Soviet bombers could halflt threatened the USA by f'JyIng from bases in north..astem Siberia.
" ": eongI&-_ inten;eplor ~ 00II Pfan & WI"ootney J75-P·17 kN (17 ,212 Ib !Mall dry thrust..-d 106.99 kN (24 ,523 Ib ttwust) witt.
"'-
1i.>1:Iotat"'1:III at 76.5
....' - .....: Macto 2.25 or 2400 knVh (14 91mph)'" 12, 190 m (..0,000 fQ
"-Ie: 1850 km (1150 "*"'I
n: pbced d espite a oonti n u . . oI ...... ~1InQ.
1,,1., 11,,111,,'1 d '"_ _ doo9>. ... P-ee _ _ "...
_d.w..'. .
_.-'~
_Iw ... _ _ ....... _ _ r..:.o ... poor 0I>Md d
_dOl>Md._~_ ~
:t H ..... I1 ...... ~
, .. _
'hI"I!.", II .. P·12 _
~
_
... SioIok
...
us ......., ,.. Co.-po' - . ; I .......... R
not"- "" I_...........c.
....... , - , . '""""""... P-e(_ buI ~ _ _"'_
~.Tho
. . ....
' , ' .,
! .J-p'-
~ ~
111: 1:-,1 111.112
T
_.)
1. -~ m .......
T
4...'E T C.
.)
c»IIl
109
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAfT
PHOTO FILE
CURTISS
CURTISS SOC SEAGULL "ill On dry land
SOC SEAGULL
When opera ting from shore bases. Seagulls were fitted with a wheeled undercarriage.
• Scout aircraft . Operated from battleships. Seaplane
"f' Boss bird Pain ted overall dark blue. this aircraft was assigned to the Commander of the Fleet.
"ill Use over North Africa
i
i~~i~~~~:~i~~~
In"~()j'·.".mm.~m"t
these aircraft alsoIrx gave vllliant service in theatfflS, Although IBmOU' their in other the Pacfflc war, /lying in $Upporf 01 the Allied landings in Ncxth Alrica in 1942 during OpenItion Torch, Irx example.
... Recovery SeapI/lIIeS landed alongside their parent ship$ and were hoisted aboard by cranes.
Start of a patrol ... CIiItapuffed !rom • us Navy cruiser. an soc set, out on a mission during the Pacific war.
he Curtiss SOC Seagull was the US Navy's top observation aircraft in the years just before World War II . The ba"leshlp was still thought to be the most important 'war wagon' on the high seas, and the Seagull was the 'eyes' of the fle et 's ba"leships and cruisers. The pilot and observer aboard were eltpected to spot targets and direct the big guns of the huge ships. Obsolete by the time war arrived, the SOC was still in service in 1945.
T
110
'ACTS AND PlOURa.
... One of the last bipllIIIe$ to SfH'Y8 with the US Navy. the SOC Seagull flew extensively !rom battle$hip$ and cruisers during World War II. ff ac tually outlasted its replacement.
~
In original conngur.tlon. the prototype SOC was an amphibian that had wheeb ineOl'POf'ated Into the no.t•.
~
A propoNd IWeC"_, the S03C SfNImew. was unsatisfactory and was replaced In servk:e by Seagulls!
~
The 64 aircraft built by the Naval Aircraft Factory wet'e oesignated SON-1.
~
SOCs featured prominently in most of the major battles of the Pacific war.
~
Production of the SOC Seagull be{Jan In 1935 and enOed In 1938.
~
When the SOCs wet'e finally withdrawn, the era of the combat seaplane ended.
PROFILE
Long-serving naval scout
T L~
he !:IS( of the Curtiss bipllncs 10 be USt."Cl
operJlion:dl) I»' the 1\a\'y. the SOC Se'.IguU
onglnll(:d in 1933 It "'~JS OUt of d;uc b) the IIIne Amcoc.l cmcn:.>d '.l:orld "":servatlOll ...cre/t ~ one447-kW~)Pfatl&
WhItney R_ 1340-18 Wasp .-.dial engne
111.11_ .......: 266 """" (165 ~
1'r<Xiucrion Seagull fkxnpl:mcs began 10 reach the fk:et in 1935. In due course, about three dozen n;l\"al scouting squadrons were t:quipped with the [}'pC, A do.:cadc later. in I94S. when American Marines were l:lIlding on IwoJim;) in one of the final actions of the w;Jr. SOOi were
~ COlAd 0lII-a.m 1TW"fV'" II .............. To '-*tale lIowage in tighI ~ 00 boatd ~ Of MQlI/I
still in fronHine service.
~
tniSi. . . . . .: 214 """"1133 ~ IIIHIII tllllb
SenIti "ill..: 4s.«I m (14.900 It)
SOC-3 SEAGULL
~.~.IhISOC_~"""" ~~and
.. ~
... ~ COlAd
o.loIOed '*'
""min (1630
fpm)
1'IMge: 950 I<m (590 miles) with 227-kg (500-lb)
om5aR1~e ~ellllll:
Above: SBC-4s of VS-8 and VB-8 from USS Hornet are seen engaged in manoeuvres days before tM Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor.
3462 kg
" ........1: one forwatd·fimg 7.62·mm PO-cal.) machine gun and one 7.62-nvn ma.ctuoe gun
on a f1e~i ble mount plus up to 454 kg ( 1000~)
'nl ~ ~ \he 2nd E~ of GC1I4 al Dakar in ~
n-qo._.---. . . p""'_ ... -'
iuI!lh,lIl3l1Qim oI .
~
.... _ _ ..... _____ ....... _ _
.---""'...-..
~=~~IN
=P-3fIC _ _
iIwo
IN 'Ooar'
-_. ---' --. ----~
_n"'-='"
·1-115
AMERICAN MIUTARV AIRCRAFT
CURTISS
P-40
CURTI SS
P-40
(EARLY VERSIONS) Desert Tomahawk ..
WARHAWK
• us Arm, fighter. Wldel,
(EARLY VERSIONS)
used. Fighter-bomber
In RAF Slll'Vice, the early P-40 was known as the Tomahawk. Opera ting primarily lIS ground anack aircraft in the North African theatre, they were o ften $e&n with sharkmouth insignia, here.
a,
.. Evolutionary design J1'Ie fining of an in-line engine gave much improved perlonnance. but manoeuvrability remained mediocre.
'Y Armament removed In RAF sen-iee, the two 12.1·mm (. 5O-w; In RAF service, Tomahawk JIBs proved 100 slow as fighters 10 tackle LlJf1waffe Sf l09s and were thus
the US Anny and found export cu.stomeTll; in France and Britam, who were desperately st.'eking fighters in their .struggle with Gf.'fIluny. Britain took o\'er the French order after France fell to Gennany. TI}('5e aircr:J.ft. IUllk-d Tomahawks by the RAP, were hea\-ily cornmincd to the fighting in Nonh Mria. TIley performed bravely in this thea tre and achien.-d good results :11 low le,·ct, but at h igh al titude suffen-d hea vy lo;ses to German Of I09E fighters. By 194 1 the improvcti 1'-40 B had enten..-d sclVi("e, and it was
~
"-..a-t: one 776-kW (t 00W-hp) AIiIoan V· 1710-33 in-linIo piston ""111M
"1 _ _
SfIMII: 552 krnIh (30'3 mph)
ItIItIal ell. . m,: 6
min 10 4500 m (14.7tW III
~: 366 km (240 rrIIes)
Serrice celli. .: 8PPfO" 10.000 m (32,800 ft)
Above; An early USAAF P-40 in night. This was among the last aircraff delivered to the US before late 194 I.
WtItMs: ~ 2124 kg «<J05 Ibj; to.dad 4010 kg (884t I;)j " ' - ' I t: two 12.1-nwn (.5Ck:aI.) machine guns mounted in the.-..- and lour 1.62....... (.3O-oul
C-46 Commando ry,r. medium-1'81'91 passenge,lcargo tJWoIpOrt
.... ...,.,.
~: two 1566-kW r2 100-hp) PYatt &
wtvtney R·2f!00..34 Double Wasp 1~
4000 m (13.100 ft), ewn though ire began to form on the aircraft·s "'lIlgs at 3050 m (10,000 fl). 11K' bulky, swollen-looking C46 Commando never qUIte achiL'VL"d the elegance of its nc-Jr·contellllX>r:lty the Douglas DC-3. but it had a g~ak'r clpacity to carry people and freight. The Com mando dropped in :md out of airfidds :111 over the world and they were used in action in the Kore:ul Wa r a nd for !!:Iining for Viema m . Hundreds of
lib. . . . . . .: 435 knIIh (270 mph) at 3046 m (10.000 PI)
CntW.. "..r. 318 knIIh C235 mph) at 2H5 m
""' "~ "-II:
Above: C-4& were UMd .fter the war In glider towing 8J(periments, using • ~ lowing link between lhe two tJin;~ft, This C-46F Is towing •
2891 km (1Il00 miles)
Serfle. cltm",: 8705 m r21,998 ~
"'flItS:
WACOCG · J5A,
.-npty 13.290 kg (29,299 bj; 22,680 kg j50.000 Ibl
~ ~
Cornrn:mdos lat~r h..'carne civil servants opcr:uing with :I irl i n('~ in d ozens of countries.
01. .l1li0111:
span
32.93 m (1oe ~
23.21 m (78 ft 4 In) height 8.83 m r21 ft gin) wing area 126.18 m' (1358 SCI I\)
length
Above: More than half a ClI()tuty .fter ff was {inl t flown by lhe USAAF, this C-46A, built by Curtin-Wright, I, s till flying regularly w ith the Confederate Air Force In Texes,
COMBAT DATA
SiniIaf In stn.w::11J18 10 the wIng$. the ",metal eIngIe lin. ruddef MId lailplane
are at the ~ ~ on the elevatort MId ruddef
TI'm tabs are lilted
C-46 COMMANDO
MAXIMUM SPEW
The Commando was the blggel1 and heaviest tw lrl~1ned us cargo II"'~ 1m.f1 01 W Of1d WM II which 1Mocam. limoul lor !lying supply mllsIoM 0_ the Himalap.!> ..-.nboins,
-_. -_ . -.,.-_ _-
1ha C-46 • 11 the ooIotn of the ..... SeI·De/I.lnce fort:e 11 about 1913, ft _ ~ ..-:t lor genertIII
mm
traroIpOfI.-.c:I o.d!y duOOs.
-~
""'~...-ghI ,... ... C-fllan
.. .,._ ... ... ....... 'tVnp'S_
c-or _ _
--_h ,-_h~
~IarN
The ~ at loll ~ tht P*:lt, oo-plOI, IlI!I'¥Ig&tOf WId radoo opentlOf TheIUtl~ _~
The ~ low' -.g _ bull 11 three mIW1 8eCIoone. The cent .... sec1lOn _ bull tht 1lMIagIo. ~-op8fa\Id sIoIted IIape .... ended !rom the IIiIIfon$ 10 the IueeIage
""0
bya
$I(1p1)8d ......,., .. tht 0.460
_h_ ---
'Wit"
C"'7~1111'"
Over the 'Hump' To I Upply the Allied war against the Japanese. cor>elani llow 01 food, ammunition and other vital auppIiH weft tifted 0 ...... lhe Himalayu by hardworiting C· 4&.
----
PRIMITIVE FACllfTIES : The Assam aII'fieIdI wen! ~ unpaved and ~ Ir80S/ormIod into OOWY cond,tions by lhe monsoon r8lll!l lor r.earty ha~ of the 1""". The aircraft wen! refuelled by hand from drums.
Chunklng
........------
....m
NC-4/! ft ""'I'
...
~to_28
_!!leC-4/!
----... --._-- I tH --~ -~ ~.h
C-46 MAINSTAY: A " - air tra'oIpOrllUPPly eIIort was undertaken from tht " - ragoon oIlndiII to supply II1endIy
IotceIIIghMg the ~ in the
1OUIn--' 0 10 - .
0VEfI THE -...a.A,YAS: Fu the 805-km (500!Me) IIqlt from Assam to CIulIung lilt C-46t had to climb 1liiy .... 10 426S m (13,m ~. through the III 3O!iO m (10.000 PI).
1wcrfuJ, modern dive-bomber de:;igned 10 undertake :1 variL1y of combat missions. h was a lso tentatively rt.'quircd by the US Marinctfic /oor.1.>fad&<j Pfopeler. Ma->y of the ~. b this a IlnIeI
...... ' " _
.,111-1
.. !he kaIIagB toor.
. . . .4_ . . __ . . . . . .
Ih II lui
lhoB-I,r.d .. _ _ " " . - . . . _ _ oI ...
,llona-.goon.
li\JII1"-'- _ _ lypOaIIaI ... _lllJQo.
.,~~.~,"!~~... DC-2 .......,
u:.
1-1M . .
Bolo _ tned wiIt'Il...:) Prsn & 'MvIney R-l820 Cyclone 9
racleI piston . . . . . . In tt.. 53
fVo. llIemai OOmb-blI)' below !he 8-18A'! \W'II Qlntre-NC\IOn eem.d UO 10 290Ia kg (6500
.1IIl-1 I l f ._
I. 1.1_1._ .1 _.,• •at
1>1 of
-.:::-.
_
....:=__="'::':..=~=.. =-==:'==-:.:...;-.:. ---..-----....:-...--"'-------""' --.-.-·-. . :-'======:::---------::==,1Ji!;C!!3i3@ i'
L__-__"" ....:_-___-__' _.._... ____
"IM~_oIltIo~Mdon_~1O
_
Douglas bombers for the USAAC • ,\-111.\-33: In 1942 \he USMC look 0.... 31 Douglas BAs (expofl derio baH with theo 8 1al Troop Carrier Squadron 01' u.. 4361h Troop Carrier Group.
A ~ CI'WN rJ pb, eo-pIOt and rado opera(CoO' flew ltw C·.7
FoIdllg worxIen _ . along the cabin _ _ o:Ud lICCOI'MIOd8Ie
The radoo d as much danger as anyone who ever flew. From the very beginning of World \'\',IT II , it
th<ee--_I torpedo I>omt>s9>1....-ith ~.
..-~_
_ _ 10"-- tight ..... ,..! . OSfAT11l
nn.." ~ 1_ ....1
Navy aircraft at Midway
......,
CATALINA:
Catalina
•
00UGt.AS
sao DAUNTLESS: Carrier-
basad DavnUess dive· bmt>er$ inflicted the bulk of the damage on the Japaoese IIoot. helping sink lour 01 its carrie<s.
• GRUMMAN f4f WILDCAT: Fighter$ came from carrleI bomb was camad on • epa::aaI (:In !he 1.ITldo!ndeIiI!he brake ....... _1oeeI«I rigtoI the WI!If IIO"C.a !he 1I.eeIirge. .... !he ...... aadIe 'Ml8n II"oIt bomb was had large holes in lhem, hence the _ 'SWIM ~ by ltle piot. !he er.If ISWIng Iorwarda c::Mase. dM!brakes. 10 !WOO buIIeWIg ~ 10 lh9lltle bomb woukI CIeIIf II"oIt IlfOIlI!IIoIr BrC.
The bomb ~ ~1Id ~ a .....,.. ~ 01..., 10 72(1 "" (teoo til on !hi oen!rWle, with 295 "" (e6O I))
PAC IFIC TURNI P+G POINT: Japan·. complex plan to
ft) ft)
_01_
:md homhing in the w ar ag:linsl.
bomber lmd as a carrier ro r
J.lP:III, a nd supplied dt:V:ls tJling firc support for the Normandy
Turbinlitc, a sc;lrchlight used to ilIurnin;uc lunw-.lffc
sc ,*, • . - . . . , . _ _ _ - .
"""""9> ... ~._ ...
""""'-'YfWO _
•
0 "
.._...._._'*"'Y 200_-..,.
. . , . _ ...... I!yN_oIN_ .....
01_
- •
•
om
l_kJilZ2ll ...
133
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
DOUGLAS
DOUGLAS
A-26 INVADER Crvl.-d into the 1960s ill a rAnge of roles including air-sea rescue and lIli s.~ ile rJ nge support.
Ir'C:IOI» in canvas bucI<et _ .
lin ,taft bWiSpOrt role! Of
service during the Berlin Aorllft
the Si '" {2O.ooo III CIlII$IIII $pHd: 306 kmIh (190 mph),' 3050 '" (141,000 III
tabnc-QlY(l«ld control ~
~ .. ft
tOB1 _kW (I .~
& WhIt/lIty R-2800-9 T.... Wasp ..... j)II\OfI
Aeeo.e .crall CIII!'6d ~ ~ .. the n-. cabna. bul1he standarlI C-6IO tranoJp::rt _
atlIIlO ....... ,.1 .....,. '4110
50 1n.Iopot .. . . . - ~_ "!toe ""Vllllllf.
tq\-~ ~
tlr peecetnIe Cle)9o ~ 0I11he IIoIIild ~ of ~
c..g. __ d
.."....-cqj't _ _ ,
*"'"' d IhB
-T--t-+ ...., --_0...-.... ,.
O.
C-lU. IITlIASTUL
t-Il . aJlUII
_ k. ~"'"
11tI kW ~"'"
t-ttA NCU1 .t:lU . ......
:::'.:]:.:':~::., ::'.::: . ~::::::::::::~ :::::.:.:_ .. . --. .. -;. :: ~ :::::::::;l lJ!mll
• __'__ .___ . ."______ " ' " " ,adQ ___ I@_. _______________'OO - ;': "" : :': ' : .: .: .: "" : :"' : :"""' :;::::::::::::::: .:.:. .:.:.: . :.:.:. :. :: ..
~~
US military transports from Douglas • C-e mainstay 01 11M! US Navy'S canier-bome attack lore. In Koraa, AD_I ..,t.. ra
u..
""oeIeo:1t ~. ~ had no ejeclor seal MId piots 'bailed ruI' nwuaty,
In 1946 and was only linally ..,tlred In 1968 during IIMI VIetnam War.
IN.-ly joUewIG outr\a'O it TN..-.. 1-10
ccUd not matt:h pose_ M=tft.
t
111_1111_
The angle t 470-\ilra (73O-gaIIor1) fuel tan'o1orVOOC _ ~
USAF st rategic t r ansports FMAS oIlhrt de ....... ,C_740!"8 .. ,t of tt. C-S
large$t !"",spen. and for years the worId ~ largesl lI!fC!"alt In toIaI t 30 Gala.ies ~ built.
. ,. . . . (11.,... .,.
145
AVIATION FACTFILE: AMERICAN MILITARY
DOUGLAS
F3D
D OUGLAS
F3D
SKYKNIGHT
• Naval fighter . All-weather night Interceptor . Korean victories
SKYKNIGHT
" ,-
-~-.
TN
.TN".
... First production version 111e F3D- 1 with underpowered Westinghouse J34 turbojets was not a success, and production ended with only 28 delivered.
.~ "",-.,..
"
,"
... Improved fighter The Iollow-on F3D·2 sef'lled only with the Marines. Its intended J46 engines were problematic, end its pilots had to make do with the earlier F3D-1's J34s.
... Missile armament Sixtoon missile·ermed F3D·2Ms were converted from existing Marioos F3D-2s. Four underwing pylons could each carry an early' model Sparrow medium-range radar·guided air· to-air missile .
... Skyknlght In Korea A great success in the night·time air war. the F3D proved its worth and paved the way for a new generation of all-weather fighters.
Electronic Skyknlght ... A fter retirement from front·line duties, the F3D went on to serve as a trainer, electronic warfare aircraft and a trials platform.
n November 2, 1952, over Korea, the F3D Skyknight recorded the first ever night-time downing of a jet by another j et fighter. The Marine Corps aircraft had succeeded in downing what they believed was a Yak-1S. Conceived in 1946, the Skyknight was, from the outset, designed eltclusively as a night and allweather fighter. Later In its career the F3D would go on to receive missile annament, and see action in Vietnam.
O 146
FACTS AND FIGURES >- R. u - than UP1g IIxpensive lind heavy >- In V\etnMn the EF-1OB electlollk: warl_ aircraft w •• .-.gulsrty used untf the Introduction of the Grum mtln EA-6A.
lljection seats, Skyknight crews escaped from the aircraft via a fuselage chule. ... T/Ie Sky/might d&stroyed more enemy aircraft over Korea than any otner Navy or M arine type. However. its near-vintage design meant it was withdrawn as a fighter by 1959.
•
Skyknighta originally wore a dartl·blUII color scheme, later replaced by black.
>-
The F30 - ' is the only s idll-by-sidll SIIat fightar to have se!"led with tha Navy.
~
>-
Operating from Oa Nang with VMCJ-1, the EF-10B flew strike protection dulie s. In Vietnam, the Marinas lost a total o f four EF·l0Bs in combat, one to a SAM.
The Marines' 'Flying Nightmare'
T
he Skyknight began as a
Douglas :mCf"Jft projt.'ruary 1951. Intended to
while the Skyknight wwld:;ee S\1C'Ce:\S .... ,\h the Marines,
power the aircraft was the
alongside the \'{'tcran F-IlJ-S'>l
pron.'(1 too problematic, con:'c:.'(]llcntly making the Skyknight a little under])()\\cn.-d. TIle Marine Corps
Cors:Iir and
~7F-3N"
l1gcl"C'.u
night flghtcl'S. The Navy c\"Jlu:Jtt-'d MiQ· 15 kiI, durin; I ~ ~ ncort miNIon on 12 J~ 1(15.3.
n. F30 C8'IWd I
~
N>Q..35
,.... .... lht ""*,, WIth 300 WII::lUTI
........
IIJ:let; WId ~ ~ radRr
...: lor -.:t\ OlI'lioO.M wI'd1 eoted bIIowrt lhI_ ~. A IIIIp opIIl8d . . I wn::IlNek 10 PIQIeeI lhI two. n KtlnJf,. two vt.t'(NJ513 ..c:raft 8fId n- ~ __ I0Il10
.......
--.~
cerne from two
.............. ""
~ .. od6opc ted, theF30_~
mm _
-'Y _ _ fIgNoto _ _ ...
ooIngo on:!
........-..... __odge_"_ Outolll'le_:~M=_=:~... =:"', I --"","'..,-.-weqo: The..,..... .......
,..1_flII.t'" _~~_ ::::':....",." III """","""..........,.!vol , ..... I ~ "" I
,
A FJ:'!'
-~
--"
,d the sighl of :I KA·3 1J lanker. TIle :ldvt"nt of $pecialiSt Intruder vari:mlS cauS(.-d the A-3 s lowly 10 d iS-:l ppear from C"Jrricr (It:cks.
A-3B
!bite: ~7 kin (2900 .....) SenIc. Uil",:
12.495 m (-41 ,000 fI)
~ empty 17 ~ kg p9,366Ib1: "*led 33.1 12 k4j C73.000 IbI
....-
Ac:c-atl ...: ~ 01-= pilot. co-pilot and ~. pkIs II:u eIectn>nic ayst.ml
Abo ...: Wrth its landing gear IJld tail hook depk)yed, this A-3B Is just about to 'trap' aboard the USS ForresiaL The weight of the A·3 meant that the arrester gear had to be very strong.
DI""OIII:
SKYWARRIOR
--" .".,
22.10m{72 II 6 in) 23.27 m (76 II • in) 6.~ m i22 1110 in)
-~
75. 43m'{812~ 1I)
COMBAT DATA
s.... w . .rlng the mwklng, of VAH·2, this Skywarrior Ie ,hown I. It wOllk:! h_ appeltf"1td In 1965, on board the USS Coral s.. In the Gull of Tonkin. AI Ihb lima, It w.. conflflured I. In A· 38 bombetlt.ank....
"""'bV_
r.ty - . . - at IfIo ... -3 ___ 0rigin0IIy - - ' b V _ ___ ~JM)o.,~
_""1Io
__ _ iII _ _ _ _.IhoO'-MI -'e of t~ best ""'ad of aI aitcralt. the _able 'Sped' was the us Navy'!; principal attack aitcflIft dlIrIng !hIlsso. end : .;'C """ ="-___---,
med,,,,,,
lor !hi n-1Ii(tJI
!¥ok filled 1110 Iht
peck,
Twn 8P8lId ~ _litted to the ,... ~. direc1ty below
USN
.-llht
IhIII'!orUQnIaI tai!p!IInt a"Id __
~
~acIt*ed.
Thoo,-MI
_ _ ...,._1oogIo
Of _
1M.1M 11t11Wwtj
a.. 0000Iy00r.
!: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~:: : : : ::l~~~~~~~~~~~~~~:: ::J~~~~~~~~~;;;;;;;;~;;~:::: ::!~~~~~~~;;;;;;~:;:-l ..-......~. ...~~ _
0 - ...!~.C;.~••M'.~~~'.
I!1U
U-• . . , . . _
'-'"
did...,.
•
--- - - - -
fiH!i3i3mi III
,.,...,.
~-.
._-._-, ---....,._~\O 1I!iI __ _
-~ gIOoHe ~ft tond Is - - . '*- In tt.. ......-kIng. ot 1M 47th 80mb W"'"9 baNd ., RAF Sc~ In Norfolk.
tm.>ojet~
MI.I_ ......: 1015"""" (629 mph)
Above: The B-~ was only briefly in sfNVlce as a bomber. Thirteen Destroyers were converted to EB-66B stlJlldard and a further two to NB-668s.
In the EW role, the B -66 IxX"J mc :, I'ctCT:ln of difficu lt m issions over Nonh Vietnam . Although :1I fi rst glanco.· the
iCI
two 45.4-lPS·21 bor'rb"og.w::t
bombIr and
f_
~ K~...,;gebOn .....
tIltS.
Nl rotanIIl»f Cn
was soon known hy the more :'PI>ropri;u c AC-47 designation ;lIld by the codename 'Spooky'. l11C gunship concqx. of which the AC-47D ....itions. Soon nicknamed 'Puff tht
around the Uniled !it:ues from Aston:. 10 San Diego. Filled with advanced infrn-red search syst01 m (3eft 2 In)
13.88 m (45 ft II In) 3.98 m (13 ft 1 In)
Iengtti
haI!tI1
rotordisc_ n9.9Qm'(I2Qll1Qft)
HH-6SA
Th& HH.fl5s twWl .,-,gonee e , 1.66·m (36./1 ~'inI lour·bIoc!OO rotors. lJ<e tilt GIz1III fII'\d Panther. lhe
DOLPHIN
ACTION DATA
tal rotor is tht Jenestroro ·"·In-IIn' t)Il8.
TM Eurocopt.,.. SA 366G Dolphin hal ~ ~ by 1"- US Guard since 1982, ~Ing the larger ampt\ibMos SikOIggoor~,
iongor '-'III.
_~.4
"'- HH-3 _
IJ'M! ........ ~
K iO fIMI "'-1on9_ .,...,. In....",.,.., 01 ttIe_IlH-e5.
1No _
n. ~"18Ibocrn is..el9d lor ~ blJo'Ia'"o',:y fII'\d cxna;r.
~ 04'
. . inI:t-.d IIze II
the ~ ~ InIIiltatJIe bItts.
0CifllXIIde
'4Xl6'I. F..-on tal rotor The MO'lIIftll "....,
SIrUCti.n leads 10 Its ~
01 'pBstic ~
IHom Inill Iii
On patrol with the US Coast Guard • HC -13IIH: W~h a ~APS·137 radar on tilt ' ..........., the HC-l3OH can Mar\;h Ia"\III ...as 01 ceo-> WIth great """"-"8CY
_...
Wrtllita """'"
•
HH -52 SEAGUAAD: The 1inQ""~ to the HH-65. Iha old HH·52 could land on the water. unlika Iha HH -65. •
~
--,
'rom
• HU-25 GUARDIAN: o.oivtd Iha DIIssauII Falcon 20. the HU·25 can Ity Ce 18th Special Operlltions Squadron .
Extra
~
lor IhII 'Smget"' was ~ ~ two JS5 tui:JojMs in pods I.O'Idef 1M outer wi'lgs. Th8se H1pIoYo.Id .... It:> 'I ....... 81 t-qJer goss
thrust) GenefaI Electric: J85-GE·17 turbojets
er.lslllllllleed: 39t krnhl (2431llPOJ C..... I
MirIIg ..... s and two 2o-mm M6 I cannon
Acc_elallon: 10 CfflW including flighl sensor opFlI'ators and g....-.ners
Dillle.sions:
--m:IilJ
at night, the NJ.l t 9s ~ and verb:;:aI tail suiaces, wilh camouflage on the su1aces and II small oa\O::IOaI ~.
Inteoded 10 operate
hEld bIad
K;. I tllG oj soma aon:rew dFspensW wnh the
'illite: 1595 km (991
Wlights: empty 20 ,300 kg (44,754 ib): loaded 34 ,925 kg (76,996 Ib)
Above: C- / /9s served in a number of roles with the USAF, including satellite trac/O:ing and recovery and medical evacuation.
aort:r.rI
"'tho poriod
h«Ithola;:
"'"
copodty of INN h ~ The _ FnoigN« W_ _ ough
---
more sensofli lhao the N.;·llllG'Shadow'
*
IoodK _ __ CWkI_ ing . MigMJy _ cruioIog opMCI. n.. ~
Sensors indJded
beacon·trac!s9
Mayday over Laos!
a l enemy lrucks on an lIfJ'!'>ed reconna~ mtsSForl ov..- a t.eavil)/ def&r'\de(:[ road in Laos a 'SOOQer' was hit by anli-aorcraft foe , The aircraft's
...
I'l 8d(j[oon 10 8'TT'IIIffltlrl
""~
AC-l t g go..ns/1ips were IIttocI with IWfTIOlI' pI;.Img to proYiOa
..
,_of _two\w- ....
~
_. n.._
_F....,...io~_.
t ·n •
...., ~-
MAX TAKE Off WEIG HT PULLED OUT Of' DIVE : The AC-I 19 dropped more than 300 m (980 It) in jusl a few seconds, and th8 floght crew s lrlJll9ied with the controls to bring il out 01 the dive. The use of full tlYo!tle, I\oWev-thrusI) F/IIIctliId J44 to.rt>ojol engf1e was mcu>!oo en ad! Wng\Ip cA the C-t23J, C·I23Ks had their IllOfll poweo:1U jet ~ rnoulIOO en L.fiIetwing pyIcnI
~
!lUge; ferry rang8 5279 I<m (3280 mi ....); with max""""" payload 16661<m (1 035 millis)
ser,iCl Cillilll; 9560 m (3 1,365 It) W.11I~ts: empty 16042 ~g (35.3t!7 Ib); maxim.Jm take-off 18,288 kg (4 0.318~)
Right: Eleven C-1238 Providf1rs were translerred to the US Coast Guard. They were sometimes/tnown as HC- 123Bs and were fitted with a search radar mounted in a thimble radome on the nose.
C-123J PROVIDER Onty one Air National Guard (ANG) squadl'Orl tlew!he skl- and Jet-equipped ProvH:ler. The t 44th Tactical Airlift SquadI'Orl of !he Alas... ANG re-cehled its first aircraft In JI>I1e 1960.
at 3()6(1 m
AcCDIIIlllodallOlt two pilots and two ioodmastOOl;
60 fuRy eq\IlPPBd combat troop$ or $0 stretc~ Of up to 6804 kg (1 5,000 Ib) of cargo Dimensions: Arctic ~ ca'l be ha.za
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~i " i V.~5~' ~ I
,.,,~--100_01 .." •
........~ "" tlOo:OmO
_.Thot2501 Notatlao ..... _ , .
~boJIio""'''
outstoo-dng STOt.
Provider venoatillty
--
The PtoYIder could be MIIIptMI to fly I wIdoI ..... of miuiona..
Tho OHC.5""'" in IfIo
IlEB
_c&logory~
"""'_._10","
- - . " . 01 ... lurt>Op a smaI dcJtsaj fieI. The e.oen larger ru:Id6' had 8 conugat9d metal 8Uface, v.tliIe tna Iow·s.et variable inCIdonce \aiIpI.ane had Aettnar trm tabs
The
~
Anumtnt: one 2(l-rrvn XM- 197 cannon. plus two 7.62_mm (.3l).cal.) SUU-l1A/A Miniguns and one uno:IerIuselage and lou< underwing IlardpoiotS ,..~ h combined llW TPE331 iU'boprop ....nctl (!
sooted n tna starboard SIde altha C«igIe--_t ant>-tanl< and FAG ain::raft
More than lOOA-IOs were committed to th(J 1991 Gulf War and perlonned admirably in the air-to-groUnd and FAC roles,
~1Mt:
two 40_3-kN (9063-lb-thrust)
...._...
Generat Eleclric TF34-GE-t 00 turbotan engines
MlII_ . . . .: 682 kmIh (424 mph) al sea
T
he nt,'ed for a dose air sup!X>f1 (CAS)!an tl-
annour aircrJft w:lS o ne of the lessons Icarn{-d in the Vietnam conflict. TIle machine needed to be able 10 fl y from rough forward airstrips. (7.1111' he,"'y weapon loads and wit hsund b:mlc d:II11:18(', Spet.-d was nOl a rrMjor ('onsidcralion
Fairch ild's A-lOA W:IS the design cho*n 10 fill this 'A-X' rcquirenK"nt. A sturdy, ~ewh 3r hC;1\'Y. singlt:-seat auack airer-Ift. the A-tO was
said to be tOO slow; it flew ;1( subsonic spet.'l:ls in an cr:1 \\. hen fasl anti-aircraft missiles wcre rapidly a ppearing on the scene Despite Ihi.~. 713 A-lOs were built, and the fir.:;t entered service in 1976 Units in the continental US, Alaska, Europe and Korea wcre cquiplx-d v.ith the type. However. the end o f the Cold War me:lIl! tiM! this s[x-cialist aircraft W:IS no long~·r a vital n."quirement, :md il '\I;IS to be repbced by
the Lockheed M:\ft in F-16. Surplus A-lOs began to take over from the well-worn Rockwell OV- to Uroncos in the forward air control (FAC) role, with a number being redesign~tctl
~liIIIII
Mlll_
C..... , . ,. .: 885 km (550 miles)
ser,itt C,lIb,,: to.575
The 106th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 926th Tactical
Foghter Group, -"'tlHl A-10As during Operation DeHrl Stann. After the Gulf War, the unit took on Mluadronlwing status and F-l8CfOs.
~
was ana
OA-IOA.
.... ANfALO-l84 8I9ctronic
"""-"I: one GenefaI Eleclric GAU-81A
~(ECM)
pod isa fittilg on boIh FAG 0A-100l and tank-I::ustng A-100l.
3O-mm cannon, plus up to 7258 kit (16.000 Ib) 01 weapons~ kltwatd air oontrolload (X)tIS.ists of up to 12 LAU-66 seven-tube roc ~ et pods. two AlM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air mtssiIes and an ECM pod
cornma1
Di....nslons:
rode6igna!ed CA-l OA withouI lXldergoo"J IWly ~ Some have fl!CEWed o::hangea to codg 100 _...0....--10< ill CAS foIo,_ II-. 'Fn>gIoot'...o _ _ .,.,..,.. 0 1 _ 0 1 _ 1000 Ie< 1996 ~ rec.:oivOO AIOA-10As once aga;n to WI
Above: USCG JFs and J2Fs served un til the early 195Qs, when they were phased out after some 17 yea,., of service.
IIlltl t Clltllll ml: 405 mImon (1328 !pm)
Max __ 1"1l\1li: 1310 km (8S0 miIfIf;) . . . .1 t .....: l OSS kin (673
miIeoII
SeRlel clill",: 81 ~ m (26.700 11,\
WI"""" taI\H)ft
~ 2410 I\g (5,431) Ibj; .........un 3:107 "" (7290 ItII
an....t: .-.IV unarmed. -"hough pooYisIon was medii lor one 7.62-mm (.3O-aII.) ITIICNnI """ In _ coc:kpit and up to 294 "" (6 .
.."
(13OCMniIoj..-.go •
• 0 ...... WIDGEON: Gn.mmoo II$w !he Widgeon. wt"ich was ~ than !he GooN. in ........ 1940. fao1y examples saw miIolary ..-.k-. lOme eM! G-44 remaon IWwonhy todIIy
• 0-13 MAl..LARD: An WlIatged var\alion of the G·21 design , !he M1 ~t: 1\00 1.82-rlY1l (.:J().Qt.1 Brownong mKtwM guns, jlU two 52.1I-li:tnc fighll'l'S and b:llIk:d JalX'ncst' ZcI'05 In the l'aClfIC. A rar OClll'" fighler than the Uf(:wS«:r, the
the Slan 0(' 9OT-kg bomb. The prototype first flew on , August 1941.
hence it.~ singlt'. and I.lter twin. fOl'W"J.rd -finng gun arm:lIlll:nt Bnl;Lin (9ZI :Lircr.Lft) and New Zeabnd (63) :too uS(:d Avengers during the \\'ar. C m;Ld.l. I'r;mce. J:Lpan and Ihe Nctherbnds employed il afler 1945.
.
s.mc. celli..: 68JO m 122.400 It) w.ftIIts: empty 4788 kg (IO,534Ibj;........ruTL 1IM-oII 7876 kg (17.327 IbI ~
Above; A Royal Navy Avenger aboard HMS lIIustrioos. Thirtythree firs t- end second-line FAA squadrons were equipped with the Avenger, which served from numerous carriers and shore bases from Canada to the Far East. Ave«;JIi!f" M:tci fic w:tr.
.... ..... ~:
I'Hots also praised Ihe strength of Ihe RlF, w h ich they jokingly c:tlled a product of lhe 18-c:ytnd1r
I-7 t' Ttgerc-.tt made its mark with the Marine: Corps in .he 1940s and 1950s. , 11ere were single. .md t....-O-SC'.t. t drone controllers and as Utlm;tnnt.-o dront.os. Once releas(:d from milil;tTY service, a sm:tll number o r the aircr.tft enjoyt.'(1 success in civilian ha nds as aerial firc-bombers.
---
..-III lour 12.1-nvn (.5O-cII.) rnac:hIr-. """ in noH. pU one torpedo ben6a1h 1tle IuMI8ge up to 4504 kg (1000 Ib) 01 bombs or rocklltS
or
15.70m(51 11 6 In) 13.83 m (45 II 4 In) 5.05m(16ft71n) 42.27 m' (4S5 sq tt)
Tlgen:lt, ..-.....ct In K_
I,In(Ier II-. eornm.nd 01 YMF(N) -6ol2 wid flew llong'" CorNIra on night interdiction raIOI 'OIl...., 8UJiI)Iy rou'". By 1e53 the Hcnil't IIacI
In genenII. !he F7F was r.:J ~ c:ootJIV.nbOIl, aIttl:::ugIlll p/IW1 _ the ~ r.:J !he fu98Iage IS 8flP8f8tlt. The '"""" _ II metal.
bHn~by YMF(N) - 51:l.
.-.....--..
_
hllgl_ boi oboo ..,.. .. mind. h
~-wr.g....-.
•
II '
b=ji~~~~'~~"~"'~::!~=::~~~~:j~~~~~~ --· .-----m4Tl1U1tAT
_ Its IIaI\y noee gea" un!. The rlQ8t'Clll_thtlirstUSNavy ccm.-/Xlrl'le...:rall to tit ~
1U~,.. a
il
- - . . tricycle .... OtW .... ,¥.
.
•
•
•
"" llllMUr
Advanced twin-prop flghtsrs
• DE HAVILLAND HORNE"r: 01 Ille twlnenglned tight_ which tomerQed II ~ V1IrY ..-Id or ;ust ,II.,.. World Wei II, ~ BmISh Hornets "'" HometI __ KIflW oI llle mosl go:aceIuI
s..
• DOANIER Do 33:5 PFlEL: A!t. the war situation worsened, the German ain::'lIft Industry became _ more innova ~. as tlxtlmphfied by the radical Do 335.
IIII!
•
LOCKHEED IIP · 58 CHAIN UOHTMHO:
Based on tile P· lS LlghtnOr:g. this specialised ente<ed
MCOrI "'" ahlp-bvs'~ lighter _
• MORTH AMERICAN P-82 TWIN MUSTANG: Having I\owfl in""Y 1945. ~ ex""",,",' Twin Ml<St"'ll OTIlssod World W.. It but S8Ived aIongsicIto the F7F In KoteII ' _ _, C
I,M'.!li
f7I' _
gNon
-~
--------......... •• _ _ 4.1U_ t·_ ·1
---,--
.' _ _ , -"'I~_ •• _ _
-....(liii0.. _
porbmingfigfl-
-_.h --.-_. ...
"Ill ,,,,, ..adh
-}SI-wa r ai r r.lc ing, w ith
AboI'8: Grumman built a single civil Bwreat for company usa from spare parts, which did not cost the Navy or the company anything. Basically an but with the later- model tall tail, the aircraft, N700A. was equipped with a full avionics fit for airways flying, It was uood by Fteid Service Representative Roger Kahn to tour the US Navy's FBF squadrons.
F8F.,
W:IS
a modifk-d F8F c illed 'Rare llear' seuing a record speed ~[ Ikno
StabilIty was margooaI r1 lhe protOtype Bearcat ;nj the taiIfIn
Welgllls: empty 3201 kg (1055 (1»); maximum (combat) 4367 kg (9651 Ib); maxllnlNn with e xternal slores 5873 kg (12,921 10) Armamenl: lour 12.7-rml (.5O-caI.) ColtBrowrung machine guns (later, lour 2O-rml cannon) plus one 725-kg (1600-10) or two 454 kg (1000-1b) bombs and lou.- 127-mm (5·in) HVAA rod«!Is
Dimensions:
heVrt was " " " - ' in prOOxloon vttrSOOnS. The fuselage below the taiIIin cootained a
A 64·i1re oil tank aoj a 6().i1re 07'gab:l) water ~ tank were Cf\lI"Tnled no \he smallotwatd 1vseIage. AA am::ued bl.Iec/ lighter in Royal Navy~, the S&a FUf)' was a ""pert> a""raft WIth very high speed. One ""en !lOot down a MIG- I S ., KorC~:"'--__- ,
• NORTH AMEJnCAH F.e2 TWIN M USTANG; Designed to ~ the need for a Iong.range escort fighter for B·29s in the Pacific, the F-82 also fought briefly in !he Korean War as a noght·fighter.
FOUt CfIOYIOf'I _ _ 1. . - 1 \ 1 _ lew t\gh(eo"o by 11>0 .-.d 01 _ .... 11 _1ot1l>o ~IO - - . E*'I' .....!Is - . _ . ""'" 11>0 pot! wing. S- f urlos_ ~. cannon _ actuoIty _ """" II'
spt:eds Ih:m Ihey cou ld l'Cach. N:,,"~I ,." ialOl'S were deliglued when Gnun m:m ,,"'Cm ahc:ld wilh the much impron:d Cougar in 1951.
Cougars served abo:nd aircrnfi-GlrrieJ'5 from 1953. blll Ihe combat role for this aircraft was shon-hed. 11le F9 F-8P was a lipecta l p lxxographic rec.:oo.na issance ' -en;ion, and the F9F also displayed with the 'Ulue Angels' acrobatic 1C w hen. in 1944, ;1 bcg:.n design
USAF w.lS first 10 order the type (as the SA- I6) aflcr it bee.llne
responsible for worldwide air
n..'SCOt: dUlie:!. tnil~l lIy. the
rescue operations upon its csl:.blishrncm in 19-'7. TIle AU);lIros.s scored dmxns of 'S;l \"CS' during the 1950-53 KOfC'.m War. including the rt!SC\1C of top US air ace. CafJIain Joseph McConr"K:11. Ten ye-.II'S later, the Aioolt0S5 (n::de:sigffiIiOO II U- 16 in 19(2) 1't.1umed 10 active dUly for a btH:f Slim, reween 1964 :md 1967. C'.. nying 01,1' comoo, rcscuc
10 n:pl:ice theJRF. I-!owever, Ihe
duly off the 00;15\ of Vlel n;lrll . Mon: 11l;1Il a do~cn OIher
work on the bigger, faster Alb:ul'OSS. 111is higlH... inged, Iwtn-engilX"(! :tircr.tfi has been used in S(....·(.'f'.d miliml)' roles ~1lC'C its debut in 1947001 it had at ....~,1}'S been intended for ij(:ncr.d-purpose and US Navy saw the UI' Albalros.s :15 a uti1ity aircr.lft
SHU-16B
ALBATROSS
TN8 Albio-. _ of 11 ".-~ Hcnft, w .. IIf'nOrIQ a t lenl1 3 ~ Opented by the Helli";'" Aeroporia (GAH ... Iorul, 1'1 . HriaI number .. derivtod fnIm its USAF 1doInIity, 51 -1 In .
---
SA-18A Albatrosa
ry,r. MM:h-1Ind..-:..- ~
----
, . . , . .: two l063-kW (1.25-hpj WlVlI A- I820-76A or -768 Cyia, Many of these :lircrJ fl were rcfumislx.--d ronnel' USAF and US Navy aircrafl , A number h.we employed
CnllIIlII ...... : 24 1 kmhl (149 mph)
. . . . . , . . .: 1850 km(1150 rniIe$)
Serllee celli...: 7560 m (25,000 fI)
WlIfIttI: ampty 94-'2 kg (2O,n21b1: mIlUI'I'IUm
111)- 165 for additional dUIit's indlK.hng ~nti-subm:nin.: "00, for '" hich Iht.-y art" raWrdlUlpped The IasI: examples wt.'n" n.1.in.'li by the Greek air force in the mid1991),., being n:>pbced by ex-US Navy 1'-3B Orions. H()\\.'C'·""" a
Eighty-three UF· 1Gs flew with the United States Coast Guard tMttwHn 1951 and 1983 (most becomlnfl UF-2Gs; HU-I6Es from 1962, on rescue, fishery patrol and anti-pollution duties. MiVly USAF 50\·161\$ .-ld .....,.IF· l. __ c:or-"d 10 $A·I6E\ end IF·2 --.cIlwtI ~_ ~_ncra.edbV
cx,unples n..,-nain ;Iirworthy.
All MNJ ~ 0IWfied • ~ oonsisting of a~. co-piIoI. fIi7lt engIneef. OIIIIigaIor, MNJ opetIItOI' and 'MI8I)CIIl5 Ioadet0(lb0nI
~
rq,.veIor.:«y
__ ror:::I<eb (l-NARSI, Zo.n IOduIls. Mk 43 hIJnrog
Aec--utl..: two plots. 1WYigator, .-.cIio~, pQ two ,,*---/or -0"1 ~ Pn:Msion ...,..../or up 10 10 r >gaO' 12 _chen, 2211'OOp1 Of 2268 kg (5000 tbI 01 cargo
24 ,38 m (8011) 18_49 m (60 II In) 7.39 m (24 II 3 In) 77.39 rrf (833 ICI fI)
5.1 m pe " 9 ~. 1h& tai*1 he9"II~ end each wng bI had a 7BO-tlre (2Q6-gaItcIo:1Ulj tarj, ~ed
numbt:r cl pre:set"--ed civi li:m
~
take-(111 13,381 kg 129,500 IbI (wat.~, 1. ,!MIe kg (37,000 IbI (Ird operallOl-.j
I~
or Mk 54 dlIpCh ct.gus.
n- coAd til c.r\Id on !hi ~ ~~.......:lfof
.... 1aN.
a
ACTION DATA
'.H" Ii! '@ni Tho~_a
.... _ _ _ ..... usHfty.
-..a ... .......
....Pf-lbu1_...,...." ......... .,..,.,.. _ P5M. Tho largo< _ ....... - - . . . ....... _
,..,
• 1IiGI"...--...ooe-.... Pf-l .......
S
• ..... IDI ...... '
m ..... ID' ...... •
d
,.--.,.-,-
_ _ IIS1 ....1' • • • •
*Il~l. "'"
ITALIAN HU· lf-A: In !he
• AFReS HU· le8: Ctewed by Ail FOtCe Reserve crews. _ a l Albatrosselln I ~ k!w·viIIibOloty paant sdleme - . . used as 'COIM'\III'd poslS' lor SAR opIIlIhOns oft Vietnam.
'95
AMERI CAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT ,
PHOTO FILE
GRUMMAN
GRUMMAN
C-1 TRADER/E-1 TRACER • Tracker development. Carrier transport . Airborne early warning
C-1 TRADER/E-1 TRACER Fixed 'umbrella' ...
Unlike more recent types. such as the E-2 and E-3. the radome of the E- IS was fixed. The aJrcf aft was sometimes described as carrying lis own umbrella.
.. COD on
Constellation
Traders played. vital role !tying from carrier to camer and from shore bases.. TIley were ,.-ticulsriy apprecialed during the Vietnam War.
... limited testing With its similarity 10 the Tracket; only limited testing of the Trader was required belwe its 1955 clearance . for service. The first TF- 1 was used for much of the testing and wore this dsrlc colour scheme.
pio neer of AEW (Airborne Early Wa rnin g) o perations u sing la rge over-fuselage radomes, the WF- 2 Tracer (late r d esignated E- 1) wa s b ased o n the Grumman TF Trader (later d esignated C -l). In tum the Tra der wa s a d e ve lopme nt of the S2F-2 Tracke r, with a deeper fu sela ge f o r u se as a 'carrie r o nboa rd delivery' (COD) airc raft, flying important supplies, m ail a nd personnel from b ases ash ore to a ircraft c arriers at sea.
A 196
• ... A welcome sight to US Navy aircran canier crews aroond the world, the TracJer was o ften the bringer o f vital supplies and news from home. The last Trader was retired in 1988.
• •
'ACTS AND FIQURIS The nrst TF T'ntder m.dti It s malden night on 19 .January 1955 and the Iat was delivered on 30 Decln,bet ' 958The prototype Tracer took to the air tor the first time on 17 December 1956.
Grumman c omple ted a tota l o f 87 Tradet's between 1955 end 1958.
• • •
... c-, ... Tr..... rn.ct. the last US Nevy can1ef landing by a piston-engined alrc ... n on 21 September '988. Berwe.n February 1958 and September 1961 Grumman bui" 88 Tracers.
Grumman ta iled to win a Trac8\" order from S weden tOf' a much-modifted E-1.
GRUMMAN C-1 TRADER/E·1 TRACER
COD and the 'Stoof with a Roof'
D
ouglas had bt.-t:n produci ng J COD vcr,ion of illS AD Skyr.tickr for the US N:n'Y since 19S0. hut conCL'rn was mounti ng that the aircrnf! w:,s unable 10 :tCCOlllrnod..1C large itOCln.mrniw>E·2-'_""'" _ m. •
_-"'_Ior_-..a-wilhill~_"'1£oN ~.The-""" __ "",,",,","I"""""IorIl>O
Grumman's post·war pistons
• F1F. 3N TIOIEFlCAT: Designed as, carner·based tigtltIW II!-
,.. The prototype Grumman G·98 Tiger first flew, as the YF9F·9, on 30 July 1954.
,.. One of the two FIIF· IFs was flown to a world altitude record of 23,449 m (76,913 ft).
,.. Grumman manufactured 201 Tigers between July t954 and December 1958.
The US N.vy's ·81.... Angels' aerotMrtk: team used Tlgen; for Ionget' than any othet' aircraft, from 1957 to 1969.
,.. Tigers s pent their last years in service as advanced pilot trainers.
GRUMMAN F11 F TIGER
PROFILE '11'· 1 T....
Fast cat for the 'Blue Angels'
",-: ~_ Below: After the 42nd TIgflf" had lefl the production line a longer nose Wa!J
Introduced 10 accommodate a radar
I
n
1953 (he US Navy rurn(..'(l
Entering S(,'fvice in Ma rch 19S7. the FI IF was a familiar
10 Its ocst-k nown wa rplane
manufact urer, Grumman, to build :1 ",ingle-scat, high -
III II.sao m (311.000 It)
dl-"'(ks of the US fleet for :Ibou! thn...-e yean>. One a ircr.!.ft gain ...-d noto rk.1y in 1958 when a pi lot m;tking ~ gunnery run managed to fly inlo his o ....·n Slrram of ('annon s hells and had \ 0 ejt'ct and parac hute 10 safety. I k \\~.. s widely K'POnL-d as the fl~ llS tcS! p.lot ever to :.h(X)( h in15t:lf down . Always st:en as a tcrnpor:IrY c.xpt.'di
Mal . . . . . . . .: 1037 "'"'" (643 mph) clean
Mail_ eU" rail : 2323 mlmlll (7620 /pm)
al sea level 1Iaqe: 1627 krn 11008 miIe$) with mal"m ...rn
Short-sighted US Navy officials cancelled the formidable A-6F In favour of the A-12. This was later scrapped.
mititary load: faich was common a t the end 01 the type 's Career. VA-.2 was the Atlantic Fl&et Replenis hment Squadron.
Both the p6:lt lVld ~t oontroIlVld aI IIyng controls were ~ powered. The pipe ~ the rudder hilge Init allowed !ue1 to be jatt>sooed from the fusolIa9a t.YJks.
INIT1Al CLIMB RATE
TRAM attack Oyro-s taMi&ation
aIIowf;
the
TRAM turret to remain locked on 10 tile target .... en as the aircraft ovlNfties it.
TARGETtNG INFORMATION:
Uair\Q ,IS Forwaro- Looking 1t"!fa-Red (FUR) Iaser-
and targeting systems. the A·6E Os all«! to calculate ..-ecise targeting intormatoon !
type: cal'ri8r-bI.tsed 8Irt>ome earty warning
co::.-
aircraft
.....,Iut: two 36(;1-l<W (491(}-hp) Am$OO T506-.'\425 turboprop eng.ne:s
_4~'~-2\S :x*>g systam
N
icknamed the 'Hummer' by its crews, the E-2
MuI_.,eN: 500 kmIh (374 mph)
Japlin received the first of its E-2s in '982 and it is known as DaYB (kite) in Japanese service. Several covntries fly the 'E~'2~,~_~~ _ _ _ _ _~ including Egypt, Israel and Singapore. " ~
Hawkeye wa s d esigned to replace the carlier E-1 6
ye's "~-~~;;''''''--'
TI"'Jcer, lhdmum take-off 23 ,556 kg
r.ldar unit has ch:tnged again, to AJ>S-I38, AI'S-I39 and APS.. 145. TIle APS-14S, now being
(51.900 Ib)
leu_dallon:
Remaining on statKln for feu hoo-s, 3OC> km (1 S6 mi(os) from the CIWrier a'Id wrthouI rnIi;1>1 1\lIueIrlg, the ~ ~ long eoio'Mo9. This is ac:hi9wd
n.1:rofiucd to aircrJf\ in the fk"CI. oITeJ5 oc'tler resistance to jamming. Although it is !lOW g(.1ting old , the present E.. K Hawkeye is an up-to-date_ st:ltO-bomfI aircraft deeigned to be tao.n::hed by Sleern catapUl . Thill bar on tha """"""'" l8g ~ with u-., catapJt !:IhJ1tIe on the dodCtension or the 8Ifeoon:I delivery
shore-ba.'>Cd squad ron placed in a str:ucgic location to resupply ships at sea . TIle C-2A Greyhound is also succeS5ful in Above: Carrying the '00' tai/code of its secondary duty as a tr:lining tho since-disestablished VRC-50, this a ircr.lft, and Ius i.x-en used for train ing Ha wkeye crews. Greyhound was based at Cubi Point in I3cfore the cockpil~ of combat the Philippines. aircraft were opcnt.-'() up 10 has to be wken when I;lnding women in 1993, the Greyhound Ihe Greyhound on an ;.ircr;.flwas one of the n~ry few ca rrierC:lrricr because ilS brJ,:e c-apable a~'ropbnes to be flown wingspan leaves liule room by female pilots. Unlike the crews of fighlers ;.nd bombers, for ",;",oeuvre on a crQwdl'() (kck. l3ul, for its ~ile, Ihe these tr:mspon pilot.S fl y a realworld mission every tilllC they Grt.1'hound is relatil'ely take off and land. Greal care easy 10 fly. ~'s engoes are !he SMl9 3663-kW (4900-hp] Alison T56-A·425 tuJbioe8 88 Ih<xIo fittoo 10 !he E-2C
The
Air(:r afl 155124 was ono ol lhe original balch 01 19 Greyhol,mds deli"ered 1rom the mld-l960s- 'J M' Is the tallcode of Fleet logistics Support $quadtOn 24
C - 2A
lIal~.
AedeosIgn9d tor !he tt"lll""OSj)Ol1 roie. the ~'s fuselage is consIderabt,r a-ger [two that 01 the Hawig TS3-l·1S ttmopmps
..... . . .,eN: 478 km1'l12961f11l/1181 1525 m (SOOO
--
~
....... ctIItsMIt .,..r. 443 km1'l127S IIlPhJ
....... eli. rat.: 716 mfnw> (23!iO!pm) 11
Right: A _thew-worn O V- to $hows the extend«l radome ahead of the nose and the two-seat cockpit. The overwing po$ition of the exhBtr$t afforded SOI7lf!I protec:tion from heat·seeking missiles. A four·$Nt OV-I E variant was propos&d but was
nf1VfK
Tah·,ff nil: 177 m (365 ft) to ts m (50 ft)
"'"'" t642 ~:
kin (1020 nWes)
s.m" celli..: 923S m (30.300 It)
-,
WIltMs: ~ eQUiwed
built.
maximum tak..all 8722 kg
DI...-..IO":
am'M..-d Moh;lwks fk-w :ut;lck mis.
. . . . . . . . . . .: 1048 kmItl (650 0TVl) in '~' oondibon m _ level
The Prowler " one 01 the most
IWO
RIIIte: 1no km (1097 miIBsI
expen$Ne .m;raft In the US Navy
invenlory. The huge cost of the EA-6B " offset, how-. by the Iive$ and aircraft .saved by the protection it can prol'ide.
Semel celli",: 12.550 m
ECMO tl"'.Ick
And Yl'1 this trcmcndOl.l5 fighting machine em oper:nc from :1 I IO-m e IWCfIIIt tl4)8fb ... "'" .... C6 and
Weapons of the Tomc at .
.... M•• SIDEWINDER: The hIQI>Iy
iI(IIIe SIdewnder ~ lIS8d ~t manoeuvr'ng tatgets. ~ home. ... on heal Irool 11\8 ..--.y'. jetpop8l. Range 8 km [5 miM' l.
. .... M· 7 SPAAROW: The Spwrow hon1n on radar enetlIY ..n.cte:1 carnera sal and rma·1fId sen&Of !rIId
poe;tioto ' _ _ _n..",.pIIot _ ",.tw>mDtIIOyO .......
~
Tomcat t rilogy •
COLOURED TAILS, Rellecting an era when hIgh·vis. . .-
H· 23D Raven
~: ttvw-_t ighI Clbeetvatlon IindlraotWlg
~: one 186-kW (250-hp) LyQOITIiog VQ-450-23B l1li1-';. air-cooIKI pitton ""Il""
Max'- ....: 153 kmIh!95 mph)_
BeJow: A number of UH- I2s '" the US .,. employed '" • major insect
Cnhl. . . . . .: t32 krn.-1I (82 rrVt)
control campaign in the AtIaIlt;c cout states. Ovet" 1000 UH- I 2s .,. stiN flying worldwide.
..Ittal cu. m.: 32O",,"*, (1050 !pm)
RMte: 3t7 kin {197 miles! Stn1c. Clllh.: 4023 m (13200 h)
exponl-d 10 m'l'!"Was customers,
Wlllhtl: empty 824 kglB17 Ibt: IoItded 1225 kg (2 TOO!tI1
both military and civil. Sl:anley Ilill~'s son. jefTn.'Y, look m'er Ihe bUSIness in 1994. 11lc cOIllpn;ty continues 10 rn;,\'c!op lhe UII -12 in pistonand lumillt.'"CflgulL'(l \crsions and as a new five-!It':lIer a IL'Stimony 10 lhe sound ness of Ihe 194 .... or- Iuot
iii ~n_ II"'''''
f_ _ •
..1 _ _ .
... IZJI ....
i1i1i"i:i ;t.ii' lho-. ____ .... _ . _
Hiller vertical risers •
HJ_I HORNET: T~ of IlleSelwo-seal
•
'tmjeI-powered helicopter. __ buill . plus . further 12 lor !he US Armf. the YH C·:"C._ _
,
FH· l1 (1O:
10 rIvaIt ....
Hil""', attempllO build. mactPne
Bel JetRange< and I--IugI-.
500 was
derived from the oosuccesslul miIotary OH-5
• X-I8: ThoI...-.......I ~_lIow!l ln 1959_ to test the practic:aIity oIliII-wing _ -IMocI_Ihe ...... __ 1IIIUIIt. h
~
__
.~
_ _ ,rt40.A"""" .................. In_1ho
.. . -·"1
~·_Iho..-_tor
.. ._..._.
"
" "Tt~ 0,
,
215
AMERICAN MILITARY AIR CRAR
PHOTO FILE
HUGHES
OH-6
H UG HES
OH-6
CAYUSE 'Y Post-war service
CAYUSE
OH-6As which SlJrWved the V"Hltnam War were passed on to National Guard and R_ units. Some were modifHKi
• Vietnam veteran . Hundreds in service . Top-secret missions
.A ' People planks' and Special Forces This MH-6H SelVeS with the us Army's ' 60th Specia l Operations Air Regiment (SOAR). It Is able to carry personnel on thfl 'people planks'.
'" Testing time in the navy Four eJl-US Anny OH-6As are on loan to the US Navy Test Pilots' School al Patuxent River. They are uSIJd to give students light heIicop/et' eJtperiooce.
.A Armed tor support AH-6Gs life not usoo as traditional gunships. They are most likely to /end fire support to a coven mission Hit b compromised and attackfJd.
No tail rotor tHOTAR) ~ McDonnell Douglas' NOTM concept a/lows operations from tight spots, but with the cost o f diminished speed and increased fveI consumption.
H
UgheS overcame competition from Bell and Hiller to win a contract for the US Army's new LOH (light observation helicopter). The QH06 went on to become the US Army's primary observation helicopter in Vietnam. Although some problems were encountered during the OH06's production, new variants based on the civil Model 500 found success. Recently, the aircraft has been tasked with a new role, flytng spedal forces missions with the US Army. 216
FACTS AND FIGURES
• .A Well-armed, small and agile, the OH-6A performed well in Vietnam. Many Ca)'tlses have been exported and the Model 500 has bTeathed new life into the series..
• •
For observation dutle. tM US Army received 1434 Cayuses from lin orIginalty planned 4000. The first service OH-6s _re delivered t o t he US Army in sept ember 1965. Soldiers nicknamed the OH-6 'Loach' because of its LOH role des ignation.
• • •
Cayu. . and Model 500 variants serve in Japan, whent some are dubbed 'c hisel b/I99U' (little bug). In Vietnam damaged Cayu. .!! numbered 420; many were returned to ftying !!tatU!!. M cDonnell Dougla!! sllil produce!! civil helicopter!! inspired by the O H -6 de!!ign.
HUGHES OH- 6 CAYUSE
Cayuse for the aerial cavalry eeking a replacement for ils first-generat ion Bell :md Hiller Iypes. the US Army issued o:lsha.ft -
In 1996 a Model 300C trainh'9 heltcopta r was pric ed at $ 187,500.
,., Kawasaki assembled 38 TH-55As as TH -55Js for the JGSDF.
Iraq ac quired 30 M odel 300C s for c ropdusting, but used them f or pilo t training .
,., Schweizer builds a turbine de velo pment 01 the Model 300 - t he Model 330.
>-
Hughes' first successful chopper esiUn.1!cd ' 11-5'5A Osage, the Hughes Mo(k'i 269A- I was dclivt:n:d 10 the US AImy :after being selected in 1964 lhe Osage "';IS ~ n:.fir)(:mt."fI1 of the chil Modd 200 Utility, which "'~.lS dt.'1'ived from the orlSt1ll:l1
D
Model 269 tlut 11:,(1 fin;!; rlown in Octoix.-r
1966.
lhc IlCX! ntljor '~I riant ,,:.s the thn:.-e.SC'.ltl"f Model 300 (2®U), whkh, with ,In up r.u(:d l)'COIlling l'fl8inc. 1x.'C,rnc the Model 300C in 1969. 'n us was the n'105l .,..~dcJy produ«:d \'t."f'5ion. wilh more tha n 1000 I)('irl~ bu ilt by Il lIght.". Uccnce prodllC1ion "~IS
also undcrukcn by BredaNardi in Italy, as !he NI I-3OOC. PopuLar with civil opcr.uors, the Modd 300 has being used for roles as di,-eISe as crop--spr3ying ~nd policing duties. For the IatlLT, the Il ughcs 300C Sky Knight. wilh a pubOc address sys'IL'1n and an infr.. -red SL"fISOI", W-oIS inuuduced. In milicuy servict:, sever.. 1 coumrics have ack:>pied the type, princip J lly fOf pilol tr.. ining. 11 1-55As were sup p lic:.,,(/ 10 Alg I•••
;
mn
,
lIUW
Piston-engined military training helicopters BELL MODEL 4 7: ~', ModtI 47 Sioux !il1lt 1
• W~ 5
30 Ill< arms
•
HILLER UH-12: A conlO!11flP01'ary of lno 300, were built M iUtary
more than
• ROBINSON R22: Designed in the late 1970s. the R22 \fila bought by only one mtblary customer. the TU!IIlsh 1II'TTIy_
~.
".
AMERICAN MILITARY AI RCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
KAMAN
KAM AN
H-43 HUSKIE • Intermeshlng rotor . Firelighter . Rescue
H - 43 HUSKIE
'" Huskle rescue When flying aitt:rew rescue sorties in Vietnam, the Huskie was painted in camoollage. Due to the H-43's limited range, it was generaJIy used only over South Vietnam, s/thovgh its smaH size allowlKl it to operate in small jungle clearings.
... Firefighter With Ifs underslung load of firefighting chemicals contained In a special tank and fully·equipp&d firefighters in the rear cabin, the Huskie was effective In the airfield firefighfing role.
.... Delta d811very
---
Huskies wen! used over the Melrong Delta fUfNJ of South Vietnam, opera ting in a support role for the US Navy's inshore PBR (Patrol Boat, RMKJ foraJ.
----
.... Red lins Huskies based in friendly territOlY wore bright 'rescue ' colours. The rotors could be stOf8d In the 'fore end art' position to save space.
... Box body The edvantage of the Kaman rotor system is that the helicoptl'K does not require a tllil rotor, so it can be designed with II capacious interior.
eveloped In the 195Os, the box- shaped HH-43 Huskie p rovid ed the US Air Force with a helicopter that was able t o put out fire s and perform rescues. In Its ro le as a local airbase firefighter, the Huskie was very effective. Built with the twin m eshing rotors that are the signature or inventor and entrepreneur Charles Kaman, the Huskle ended Its career in the Vietnam War.
D
... Charles Kaman invented his Intermeshing rotor d&sign using tools at home, and the systllf1l remains unique. The concept has most recently been rejuvenated In the company's K· Max llfility transport helicoptet:
. . .
. .
fACTS AND fIQUR •• Ex·US Huskie$ have Mn'&d with the air forca$ of Bunna, Colombia, Morocco, Paki $tan and Thailand.
The HU$kie eslabli$hed seven world recon:ls using its T53-1 engine.
The first flight of the prototype In thi$ series took place on 13 Dec::embef" 1958.
~
The USAF received H3 HU$kle$ (18 H-43AI;, 203 HH-43B$ and 42 HH·43hl between 1958 and 1968. The Hu skie 's rescue holst has a capacity of 272 kg (600 Ib) for lifting pers,onneL A f_ civilian Huskies remain in use undertaking logging operations.
KAMAN H-43 HUS KIE
Left: The /-Iuskie crow often had to operate under dangerous and terrifying conditions. This burning C-97 was part of a training session, but the 1-1-43 tackled many other fires for real.
Two rotors are better than one
H- 43B Huakle Type: !!vee-place res and fires on its airfield:;.
had :l lrllOSl unpn:n:dL'fltL>d
Sp.x.-'d and T"J.llb..:' were not important. Wh.11 ll1.3ttcl"0 moot ~2S• • ~.~
mOOorn oj hllnfl OM. 1ik&1I>o
~
..-_ [a.l!1 '_
'
_.......
lHkM(la_
IIIkMl1 ..... ; .
_liII1IIttl_ . .
Viii !.I I
16; & '"
_'_compond
The~ 1i '4:l_!hemoot~"-O
sonar bUOys or magootic detection equipmfffit, the weapon is released. The SH-2G will carry the new lightweight and more capable Mk 50 torpedo .
.... In the hangar With rotors stowed away the SH-2 coold fit in the hangar of frigates such as the 'Knox ' class, originally designed to carry a drone helicopter.
K
aman's SH-2F Seasprite and SH-2G Super Seasprite are the current models of a sturdy, versatile helicopter that has been a familia r s ight on the world's oceans for four decades. Originally a Vi etnam-era rescue helicopter hampered by limited range , thi s Kaman design has shown extraordinary growth potential. New engine s and s ys tem s have kept the SH-2 up-to-date and make it a formidable anti-s ubmarine weapon. 222
FACTS AND FIGURES .... Kaman's ${n!sprite Is an unremarkable but enduring design that has glvf!fl excellfffit service for nearly four decades. Fulfilling roles es varied as combat search and rescue and ant;submarioo patrol, the Seasprite may still remain in service well past 2010.
,.. Earty Seasprlte models _ _ rebultt in Connecticut to become adYanced SH-2Fs and SH-2Gs.
,.. Kaman Is ftyIng an SH·2f with the
,.. The Seasprite helicopter known as HU 2K - 1 f irst new on 2 J uly 1959.
,.. The "rst flig ht of the new SH· 2G took place on 28 December 1989.
,.. Egypt bought the SH-2F, and t he SH -2G has been selected by t he A ustralian navy.
,.. Turkey received 14 s urplus SH -2Fs under an agreement proposed in 1994.
company's M agk Lantern antl·shlp mine
detector housed In a pod •
KAM AN
Clearly visible on the starboard spotlson of this SH·2G is the ASQ-B1 magnetic anomaly detector 'bird'.
Sub-chasing Seasprite
T
flew a dramatic mission on
he Seaspritc and SII-2G Super Seaspritc are the only helicopters from
Ju ne I%!!, wh$hafb
--
Maxl_ spetMI: 265 kmIh (165 mph) at MaxkMII tlllsl", speed: 230 kmIh (143 mph)
RMte: 6T9 kill [422 miles)
Senlt. celli..: 5670 m (IM02Ib) • •11foU: empty 3 t 93 kQ (7039 1:1): mlll
01 the aid T·58 I~ with fTOOni toIficoent T700 engines. These deMir 8bouI 10 per 0IIrl\1T"Ion .... ~ _ _ lit buIr k mOOs tIf1(JInI) marn~ oos;
04 ..
_ , - , oro:! coo,jd
~1
"'" InIo -
welas~
:::-~"" _
ny
during \X'orld '«':IT II The airfr.. me was inStantly recogn i~blc as a lnodifit-d
Electra, wnll more po"erful e!l~ines,
gun armament and
intern:l! bomb-bay. This bomber W".lS ruS hl-d inlo product ion !O mt'el Uritain's fC(]uircmcm for a mari time p;olrol :Iirer:l ft a nd
na vigatlon Ir.lincr, ScarclH.nd· fCSIe this b>; ~ It1e span failed and 8. ~e wi'lg redesign was reqlQd. whtdl sfowed dI::rMl ~.
ar-nt: two 12.7-nvn (.50-Qht"" ",,~s were alerted to the ratd. The Vtonturas lumbered Into It1e trap and most were ripped 10 stveds by the 70 enemy foghtert.
--------------WAIIWICII .. .
_
.. 15m ",)
229
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
LOCKHEED
P - 80
LOCKHEED
P - 80
SHOOTING STAR ..,. Graceful lines
SHOOTING STAR
Before the addition o f wingtip tanks lind essential service equipment, the Shooting Star was one o f the most elegant aircraft ever produced by Lockheed. Pilots marvelled at the design .
• Jet fighter . European deployment . Test flying
..... Fighter testing Known as Lulu Belle, this P-BO was flown agains t the conventionally po wered fighters of the period to explore jet tactiCS .
..... Future potential With large test markings displayed OIl its fuselage, this particular P·80 undertook II series o f developmental flights to try out future;at fighter equipment.
..t... Service entry Seen high over California's foothills, this P-80A was assigned to the 412th Fighter Group at March Field in late 1945.
.... Lakebed landings Early flights were performed from the Muroc range in California, and made use o f the many dry lakebeds.
n 1944 the US Army Air Force began gunnery trials in Neva da with the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, this des ign promis ed to revolutionise air warfare. The P-80 wa s the first fully operational type in th e US to have a jet engine - .an innovation already familiar to German and British scientists. The US rushed four P-80s to Europe - two each to England and Italy and the y were hours from entering combat when World War II e nded.
I
FACTS AND ' IGURlES
..... Proudly wearing the Lockheed emblem on its nose, the p.8() Shooting Star was equipped with six forward· firing machine guns, a typical armament fit for fighters of the era.
~
The Shooting Star wa' deaIgnecI from the ,tart to be the United Stat. . Army Air Force', first operatlOl'lal Jet fighter.
~
Lockheed hoped to deliver 4SO ShootIng Stan per month during World War II, but this was ne_ accomplished.
~
One of the first examples of the P-80
~
Richard Ira Bong, America's highestscoring ace, was killed testing liP-50.
~
Many pilots found it hard to adjus t to the new demands of jet flying .
was completed in just 143 days. ~
Early aircraft we re given names lik e The Grey Ghos t and Silver Ghost.
PROFILE Below: Having just
Shooting for success
W
brk on the P-80 beg"n in
1943 "hen famous
engull..;:r Clarcroce L
('Kelly') Johnsoo persuaded hi.~ bosses at LockhL-.:d to aHernpc \0 builJ the USAAFs first upcr..lional jet fighter in just ]80
(bys. l 1u:,y a«ually rornpk1(.J Ihe paoc....scning fiN 1'-80 in 143 days. TIle 1'-80 "",as a dean design wilh 1>!r~ igh( wings and tail s.uf:l«.'S, and a tricycle landing the Iow{,..... fuselage fo .." ..,ml of the wing leading Lodgt' fL>d the British-
RF-80A
Tp: siogIe._ J&\ foghter '"'""I....: one 10.9-kN (2451)-1b.-\lYust) do HaYiUaod H.tS GobIiro turbojet
Muroc's dry IBkebeds. A major debrief followed
'*' _1iiII*"Y.-.:I,... couk1 _
_
Cii" _
0UIlIlIY. 1110 Gooono.no initioIy
_to"",,*,,,",, ~ the Hoonpond by • dwIndIoing full
~
1110 _
...
~
_
... pIott_lho 01 1110""'._"".-.:1 01 _ _ platof\III_1aI n;ghI-_lho""",".n...., __ ~~ .
....".~
_
ft_
onIylimmodpoot _ _, bulthe
.. dosogn _ ~ ot&t
..,.1_ tpMd: 966 km/tl (599 mph) at sea .".
Cruislltg spntl: 732 km/tl (454 mphl et
_. "
g:IVC
ignon.>d ~uggestions that a training v:lriam of the new jet should be dc~'Cloped. By 1947, hoWCVL"T, il was clear th.ll piiOlS clmnging from piSlon- to jet-
powered fighwrs found it was rIOI as ~Isy as expL"Cted, and the
1'-80 'vas sufk'Ting :m al:mnin,L:ly high accident ratc. A joL1 tr:msition tr:lincr was
clc:trly n::quirt:d, and so Lockht:ed g:::.ined pcmlission from the USAF 10 modify:' p..goc to act as the pfOCOIypt: of the 'l1>"&x:. Fusebgc
opi:"T>.Jm a~rtude
Below: Four T-33As Of the USAF fly in a tight formation. Unusually, the aircraft's tip-tanks have been removed.
11I1t1.1
nlte: 1484 mlnm (4870 fpm) at
Rallll': 16~ I<m (1025 miles) on Internal fuel: ferry range 2050 km (1270 miles) with tip tanks
the wingtips were 10 be a
SLmdard feature of the i!":liner, but these were laler replaced by ct."fltrJlIy-moumed lip-tanks. An att,lCk variant, which supplemented the st:mdard twin 12.7-mm machine-gun armament o f the T-33A wilh u nderwing hard points for 907 kg of ortin:lnce. was develop,;:d for ellpon 10 srn:.ller ai r forces.
~Iilllb
With the build -up of NATO forces in thc 19SOs Canada \x.'cune a ccntre for aircrcw tr:lining and 20 T·33A Silver Star Mk Is from the US wen.' joined by 6% licence·buill , Neneengim.'d T-33AN Sih'er Slar Mk 3s. Japan also built T-33As, and sever-II ellarnples rem:.i!) in service around Ihe world
Se,¥I~1
CIIII",: 14,630 m (48,000 ft)
Wlights: emply equipped 3794 kg (8347 Ib): maximum take-ofl6832 kg (15,(130 Ib)
...
Anumlll: two t 2.7 -rnm (.5O-caI.) machine
Dimensions:
11 .85m(38ftl0in) 11.51 m(37 It 9 in) 3.55m/llIt8in) 2 t .81 m' (235 sq It)
wingar&
T-33A
.... _"'_-'Yjot".,.",..W dCriVL-d. nle F-94 St:uflre all-weather interceptor was creLlcti by a
ArmImetIt: lour 12.7-1'1Y1\ (.5O-caI.) machine guns Dime",)ollS:
11.86 m (38 It 11 ill 12.22 m (40 It 11 ill 3.66 m (12 It 8 ill 21.81 m'(235sqlt)
'dB iii (Wi i
1<JI._ ..... _joI' il !he T·33.
seats; F·94As and as had ttrair ood
• F_l0l VOODOO: Bog . heavy and very complicated . the Voodoo was the antithesis oj the F_104. n w;t$ a potent a,rcralt. with advanced tw.IIy m;durad into a mar. ~ ~It .
~f.•
1
--- • mm
rligtI,..;,.,g--.g
"-"",..-
~
..........; c:Q::--=
1ho F· l (lo1 oro:! 1ho
--
LiIIfrIning .,.,.., bo ..... _tun-.I by
.... •
~MG-21_111
239
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
LOCKHEED
P-2
LOCKHEED
NEPTUNE
• Anti-submarine patrol aircra" • Long service. Export success
P-2
, NEPTUNE Neptune and its qua", ...
The Neptune's anti-submarine weapons /nclvded rockets, bombs, mines, depth charges and torpedoes. It was never called upon to sink a submarine during the volatile years of the Cold War.
... Later colours This VP-JI SP-2H wears the grey and white colours carried during the last years of US Navy service.
... Turbine engines on the P-2J Between 1969 and 1979 Kawasaki built 82 Neptunes with General Electric T64 turboprop engines and improved avionics .
... Popular P2Y·5 Built in larger numbers than any other vetSion, P2V-5 production totalled 372. Most later had a MAD boom and jet boosteffl fitted.
'Midnight blue' P2Y-2 ... 'midnight blue' Neptune is typical of the earliest Neptune variants, before the addition of a raised cockpit, jet engines, tip-tanks and a MAD boom.
ne of the greats of naval avia tion, the Lockheed P2V (P-2 from 1962) Neptune was the West's answer to the Soviet Union's awesome s ubma rine threat during the first half of the Cold War. This superb land-based maritime patrol airc raft not only searched for s ubmarines, but also filled an a nti-s urface vessel ro le. Neptunes perfonned variou s s pecialised duties for the US and other nations, a nd some saw war service a s late as 1982.
O 240
PACTS AND PlQURES
... A vetBran of wars in
Southeast Asia and the South Atlantic, the P·2 was built in large numbers. More than 1000 served with US and foreign forces.
~
During the 1950-53 Korean W. P2Vs dropped secret agents behind enemy lines, even into M anchuria.
~ In 1982 en
~
In all, 118 1 of these great planes were built; the prototype new on 17 M ay 1945 .
~
TWelve modified P2Vs served briefly as carrier-based atomi c bombers.
~
~
ArgerIt'ne Neptune g uided the Super Etendard which sank the destroyer HMS Shelfleld with en Exocet missile.
The largest foreign P -2 fleet was Japan's, and included J apanese-built P-2Js. In Vietnam the US Army used Ap·2t:s t o relay communications from secret agents.
LOCKHEED P-2 NEPTUNE
Patrolling 'king of the sea'
W
ith
:t ~
of 1x."{\>.t.:\.'fI
l' D.wit'S, a PlY- I named 1be
Tnlcllu!IIl Tllrtle fk.·w 18,227 krn (11 .300 miles) from PettIt. Austr_llia , 10 Columbus, otUo, in 55 hours and 17 minutes, dt."fTlOfl.SIrnting the Neplune's superb rnnge and endur.mce. TIle NCJXune's ease of handling and m;'OC>e\JvrJbiliIY. with its unusually 1:11gt: rudder. and its spacious accornmod;u ion IIkldt: it popu lar with Navy cn:ws. UcsI n::111t:mbered are the bl uc-p;.inlctl Neptullt:S Ihal p rowk.·d the world 's oce'Jn~. With
:md 12 n'K:n, dt.-pendlng on the model a nd mission. lilt: t..ockht:ed 1'2V l\(:pcune spenI most d Its C'Jret:r st:' lking Russi:," SC\'(.'Il
submarines. but
also
11
'i(.T\":''d
on otlx... atpaClIICS. Including e k.'CI1'OI11C intclligp ~
C(Q1r\.diotl" and rvda, the EP-3E Orion's min ion is to Iocete end record loreign vessels. F.... this mission the a ircraft is lilted with highly sophisticated electronics.
A ~ rnssion rtIQ.Jnl5l1g1"1y trarJtld operators. These 8(e seated withn the large fuselage o! the Orion to operatOlg the sensors and 8f1tennas, ThII r'Ullber 01 speaaiowet... capt..... and arml lalQ w.... diarup1ed. +-ito . . . triad as a spy, ..-.:I "'..
nlliA"nIId 10 Iha United
~'The~"'~U-2 ~"~~'~"' ~~"'f.l~"~"~~~~:::::::::::::::::;i:~~~:=::::::::::::::~~~~~~~~~=i~~~:;~1:~.\~~~~. "' :"~~~~~~.~"~::~ ~~:_a~wilha Incident lowe" portIOn ~ lila j8Ipope.
-.::tmnK: i"itIIIg.-w::If ........
RCRET MISSION: On 1 May 1960, CIA U-2 pilot F....-.e.. Gary Pow.-s took oft from . MCralb-. in Paki$1an 10 fly ov. lind photograph ........... alrlilagk: bases In !he SoYiet 1Joion. +-ito would Iy .. 22,EI6(l m (75.00J II). out of #W raroge of ut_lO-M" ~ . ''\ , _
'(
... -
• ..
~
-
~
"
" ~
TAAGET SYf.RDLOYSK: For Iha ~ '*'10 ~ta on ftyIog Itr-.ghlllnd ta....I ov.- IhIi tagaI. MoG-15 fight.. eImbad 10 intereapllhli U-2. but QOIIId ..... '-* .. ha9>I. photo ...."
SPY FLIGHT PLAN: Gary P~" U·2 look oft tmm "-haw.,. P ak\atatl. 10 fly ov. the SovIet I'I"lISSiIe lesl beN at SVIfdIovsk. His rout. avooded ~ 51 Each SR-71A base operated a dedicated support facility. Bases wen! permanently .vailable in the US, UK and Japan. Howelfet' the SR-71A has now been retired by the USAF.
F
lying the SR-71 has much in common with a Space Shuttle mission. The c rew of pilot and reconnaissance syst em s officer (RSO) will have passed the same rigorous medical and physical examination as astronauts, and completed at least 100 simulator hours before they fly the aircraft for real. Some 1()() hours of training missions follow before they are qualified to fly operationally, and. whether in training o r on a real mission, there is never a moment's rest.
'48
»-
'ACTS AND PlaUM. »- DurIng,toe, one SR-7t. _
UMd to lest a ........bIe launch vehide, III' III potent1a1 Space Shuttie replacement.
R••toration of the ftrst two SR_7t. to flying condition cost only USSHIO rnII$Ion,
ha" the ellpeeted amount.
.& Always expen$ive to operate, the SR-71 A was retired from service for a time because of it3 Intemive maintenance requirements tJIId its need for specially equipped support facilities.. In 1996, three aircraft wen! briefly relurned to service.
,.. Spare parts lor refurbishing the aircraft
»-
were found in several serapyards!
»- • new generation of unmanned alrcran will replaee the S R -71 .
»-
Unconfirmed reports suggest that SA-7IAs may have flown over Bosnia. Blaekbirds took part in t he 1996 Red
Flag and Green Flag exercises.
LOCKHEED SR-71A
PROFILE
Return of Lockheed's Mach 3 Blackbird
B
cfore Iheir mission the Blackbird 's crew don custom-Ill,ld e pressu re
mph), Ihen the aircrJf! climbs at 740 knvh (4W mph) to a tanker rendez\'O\.Is at :l oo\ H 8000 III
unils k
Aceommoelatlon: pilot and reconnaissance systems oIfoeer
Mach 1.3. after which t he pilot takes over to land manually, wilh :1 brake parJChllle helping 10 bring the aircT:lfl to a Il:Ilt.
SR-71A
Dime.sions:
wngarea
Mi::Jsl 01 the ~ lRl wng m\Yf\31 voUne Os oonso..rned by fUej tarb. The special JP7 fUej 01 the I3Iad
~h
some SR-lIA misaioscric!ll" ~ the~. The b'J'p8ss natll'6 01 the engines dictat66 that a large proportion 01 the BIf ent Delicate wings The wings IIIlt vet}' fragile, lind the pilot
has to l ake great
cant
-IdI h. . ..-.nglned lhe .irenft. Radar raconnai . ..nu end communications Intelligence ga"-lng eN the U· 2's mIIln Ithough the typa l tilt c.rrIes traditionat umeral on some missions.
Fa taloing, the U-211 fiIIad with 0UIt9gef ~ !¥Ideo" each M"og. On taka-oflll"lesoe keep tha ~ IeYIl lni the IIIifcraft IeaYes tha ~. 'pogo. wt1eeIs IhIfl ~ fnIII.
_Jor~,8CGO'
DI ...... IOIIS:
"'"h .•
n-
~~
IPIl" 31.39 m (103 II) length 19.13 m(6J II) I*ght 4.88 m \18 ttl wing area 92.90 rrf (1000 Iq It)
The CCIdCrv:lllOrl :urcr;lft h;ls gre',11 \".Ilue in boIh peacetime and " HM , l 11e:.c p l;Ln(.'S ~tKlW(''(! Ih(' "~Iy for :1 n~w kind of !w,I(tiC",11 Flying, but no modernday L'qui\'31ent
DimeLlSlons:
2.77m(9111in) 19.05 m' (205 IQ ft)
of them has Above: The civil-registered Q-.Staf was
bcen dcvelop.:d.
LOCKHEED
YO-3A
quiet, aIng"-eng1ned ob--.._tlon .Iry 10 1oMiI _ _ _ _ A/InougI'ihy -" ' oliOoOigno _ , 11M' _........ ______ IOng...o.n.-oc. _ ....., .. _ __ ~.Cy~
•
.~
-._._-_,_or --
•
I m ....
•
•
jl1 .....
......
INITIAL CLiMB RATE
---"'""'-
lilled WI1h • nOlllNTl0l6'ila:l
"""""'" .,.
3I!CD . .-qln(Ier,.~ PI$IOrl tngIJl4I. Ea'ti IWlnII h!1d. *-bLIded lh;eij-poICh propeIer, t>.lllEItw. 1IYe&bladed vaIetlIa-pedl o.nt
--. ===============================================------------------.::----,
~
_b-_to,o
us SI*'III F _ -. .... 01 .... _ ' -
_n.
--
~1n_0I
00IIl ....
OC~
Itl..-
__
211..fill " ~"""
l i i@lii li@,!fI
--. " .. _h_ ----in----. h
'fO.J.I. r.:L
~ ...... - J"to"I1!~-:~~. ..... n-... .nu 01--. _. II.-y _ _ _
~IO
_h
_
_
(14'-11)
I'!9.i*Iuo" ....
INoLpIota_ ....
253
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAfT
LOCKHEED
EC-130
\
• Electronic warfare Hercules variants. Highly classified
~ui pment
J'--
EC-130
LOCKHEED
EC-130H Compass Call 110The EC- f30H is used for communications introsion and jamming duties. Previously operated from Sembach in Gennany, the 10 operational aircraft are now based at Davis-Monthan in ArizOIla .
--- -
.... '".,J _ _
.& Jamming equipment An array of wire antennas is suspended on a gantry under too tail. Blisters on the rear fuselage contain two further antennas.
.&EC-130(RR) Rivet Rider Worlcing in conjunction with the EC-I3OH is the EC-13O(RR) Rivet Rider, which is also tasked with jamming enemy commllflications. It can tap into and rebroBdcast radio and TV transmissions for propaganda and psychological warfare missions.
,
.& Rivet Rider antennas The Rivet Rider is easily idfHltified by II single. large axehaad antenna undftr each wing.
TACAMO - TAke Charge And Move Out 110A US Navy C- I JOO relays communications to its ballistic nuclear missile submarines.
nder the des ignation EC· 130, the USAF operates four special mission variants of the ubiquitous He rcules transport. One is an airborne control centre, while the other three have a muc h m o re sensitive role : electronic warfare. Although routinely seen on the outside, the inside is a secret world. To gain access to the interior of the aircraft a top· secret c odeword is required, as the task of the EC· 130E and EC· 130H is to listen t o and dis rupt enemy communications.
U 254
•
EC-130 c~
'ACTS AND I'ICIURU • Comfy le\It, Riyet R66er and ASCCC on.. exc.ec:l the USAF.
EC- l3OEs and EC- l3OHs were ope atlolla! during Operation Desert Storm.
meximum of 155 tt.ye. _ay from home each ~r.
~rnended
.& The USAF operates an EC· I3OE version as an airborne battlefield command and control cfHltre. Internal consoles can display digitised maps covering any area of the world,
•
Incredibly, the original C- l30 airframe made its first night on 23 August 1954.
•
The US Coast Guard ~t" tMl EC130E as an electronic calibf-ation aircraft.
•
US Navy EC-13OQ aircraft were replaced In 1989 with the Boeing E-6 Mercury.
~
A major roie during the Cold War wa s eavesdropping in the Berlin Corridor.
EC - 130
L OCK HEE D
PROFILE
USAF electronic warriors
EC· 130H Hercules Type: 8lectronic warfare ain;ollt
Poww,lHt: lour 3020-~W (4046-hp! Allison T56-A-t5 turboprop angines MuIIlMlM 1jIHII: 6 11 kmIh (379 mph!
T
he EG-I30 may look like a tTal15port aiJ'IT3ft but it is a saboleur wnh "'!ngs, using the marvel of electronics 10 bre'dk up an enemy's miliL"lry r".Idio and tck-vi.5ion broadcasting. TIle USAF operJiCS severnl imclligcnce-g:uhcring versions of the Ilercu1es trJllspon under the design,llion EC-I30E. A Hercules ,-crsion. unoffidally d esign:l1t:d EC-I30E and now retin.."datd HetcuIolos,a pod
iong-rang9 a/uti! \arb, as C..l
~
by
a
..-dueumpla_.
""thO (;..130 .. oiu ....
_
•.·•
""~~'~"~'~·~·~~!-~~~·E:~.~
'lt~lJII_
JotIi_ If " ....J
m
-~ ~
....
IilJ!!ilJ
" .-.IU IMtcn 01 "-~ioitl
..... Long ''''I/O
-"",. ~~
-.0101>0 c.rr\ood .[
acmplane in
iL~
class when test
pilocs thunden.>d aloft in the first example on 30 J une 1968. Since then, even brgcr AntOflOV
C-SB Qal..., k:>og.raoge logIStic weight",
,"--,1111: flU" 191 .2~-kN (4 1 ,CIOO-Ib-1Iwstj General Electric TF39-GE-IC turbofans Maxl_ SfMN: 760 kmIh (570 mph) at 10,COO m (32,800 II) RHte: 6033 km (3700 miles) with maximu:"n
radar. The entire 1lO$8 hino;jes ~ !of aocess to the I"dd.
:l00u1 lhe lockheed C"S Galaxy is its sheer sizt:o
flL'el ing cameo roles in hiswry's
T".: heavy.
{r.lnsports h,l\'e a ppe::m.>d in the formc::r Soviet Un ion, bl.ll for il~ fiTS! two dt"CJ.des of oper.l(ion lhe Gala"}' W".iS \\~Ihout rivaL "" lC CoS (".IJI carry allll()l;( any
item in the US military illl'cntory. Abr.UTlS rl1.1in banlc tanks 10 oller 360 fully equipped paratroops_ It wa.~ the backbone of the 1991 IXosen Shield airlift, thc cntire force of 85 Galaxies being used to Giffy 42 per cent of all air-dcli\'cred cargo - nearly a qua ncr of a million tonncs.
.')IIIts: empty 170.000 kg (375.COO Ib):
The C-5 was vital to the success of the Gulf War. Its recordbreaking effort saw the Galaxy lifting a heavier tonnage in the first 21 days of Desert Shield than was carriOO in the entire Berlin airlift.
loaded 380.000 kg (838.000 Ill) P.,tollll: vehicles and OUIsiztt loads up 10 120.200 kg (264.440 Ib) ill main freight compartmenl plus 73 passengers or fully eQUipped combat troops in upper rear [">!IrSOOfl"I compa rtment Dlmenslons: span 67.68 rn (222 n 6 in) 75.54 m (247 It 10 ill) 19.85 m (63 It 2 In) 576.00 m' (6200 sq It)
..,,"""-
from
The bUIa1 faoriog aI the lop 01 the h.Jgu T-tail hcus8s IIrl air data recorder as well as a I'Iio;Ilt data and aasIl f'I:II.lII!"der - the !!O-C8I8d '8Iad< Box',
The orignBI C-5A " . ; , _....""
C-5B GALAXY First built in the 1960s, the C-5 went b"ck into the Improved C-58 in the 19E1Os. The...... mo.-. than 120 C-s. In .......Ica with the US AIr Fa«:e, 50 01 which " ... '8' models.
production"~
AitraIt 01 the Galaxy"!! SiZe becam9 poss.hIe 0I""It1 with the ~ 0I1a-ge. POWQ1tA jet engones. The C-5 is powIlred by W (;I)nI)raI EIo!c1r'c TfJ9.GE·tC twn~ hiI1> bypass ti.llOOtans,
eed1 deIM!rIng 191.24 kN (4 1.COO tl tm.ost)
probiflms 'Mth wing latogul!. wI.::h
was COITOCIed .., thu C-58. In the 19BOs the en1re f1ee1 was given new. stronger wilgs at a cost 01 more than one t;6:)n doIars
,
COMBAT DATA
----...- _.-. n.o ...... 01 till Gaiary in till .... 1915Ot..- ot.- to< till In, _the us
"
.,...,
_
O
_~h
~
The maO-lil:lrdog gear 01 the bogies aoch with . . .....tleeb.
m:I!IlI
I
&XVi.,.
Tho ma.s!live tlc*J G8fl odate a ..w:le vanety 01 ClUlSinlIo!i(h. trem helicopters and tari<s to In..d<s and cargo con~. tl can also COO)' <MJI 360 ~ 9QI.Iipped 1IOOpS.
Inthe _ _ jM
Heavyllft specialist
~. dIiI _n.oGaiary __
..., tty.
'.wo
......
eatr;inO • fl"l'Ion Il".y were used 10 IIy Apache gons.l1op helicopters out to SaW Arat>ill. The AH-64s
were pacl<ed two by two. Ii_ at a tome. and thr.... C·5 trips covId move a whole baua llon. Once In the Gulf. the helicopters WMi reassembled and ope! ...,c.ry-_."'-"no!.,.,...
~
•
;
••
i• j
259
AMER ICAN MILITARY AIRCRAfT
PHOTO FILE
LOCKHEED
S/ES-3
LOCKHEED
S/ES-3
VIKING ... Improved Viking
VIKING
Most surviving
S""'_
• Twin-let anti-submarine . Ellnt version . Gulf War veteran
convertoo to S-3B standard in the late19BOs, with the addition of Harpoon anti-ship missiles and new avionics. Number 159742 was the first COIlversion.
.. Carrier-borne transport SiJC US-3A c oo aircraft deliver vital replenishment supplies to the Pacific Fleet.
... 'Bombed-up' Viking Vikings went active in the Gulf War; undertaking bombing missions against land targets and small vessels in the Persian Gulf.
... ES-3A eavesdropper PaCked with extra sensors and a third systems operator; the ES-3A is an electronic in telligence (Elint) variant o f the Viking. $ideen conversions a re deployed in pairs aboard US carriers.
'Stinger' deplored tIoWith its MAD boom eJCtended, this Viking drops.
a torpedo. The weapons bay can hold up to 181 4 kg of ordnance, which, until recently, included nuclear d&pth charges. "hOU9h it may not be as glamo rous a s the F- 14 and F/ A -18 'fast jets' which also serve aboard the United States' super-c arriers, the S-3 Viking has, ar guably, a more crucial role. One of the b iggest ene mies of a carrie r b attle g roup is the subma rine. The Viking's ta sk is to find these undersea machines and stop them in their tracks. For this role Lockheed packed sophisticated e lectronics a nd pot ent w eapons into a surprising ly compac t a irframe.
A 260
.. The S-3's main task is ovter-zOlltl anti-submarifW/ warfare (A SW). Inner-zone A SW is tackled by c arrier-borne helicopters, SllCh as the $H-3 Sea King and SH-60 Seahawk.
. .. .
. . .
FACTS AND FIGURES In partner"$hip with Lockheed, VOught designed and built the wings, tall, landing gear and engina pods for the Viking .
The US- 3A COD transport aircraft have been stripped of their ASW gear. ES-3A Elint Viking s h ave replaced the last carrie r-based EA -38 Skywarrio r s.
Modified, so-called '8g !IIOnQ ""top d the N9'Ihawk"a !useIage. US«IIor In·1'ql1 re/IAIIr'Ig, Yi!llhe USAF.. IWdard ~ bo::rn' ~.n.
13.2 m{43 ft 4 In) 20.08 m (65 It II In) 3.78m ('2 ft 5 In) about '05.9 m' (1140 IQ II)
COMBAT DATA lil 11'/.1 _ , !ii'li1Qim ,- __
a_ .-
~"""'-'dOr'IOI_
..... _ _.".,. .. .., _ _ ..... " ·111 .... . - - . opIjrrIind lot 1han
"""" """'" ~
The 37th T~ Flgh .... Wing, baNd " Tonopih AIr Force BMe, ......1IdI. II \til ~ 1'-1 17" ope!I mBII1>00 ... _ ............. _ "
=:-"-'---~-:"=:'*"=·=====:;;l -""~--- n.'~'_,*, ~::;;;::------------------:=======:----=======:----------:======""' Legendary Lockheed C- ' 308 tn_clLN_..-.cI ... _. _ _ .............. II> ... L./I'WItCI.__inron
• AUSmAUA, ProWklg the heavy 11ft """101 Auslralia's air tore. are C-l3OHs. which contlllUlin fron t·1ine seovIce.
• FfWotCE, Operated ~ FI'Ifl«I" C. 160 Transalls. U>e H9rcu!es has been.....:l on
SAUDI AAABIA: RespIenOefll in an overall . s.uo; Arabian C-130s ant
__
wi'lNlJSNsr-
269
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
LOCKHEED MARTIN
LOCKHEED M ARTIN
C-130H HERCULES • Four-engine turboprop transport . Used worldwide
C - 130H HERCULES
.... Desert airlift The Gulf War of 1990-91 brought topether fltJmet'OUs C- I30s from MVeraJ natiom as part o f the Coalition force.
(
,-. customer was AU$tr/JJia, which received 12C-13OAs in 1958 and latw batches of both the E "'" H '""""'"
.... Swedish 'Heres' over Bosnia Due to the country's neutrality, few units of Sweden 's air force deploy overseas. An exception has been Its C-I30 unit, FT, which deployed to the fomler Yugoslavia .
... Stretched 'Dash-lOs' C>n(}inaJty II.nown as the C- 13OH(S). C- I3OH-30s have bHtI deliv&r&d fO sewKaI air forces irteluding those of Algeria, France. Indonesia and Saudi Ambia.
here have been so many versions of the 'Charlie One-Thirty' during Its 40 years of service that it is hard to imagine it ever being grounded because of old age. Over the years it has undertaken doxens of useful tasks ranging from maritime patrol to secret agent support. Its main task, however, remains in the STOL transport role fOf' which it was designed. Th e pt"ototype first flew in Augus t 1954, and the C-130H version was the biggest seller.
T
270
.. The 'Here' was designed to moot 8 US Air Force requirement ftx 8 tact;au transport able to use rough aiTstrips and carry 11,317 II.g (2",,95() /IJ) Of cargo, 92 ground troops or &c paratroops.
• • •
FACTS AND FIGURES C - 130, wt1k:h i. known •• 1M L- l00.
•
US Air Force C- l ~ have _ combat in Vietnam . Grenade. ParwalT18 and the Persian Gulf.
•
The ftrst USAF C-l3OHs were setwt:h -andrescue HC - l3OHs buiH in 19604.
The US Navy tested a scele model of an emphibious _slon of the C - 130.
•
RAF Hercules ere based on the C-l3OH with 8t1tish radar and other equipment.
n-. I. -.0 a clvtfbln ~ of 1M
New
z..a.nd'l eIr ton;:e regulerty ..... H.
C - l~ in~;
the USAF at.o deptop 1Ik1-equ6pped ' Hs' to the Arctic .
L OCKHEED MARTIN C · 130H HERCULES
PROFILE
H-model Herky-bird
C·130H 1)!M: madium-range STOL transport Pawerp'-t: lour 3362-~W (4500·hp) Allison T56·A·15 turboprop ""11''-
MalI_IpHII: 618 kmIh (383 mph)
T
he C-!30H was fined with a redesigned and
strengthened wing box,
lldditio nal power (prov ided by upt:ltcd engines), ,lIld belIef brakes [0 distinguish it frolll the C-I30E, the earlier main p roduction varia nt of [he Hercules. 111e first H model ail"(:r;JJI flew on November 19, 1964. Two years later, c)(amples
were delivered to the Roy-..LI New Zealand Air Force, the initial customer for the new model in Lockhet.'
s ince found wide "ppe'll. l3uih-in ;td;tpubility has also enabled a number of olher m;.jor modifkalions 10 be made 10 the oosic C-l30H for oJ variety of exlr:t roles
C-130H HERCULES
w_
The AIgorian ai, forea ope.. t.,s 12 C- l 3OHs thai deliv
_a
The F·22 OJ an ... ~ /V1[ar, Fu IllIlXi'n.m stea/l11 ~ 'Nil C8ff'I >Ill missies w, bays w,!he siOO 01 end o..ncler \he fuseI9g9.
AMRAAM locked on. m,=Ie
~
f ·Z2IW'TIIIII
•
1
~
canioo • k>I oj 1uoI, on:! _ ito ..yn. con make . . ""->tion
fiRE AND FORGET: With modam ITUMiIe\I such as AMRAAM an a..-craft can simply fiffl ar.:Ilurn a way, _ gel10ng within lhe enemy's mtssile or even deletlOO11 range.
4
powerful radar carried by figlllt!l'S such as lhe Sokhoi Su·27 ' AInk8r"
~l~ww .... _..._"'''w ..... _ _•
1 . ' .(1111_
AIR· TO·AIR WfAPONS A11_1IgI"oWn"'t>o~
Iat_ !ife-and'klr\JIM
no.
_
_ _ _ _ 1ho F_22~
1I'I . - ...
"--'_-'_~"'-VIow_IO_
_
Dy 11>0 """"'1',
_-,,-- - ...... .... 1. _ _
1. __ l . __ _
273
AMERlCAH MILITARY AIRCRAR
PHOTO FILE
LOCKHEED MARTIN
L OCKHEED MARTIN
X-35/F-35 JSF
X-35/F-35 JSF • Single-seat strike fighter . Multi-service . Service entry 2008
... Conventional demonstrator
... Ultra-manoevrable
The first version of the X-35 to fly was too conventional X-35A, which validated the basic handling characteristics.
A vectored engine noule and
computer-controlled power-bywire night controls make the JSF virtually spin-proof.
Colour cockpit .. The F-35C cockpit will have full-colour displays and a sidestick .
... Lin tan and vectoring nozzle To provide vorticallift (required in the naval JSF variant). the X-35 has a lift fan shaff-driven from the main engine - behind the cockpit - which means a separate lift engine is not required.
... flexible refuelling options The X-35 prototypes had a USAF-style boom and receptacle refuelling system, but British, US Navy and Marine Corps F·35s will have a retractable probe.
he X-35, Lockheed Martin's winning con te nder in th e J oint Strike Fighter contest~ is th e product of the biggest military aircraft procurement programme in history. The air craft embodies a wide range of capabilities that will fulfil the r equirements of the US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps and the British armed force s well into the twentyfirst century. Twenty-two development aircraft are currently in production.
T 274
de.
'ACTS AND fiGURES
... US Congressional pressure produced the JSF: an amalgamation of the CALF (Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter) and JAST (Joint Advanced Strike Technology) programmes. The USN, USAF and USMC require 2852 examples.
>-
Martin's Pi Oil 0 al. UMd chrbI purchased from the Russ1en bul!det' of YlSTOt.. aircraft, Yakoonav.
>-
Boeing's uns uccessful design for the JSF was des ignated X-32.
>-
Export potential lor the JSF ha s been identified In several countries, including Au stralia, C anada, Germany and Spain.
Loc~
.. a - a l ElectrtclRoI&-Royce and Pratt &. Whitney ... both devaloping Interchangeabla engines for the JSF undef" a unique alT8ngement •
>-
By 2011 the JSF production rata is expected to reach 122 per year, with manufacturers in the UK producing various elements.
LOCKHEED MARTIN X-3S/F-35 JSF
PROFILE
21st century strike-fighter
' -35 JIW CSTOYLI fYIIe: ad¥ancIod STOYl Slrika-1Ight«
c Joint Strike Fighter Q~n " 'ill ~place I farriers and tl o rnL'tS, F- His and A-lOs within the US services aoo will likdy l'(lu:I[ the F-16 for export So:Ilcs. More Ih:m 3000 are to be built for the US :md UK aJooe. but this m., y l:vcmwlly l\.':Ich n~ th.1n 6000 cx;uJlPIes. with m:lny natJOrlS :dn~ Cl--rt.Jin 10 sek.u it as
but the X-3,n \':Irian! ff..-alured a "lift fan' 31T.l.ngement, a thnl!'lIL'Ctoring jIL't pipe and roIl had bet:n st"lt:l:1 rt1I0 p~lllCt: tWO derllOfl.'.tmtors (.';lch to prove their (k.""Signs. Boeinis X·32
Left: One of the specific features of the X-35C /s a 51ronger und8t"Carriage able to take the added 51re5585 o f catapult take offs and WT85 ted landings.
uS
confill in Ila ly l.11er in the ....".11'. 'nlC la~1 Ikllli111ore~ s.:rvL-d wilh Ihe RAF in Kenya, performing :lerial mJPping and locust com rol d Ul ies lImil ]94f1
. . ltImore Mil IV 1We: ~._ ~ I bolT*'- ~ 187 ~ : two 1238_kW (16EiO-t"q wngM A-26OQ-19 Cyclone 14 r1IdiaI poslon ertgII"*
_ 1 _ spntI: 491 km/II (J04 mph) I I
3505 m (11.500 It) Ranll: 1741 km (1060 miles)
StrYlt. nm..: 7100 m (23.3OO II) WelllIt&: empty 101 3 kg (15.429 Ib): m..,,,,,,...m ~ 10.251 kg 122.550 IbI
Above: ~ befonJ the prototype had even /lawn, France receNed 140 Marytands. A number of them served with the Free French forces until 1943.
~et:
ro.. 7.7-....., (.J03..c8I.) ~
moun l~ ~
IJUI'I.
two 01
.0.""
RighI: No. 13 5quac*on nil l' ripped wiIh the Baltimore in December 1943, and spent the rKOO 10 month, on day and night operations /11 northern Italy.
DI..llllolII:
__
-
Wdh a ~ CI.>""oIOd r>Jdder rei I bw-fT1CU1Md taIpIiIne. 1I'e Biitrncrw hed ~ Q:)f1IroII v.f"ICtl ...-
in!
span
18.69 '" {til II.
" ..,.
14.78 m (48 fl6 in) 5.41 m (17 fl 9 in)
..,, ~
MK V
~
gur-. in v«ltrail po••toon rei proviIoon !of leu 7.62-....., (.:JG..caI.J 0"I"'W::t1inII gur-. in llKed.'-firing potItion. plus e ~ 01 up to 1107 kg
50.03 m' (526 tq II)
COMBAT DATA
r-v
Ito" elFogl8 plot 0t1 U"og"flW9l ~.
Thill edmple n.w Mth No. 232 Wing. compriaIng
",nc...
No.1 56.nd 223 Sqo t <W I&, 0I1tM Horth-w.-I T.e&.! Ilk f orce in ItM ItMi.en ~Ign during 1$44-
WoIh . . ....ow II.eIIege.
~
~ae"'I.llbas
..,.,..--
pIot-~ •
mm one! __ _ _ ....... 9otIOtI
hod • diotn;. _
1ho~.no.
_
--.,. _
""c.YY _ _
one!~mom'_"""01_
'".o..
~T
15.U.j%1.... ~.I
.......
r3IIl.~'"
RAF lend-lease bombers •
BOEING fORTRESS, 01 125 LencH.eaM
Fortressell dehvered 10 the AM. 19 _ _ Mk Itl ~t 10 the B-17F}. Masl ...... \MId by Coat. Com:nand lor mantme 1&::00. XII
LISERATOR: FIliTlOUI fOl 10 dose \he U·boat 'QIIP' '" IN middle of the A.tIan1ic. L.iberaton eIsa......:l ....1I1 Bomber Command WId in the Moddle WId Far East •
CONSOUOATED
he1polQ
•
MA.RT1N MARAUDER : AIQund 525
Marauders ...... delivered 10 lhe RA.F WId SAAF I¥lder the 1M\d.l.Mse .'.'96'1"'1. They ...... used exI CyeIgne R-3350 radial postQn
~
Max ........: 360 kmIh (22S mph)
D ~ 1 :lfs
t-signt."tl
to
us N"vy
meel a
rtX[ui remcn t
for a p:llrol bom ber. the
51,11'1(.'(1 life as the Ma rti n
Model 170 or XI' B2M- 1. 111e
flying-boot was so large tllal in.... odc II W,IS final out like :1 ship with 'iCp:u-.tte mess rooms for II'00PS, offICers' quarters, staterooms and berths.
I't)-ing for the
fi~
time
on S ~ovember 194 I, the twin-uik-d Mars p rotOl:ypc d id nOl l)(.'(Olnc the forerunnl.'r of
a huge :Iircrafl
\\~lMi mc :1.$
Ikel of combat dC5igncr Glenn II b rt in
I~t d
hOpt.'(1. Instead, the Navy
"-II: 1039 km 1~360 miIaaI
:Isk(:d fo r a tra nspon and the Xl'U2M \\~IS slriprl(:d of its turrets and lX)1nbing eq uipment. tn this rolc the Mars was bllpn:s:.ivc and the Navy bcgan
rcsul;tr runs across the l>aciflC, p:lcking thousands of k i1ogrJ1R~ of freight into the huge interior. Aflt.... the war the Navy 0f"dI..."f'ed :;.!(I examples of an XI' 1l2'\! derivative dcsign:aIt.'(1 JIt\I- ] and IinL-d with a ~ingJe li n :md Nc.kleT, but in the l"Vent on ly liv.:! were completed. TIlL' o riginal '1lawa ii j\b rs ' and
se"fY'~'
calli",: 4450 m (1 •. 600 /I)
. " . .,.: empty 34279 kO (15.414 Ib); ~ H.B44 kg (1~.651 Ib)
'ManJl:I1I Mars' were desl.roy...---.g roe rDIII. tIw
7.95 m (2tI 11)
wnga<ea 121_711 m' (1310 IQ II)
Right: Only three units were eV9f equipp&d with the M9fCetor. Thft two S/GINT un/IS W9fe VO· I in the PIJcifIC IJnd VO·2 /n the At/entic . From 1958. cerrier· bome EA-3 Skywerriors performed a simi/ar role.
The Gal bo oato I 01 two A~ raciIIt patOn IIIlQI"M n:ltwo MKIn .m IU'bcl!MIi g(We IhII P4M II 660 km'tl (409 /11flhI top .-:I W1d
mph) II
co.Ad be flIiIIIIg8 orcuIIed. one
As t:UIt. P4M taioI and
no.a Ilrn'lIS $Id'i CiIffiIod toMn 2().nwn camon tor
saII-'13-51, but the fir.;t {,x:lmplc dclil'crL-d was a British B.Mk 2. The original Boo 57As were manufactured almost exactly to this stand:lrd by
Martin. A nxonnais.5ancc \'cr~ion, the R13-57A, was vcry
similar
T"..: lwo-seal ",...lti_rote attock and
Below: The RB-57D 's long wing produced eJiceilent high-altitude performance. Unfortunately, the aircraft suffered from wing fatigue cracks.
~~
Millmu .. speed: 937 km/h (581 mph) at allitude
1"11111 clllllllnttl: 1066 mlmon (3500 /pm)
the 'A' model. Other produa-d were the
to
I'crsion~
Flaftl(lll: 3700 km
U-571.l 'night-raiclcr' bomlx'r,
wh ich had a tandem cockpit, and the U-57C trainer and B-57E targct mg. The 1J-57 went to war in the mid 196(ls in Victna m. chk-ny nying interdiction missions over the della and lxmier an..-as and the 110 Chi Minh Trail. l' in:llly, the Rll-S7D. with a lon).:-span wing, W J S built.
"""""
Po,""lInt: lWO :!2.Q1·kN (7200-lb-ttvust) Wright J65 turbojels
(2300 miles)
SIf.lce ceiling : 18.288 m (60.000 11)
Above: B-57$ often went into combat in South Vietnam alongside British-built Australian Canberras.
W,lghtS: empty 11.793 kg (25.945 Ib): Ioadeod 24948 kg (50.000 Ib) Armament: llighl 12.7-mm (.50-caI.) Colt· Browning machine guns or four 21).mm catVIOfl, plus up 10 2268 kg (5000 Ib) of bombs in
---.""
The soccess of !hi! The tAbmate stJi<e 8·57 V<Wlant was !he 'G' rro;xJei.
d..oe
8 ·57
Dimell$lons:
,o~
19.50 m (64 It) 19.90 m (65 ft 3 in) 4.75m(15ft71n) 89.18 rrf (960 sq It)
,
COMBAT DATA WngIlP fuel tanks were lilted to !he 8·578 and D. but ott.ar JthouItllhe 8-57 coo.Ad
cocIl'-J'lShips. The 8 -57 was also a vselul EW piatlo<m and \he basis of lhe 8·57G
• NASA WB-57F: NASA's 8 -57s _ ex-USAF strategic r.,eon",.issaoce R8-57s u~ by the serW:":e IOi" a vafie.!y of tasks. incRJding weatr- I"8C""""Issanc
I
• B7I
/ P IIL..--_ .".~_".-_w~_~_ .'"'_.'O"'"""' _ '~. --,II-':--~:', ,
St15 q (71l1li"1
iIlllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ..:IS "lUoaI' _'I
~.)
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
MARTIN
P5M
MARTIN
MARLIN
• The last American flying-boat. Anti-submarine/rescue
P5M MARLIN
..., Sub-chaser The Marlin was designed to hunt enemy SlJbmarines, but could also be used to reSIJpply friendly ones when needed.
-l1li
Gull wing
The gull-shaped profile of the Marlin 's wing was retained from its predecessor, the Martin Mariner. It was designed to keep the propellers clear o r the water's surface on landing.
Vietnam missions ... Designed for deep-water submarine hunting, the Marlin's only real combat use was in Vietnam. It monitored coastal shipping and performed search-andrescue missions.
..., In the dock Amphibious dock landing ships were trialled with some success as Marlin bases. The US Navy tried to operate the seaplanes as strike aircraft, independent of land bases.
... Stranded at sea Although Marlins usually opera ted from sheltered waters, sometimes they had to brave the open ocean. This one lost an engine, and had to taxi home to i ts base in Japan. The voyage took more than nine hours.
he USSR's 6OO-s trong s ubmarine force was con s ide red a huge threat to the We st in the 1950s. The threat may have been exaggerat ed , but it s purre d th e development of antis ubmarine planes. The Martin P5M Marlin was the US Navy's last operational flyin g-boat, designed to s talk a nd kill submarines as they hid in the ocean's depths.
T
290
FACTS AND FIGURES ,. The prototype Martin flew on 30 May 1MB. It entered "",Ice In April 1952. ,. The only OIlMHas Operator of the Mar1in ... Military flying-boa ts are a rare breed today. The Martin Marlin was retired in 1966, after 14 years with the US Na vy and Coas t Guard. Of its contemporaries, only the Japanase ShinM aywa and the Russian Beri&v Be-12 remain in service.
was France, which acquired 10 P5M-2s under the Military A ss istance Program. ,. Although designed to carry two 2O-mm cannon in the tail, most M ar1ins did not carry g uns operationally.
,. The P5M·2 (SP-SB) dlfl'enttd from the P5M· llp· 5Aj in hailing a T·shaped tail and more sophisticated equipment.
,. One M arlin was ellaluat ed with an auxiliary j et engine in its tail , as a possible retrofit to the e ntire "eel. ,. US Coast Guard Marlins did not carry anti -submarine sen!K)rs 01'" weapons.
MARTIN P5M MARLIN
PSM "'rlln r".: P'!JOI flying-bI:-t w;th I1-1TW1 C>WW "-PIMt two 2~73--kW (345O-fopj Wrif1tt
Submarine hunter he G le n n I~ M:lMin Company was one of 1h" gre:11 bUIlders o f fl yi ng1>0:115, those la rge aircraft wit h ship-li ke hulls which oper:l1e from W"dIer, free of dependency on fixed airfields. lbc P5.\1 Marlin followed upon the grelt success the compIII'Itlme
the CIIlIICiOuI ~.
--~
dfJtectOlf (MAD). Th9
Weapons and serosors __
tr&CI<ed ~ by disto!Ia1s they ~ in !he EIlrth's
MAXIMUM SPEED
n. _ _
h
CtVried 11 00)'1; n the """'"' fIIICeIes. a'Id on equ
......
-
__
""""-"A_._1n
. . " " .. _In_ . . _, . . . . . . . _.....""~
Ihe_oI~
Tho
_ . . . . . _IigNIoo- ..... Ihe_ ~ at ..... two""""..-.,
troetWng hardpOOtl.
_ Tho ...... _fIoom . . . . ,Ii11jQo . . . . . . . ~ . . . . . . . . . . , _
bambi, 1TlI'M, dapIh ~ or "" .-s .-ar.:t'oMI1<SN
--
_PIII'0I2O- 10 90 kill (56"'.
~ ~
..::tI
_
pn;MjBd by. PIlI' 01
~
R--3350 ra_not
ntWIII ~ ..... tt"e
f2H a..t.e .-...:I .......::e.
~_~IO~
.. armoII oIa ~ 1tetJdi~~
........ ,.,
'*""'"
.... to
.1te .. ~
Weigltts: empty 3031 kg I6688Ib1: maDTun Iak&--oII $459 kg (1 2,000 I:» ~: lou" 12.1·..." (.5Ck;aI.) Colt· 8rowrW>g M2IM3 mectWoe ~ wiIh 325 rounds per gun. mountOO in Ih& noaa
for the first time aboard the Franklin 0 , Roosevelt; the first occasion on which a US pur&-jet eireraft had opere/eel from an aircrnff.carrier,
I'h:mlOm . A" a fight ~'T de ... igncd to explo it the new fet e nRlIll" in the closing St:IW'S of [he Wolr, the I'I l"s ca n.:er W:IS hrie f: it h:.d Ix:en rcplci Cl,,{j b y L9SO. I[o wL'v c r. Mc Do nne ll W:IS now ~ n cst :d}li ~ hL'{1 builder of n;o v:tl 'fa'! fe' s'.
To tp88d l4' proclIc\K)"In 1I"e oo.og stagea 01 the _ Inl fIIIaN ~ "jQjjil6 ...... the f'IlWIIom"a
seni« ctil~: 12.525 m (41 .000 I\)
left: On 2 1 July 1946, the XFD- 1 (lIS it WB$ then known} IIJrJded
81(J8"8-t4lP8d 'I8I1ICaI: tail 01 irocfeaged F'fOO.Ic100n FH -l9EW 1 dI!eted from the two XFD- l . caniIod ilJ'8II26O for FH$I'«! IOOIllIor 142(1 lo!ree (315 geb1s):
w...Inj;t the OS N...y. mldnlght.bIue colour ac:'-ne of the 1N'riod, thI. f H_l was ~ of the Vf- 111 a~ ra tl baMd M>oerd the 1JSS Franldin D. R~
........
RMte: 1241 km (170..-.sj 81502 """" (312 rnptlJ 81 6100 m 120.000 I\) wiIh ~ ~tank; I\'IIllIMl.Itn 1515 km (915 miles!
"'*'"' r~'~'~.~~~j~~~~~~~~~
PHANTOM
ll1t I'IIIitIMItf I(tt n..-. ~ 01 the FH 00I"IIIIIJItId 01 b.r 12.1...rm
MII'- . . . .: 771 kmIti 1418 ~ 81_ ......: 780 kmIti (484 mph) III 4510 m (15.000 I\)
__
A Ieetura 01 the Ph!wttom'lo IXiTMiflt\onaI 00flS\rUCtI0rI was the tai\lIIIIW, wIldl had 8 rroar1l!l jets ~ t09 Iioer"oo&--boi~ ~ Havilland Sea Venoms. whid1 ---.d from 1954 urotil 19tH. Nin&t&M _ duaj"cor1trol tr.......
IiIIll!liI _
___.
.... ...-.:I"' _ '- ~ IO .,.,...,... MI training
F3H DEMON
Demon pilots frxmd tllat despitelack;ng tIlnIst the aircraft WIS in fact. good dogfighter If the engine
• Fleet defence . Carrier fighter . Spanow armed
_od.
... Four Sparrows Armed wM four o f the then-revolutionary Sparrow missiles. the F3H was formk1.ab/e as 811 in terceptor. These first-generation Sparrows had to be launclled In steady ffight and guided to tl!& target by the pilot.
J1Ie total Jack of thrust meant that • botched take-off often beceme f.tal. Many Demon pilots /001( off with ttIe canopy opM to IIlow • quick escape.
... Doomed Demon Such __ the Demon's failings that • Senate committee, headed by
For all its faults, the F3H Iled a large and well /aid-{)Uf cockpit with excei/Gil t visibility. J1Ioe pilot sat on a Martin-Baker ejection seat.
ith Its needle nose and s wept back contours, the McDonnell F3H Demon looked supe rsonic while on the ground. But the Demon (which perhaps should have been named the Gremlin) did not fly supersonically, in fact, it barely flew at a ll. After years of d e velopment work, a n operational Demon served briefly with the fleet, but the aircraft never overcame its lack of thrust a nd pilots r egarded it as a dangerous killer.
W 296
l~;~~
"ACTS AND !'IOU"
... Uke many of the fighters o f the
early·1950s. the FJrt was marred by the combination of weak fKl9ines and sweptwing aeroc:#)'namics. The result was an llircraff which pilots did not lilfe.
,.. The AIIIaon J 71 engIM was wkMIr ~ I . I successful 'fIA' lor the Demon's ~ troubtu.
,.. tn I poll of M hMtorians kl Wnhington
,.. The Demon'. 7 Auguat 1951 maiden night WI. uneventful.
,.. Som. 519 Demon. had been buih when
,.. F3H fighten cruised the Atlanllc and Pacific but never laW actual combat.
,.. A Demon with I Genef'11 Elec;:tric J73 engine wa. deaigned but never built.
DC In 1_. 38 cho. . the Demon as 'the
worst IIrp&8M In hl.tory' . pnxtuctlon WI. hllhed suddenly in 1959.
McDonnell's ugly duckling
F3H-2 De mon Type: SI"III&-_t carrier-ba$od fightor POWIf1IIIRt : one 42.15-kN (968O-1b-1hruSI) Albon J71 -A·2E turbojel eng;ne with an allerboJming rating 0162.27 kN (13,970 Ib tlYust)
M
cDonnell F3H Demons
were first deli"cred the US N:lVy by ba rges trundli ng down Ihe Mississipp i Ri"cr. Early Demons (with \Ycstinghouse XJ"O engines) never enteR-xi service and wcre conscri ptctl as ground {rdine rs in Memphis, Tennessee, to
aflcr bt:ing mmsJX>n.ed from the f"ctory in 51 Louis, Missouri. )',b ny of the firM ail'Crdfl were
simply scrJPped. With a }71 engine. ,JdilT ;Ind
other ch;mges, Ihe improved
F3H-2 Demon appeared more hopeful. In fact, one of th em new around Missouri a nd KcmuoJ78...-.g;neaF-ll).1_...-...c:ty
puoI'oing Mach 2.
Tho~• .......",~..,.,.,at1or,""
• hu\Ie ~ ~ .,.. !he [)aonon _ . ._
"
$cionitao.
'_(5U ....)
1..
"
, The p.pQ·51 was II lormidstIIe radIw", &"1d ltoe f3H pilots CCkJId de!ect
f-'l1.a_ .
A8{16$ in pr~
...-,
interoaptg /rom (NW 300 km (\85 mph).
("~
McDonnell Douglas naval fighters • FHl PHANTOM: The fim purel)i jet-power. "
-,:
COlllltat radius: 6 12 km (379 miI&s)
838 m (27 116 "'I 12.29 m (40 11 4 "') 4.57 m(t5 II) 24 .16 Ill' (260 sq II)
A 1eatt.>"ll 01 all pnxb:\I;o1 Sio-..y _ ill good on
1I>o-.v>t A·1,
waoll'lUdl_. Thoo
1J"lU"d-an.ck HIrof.- fGA.Mk II _ _ qo,Jieker ..... 11>0 A_. 11 ...... IMt .... ) . . . . . . .~
__
. ,llCDIISMI.
"
_ _ llIn ....
ll.oa .... ~-.101 l.....~
•
~--
•
1054 knVh (653 mph)
Annament: two 2O-rrvn Mk 12 cannon plus 37t9 kg (8182 lb) ot various ext&rnal stores
.
Mcxrtted just below the ~ was a smaI ;et Mlich
Sp,,~:
Inllill cllmIIl1Ill: 2440 mlmin (8000 fpm)
Weights: I!IITI91Y 458t kQ (to,0781b); max""""" lak&-off t2.437 kg (27.36 1 lb)
Inlj&1
1la!Ite: 1 t 27 km (700 mII&s)
cr:Ullped cockpits in a viation. but Right: Powered by a single Wright comfort was morc th:rn 'l d
... Skyhawk II for the Marines
-
Entering service in the mid 1970s. the A-4M operated until about 1994 mainly in the close air support role. This example is firing an unguided Zuni rocket during exercises .
... From 'dumb bombs' to lGBs The refurbished A -4s are able to deliver laserguided bombs and missiles and la ter versions of heat-seeking air-to-air missiles like the Sidewinder.
Combat in the Gulf III> Twenty Kuwaiti A -4KUs escaped to Bahrain during the 1991 Iraqi invasion and later flew dayligh t attsck I missions from Dhahran. Saudi Arabia. Kuwait also has one two-sea t TA-4KU remaining in service.
rig ina lly ca lled t he A4D, the Do ugla s A -4 Skyhawk was conceived in th e 19505 to carry an atomic weap on on a o ne- w ay missio n if a th ird w o rl d w ar w as d eclared . In p r actice, the Sky hawk p rovid ed t he US Navy and M arines with an impress ive, conventio na l lig ht-attack air c raft fo r t he next 20 years. The im p roved A-4M Sky hawk II flew in 19 70 a nd m ore r ecently severa l natio n s have u pdat ed t heir early-model A -4s w ith new en g ines, avio nics and weapo ns.
O 300
FACTS AND FIGURES .. New Zealand has now retired all of Its ... While no two-seat SkyhB wk lis were built, a number of early-model two-seaters have been included in the upgrade programmes carried out by the Malaysian and New Zealand air forces. The US Marine Corps also rebuilt a number o f TA-4Fs to OA-4M standard for forward air control duties.
A-4Ks and now has no fighter alreran. .. D esig ned by Ed H einemann, the A-4 has been nicknamed ' Heinemann's Hot Rod '. .. On the ir first G ulf War missio n , Kuw aiti A -4s mistak enly bombed Sa udi Arabia.
.. F404 turbofans fttted to SlngaponI "I A-4s are heavier than ttIe J52 but are more fuel efficient and c heaper t o maintain. ,.. Pave Penny laser designators, used o n USAF A - 10s, m ay b e fitted t o RSAF A-4 s. ,.. Americ an com panies Lockheed a nd Grumm an have u pdat ed foreign A -4s.
McDoNNELL D OUGLAS A-4
II
SKYHAWK
PROFILE
Bantam bomber reborn
T
In V;t:In;un, Skyhawks
he "-.4 Skyha wk became a classic o f US nav:d avi,Ulon, bur il began as ,Ill extraordinary design Douglas' famous designer Ed ! ldnernann created the Skyha wk a t half o f the specified weight
pcrfon m:.'(1 tradit ion:!1 bornbin).: r;, icls ~ nd 'Iron Hand ' missions
remarkably lighLbut nOlhing h ad Ix--en slrippd from the design o r OmitK.,j. The Skyha wk was casy 10 tly and an dfectivc aU:lck "ircraft , and Ix"GI IlSC of its sillali sizt! it d id nOi req uire folding wings for use aboard GlTfil°t".
SKYHAWK
PowerpIH I: one 48,04-kN (10,779-lb-lhrusl)
General Elooctric F404-GE- 1000 non· aftl!rt>u'ning turt>of""
11811_ speed: 1126 krnI'h (700 mph) at sea level IRitial ~II"" ret, : 332ti nVnWI (10,910 fpm) .....e: 1158 km (716 miles) with maximum
surf,I(.'C-t O-d for production ffUm
"""""'" $er,in cellini :
cxpor1cd, some oP':'r;' ling f rom
Weill~ls:
Above: MalaySia bought 88 ex-US Navy A-4s in t979, but abandoned a maior upgrade, Grumman refurbished 40 e)lamples which now cany Maverick and SidewincifK missiles,
been refu rbished ~nd sold overseas, M al~}'~j~ and Sing~porc opera te u pda t(..J
II
tnlan ,Llpinst Nort h Vietn amese
1954 IUllil 19S7, the SkyllJw k lVas proouCl-d for a further 26 year:> in many vari,tnts. Sign ificant nu mbers were
When the 'bantam bomber' was ordcn."d in 1952 it \\~,~
A-4M
Below: With the GE F404 fitted to Singapore's A·4S eircraft, Skyhawks have used three types or engine, including the Wright J65 fitted in very early marlfs and the Pratt &Whitney J52 in versions after the A-4E.
8,36 m (28 It) 12,72 m (42 It) 4,57m(151t) 24,14 m'(260 sqft)
Dimensions:
forllle r US Navy m,och incs, while
New Zc;.l"nd h;'5 n:."ornI>..--.. ~ e.-.ple Mfftd with the 81-' T..:tkaI F"oght... W"'II bII.... In Sutloik In !he .. te 1!115OL
F- 1 011Y.1WldC.~~
I fterbur_
1\1111': 3040 km (1885 miles)
_...-
,.......
rnao::t"oilM In Vtelnam
F-101A VOODOO
wIIh • I1.!gnet ~ 1Oy8Iem. ""-.::tl ......., • prrnoIMl 00I'l"(lUt. 10 1he . . . . OJY!iIf!ITl.
mIIlOOlI.O'll
" , 1 1 _ " , -: Mach 1.90' 19821o:rMl (122'9 mph) 11 10.000 m (33.000 II)
,
-.",. "'. 1-
.
I_ . cml ",
"" _ _ .000 _ _ _ " " . " ' -
.. ........
"pMw,-~-'_'" _ _ tIuI f
""'-Y"'~~
ooo.fd_~._..-.y",~_
J03
AM ERICAN MIlITARY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
McDoNNELL
McDONNELL
RF-101A1C VOODOO • Photo-reconnaissance. Unarmed. Superior speed
RF-101A1C VOODOO
.. Extending the range Despite the long range of the Voodoo, a refuelling probe was located in the nose to allow 'hook-ups ' with t8flkers.
... Camouflaged bird At the start of hostilities in Vietnam. the bare metal finish of the Voodoo was covered with a pattern of green and tan in ordar to roduce the conspicuity o f the aircraft.
.. Voodoos abroad In Europe. operations wer& flo wn at heights as lo w as 150 m (500 ft) along the edge of the Iron Curtain.
... Outrun everything Devoid o f bo th weapons end extemal fuel tanks, the sleek Voodoo earned much praise from its pilo ts for its high speed.
Post-war service ~ After seeing considerable ac tion in Vtetnam, svrviving RF- I Ol s were retum&d to the United States to be assigned to Air National Guard units. Still in wartime colours, an RF-IO I C is prepared for a practice recce flight. sed for tactical reconnai s sanc e , the McDonnell RF- 101 was the only version of the Voodoo fighter of the 1950s to be used in combat. The RF- 101 did an outstanding job of spying on the enem y with its aerial cameras, even though it was a difficult aircraft to fly and could easily pitch up when handled by an inexperienced pilot. A big, powerful aircraft which set many flying records, the RF-101 was always a challenge but earned the affection of pilots.
U 304
FACTS AND FlGURU
... At the s tart o f the Vietnam War, the RF-101C was the only US aircra ft capable of recording certain kinds of enemy ac tivity. This example is p reparing to leave for the war zone.
• • •
Reconneiasancfl VOOdooa ...... the only variant of the aireraft to see Combat, over Vietnam and C uba. The first night of the RF- l01C Voodoo took place on 12 July 1957. AF-l0ls Wen:! deployed to bases in Europe and the Pacific Ocean.
• • •
In their eerty ...nee, RF- l01ll suffered many landing accidents becau se of UnOer'cBmage collapse. Thirty-nine RF- l 01s were shot down over Vietnam by AAA and SAM mis sile s. During the Vietnam War, 12 Voodoo pilots were killed in action.
McDoNNELL RF- 101AlC V OOOOO
McDonnell's Voodoo magic
W
hen Ihe RF-IOI Vooxloo e ntered service in Ihe mid 1950s, il was Ihe cu lmination of yea rs of work by Ihe McDonnell Aircr:lft Comp;my on combat j
'......,I... t: two 4S.4-kN (10,2 13-Ib-thrusl Pratt & Wh~""Y J57-P-1 3 turbojets with
"'-~
"~IS fou nd to be fa r slower at low level th,1n the older type. The Voodoo 11:Is oc-cn rfC1iTl>d from USAF sclVin:, but only after m:o king a JX'rrnanent mark on :ovj:lIion history. h3ving brought IXICk images at cmdal pcriexb in America 's hislOry.
r........
Tne: single-seal tactical reconna.ssance
MIXklllllll speed: 1629 km.Itl (1010 mph); cruising ~ B86 km.Itl (549 mphl
1.11111 climb flte: 13,1155 mlrmn (45.445 /pm) Ranll8: 3290 km (2040 miles)
McOorneI Douglas mEW1taioed the
Ferry fIR,I: 3453 kin 12146
reIiabI!y 01 the i'M'l...-.gone ~I 00 the \b::Idoo. which ofIenld the
,
miles)
Sanlce ceiling; 16.855 m (55.280 II)
nee
Welgllts: empty 11,855 kg (26.080 Ib); loaded 2 1.832 kg (48.030 tb)
PI'rnEwIy II aircrall. the \b::Idoo was also capatIIe 01 deIYering II oo:::Iear bomb, which ~ be J11CUlIed 00 a sIlgIo centnrr.....1uss on ly aco:- pilot of the war flew a I'h:mtom. Other
F-4B Phantom II -,.".: "-"SNt carrier-~ ~
"-.t.t:
two 19.65-kN (11,92O-lb-1lvu$t) G.nanII a.ctr'i; J79-8A aftertuTwlg UbojeQ
. . . . . . . . . . .: :>390km'h (1482 mph)
C...ut rMln: 1.50 km (IlOO miMI
"-tr. 3700 km (22!M miIesj
Above: With afterbumerr bluing, a VF-4' Phantom huffier rkyward. ThIr unit was one several Atlantic Fleet squadrons deployed on combat croI_ to the Gulf TonIcin.
Strri~.
0'
"III. .: 21,640 m (7 1,000 II)
,,11iIts: ~ 1VOl kg 127,942 tbI; /TI&UTUT1 take-ofI 2• •766 kg (5ot,~ Il)
0'
a . - t Ioo.w AI","7 Sp;wmw ~ and
I'h:mtoms were opcr;l tL-d rrom I.md baSL'S in South VictnJ1ll by US M~rinc CrcW5. long :after ViL1nam. the I'h:1I1101I1 rctainL-d a
Ioo.w
~,
AlM·9 SIdewn:Ief shorI-lt ion III US IUIJ1 ~vialion
until it" c"entu:,1 rt.'lirenlt;nt in the 1980s.
F-4B PHANTOM II
...
,
• VF. i2: 10 May 1912 taW. fII.lIT1ber ot MiG·1t the twmght years of its career. This added to the COfl/Tovet'sy stJrTOUnding its rernment.
.. F-40s lICCOUnIed for 74 per cent of the Iraqi air defence radars destroyed during Operation Desert Stann.
.. The laat F-4Galn operlltlonal ~ W8f"e operated by the Air National Guard from 801. ., Idaho.
.. The maiden night of the prototype F-4Q took place on 6 December 1975.
.. F-4Gs have been ,..,.aeed with HARM · equipped F·16C Block 50 aireraft.
.. Only one F-4G wa s lost in action during
.. The F-4G designation was first used fo r a modified datalink·fitted US Navy F-48.
the First Gulf conflict.
McDoNNELL DOUGLAS
F - 4G
PHANTOM II
PROFILE
'Weasels' to ferret out enemy radars s a. repbcement for the 'WIld Wedel aif-to-aif miss
'Wild Weasel ' operations
two 79.62·kN (17,910-1b-thrusl)
Gene addition;ll fud capacity for extended range and can operate in all-cargo. all-passenger or rni.'(ed confi!ZurJtion. TIle
hlllill tilMb rill; e&i mlmin (2900 /pm) b lIP: ftllf)' range 3327 I<m (2060 miles): range with full """"'"' dation 2388 I<m (1460 miles)
Above: Opera ted 011 behalf o f the special air missions airlift wing, this particular Nightingale is used as a personal VIP transport. The aircraft is especially configured for the role.
w.igftls: _ply 25.940 kg (57.068 It»: maximum take-oft 54.865 kg (120.747 [I)) A~~lIIIIIIIOliatlon: four crew: 30 to 40 str&lchef
paliMts
w~h
mMlicaf an80dants
Olllll1tSlon: aircraft were deployed to Saudi M:Lbia during the Gulf W'J.r Other military users indude Kuwait and Italy which opcrJ.tl' two eX'lmples on light trnnsport and VIP duties.
Above: Taxiing to the main runway, this C· 9B Sky/rain 1/ operates with the US Navy 011 SlJpport duties. This example is c apable of airlifting 107 naval personnel.
28.47 m (93 ft 5 in) 36.37 m (1,9 ft 3 in) 6.38 m (27 ft 6 in) 9Z97m'(I000sqft)
ACTION DATA
I !.til Ii! (Wi I _ Iho_ to _ ""-voncY _lot> in Iho ohoMd 01 \1"11 C·"" ~ to nigh
C·9B SKYTRAIN II
~
Though not lI~ gllln»rous LIS It>e lighte rs openIIed by t he US Navy, It>e C_98 Skylrain II has proved to be It>e ldell[ lIln::ralt lor tranSPOrting Pflrsonne[ and cargo to various naval bases throughout It>e world.
to !11M 01110
cont~.
mIMa-y _ _ ;0 \1"11 CT~ 3A.
. .- .
r..1M 'CIIIIIT"f'
f MtMlol " \1"11 "'""'"""
IIllutlolW ....1 -,,,_ _• _1utIo (W""" .'"",_ __
-_ -_10_110.....
_1hoC-~ ~otIII_
.... I~ohoneS.
• DOUGLAS EC .. 24A: Serving wrth tile US Navy as an Electronic Wartare SuP\Xll1 aircraft. the EC·24A is used agaiost naval vessels 10 assess theit" ability to defend themselves against t • II
-_.
!of Iho -_.IhoC"""
_bol>ilityto -~
-'i"'--,.. i
""""'" "119>
""""ting_a"" _oI~ iIo
-Ilign/fIcon!Iy
~._.
t-IIA
11*1,_ '" 11 .tIO •
, .. ,M
·ellUSn·
11 ._ . (31," " )
_'N 1... ,3-0 "Crurty"
313
AMERICAN MILITARY AIR CRAFT
PHOTO FILE
McDoNNELL DOUGLAS
F-15C
M c D ONNELL D OUG LAS
F-15C
EAGLE
.... Dressed to kill
EAGLE
The Eagle's powerful armament has always been a great strength, and has only been surpassed by the Russian Su·27 family. The vel)' capable avionics and radar systems remain among the best in /he world, and the aircraft is also a superb dogfighte" thanks to its large
• Air superiority fighter . Advanced weapons . Unbeaten In combat
wing and high thrust·to·weight ratio. With a new generation of missiles, it remains a lethal foe.
Big bird '" The huge size of the Eagle makes its blistering perlormance even more remericable. It earned the name 'flying tennis court' from pilots because of its dimensions.
.. Loading up 'Y Intercept
For short·range engagements, the Sidewinder missile remains the Eagle's main weapon, but it now needs replacing.
Eagles routinely intercepted
Soviet aircraft, but occasionally met ships like this 'Kiev'-class carrier. The infra·red seeker head of /he underwing Sidewinder can be seen on the left of the picture.
t 's a fighter pilot's dream. The F-15C Eagle is fa st , amazingly agile, and climbs like" a rocket. It has the best c ombat radar in the world, and can detec t and d estroy enemies way be yond th e vi sion of its pilot. At th e same tim e , its manoeuvrability makes the F- 15 a ferocious dog fighter when the fighting g ets c lose a nd dirty. Even today, 20 years after its first flight, few aircraft can match the Eagle in combat.
I
314
'Y Sparrow launch The Sparrow medium·range radar·guided missile has now boon replaced by the far more capable AMRAAM, which can operate autonomously.
FACTS AND FIGURES
.. Pilots of the F·15 can go into battle confident tha t they can take on any opponent and win. Its combat record is impressive, especially in Israeli hands.
,. The Eagle flew In July 1972, wtth the first of the improved F-1SC. taking 10 the air in February 1979.
,. FAST - Fuel And SenSOf", TRtk:aI - p.eks allow the Eagle to make unrefuelJed transatlantic flight •.
,. In the Gulf War, Eagles shot down 32 Iraqi airc::ratt without loss.
,. Production of F·15 fi9hter.s has now ended after more than 1000 aircraft.
,. Oversea s operators of the Eagle Include Israel, Japan and Saudi Arabia.
,. The F- 15 can 'loom-climb ' to an astonishing altitude of 30,000 m (98,400 til.
...
The unbeaten king of the skies
A
511 figillcr. the "·1 5 is
'«"hitoc)' turbofans posh the big fighter skyward~ at two-and-lIhalf tllll(.'S the s(X."t.-d of sound, and it c.m re'Jch its norm:al opcrJIIIlg ceiling of ]8,000 m
and nuke abrup( manoeuvres
(59,000 rt) in only two minutCll. In a fight, the I~glc\ prir1l;l ry wcapons aTC ItS four .....\IMAAM
Advancl-d "kdi\lrlt K:ln~c Air-toAir Mj~ilcs, which e m dc~troy t:trg' to _ ...... .., _ . - in _ 1O-21. thO F·15"1 '"" ~ ....... ...,...,._.
The II..eeIIge ~ the 1"·'5 II IrnrnenMJIV 1\IOOg• .-.iIh a Wge ......... ~ ~e. IiIM1iIn trd w .......... The ........ II -.-:110 ~ r."II _ t h e foIOI
IlI_
ZH!I_ (1 _
F-15 to
-~./
-
~
1Iow-~
UOiIpIIre _
good control 1'1
dogfVltS- Th& bull: WIIh a
dogtooIh to Q.ft 1lI:t.
,l·...__
....
~
... P _ _ _ _ C""~ ........_ _
T--. taiIInI-...-:I1'I the
EG '
(~
1_ ... .....
33 '~ .t.FIISNli!
The twin Pl"iItI" 'Nhotrwi Fl00..-.gor"$l_ ntJat,o troo.bIMomt, II'Itrt:lo.mtr _ 8O!iecIed. n.. ~ ~-to-wei\1lI
"'**" "'"'"
... b ...... 1ntI
rata:> was o..rrn9td>ed
EAGLE flIGHT: F- I 5f; ~ opera!" in tligllt, 0I1WO Of 1001" IH"Ctatt. One of their kay fuoctlOflS is till Combat Air Patrol. This is used to dtny .-..my aox:ess 10 "*'ttIy Ill" splICe. Of to .....,.... the space over I ta'gII to allow 111 attack IoroI to rMI without ' of.....,-.yllght....
b
"'*'"
~.
-.--WEAPONS RANGE
Eagle combat air patrol
OF THRIEAT
13.05 m (.311)
length height
·~boom·
owoIaI:oMy.
OIR(CnoH
OllMnloa: II*l
lor ttleUSAF't
W/If'J long. . . . . good ~ ~
AIM- t20 .t.MIW.M missiIea; pttMSion b up to 4M2 kg (10.700 IbI ~ bor"rCI..-.d ~
ThefXlJ\
"""*'0 system.
Th& IIrge APG-63 ....... t..l ~ In the 1"-1.5(; bV the irrp"oyed N'G-70. lhII ....... ~
(67,870 IbI a r - . t: one 2O-m'n Ml:il.t.t '-'*'-' caTO'I; up to feu MJI-9 Sodewn:Ier ......., up to W
...,..,..,.." :)(J,8Sf) kg
\\-JrplallC~ dunng the Gulf War of 1991. However, no t:agle ha~ ever t)l'Cn losl in aerial comb·at It is an ama7.;ng fL'COrd. ~""id'.,.. .-~C~ the big McDonnell [)(Jugl:t~ fighter will carTY on the fro nt li ne well into the 21St century.
The F·' 5 deIogn brill caIad b good dogI'I(frt jAiOb ........... .o the __ fn:lm the CIIfIOP'J' _II"S" priOrity. ft .. ben. ttw1 the rT"ICtlIi
__
--
'-J1..t: two IOS.92-kN 123.76O-b-thtust.I Pm! & Wt.tncty FIClO-PW-220 .tt..t:lurrwlg
and a superfasl-firing M61 Vule"n 2().mm Clnooo for closequa ncr comb;il. 11)(: fo:agle C'.IO tum tighdy
hard to beat Two powerful I'roll &
' · 15C Eagle l'fIIe: ~_I ....-.,:.enonty light •
The F-t5 Ills
MAXtMUM CovtRAOE: The F·I5Itight wlM...suatfy break "'to two pairs .... combat tonnaliona. taking up POtoIIOl'lt on~. ~ of ., m.ginary ·reoetracls&-rar-ogu iW·to-air combat A contaning 570 roo.ncIs 0/ anYI'"U'"litoon is moo..llted below \tie \)IJ1 ar1d aft 0/ the radar
_ _ .•
1
cru-n
~~~~~.~~~) V~F
~~
. . ••• ,B.7.). . . .
KIlling radars w ith the Hornet
.....-
--
~~_:--.~4=o~o~_J
....
.....,.HNIM ........ -.n . . __ AH1WWIIMI~ NW .......
---
_.,....,...-a
IIAFIiI c~ Haf'*" ....... -.:tt force InIo IN ......
",,,,,10"'" on_ .... br'"
_ _ 11Qt .... , .. . . . .~
Tho_.~""..-~ond
- . . , .• . . , _
~.
__
""""",,",M>Iy _ _ ito - . p I e _
doooogn_~"'.t>oo..otl ,_!he~"'_
LOW LEVEl COMBAT RADi US
_h_ -_.• .".."'!he
moooI
.caTIoos_u
f9>1ors In IhoO Wd for I:lking a long tune and costing plent y. but the result gin~s the US Navy an adl":lrtL'C'd trainL1" so.."
..
,
IIOCI(lantaI !II'l8Q9IOQ
mm
Carrier-capable trainers • NORTH AMERICAN T·288 TROJAN : From 1952 lhe T-28 was the us Navy', standard on·
-.-cOd thallllot Goohor.... II .. ",. . . . . od.1b _ _ F-'I05-RA~t ""'"'" flIO¥kIM ~ _ ! c f c.n.-.- ....... """'*Y~ _ _s. M'tIC>rM The M8-339C .......... ~ '" '-"'II __ __ _ modoon ....... .
AArIougII _ _ .......
• GRUMMAN TF-eJ COUGAR: Deveoloped from Iht 19501 ~hler. lhe lrainar ~artanl (:QI1~", MI'I'Ie4r IntO Itle 1970s
•
McDONNELL DOUGLAS T....... SKYHAWK: A two-..... t ....,..;00 oI 1he highly ....-elul ;:;="""' C'::: 1m""", (:QI11....,. ., ~.
~_Wo!
--
•
11.S1 Ul ~.~
325
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
McDoNNELL DOUGLAS/BAE
AV-SB
HARRIER
M c D ONNELL D OUGLAS/BAE
AV- SB HARRIER II .... Harrier carrier
II
The US Marine Corps is the largest user o f the AV-8B, operating from 'Tarawa'-class amphibious assault ships or US Navy carriers. Four squadrons were deployed during Opera tion Desert Storm.
• Vertical take-off ground-attack fighter . Tactical air support
... On the floor Strealling over the desert at verr low level, the AV-BB is in its element. HarrifJr pilots/ille to operate as low and fast as possible.
•
The AV-BB is a greatly improved version of the original Brltisll Harrier.
hen US Marines go to war in the AY-S8, they have at their command an aircraft of inc redible versatility and striking -power. The AY·S8 Harrier II is a red-hot, modemday version of the famou s British 'Jump Jet'. Marines depend on immediatelyavailable air power to protect their troops, and the AV-SB, flying from assault-carriers or makeshift airstrips, is the perfect means of supplying It.
W 326
FACTS AND FIGURES ~
The ClAU-121A cannon can ft~ at. rate 014200 rourads per minute wtth. muzzle
~
~
~
The AV·88's ceranora .VStem is made up 01 two detachable pods, one for the gun and one for the ammunition.
The first service-test AV-8B made its maiden night on 9 Novembar 1978.
~
Much of the Harrier II's fuselage is made from grephite composite materials.
Spain and Italy operate Harrier II warplanes based upon the AV-S8 de sign.
~
The two- seat TAV-8B is used to train Harrier pilots.
velocity of 1097 mls {4000 fpsl.
... Flying the AV-8 is not easy, and only the best are chosen by the US Marine Corps to fly the revolutionary combat 'Jump Jet'.
McDoNNELL DOUGLAs/BAE AV-SB HARRIER II
The meanest Harrier yet
T
he US Marine Corps became interested in the IIritish-designed Harrier during the Vietnam era. ['Jectdes later, the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II comhincs the STOV!. (short take-olT/vertical landing) capability of this sJX-'Ci:tl warplane with the hi-K"Ch prowess of today's 'sm~rt' bombs. NO! surprisingly, this advanct--d crJ ft was known for :I time as the SUJX'r Harrier. During Oper:llion Dc5crt Storm, AV-SB J[:,rrier lis fought in a 'down and dirty' environment with the Marines at the front. One weakness in this ad\~.. nced a ircrJft is lh:11 il~ exhaust nozzles art' near the
AY-SB Harrier II
TeIeMsior\- Of inIra-~· gUded Maverid< mMiee
~:
sngle·seal attack ain;ralt "-JIm: one t05.87-kN (23.820-Ib-ltvvsl)
IV'! key Harrie< or16- tank woopons.n...".~
Rolls-Royce F402-RR-408 (Pegasus 1 t-61)
""""00 MaxIMuM splld: 1065 Id 27 roev,' aircrafl, .... ilh at leiS( anolllCT 72 to be
C. . . . rNIIII: 1101 km (663 """'I
:Ii e-to-:lir
mi~i le
(AAM), the
Ilarrier 11 has now maturL.,j Into
:11l-We,Llher fighter, with the Cl I);lbiIiIY 10 engage IWR largt1S u~ing AIM-7 Sparrow and A I ~ I - 1 lO AMRAAM r:Jd:ir-gu.n :mt air defence role.
AV-SB
" 1 1 _ spHd: 1065 """'" (660 mphl
COMBAT DATA earty Harriers, m. MCond· geoerallon aort:taII hIM! relractable reIuaIi'og ~, ...tlICh can be fitted to ~
~
to \he orignuI Havd<er ~
the ""'-88 ...... maIes are poeiIooroed. Tl1IS is a r.ut of 1M COI1""IPI9>< prop..W.oeif! t~ used to gMllna 8in:rafl its ~ tai<e-ned ma>n \lying hoo.n In reg.JIar S8IVICe.
GLOBEMASTER
Di",R$lans:
III
TNS C_17 A is 11M lirsl production aircraft and was used tor Itlsls 1111 Edwlllrds AFB. tl was suc-jool
~IhoC·I.1B_1hoC·17A
tr.>oporta._
.. I*'IY~,
tnt...,.,......'-"It-..~~~
C·I7AaGlEllASU"1t C·l.IIST.....rUt In
.. 1tM~. ,
?t.t.q(m,I."'1 'l,m _.IW,MtIllj ..,. . q 1.,""'1
corrrnon WT1h marJ)'
tong.range ariners. th& C-17A os fitted
A IIiglt CIVN 01 f'NO "I tr.C·17A Two extra sealS are pro..o;ded al the raar oIlhe Ili{trtdBck to .......... " "..,,1 ....., 01 tnt I76M. t...c tnt
A quadrupie-mO..ndarll
/Iv·t>y·wirnsyStem operates th& C· 17As 29 cootrot 9U'Iao98. As wei
'M1an ratracted. IhII mar loading r8il"fl is ~ to carry hooI.y cargo. ird.rlng
8Sth&~""'"'"
sysiM"OS. tnase i'd.Jda th& twin n.d::lers. taiIpIan9s
L.___...:::._____________________.:::.._=~_____________...:::;~"":::~ =~'~"' ;:;~ ::" !:: i:!;:.~.~.____.: "" :::"" ~~==~ :!.
____I
_ _ !No r.g.... "",,,_f>IoIoo>tnt ~ ...... ,.,........-.g 10 .,
~port~::
io
0100 . . . - to
.. tend tnt _
oItntC-l"B
lANDING DISTANCE
USAF's Douglas airtifter dynasty • C·S4 SKYMASTER: DI.>u!II"" IIew lhot fifflt C·54 in 1942 and more than 1.000 w..... Air Force and
•
C- 74 GlOBEMASTER I: Ha.,"II1Iown for
the fitst tome
~
_ _ _ toaMolho " 76M_hokI
pootIMnanoo. " " " ' . _ ~ orit
• C-1Z4 GlO8EMASTER II: DoMO:Iped from IhII C-74. the C- I24 gained 2610-1l engtnI:IS, a ~ IuseIage .-xl ....-Ioadilg doors.
C-I33 CARGOMASTER:
"*
~ __ 01 1hoC· I" e. ThoC·17"' Io~~.~f>IoIoo>tnt ......,. '" 1ho ..115M lot Iondng t...c - . """'" tt.~
331
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
McDoNNELL DOUGLAS
McDONNELL DOUGLAS
FIA-18E/F HORNET ell appeared on tl>fl other.1de of II>fI camera In tl>fl lilm Hanollflf 5',"1, m wtuch It was used to
r« ..ate 110 Amerk:.n
WIll1",...
tlombef
• WARBtRO; Restored to lull mIl itary spel:lllcalOloS. Ihese M,tcl>ells .re treasured nv;ng museum piec. . .rId a", dlsPayed
.1 .... shows «ross Europe and
"'"*:;:":'C.~_~=___,
MIl/T......, AI'PlICATlOHS: 0IIpiI0 .... ~ - . ... T.. ~
........... IOr.._I>I' _ _ _ ... pl ..........
pIIrIIOm\lor~
pr.I:IIc _ _ _
=
_ _ '*"'-_ n.. ..... _ _ ... Fqtrlc.~~_
T.eo _ .., _ .,...,. .. _0.-.10 _ ". .,...,. .. CoiI$ UI<e.
1It' ... "",,",'"
pO::t..-oI.-- _ _
335
AMERICAN MIUTARY AIRCRAA
PHOTO FILE
NORTH AMERICAN
N ORTH A M ERICAN
TEXAN/SNJ/HARVARD ~ Captured French NA·57 France took delivery of 230 NA·57s pre·war. After the German invasion t~ AT-6 foreronners, with ~ed landing gear. W6t"8 used by the Luftwaffe•
TEXAN/SNJ/HARVARD • Allied aircrew trainer . Thousands built . Licence·production
... Pre·war US Navy SNJ In 1936 the US Navy ortJerftd four NJ- Is, derived from the USAAC's BT-9. The SNJs that followed, from 1938, became the Navy's standard trainer. ~ Wartime camouflage In wlJltime camoulJage, thi. AT-6 shows orr the squarlW wingtips that characterised this and subsequ6f1t members o f the Texan family. Wlllfime demand led to the est/lbli$hment of a MCond productionlina in Dallas to assist the CaJifomilJ factory.
... Non·strateglc materials Low-eHoy steel and plywood W6t"81JSfJd In tfMf AT-&:;:" variant to save 565 kg (12461b) of alllminium alloy.
clem e; ies to CommonwGalth air forces ellceeded !iOOO.
ore than 300,000 American and Allied student pilots earned their wings In this renowned aircraft. So important was it to the Allied e ffort during Wortd War II tha t it was dubbe d ' the pilot maker'. A conventional low· wlng ' tall-dragger', the aircrnft was a fOf'giving ' classroom ' for trainee pilots, providing a bridge between initial flight training and operational dutie s. Texans served widely in wartime; some air forces continue to train pilots in them to this day.
M 336
FACTS AND ,.GURU
... Derived
,ro~m~,~~::~g!~:~ ,.
privately financed NA - 16 prototype, the Texan was adopted by a USMC which was looking for an aircraft with performance close to that of combat types.
,. MoN than 17.000 tr......... 1n tNs ___ __ ~ ' * -, during end aner WOI1d War II.
,. AustrW68.. Com.HOi.W ....... Aircraft
,. The prototype HA· le that led to the AT·e Texan made Its initial night in AprIl 1935.
,. Some air forces maintained ex -wartime Texan/Harvard neels into the 1970..
,. One AT·60 was fitted wilh a Ranger V· 770 inline engine, as the XAT·6E.
,.. A few US Navy SNJs were equipped with
COIpocatio&. buin NA· 33s
a. WI"....,.
..-meet muIti· roIe comlNrt aIreraft.
arrester hook S lor deck landing training.
NORTH AMERICAN TEXAN/SN.J/HARVARD
Aircrew trainer extraordinaire
AT· 8A TeUtn lftIe: twcHMI IIdYaroed pilot IfM* ~
WIliIflIoy
one «7-kW (6OO-hpJ Pratt &
R-I~7
radial poston.-.gone
....' - .....: 330 km-'l (205 mphlat onh Arnerican's AT-6 T0:":111 was known b y m~ny othe r do:sign:u ions ~nd n:uncs, perhaps tht, most well-known of wh ich were I b rY'.Iro (in the RAF and Commonwealth aif forces) and SNJ (in the US N:wy), One of the n'lO&l famous of flying machines, and the r1tO:'M extensively used tDiner of alltimc, the AT-6 family tl':lirn::d the majority of Allied pilots and other aircrcw during Wo rld W~r II . Developed from the origin:,1 NA- 16 or 1935, thc design W-.IS ofdcn:d :\S the IrI'-9 basic tDiner, with R'u.'d underc,rriagc, a f:'bric-covcn.'tl fuselage and a 298-kW Wright R-975 ",di:,1 enldne. ',X'ith the aim of
N
nrst
producing a trAiner to reproduce the ch aracteristic; of oper:l.I ional aircrAft, variOus airfrAme c ha nges were nl:lde and a new e ngine with 50 per Q·nt more IXlwer inS(aJlt-d. TIle re:5ult was the I\C- I l);I.sic O)Illhat trainer, the Be- I A variant of which was later n.-designated the AT-6. With the 0flS-reeonnaissanctl dulies.
rdnn.:d 10 :IS the Apache). In an ancm pl lo :Iddrcss the
:lllllude performance problem. I he RAF prorx:>scily 1hor _ _ 10 tilt_-'*", """ ;..t
I
_
From NA-73X prototype to Mustang
• NIt· 73X: Aegisteo.d NX 19\196, !hot "'bI8 canopy and wt -
aII· fOU1d view.
.C .,.
MAXIMUM SPEW
The P·5 1 was trans/olTn9d by !he acIoploon of the Mer1tI 1lr"Igi"Ie. The c::ri;;Jn;'I AlIson ~~pIeotyof p<JY>I9' III low aII,to.lde. 001
was
disappoinling at h>;JI$' alllIOOe
htoaly PIW'1ed with oIWe o:hb C3n"ICMJIIagad rop
EI'eI"l wittlcoJl oprionel o..nOOrwng fuel tari<s. lh8 ~ had a gc:x>d radius of action: wrttl tlri.s ~ tt ed rt c:rte having an inIine. 1iQuod-cooled Ilr"Igi"Ie and
a. prominent and
•
THE BOMBERS: EI{IhIh IV Force
left U- Bmosh ba$>IIs an hou" _ ad 01 the MU$tWIgS, OISCOTtfld in ItIft first parr of the mission by shonerranged P·38s and P·47s.
• HAND OVER: The faster Mustangs would catch !hi! formal"", ""'" !hi!
DutclVGerman border, wl>er81ho!y would relieve the P-47 a"Id the ~ high abovelhe B-17s.
• ESCORT: Some lighters flew close escort. Their rNIamII8S booslfld lh8 morale oIlhe bomber a .... s. wtlo had ' - ' so SA'J"'"",*"! mauled over G6rona'O-man cn:w consislt.'d of a pikx (on Ihe k.fl ~kle) :md a n:",ig:uOf sufflCit.-ntly lr.urll.'(1 10 fly the plkx for shon periods during Iong-dist;u"lCe
fliAhLS Allhough Ihe prirruuy US Air Foro: fighter at Ihe lime l.\~lI; Ihe
F-82Q TWIn lIust.ng
Below; The reign o f tfHt F-82 was vet)' brief. The US Air Force repllJCfK1/r wi th the iet F3D S/(ykn/ght in the night-fighter role.
.,.,.: !wI •• yr.Iong~~ ~ two 1193-kW(16OO-hpl ~ V-171G-14311'15 V-12 poston ~
..... . . . . . . . . .: 7'12 """" (460 mph) II &400 m 121.000 It)
f-OO Shooting Sur, the F-82 foughl in the Kon.-:m W-Ir, as a nighlfightt.T, from the very beginning. 11le ftJS! kill of the war was seo«:d on Z7 June 1950 when an F-82 shot down a North Korean Yak-7U. 11le Twin Musung's combat !iCO'ice in Kore--1 'as{ed only a few monlhs, but this big, tn'1>!worthy ftghtt.'T made a valuable contribution. Setting df from bases in Jap;.n. tile F-82 could re"-1ch Kore-,I. , flying !j:IOI..nIght-Ilflhter. F-82GI (lJleraiad by the 58th and 339th F"oghler Sqo 0"1 from JohnIon AB, J apan.
•
_ _ _ _ too,-
oI _ _ •• _ _ '" .... TIo4nMuotq _ _ _ _ . . . . ...,. .... _...,.hIgI>~'-'G
,_;;;:;_ : ::"_;;;_" ,,-__"';;. G..... _ _ ........
~_IGI""
.'
==::::~::i::c"' ''' -10'-01
---F'IoIo • • • iid
_ .. -'I' __ ..... .... fIr9o
----
~Nr_-. gooo;ocI"",~.
The F·82 coUd C8'IY ~ Iur!I to
a Io!ingIhInId P~IH CIIIogn.
....
~...,.,... 01 Iocr "54-kg (IOOO-Ibj
~ \tI91 8'Ili'TUIiI1OIl1lOi'llgll
--....01 ¥"9-.- IDnO
The /useI!Ige lor !he F-82 _
~otI~~...-.ge.
~
c.-01~~
__ _ -
..
... " ' -
0I18IXl jj,1I ::~~~~~'=roc:!=.~~~... ~~..~~..~'~.,~.~~~... ;;;-::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~,"~rbS~.~"~~'~'~"'~~"~~~~"~'~"~'::::::::~"~"~~'~"~.~"~~"'~~" ~______~ ,.,.,10. """" the Ita"boIwd codg night ~. ,"",-""". Ihtor ,M\af _ _ not goo
.&Improlled interceptor As the F-86A was entering combet irl Korea. North American was puffing the F-86E irllo prodIIction. This improved model was superior to the MiG-IS-
us air power lor the United MatioltS .... Large tltHI"Ibers of us aircraft were committed to the United Nations' effort in Korea. This photograph shows several combat-ready 1'-86 Sabres.
ogether, the F-86 Sabre and MiG-15 brought s wept wings and the sonic bang to modern wariare. Developed at the same time, both aircraft were jus t supersonic In a dive. In 1950 the Sabre was rushed to Korea to confront the MiG in a new kind of combat with closing speeds and performance never before experienced. High over the Yalu River, Sabres and M iGs tested each other in the biggest jet-versusjet battles in history.
T
FACTS AND I'IQURU ~
.& Even in its initial form the 1'86 was a match for the SOvNtt-/Iown MiGISs. However. improved SaOte$, such as the F-8fiE.. soon dominated wtIen the MiGs went flown by less el4p&i HHlCed pilots.
~ of both the SabN Mel the MiO-15 wa. made posalble by German ewept-w;ng research.
~
Late-modM
~hed.l.d •• lgned
wing, known •• the 6-3 wing, which Improved !lUI_ability in com"'"
~ The
first Sabnts errived at Klmpo aiffIeId, near Seoul, Korea. in DecembM 1950.
~
~
Captain Joseph P. McConnefi, a top Sabt"e ace, scored 16 victories in Konta .
~
One downed F-88 wes test-nown by the SCwIe1s naar Moscow.
Total production of a .. versions of the Sabf"e e llceeded 9000 aircraft.
NORTH AMERICAN F-86 SABRE
PROFILE
.
Swept wings over Korea
A
confident and ready to face the /'.1iG-15 Many of the
six machine guns_ Uoth fighters
were fast a nd manocuvmble Ultimately, the result of each :len,,1 b;lIdc was largely dt.:tcrmin .." Dog i ..Nlce-pto;S totalled 2,628, iocludlng 120 •• port
~
~
versions armed with cannon. .... Distinguished by its nose-mounted radome, the F-86DIHIK series turned the basic F-86 into a specialis«l and highly competent all-wea ther interceptor and attack aircraft.
Developing the Sabre
'..seD Sabre Dog lftIe: singIe-sMI .... _ inIeIc:eplor ~: 00II 33 .• -kN [7515-b-tIwuIQ
T
F-86L version, this proce:5Ii of scrnmbIing and engaging enemy bombers was largely aUlom:uOO. Once wilhin a short distance of the bombers, the pilol: was expected 10 'paint' them on his own raWr and 10 anack them :1.1 a 90" angle with rockt1 1>rOjl.'Cli1cs. The cxpon vcn>ion 0( Ihis imcrceplor was a much simplified w:lrplant: and was :lfmoo wilh Gmnon , but it had
he Sabre l)og imcrceplOl'" \'t:rsiofl 0( Ihe Immonal Nonh Amcl1C2n F-86 Sabre was e(luipped wilh a distincti,'e nose r:tdar unn ~nd was flown by a pl loe who was also Ilsked wilh the dUIICS usually pcrform, mainly WIth lIS railir, but il evol\'oo intO a m:lIl1rt! comOOt aircr:lfl.
.... _ _ .....:
"-Ie: 130U km (835 miles! Sem" celli..: 16.f>W m {SooI.600 ft)
w.IfIIts: ernp!y 5656 kg (12.«31b): maxonum
Above: Some countries, including Greece, receNed wcond-hand USAF F-86Ds.. This one is fitted with Side , a. launch rails..
tak&-oII
n56 kg (IUI63 Ib)
~ 24 7(Hnm 'Mi{tIIY Mo\.u' ~
lin 8ifaaft IOCI<eU (fFAR) or (F-86K
"'~~
No w.re _l1l«I 10 !hi F-8eO. but 2. 7(). ....... ~ MouiM' rod<eIs...:h WIth a 3.4-kg (7.5-1bj - - . - I , coUd be fired from II-. /8IraCtatIIe rod<eIl**.
'"""
O)ntrol 01'('1"',1101", who dln:.-'c\(,:d
.............. ....-.
o rnod8I Sailnla retailed It18
Sibu ~, but the k.eeIage was recIeeigI9d and was bo!h longer n:I ....;det- to Sllln1lVl;I sia.tled
...
F-86D SABRE DOG 11"- Hcntt WOfS tn. colourful "'.... ing. TypIcal of lis .... lind belong_ 10 thto Mth Flght« In~or Squadron 01 the l i t fltIhler Group. The ~ flew F.aso.ITom l aM to, __
......... 'o:JtiIe ttw.- engone
---
~
lou"
11.30 m 137 II I ~) 12.29 m ( IoIowOO ~. the fJ-l was abIoe 10 'kneeI' or1lhe earlier deO
351
AMERICAN M,UTARY AIRCRAfT
PHOTO FILE
NORTH AMERICAN
N ORTH A MERICAN
T-28 TROJAN • Basic trainer. Counter·insurgenc, aircraft • International service
T-28 TROJAN
Navy birds '" Possibly the most colollrtul of all T-28s were those operated in high visibility mar/o;ings by the US Navy. These flew for more than 2Q years, before finally being retired In 1984.
mC:::::'::=fu~~~~~~ m
... Turbo Trojan In an attempt to cure some of the T-28's shortcomings, three YAT-28Es were twllt with turboprop engines. Although the trials were fairly successfv/, this variant did not enter production.
.A. Regeneration Surplus T-28As, fitted with engines and equipment from later versions were sold on the civilian marlcet.
.... Counter-Insurgency J1re T-28D fighter-bomber was developed primarily for use by small air 8ImS against guerrilla forces.
Bllnd·fl ylng hood ... For instrument flying or night flying training, a blind-flying hood was fitted over the student's position.
ith its North American SNJ trainers nearing the end of their useful lives , the US Navy (USN) issued a specification for a new carriercapab le ba s ic trainer. Designated XSN2J-1 , the aircraft was easily adapted to s uit a similar US Air Force (USAF) requirement as the XBT-28 and went on to train many thou sands of US pilots. However, it was with combat missions over Vietnam that the aircraft gained lasting fame.
W 352
• ..... For a generation of US airmen, the T-28 was the aircraft in which they earned their wings. In Vietnam the aircraft proved IIseflll in the COllnterinsurgency role against the Viet Congo
• •
FACTS AND FIGURES T·28s played a prominent part in 'Air Commando' operations over VletR8m. before being replaced by A-I Skyt"alders. All three ot the US armed S8t'Vic8$ operated North Amerlcar1's big trair1e1'. French lIersions, kr10wn as Fer1l18es, were used ir1 Algeria agair1st terrorists.
• • •
Fakchlld Aircraft Senrices was tasked with the conversion ot earty examples Into T-28D light-attack aircraft. T-28s are popular display aircraft on the ir1temational 'Wartlir(l' circuit. Or1e T-28 was titled with a strer1gtller1ed car10PY for poor weather trials.
NORTH AMERICAN T - 28 TRO.JAN
PROFILE
Trojan goes
Below: As well as a smalllK nosewhooi and arrest(J( hook, the T·28B differed from the T-28,A by the installation of an under-fuselage speed brake . A number of T·2BBs were
to war aving flown for the firs! hInt: on 26 September 1949, [he XT-28 (:volved inlO lilt: T-28 Tni;m with a minimum number of cha nges Capabk of flying in the basic and we:lpollS IrJining roles, some 1,194 Trofll1S were (.'\,cnru;.lIy onk:n.:d. In service, the '1"-28 proved SOlllelhing of
gun-pods. rockelS BOd DlIIIIIl$lDIIS:
12.22 m (40ft I In) 10.06 m (3:J ft) 3.86m(12ft8 1n) 24.90 rrf (268 SQ ft)
Fat9.>& probIern6 eaused the premal:\.In:I ~ cI T-28Qs!rom Vielnam. These _ d9tec1ed after the conslant stresses cI combat operato:::n!l caused two III(rn/t 10 sher:l wings.
_ _ - . . , . . repIocood Ito -'"' l..., In \JSA.I' _ "'"" 11>0 no. _ ..-.:tWIo _ ......,.., I..... !'WI ItIO IWo 1Il300 '"""- T~. and ..... a I>0Il.. pIoII'erSion.
_
Hili 1i3!!'I;1
North American service aircraft of the 19508 •
... _ _ in IhocorfUt ........
W!iI>ittP""""Wful
F-8t! SABRE: Amenca .. first ~-wing iet fighter Was hFJ98ly $UC(!esstut in the $kies over Korea, wIlerft it dwnMI many MiG-ISs. •
• FJ-2 FURY: As a successor to ~s straightwing.ed FJ - l. the US Navy adopted this navalrsed ved
to.. 26.1-kN (6OOO-b-thrust,I fwiIh ir"foocbon for take-otI or .....genc:y ~
,~
_
A
-
Type: IouHngoned medium·rWlgfi tactical
l~kI.-d the C".tpa cily to C'.my the huge Mk I[[ nuck-J.T bombs. TIle Tornado was al
",
•
355
AMERICAN MIUTARY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
NORTH AMERICAN
F-100
NORTH AMERICAN
F-100
SUPER SABRE d
by :t pilOi with 2000 hours o n the type as 'a controlled cr:l$h', the 1'- 100 is rcmcmberl :Iire,.,!fl 10 he laorn;hed since Ih ...'Y had the ~P'-~ to Guc;:h op wilh thdr I'h:mtom escorts Indth 0'0l8ting
DI _ _
DnK:bcn.II controI_ ~ bV ~ pilOt horiz\:nIaI 51a1.11oMn If1d • ~ p18CtI ~ 181l 91.11008. n. ~ t8il cruct be IoXIed 8bouI II hOve located !II mid·hei\tIl. Tl'Is was II .......... a&aeI ....nan _ ". ~.
"
."
AMERICAN MIUTARY AIReRAn
PHOTO FILE
NORTHROP
P-61
NORTHROP
P-61
BLACK WIDOW ... Hea,il, anned
BLACK WIDOW
The P-61 's dorsal barbette was fitted with four 12.7-mm (.5O-cal.) Colt-Browning M-2 machine guns• In addition. II had four 2O-mm M-2 cannon in the fuselage.
• Enormous but agile . Powerful . Complex lighter
Ten squadrons of Black Wido~ operated in the Central Pacific theatre as the standard USAAF nigh t-fighter from Juoo 1944.
Slow development
IIio-
r--------,
The original XP-6 1 prototype was ffown on 26 ,... -,_ _ May 1942 with most of lis features mocked-up while awaiting the real part$..
... Good night-lighter Once the s trict initial flight Jimitations were lifted. P-61 s became highly regarded.
Long range IIioThis P-61B carries tour drop-tanks, which iii.... ' fuel capacity by 4692 Jitres (1110 gallons) and provid&d for an imp,-essive range. orthrop's P· 61 Black Widow was a creature of the night. This large, powerful, twin· engined craft wa s the first American combat plane designed from the beginning as a night· fighter and optimised for air·to· air combat during the nocturnal hours. Beneath its slick coat of black paint, the P-61 proved itself a d eadly foe in the dartl., invisibly approaching Japanese aircraft and blasting the m from the sky.
N
• • nr.t ... •
'ACTS AND I'IQURU
1M2 t _ .... pilot v.nc. . . . . . flew the p..et on its fIrIt tIIght.
On 21
~
On S Juty '944, the p..e, racked up its
... Long in r1fweIopment, the P-61 only saw $8fYice in the last )'INU of the war. It was the bigge$l, heaviesl and most powerful night-fighter of the war. but WIIS also agile and fllSI.
·to--... victory. a J~ Mitsubtshi GrIM ' Betty' bomber.
Produc:tion Of the Black Widow totalled 706 aircraft 01 a ll variants.
• o.nn.n • •
P-ol Blllck wtdows Mot down,.,. Y· l 'bu.u:' bombs.
o..Ign..-d de ,lo p ..... 1 of die p..e, .. SCR-720....-dI radar inYotved '72,000 man-hours 0' woB.
Th_ P -61 pilots became aces, with two 0' them including kills ffying other types.
NORTHROP
P-61 BLACK WIDOW
PROFILE
Killer of the night
T
he ]'-6 1 Black Wido\\ wa~ lht; largest, hC3\'ic"" a nd
' trcn,IClh, the Bb ck Wid ow \\'a" [!l Ily a fighter, and it p roduced
n lO.~1 po w erful fighter of
:m imprc~~il'c n urnlx:r of
World War [I II ~suhcd from effon" by ck~igncr Jack '\on h rop 10 C~:Ltc 3 n ightfighll'r :,hlt: 10 uS(' air-to-:tir r.ldir 10 destroy ellCmy warpl:ux'S aftCT d:uk 'Ille Wack 'IX-Klow "-.IS dl.:o::ptl,,:ly agik, :lOd chalkn8t-"d and dl"fc:nctl
,rn;.lk-r fighter;, More than " t" In-cngmc. \win·bot:h ind the pilot (tlK' third cn..""'man "'.IS hclund both), and piJOlS dislih-d h,'VIIl,l! the propcllcrs in line wilh their cockpit ~il inn . BUI
This XF·ISA conveniorl or a P-6 1C was the second Black Widow adapted for /he photographic reconnaissance role, fitted with sa cameras In the lengthened nose. I! had along, clear·view canopy 01fEN' the tandem cockpits. Only 36 F· l SAs were bum, although 175
one ...
,'-6h rcacIK-d Illght-fighlCr
T.... t\Iiboorre --..:led ell klm
P-81 B Black Widow "flIIIt: ttww-_ noghI_figtu.
---
'-Ji1Mt '-
I",91-kW (2O(IO-hpt Pr.rt" Whrtney R. 2fIOO.65 Double Wasp 18-cyInc:IIr
MlII_IPH4I: 589 """" (365 fr4lh) 111 6096 m (2O.000 It)
--.
b1lfll1 : 15t3 km (940 miles) (2172 kmI 1350 miles With drop tanks)
Senlel cllllnl: 12.445 m (40.800 It)
We11_ts: empty 9654 II·""_Thl _ _ M111UC1_
CXMnd by
.~~......,.~.
--------.. 'hi II! 1M.
-~-
......... i>~18_
P-61. _ ~ by two Pran & ~ A·28OO-(I6
_
stIJltt 0!II'lIre MellOn. n.~"""~lIlI> fIId!Ir lind moo! oIlhIt \1fTf"IiWl"IInI
P-61B11ha1: --.ad the donIII t:&tlett•. ThIs __ not ~ ..... bI.oIIemg prOOIIJrnI; klm IhI toMld.
~ ant(>.
IkUlIt WrlIP .... """"""'" ~ 0..-. Beetnc pr!JpI.lIur$.
-r......"Waslon.
n. UI"Iq.III r->-boom cxroI>,piItocn hot-' • aeN 01 .... on • age pod
BoA .. ..,..." P-618.
ore 01 orIy two 01 the hi 200
a..-. _
_.37. . . . _
_g/wIO • ....,.r.
-..
~
·;"0 .........
.~• _ _ 011 ...
::;;::;~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;""1 ....... ~
..""""'_'"*'
Ilm!I
Twln·englned nlght·flghters
• JUNKERS Ju BBG-78 : ThfIlultwaff.'s definrtrve noghI-Iigh, .... the Ju 88G enlered ____ in the......-met of 1944. becomtng Germany's noght flghl", by 1hI end of IhII war. It _ o.-.t et'Iect~ tor home dIefenc-. 1!11hI1nai months.
• KAWASAKI Kl-45 'NIC K" The J.pa_ contemporary of 1hI P-61. the Ki-45 Model C had good speed and P«10rman0e but flOlld 10 _ b centmetr\c I'IOH radat H was IUCCI5SIuI ag&onSI B-29s lor I"IOmI dIIInot doMg 1hIIMt .,.. 01 !hi waf
----_-
~
_~N
_
..... (1110 .......
_25I*c.nt
.......
,--""",P",18
--
-
_Thl ....._ _ _ on _
.,..,. ThI _ _ . . _ _ 011 ...
......-,,-
~_
AMER ICAN MIUTAAY AIR CRAR
PHOTO FILE
NORTHROP
F-89
NORTHROP
SCORPION
• Interim interceptor. Changes in armament. Length, servi ce
F-89
SCORPION
Biggest production run IIIMost numerous of ell SCotpion I'arianlS, with 682 buill. was the
F.a9D. n could carry AJM-4 Falcon missi/e$ on the wing pods.
---. . _
~.--.---
_
lm_ID' . . ,. . . . . . . .
--.....
..-nent n the
.crull nxI<etsI.
_
01 opMd. CiooJIIIIlh, - . ... Soo.
-b_ _."", ..-.- . -... ""'*1 _ .
_01""", 1&,"'IIO "'~.OXI
_ _ 01_
_
III.
_ala.
--
"'-"'...."
n __
14. _ .
14... .
~~
J65
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
NORTHROP
N ORTHROP F-SA FREEDOM FIGHTER
F - 5A FREEDOM FIGHTER e lightweightfighter e Flown b,13 nations e Vietnam veteran
~ Scandinavian
Freedom Fighter
NQ,way operates seven F-5A$ and eight F-SSs, upgrad6d under PAWS (Programme for Weapoos and Systems ImproYementsJ, as lead-in trainers for Its new F- I6s.
Blooded In Vietnam .... SkO$hi Tiger F-5s were transferred to the Vietnamese aN force (VNAF) in 1967. Here, an aircraft of the 522nd Fighter Squadron is seen in its revetment at Bifln Hoa Air Base.
.... Canadian service Known in ReM .senrice as file CF- II 6, the Freedom Flflhter served in both A and D V8fSions from CId Lake CFB, A/be(fa.
Refuelled in the air. From the outset, the F-5
incorporated air· to·a ir refuelling. These aircraft are seoo being 'tanked' by a KC- f 35A prior to deploym ent in Vietnam.
esigned in the late 1950s as a lightweight fighter for supply t o fri endly n ations as part of the US Mititary A ssistance Program, the F· 5 remains a viable combat aircraft. Although the early examples are more than 30 years old, som e la te production aircraft are bein g upgraded with m odern a vionics. The type's advantages inc lude su personic perform ance and the ability t o carry reasonable load s while maintaining economy o f operation .
D ,..
PACTS AND PlQUR••
.... Northrop's Freedom Fighter, as its name suggests. was a product of file CId War. It was a means o f providing an affordable yet capable aircraft for America 's allies.
~
c.-
plated a amaIl ~ of McnItt, designated CF - lleAfR), fttt&d with Yinten 7G-mm nose c amera ..
~
The F-5A originated from the N-I58 Fang proposal tor • Ilghlwflight fighter, which also led to the USAF , T-38A trainM.
~
Bristol Aerospace's upgrade lor the CF-116 included HOTAS controls.
~
F-5 deve lopment was funded under the Mutual Oefen$e Aid Program.
~
A c om plete F-SA upgrade, as offered by Northrop, cost $4.5 million pet" a irframe .
~
An F-SA has an e ig ht-minute turnaround between missions, in c ludi ng reloelling.
Lightweight fighters for America's allies
F
lown for the first time in
Middle Ease. South Amcric;J and Srn.uhca.'>t .... sia acqui .....>d
C'JIlld photoreconnaiSS3ncc version. F-Ss wcn: :tlso built in Can;,d:., W h CfC C;madair product.''l!ltOAa 10 operato a tmaI....mar d F·5E;t 111h1J ....
COMBAT DATA
p .flrllri!&(Wi I m. - - . ..- upo1O._._.... _ ... __ •• _.
/
_.
1111'-"'IMeimum tak.-oft 2767 kg (60671b1
Abo ...: Several US Navy HUP·2s had dunking
primary mission
Irnnspon. the I lUI' also lx:rfonlK.xt anti-submarine dUIlt:~, AlxxlIu aircran-c'.Irricrs, an important rolc "'-,jS as
.....". .: one 41Q--kW I~ Coo....,. R·fj7S046A radial eo'9""'I
Servin calli,.:
corurols and ~lrcngtll!.:nL-d ClrJtO flcx)r of the 11-25, and was conSidcn.-d by son~ 10 be lIS
r".: .. , .... ...-I, tw.HoI1OI oIlhe \.IW", filled to the t-UP·l
n.
'::!.!l! ,!I!I'MO,'
. . . , __ .a.-_
A_IIOMd_,eo_l'OO"",,*_l)'I>icIIoi
_Iotgoo......,.",.... .... _ _ d:o:oigI'-"tor-..-. ~
-_.
~""",-.,...,.
~~.' d q ..... tt,I
snNSON L· 5 SENTINEL: l·Ss HO'\IfId In lilt Pacific aM ~I&r in Korea. A lotal of 3590 WeN I)uo~ 10< tile army.
IO.73m(3S II 2 In) 6.76 m (22 II I fn) 2.03m(6118in)
121kM{l'I .... l.kMll" .... •
-_.
P··fl • •
:!
fl nee nDlal 11lI.WIMI •
INTERSTATE l -tl ORASSHOPP£R,
377
AMERICAN MIUTARY AIRCRAR
PHOTO FILE
REPUBLIC
P-47
REPUBLIC
P-47
THUNDERBOLT (RAZORBACK) T RAF Thunderbolt Mk I
THUNDERBOLT (RAZORBACK)
In the RAF the P-47B (pictured below) and the P-47D were known as the Thunderbolt MIf I and MIf II. respecffvely. Mo$t were deployed in the FlU East.
• Fighter-bomber. Heavy and powerful. European service debut
... First 'Juggernauts' In combat These P-47Bs were among the first delivered to a fighting unit, the 56th Fighter Group. They arrived in England in late 1942 to prove the type in combat.
'Y Carrier-borne in the Pacific USAAF P·47s were delivered from Hawaii to the Marianas aboard USS Manila Bay in June 1944.
... Built at three factories ThundertXJlts were produced by Republic at factories In Evansville, Indiana, and Long Island, New YorlI". and by CurtiSS-Wright in Buffalo, New Yorl!.
Preserved 'warblrd' example lli>A number of 'razorback' P-47s, including this P-47G, have boon restored to ailWorthy condition.
eadily identified by their ' razorbacks' and framed canopies, the early versions of the immortal P-47 Thunderbolt laid the foundations for what was to become an unrivalled fast and immensely robust aircraft. ' Razorback ' Thunderbolts were built by Republic and Curtiss-Wright and had a dominant role in the USAAF from 1943, firstly as a fighter, then as a fighter-bomber making sweeps over occupied Europe.
R 378
PACTS AND PlQUAIIS
... If the ',azorblJclf' early P-47s had e wfUlknes$ i t was the 20" blind$pot behind the cockpit. This was r&etmed in the lata-production P-47Ds and other 'bubble' -canopied variant$.
~ Uke the P-51 Mustang, the P-47 _ . conc.lved, tHied end put Into ..vice entlrfiy during the war years.
~
~
The first P-47 was accepted by the USAAF on 21 eecembef" 1941.
~ A fully-IO&dad P-470 walghed more than
~
'Razorback' P-47Ds were also supplied to the air forces of France and the USSR.
~
The 50th F~ Group, the ft~ unit to take the P-47 Into combat, w. . the topscoring US fighter group wlth 674!4; kitts. 2.5 times as much as II Bf 109. The P-47's massive four-bladed propeller had a diameter of 3.76 m (12" 4 In).
REPUBLIC
P-47 THUNDERBOLT (RAZORBACK)
PROFILE
Brute force of the 'Juggernaut'
T
hunderbolts reach(:d Engbnd jusl before Chri~lm"5 1942, 'n lc first oper.llion,,1 sweep over Europe w as !1lef ~: one 1491_kW (2OOO--hp)
' 11"wr~Lck' 1'475 were 110wn by ma ny of the best-known American "ir aces, including Fr,J.ncis Gabresk i, Robert Johnson and 'Bud' ~bhurin Una hIe 10 escort bombers f:.r into Europe (unlil bIer versions were fitt(..,j wilh external fuel tanks). lhe 1'-47 gain(.>J a greater reputation as a fighter-bomber, sharing Ihe role of train- and tankbu~cr with lhe Brilish Typhoon Ijke Ihe Typhoon. 1'47s were fitted with bombs and rockets. 11lC first version 10 enter service W battle damage
THUNDERBOLT
Pratt &
WhrIney- R,28O(}..21 Double Wasp lB-cytindef
Below: This aircraft was one of two TP-47G trainers converted from Curtiss-Wrighl-built P-47Gs. The front seat displaced a fuel tank.
"""""
-
12.62m(41t15in) 10,93 m 135 tI lOin) 4.47 m (14 tI B in) 27.87 m' (300 sq tI)
COMBAT DATA MAXIMUM SPEED r.. ..... ottho _
fighIono ot tho_,
The 1'-47 pr<Mo& Tho l»pI>oon. s.t;.r., _ .... ~ - " " but..ongino, _tho Fw t90'1 BMW eol _ . ~ o.ogn
(,I"i.,
-.s0I.s ')'~
"' 1W~T
1"lt.~"1
TT_ .. .
lU5k.If\ ....1
379
AMERI CAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
REPUBLIC
P-47D/M/N
R EPUBLIC
THUNDERBOLT
• Tactical flghter·bomber • long·range escort . Train·buster
P-47D/M/N
THUNDERBOLT
... Pacific island-hopper Two Thunderbolts power into the air from. temponif)' CCNiJlair strip on a Pacific island. P· 471 were employed in evety theatre o f the war; trying air·to·air and air·to-ground missions.
..t. Air superiority The P·47N was thtJ ultimate Thunderbolt. It had an Immellsely powerful engine which made it the fastest piston· engined fighter in the world, and had incfflllsed fuel capacity to enable It to accompany 8 ·29 bombers over thtJ Pacific.
Rocket launcher iii"
were .
Tube·launched rockets fearsome addition to the Thunderboft's armoury. The fighters decimated Gem!an armour in France in '944 using this w&apOn, flying precision Iow· /evel attack missions•
... Crash and burn
..t. French dlve·bomber France was one of many countries that used thtJ P·4 7 into the ,950s. The aircraft were used as dive·bombers In French Indochina, oftell dropping napalm tanks.
M
ore Republic P · 47 Thunderbolts were built than any other US fighter. The 'Jug', named for its bulky shape, was a monster of a machine, yet it was fa st and manoeuvrable. The pilot had enonnous power at his fingertips and knew that If his aircraft was hit by gunfire, he had an excellent chance of getting home safely. From the early XP--478 to the final P--47N, the 'T· bo«;' was a real winne...-.
380
PACTS AND I'IGUAI!S ~
..
..t. While the P·47 will always be remembered as an escorl fighter. the beefy warplane was perhaps even more effective as a fightar·bombet:
~
The lint lhund.tJoft _ tt.. XP--47B, wf1Ich new on 6 May 1941 . dio 19 to dHigner Alell8f1der K8rtveII, the IIIyout of !he P-47 was drawn on tt.. back of an I!InYIlM:Jpe at a rMeting in 1940.
15,683 Thunderbol1s were built between 1940 and 1945, with more ' 0 ' models than any other aireratt sub· type In hlstooy.
~
wtth. ~ Io4tded ~ ot 9390 kg (20,701 II),. Iate--modeI P-47N w . . he.vIer thltn a bombed·up Domier Do 17 bomber.
~
On 5 August 1944, a apecially prapared Thunderbolt attained a speed ot 811 kmlh (504 mph), a record tor Wor1d War II fighters.
:. 'Jugs' new over 500,000 combat sorties between March 1943 and August 1945.
REPUBLIC
Biggest, fastest and meanest t,vcr beautiful like the Sp itfire. not as agile ~s the Uf 109, nor a.~ Iong-Ieggl-d as tilrk! W:,r 11, llwnderbolts were flown by the Br.,zili;m, British, FI\.'TICh, Mexlt'an !lIld Russian p ilots. '1lC Iongrange 1'-47N fought in Ihe PacirlC, where it was !' JX'Ien! wt';..pon ag:\lnsI the JapallCSe. Another Sl'1\ice '':Irian! was the 'hot·rod' 1'-47M, which was quickly pruduced in the SUffif1'l(.'f of 19-14 to coumt.''' the V-I flying bombs.
THUNDERBOLT
This ' 0 ' model P_47 w •• !\own by the 527th Fight ..... Squadron, 66th Fighter Group, serving In North AMe., SlcIIy .OO Itely In the close-eupport role.
P-47D/M/N
EIwt,- P·47, """" I
•
• J83
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
REPUBLIC
RF-84F
R EPUBLIC
RF- 84F
THUNDERFLASH "" Extra fuel
THUNDERFLASH
Thundet1Iashes w et"ll often seen carrying huge fuel tanlls sJtmg tHldet" the fuselage in an ertort to extfHld endurance. This Is II formation of Dutch aircraft .
• Tactical reconnaissance . NATOstalwart . Long service lite
... Cold war reconnaissance Belgium was just one of many NA TO covntries to acquire RF-84Fs. These equipped the Bierset wing until the early 1970s when they were replaced by Mirage 58Rs.
... External differences In company with a standard F-84F, a Ttwnderllash snows to good effect its redesigned nose and the small air intakes, loca ted in the wing roots.
... Last of the line During the 1970s the once nomerous RF-84Fs began slow#)' to disappear from European sides. There were exceptions. howevet; the type soldiering on with Greece's EIin/1Ii Aeroporia unIH retirement in 1991.
a
Stateside service
USAF machines frequently displayed their capabilities during exen;:ises such as 'Sagebrush '. This RF-84 is from the 18th TRW at Shaw MS.
ntering service In 1953, the F-84F Thunderstreak soon proved itself to be highly s uitable as a long-range fighter-bomber. A reconnaissance variant, the RF -84F Thunderfla sh, entered production at the same time. This variant differed in having a ne w nose containing cameras and intakes in the w ing roots for the Wright J65 engine. It equipped several USAF units a nd becam e a mains tay of som e o ther NATO air force s.
E 384
"ACTS AND FlOUR• •
... A dedica ted
reconnaissance variant of the F-84F, the ThunderlIash prolled a popular and highly effective aircraft in stHVice. Many en;oyed vef}' long and active stHVice CanNIf1
~
AIrcr8ft modified for pwa!Ute ftghtef .~rnents _ known •• RF-84K. end , •• t....-ed special dorsal hook•.
~
After SM"Y4ce wtth regular USAF units, ThunderlIeIlhH we-re passed on to 11 AIr National Guard Squadrons from 1956.
~
west Germany was the larve.t European operator, receiving 108 RF-84fs.
~
A '-"1all numbet" were handed over to NationaU't China during the mid-1950s.
~
Wright J65 engines _re buitt under licence in the US by General Motors.
~
One aIrcraft was modified to become the XF-84H for high-speed propeller trials.
Streakin' reconnaissance
......
-r".:..-gIe-_ tacfICaI '.........
More than 700 RF-84Fs were
M::h . . . Ace-. to the &pIICiiIiIt ~ _ mOl SITPI by. CIOrIIIII'oIIICtIIoe\!Ibid .. front 01 the
,.". n
IwlQiId ~
Th'- INrcraft was one 01 108 Thunder1IashH delivered to w..t Gennanr. It .....ed with Aufkl¥ungageschwllder 5 1 which re-equipped with the RF_ I 04G SterflliJhter In 1~.
proponIOI'I
01
~~, buII"tIP c:omponenIS
....., 01 h . - I on __ F..e.4.
A map" _ 01 the swept-wng F-&I deIign. _ the ~ J65 .-.gone. TN _1inIII more tharI., ~ .....-.00 r.A the AIrnstrmg ~~. . - I topawa_ "'*'<s r.A ........... Hono-. The
", ...1IICitIIIIO ~ n.. f+l _ tho _ RiopuI)Iie '" IIgtJI.- _ Il1o . . _ IJiSAF .....-opIe 10 I1y oft. _ _ • _WII ...... ........ _ _ _ _ .. IM. _ ~
- - . ", ..
_ thoF.&I(l~
t.ISAFI _ _ Sor-.ogic'"
__
~
_ _ _ """"' ' ' _ _
_
~"
I " ,• • _ ~
"*" on h.nram.. The-'!;lS
n "" ~ i"lOOrpOraIad e high
JO.19m'{32SMlIt,I
REPUBLIC'S FIRST JETS
Gr"I.."i,.'Ce :md Turkey. Ext_ ... r.A dtnUnin was
10.23 m (33 II S in} 14.52 m (41 II S in) 4.57 m{t51t,1
1
c::w .....
Fo.r~
__ tned .. the ...e. !WO on
,""cre latcr paS5(."d down 10
12.7 ....... ....:hit-. """"
-
count rk~
SUI"\"i-ing TIllllldcrfbs h .... s
ArwIIIMIrt: to..-
THUNDERFLASH
O
t';\'c and specialised l"UITlCr,c, "[fib resulted in a dblulCli\'c :lppC'J r:mc e and t(.'(luin.-d the air intakes to be rcp'l»ili o lll-d in the leading l.-dgc win)! ruot>, which aCtua lly
...-H:
htnl.1 t li_
'
huilt :lnd (.'qUipPl-'1jI1VC
",.1_
'
F.s4F M:ncs had [iule in
.__
Above: Although quicKer than its strslght-wlnged forebear, the Thunoorllssh was no lightweight and perionnance wss adequste st best.
new ink'tl; being more efficient In dircCl ing air into the engine),
common wilh its pn:d(''Cl"Ssor
""001
.....,..:one 34.7I)-1 :lirfidd ncar l lanoi with :1 {k1t"'-'e of ~urprisc. It W:lS some of the mew (bngerous flring in
Pr10n & WMnIIy J75-P-I9W ef!..t>umong
Below: Preparing for a 1962 weapons meel al Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.. this F- 105
maUnum ~ 23.834 kg (52.545 II) ~ 0.-. 2().mm MGl", 1
400 F·10611---.
down OM ViMnIIm. with_II piOOI being !he ~
or ~
!rid dra'nll1IC ..cut .1t~s. C>Ihtn _ ..... loft .....,.
VuIc.-I
'*""'"
WICh 1Q2B ro.ros pq, ~, ~ 340-kQ (750-1bj bool'Jt. on I borrIbO'I9 million 10 HInoI DI' • maUnum of 6350 kQ {1• •COO Ibj of
....... ....
-
OIMeIlllOtlS:
w ing area
Ewn though ~ oIIerad 11792 I(N (2(1,532 Ib thrust). ~'18 J75 left ... F-ICfiD und!!rp:;/w(II'ed. ""~ was needed 10 koop a t-.w,r IBdIn 'TIuf on 1he tan<er at
10.65 m (34 ft 11 ..., 19.~m{&4 ft3 ""
5.99m{19 ft 8 ...) 35.78 m'{385 sq II)
COMBAT DATA
eovne
M"XIMUM SPEW
_""00.
F ... 10SD
,_....
F-10S D Thunderchl.'
...,.: ..-.gIe-_ IlICbCaI fighter
Urd IN Mo:OonnoII
_
'" _
__
n-.-'t~"""-V-MlI1
o.:....-.r 10_"'_ f_'Q50...._~ one
' .I M1 _1ICIIU 1' _ _
,
._.(1... . .
I_
,.
IUCC. .:U I."" I
MationaI ~ was proyided by \he iolternal MEll earn:ln. v.tlict! was Rltaioed Irom
TOO F·105G had
co .... 81 .. &.9 sensor 1II!tm the F- t05f. as shown by \he fuselage
!vi AlM-l Sparrow missile body was 003pted 10 form \he basis cA \he AGM-45 Stri.... Since 1959 the Buckeye has boon taking s tudents through their naval ffight training syllabus, including the infamous carquals (carrier qualifications). Lectures and practice 'carrier' landings on lin airfield are the only preparation the pilots receive for this hazardouS activity.
FACTS AND FIGURES >- The Buckeye .. fully earrler-e.pabIe
The tint T·2 Buckeye, a "'gle englnad ain;:ran. took to the air for ite maiden flight on 31 January 1958.
.. The US Navy currently plans to have Buckeyes in service until 2002. .. More than 18,1XlO naval aviators have received training In the T-2C Buckeye.
and most ",",al aV"laton made their tim carrier landing ftyIng it. .. Production of 273 Buckeyes included 231 fOt" the US Navy and 42 for e~port. .. The first twin-engined Buckeyes enteNKI service In May 1966.
ROCKWELL T-2 BUCKEYE
Introduction to the aircraft-carrier
W
hen Ihe US N~vy
name
wantL-d a VCP-;;l1ilc
N back: IlleIload 01 2616 til," (690 gallons): 290 kg (840 Ib) of Nght ~ or tra~ luggage
DIIRlInsiollS: span with
\1 .62 m (3811 2 In)
tip tanks
..-
11.67 m (3811 4 In) 4.5 1 m(141191n) 23.69 m' (2!>5 sq II)
._lh____ . . "",," ,,",.
"'"
COMBAT DATA
A large speed brake is
I1"IOU1ted on eottw side 01
7~~
Mill ..... speed: 840 km/h (521 mph) at
".",~
8o(h ~ are sooted
BUCKEYE
Very lew us Navy Buckeyes Ila~e been Hen tn camovllage. The lin 01 this ai«:.alt carrie. a list holding a 'broken MiG' emblem , identifying It as belonging to awressor SQUIIdrGfl VF-0t3.
15.1·kN
(3400-lb-lhrustl West'r>gl>ouse J34-'M:-6 turbojet eng'ne: (later ~) two 13 l-kN (294e-lb-ttvust) General Electric J65·GE-4 IuIt>ojet engines
Wi1gtfl fuej I¥b. t;'I its nose. The T·2 oilers good
w.lining and (""flier (!ual ifkmion,
line, Nonh American changed iL~
hwefplMt: (early v«Sion) one
Mill ..... ell...
,ond finish,:d night tr.lini ng in
cOnlroi systems of the '1'-28 Trojan. While T-2 Buckeyes were corning off th ... production
including the wings from the IJ -1 Fury and lhe
r".: two-seal intennediate jet lrainM
7620 m (25.000 It)
tht: T-34 "lemor) then wem on 10 tlw Huc keye for intcmlL-diatc
the TA-4J SkyIJ:mk Only in the 1990s has the US NJVY fi nJlly ~t;Hted to replace the Buckeye ;md the Skyh;lwk with the 1'-45 Gosh;twk. whkh will be uSmlho
1I)'_c:ireuils_
..ph
-~ ..oquiood. n.. D.INn • .........-y ...... rII>Q8C 10 I~ the R-14 r;1(i:lr and APN·131 Doppk-r. It ...."as dcsi~1t(:d T·3913. TIle US Navy recognized the
hantoms. lhcsc 42 ail'U'".Irt were initially d......... ignal1: ~
8056 kg (17,123l1li
were upgraded 10 T·j9N standard, and continue to serve in the r..dar tr.. ming role. Most USAF T·j9s
Other Rockwell projects •
Serflc. ellIi...; 13.700 m (4S,(XXI ~
Ecuador, Mexicu and Sweden In the 1900s US Na")' examples
~~tn:I.,
bUll
mph!
km11
rl1.: 1692 nVrrOn (5550 !pm)
1_111,1cU.
Ined wIIh • [)QppIer ~
Max.... ,,.111. . . . .: 808 km11 (501
Pm!
(474 mph)
Ftom 1he T-398 .........
...-a-.
~: two lH8-kN (3(lOO-1b-1hn.et) & wtIiIrwy J60.P-3 IIMbcltet .....
l ...•...... ,,.111111 . . .: 764
IrJin in~
role ,md ordert.'d a n~V'ali~ ...-d vcn:;ion to tr:lin piiOls
T· 308 Sab...llner fMIe: ut*Iy tJWoIpOrt IlOO tr.-
Lett: Only one USAF unit continues to operate the T-39. Most are held in IongtemI storage in Arirona, awaiting their ultimate fate.
NOVA:
•
:ObI._.~._
.-.- _--..... _ _ 1>1'''''' US..-,.
_ _ 1M''''' _ _ /MI ..... ......_ .
I'"••.
-....__. m_. .
tMI .....
ROCKWEll )( · 31 : Thill muttnationat
Yen"'" was Oeslgned to poOOuca • highly a<JiIe
ain;raft WIth post' ltaII rnanoevvnng abIMy.
393
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
ROCKWELL
ROCKWELL
OV- 10 BRONC O
OV-10 BRONCO • Forward air control . Vietnam veteran . Counter-insurgencr
... Hight striker Marine C01pS OV-/ODs have been updated for the night observation role. They are armed with the M I97 2().mm cannon, which is aimed by an AAS·37Infra·red tracker and laser designator pod.
........ • • ...-.....y ... -..n. _
.-..y
""'" '-
o-~
""'*'
.-:II diopIayed ..-.. Ihat_ tf>8)' _ in-' pro'd troops are advancing on a suspected enemy pos!itort when they come I.O"Ider art,ilefy fire. Takong cover, they i0oi< lor
'00
.. _
()OI _
- 1Ii'.-----..~--"'I
•
CAUJNQ FOR HELP:
Tho> ground troops cali t he Forward Air Cormotler The ooty inlormaltort they can gi;'e is the gene1;...-un take-ort 3D5O kg 161241>1
Di_aioa:
to,91 m (36111 8 18m(2flll 10inj
2.97 m 19 II 9 In) 20.44 m' (220 IQ It) The rriI """.mota! CO ......... C$ (lithe 1Ighlef_the oonIroI .....-1oc:es. 81 oI......r-;ctl _ 18br'oo-QMW'S(l. The Ii'1 and rudder Ihape was carried".,... to t~ P'43 and -.tll8ly to t~ P·47 ThundertloIt 8fter s-nky tIecarlw Aepodc.
COMBAT DATA
IA.IIt'ooutII>1NP-35.fr, HI! !II (W.' _ _ _ N-'YBl10111. _ _ _
-
_
no """"" "" ... BI 1(]8E, _ _ _ ¥!ling ...... Europoo
_
... p-35.fr,_ ........... by .z-._ ... ~,
_"""'pl...... .
•
_""'" 1211 ..... ~~....._~
:::===~"'~-~'"
. . .......
Seversky developments • SEV-3: Sowllf$lq)it ~ aooorrmrxiation lor two crew sooted in taoclem. &ceIent 'IISibAty was aIIorded to tha pitoI v.tJid1 was ideat lor seoo::h and r9!ICUO'I wori01! and many operators dOd not use the extra capatNlily.
...........,... troopo,
..:I-( ~-
403
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
PHOTO FILE
SIKORSKY
SIKORSKY
S-55/H-19
... Piston power
S-55/H-19
The largo. bulky radial was faired under twin clamshell doors. Engineers loved this as it meant easy access to too engine. But the maniage of helicopters and large pis ton engines was never really successful.
• korea veteran . Pioneering troop-lifter. Air-sea rescue
... At home on floats From the start, the he/icopt«'s uniqUft ability made it ideal for maritime use, and the fIoat·equipped 5·55 served as
Troop carrier .. The 5-55's ability to carry up to 10 fully-equipped troops was used in the development of an entirely new kind or warfare known as helicopter assaulf. Troop·carrying 5·555 saw action around the world, from Malaya to Algeria.
a rescue machine for many years.
-
Load·lifter .. Hauling Jogs in the Rockies was another task that earlier helicopters were not capable of. The need for a powerlul turbine engine was demonstrated vividly when carrying loads at high altitudes.
Sling load supplies ..
'" he 5-55 was the first in a long line of s uccessful large Sikorsky helicopters. Starting life as a piston-powered machine with a limited load-carrying capacity, the 5-55 later r eceived a turbine engine and considerably more capability. It could perform a variety of roles, including airlifting troops, air-sea rescue work, air taxiing, cargo-hauling and anti-submarine patrol. The 5-55 took part in the Korean War, but was still providing useful service to military and civil users in th e 1980s.
T
404
The ability to get supplies to troops miles from any airfield was especially useful in Korea. where UN units were frequently bypassed and surrounded, The narrow fuselage profile made underslung loadcarrying preferable to using the tigh t cabin space.
FACTS AND FIGURES
... The 5-55 was one of the first really practical largo helicopters. Its career was an exciting 0fIII, with COIIstant wartime USB. With a turbine engine and more poW8t; it shone as II versatile machine.
.. The us Army version ot the H -te was known as the Chickasaw.
.. French 50S&. in Algeria used rocket.
.. The US Navy HOS"" version was used for anti·submarine warfare duties.
.. The US Army was still using its last few H-l9s in the early 1980s.
.. Wes tland·built S-SSS were sometimlll5 powered by the Alvis Leonides Major piston engine or Gnome turboshaft.
.. In an air show stunt that went wrong, an RAF Whirlwind dragged a stuntman on a bicycle through trees.
and machine guns in combat trials.
SIKORSKY S-5S/H-19
PROFILE
First of the big Sikorskys
8-55 (H-19B)
ry,.:
\()-passenger utility heIioopt.,..
~:
one 522 -kW (700-hp) wright
R- I300-3 radial piston engine
Mul_.,..-: 180 kmlh (110 mph): cruising
H
clicoptcrs really came of age after 1945, :md the
type owes much 10
the work of the great Igor Sikorsky. Afwr the piollL-ering 5-51. Sikorsky set aoom building a U1i1ily lllKhine for the US Air Force, designated 1-119. '111(: first of these, known \0 tht: manubL1urcr as the 5-55, flew in Novt:mbcr 1949. It was powered by a I'rau & Wh imcy
radial piston engine,
~irnilar
10
those in wartime figlners The
drive shart r.m under the
cockpit 10 the high -mount ..:d rotor. With a rear c;loin thaI
could carry 10 pWElfOO YI!r!JIMS.
In service around the world
were fitted
w_
• EXPORT SUCCESS: The $-55"s capabilities 80 rar in advance of any other Western helicopter thaI ~ sold wId&ty abroad, to more than a doz"" countries, ."cluding Canada.
• ROYAL HELICOPTER: The most luxl.lliov$ 01 all S·e;s variants. tI>e lu!tioe-pow8f9d Westland WIIio1winds ot 8rilaln"s o.--.'s RighI flew untitlhe tale 1960s.
___
rn.~ '"
....... f1. . .
~ n =:
m ... ll • ....,"
_
as . -
AMERICAN M,LITARY AIRCRAfT
PHOTO FILE
SIKORSKY
SIKORSKY
S-56/CH-37 MOJAVE ... Retractable landing gear
S-56/CH-37 MOJAVE
MOjaW!s were not only noval in their engine arrangement; they also had Ii retrac table undercarriage. The main gear assemblies retracted rearwards into the engine nacelle. Each leg was supported by twin wheels.
• us Arm, and Marines transport. first lwin-engined Sikorsk,
'I'tt.NaYy""_ .... :iof • • ~~ _
HtHWH HtHHHt
Alter evaIuiItion 01 the trst prodI..cIo;Ift HR2S·ts~
•
" ?IF I:;(" ~O~"~·"'~CH~.'~ ~'~", ~"'" '~.~A~'~" ,~'" "~"'~ : : ;::;~::::~::"~'"~"""~'~OI~.~.~"~'~",~.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~;;::::::::;:~::::::::::~~~~:2~~~~~~~:;--1 .... '""'" ~
.-
littedlc!elnam in t962. lhe ·Ho.>ey· wn adopled by the Marines in UH-l E lorm and QUiCkly deployed to Southeast Asia
IP"""-_
•
SIKORSKY HRS-2 : HRS·ts and HRS-2s nine Marine transpon (HMR) in Koroo. Their main role was troop carry.ng. the type _hog up to eight troops. eqo~
sq~
• SIKORSKY CH-53A SEA STALLION: First deployed in Vl(I!rIIIITl in January t967. Ill
type 100- the Marine Corps
•
SIKORSKY UH·34D (tlUS-1I SEAHORSE:
The
most
WIdely ...,;ed
ptstOtl-er-.gined
he4icopt ...
at the war. the Seahors\I was lhe USMC's main assau~ he4icopter unlit til
m:IilI
ll"o:ou;iI>_ IOIIfI.--..y -.1NCH-37 .... _ _ on
s..r-.on..
rar-qo ~ !O!he In ......,. - . boIh Iho ____ ontf"'""".IhoI)oPe _ _ _ - . ...... _ ' * _ I O _ _ s..KrOgI"!I _ _ _rar-qo~.
~
............... _IO.-r..yltson~......,.., 1116
Sit1on 10 the Na'),. W-JS
Navy 'ic
d iS3ppointt:d Wilh tht: I'ip!.
....,..... """ 1137-kW (1S25-hpj W!Vrt R-I8:20-a461O Cydone . . . . poston ~
......: 391 kin (245 ~ WIth ~ full
P'fO\'(.'d disappointing, the: U~ Na,y "',IS Rbd th:1\ II I~d onk.·Il:d the: Sikor;kl' XIISS-l as a tX}Ck.up. As the 115.'>-1 Sc'Jbal. rile new hclicopler "'"1'110.:«:d \X'e"lbnd Sea King, In addit ion 10 its ASW machines, the USN also new n ine example" of the ~pedaliz'-..:I RII-3A mines\\'eeping \Trsion of the ha"ic SH-3, while a numlx:r of comb:lI "earell and rescue 11 11-3 aircraft, also IXIS'--d on the SI [-3 airfrante, weI'(' huilt for the US Air Foret'
SH-3H SEA KING This SH-3H of HS-1 'Shamrock s' ....."'ed aboard the USS John F. Kennttdy ICV-61) during the
c arrier'1l 1983-84 Allantic cruise,
$hipbo8r1:l hilIicopter
Agusta SH-30s wear this dark sea grey colour scftemft with high visibility day-glo noses and tail bands_
' _ p l..l: two 1044-kW ~1400-hp)
~
Electric T58-GE-l0 Iurt>oshafts
MIII IIIII .. speetl: '1:67 kmIh (166 mph) Crelslllllfleed: 219 kmhl
~136 mph)
l.iIIll clllllb rite: 670 rnInm (2200 fpm)
Above: SH-3s can actually be refuelled in night, though the usual method is somewhat differen t from that shown here!
RPte: 1005 km (623 miles) Serwle. teiling: 4460 m ~14.700 It) Weights: empty 4426 kg (9742 Ib): k>aded 9525 kg (20,995 Ib)
Expon c u"tomers included Argentina, Brazil, C:m:ldu, Denrnark, Ir:m, Ital y, Japan, Mala ysia, Peru, Sp:lin, :md the UK. Several of thesc deals haw includ..-d production liccnces,
~ !he $H-3H \IIItiEInI are I'M> Ge-1eraI Electric T58-GE-l0 turtJoshafts. These prov\d8 inpfessive ~ lor a mlativl,lfy larga heIic!ltllf and genemle ~ to 1044 I<W ~1400 ~ eadt, I!IIowllg !he aircra1110 carry S.iiTIl.m take-oII10.002 ~ (22,000 Ibj, usual gross 8165 kg (17,6931b1 " - I t : 811eMt two 7.62........ (.3O-aoI,) or
helicopter a secondaty SAR role.
12.7-rro:n {.5(ka\.)..-..china guns on IIWbIe fired through the sida dotn
rno..lIa.
Gu:.rd. U;."iC"J lI Y:1I1 11 1I-3 E with mi lit:try (,'quipmcnI rcn"lOVL-d , the :Iircr:lft g:II'C .';upcrb M:rvicc inlO the 1990s. flyinl! 10n~-rJnge rcsclIe ;111([ anti-([nL~ missions.
DI. .MlOllS: ma;n roIordiamel. 18.90 m (62 ft) length 17.45m~571t31n) holighI 5.51 m(18ft} rotor disc ..... 280.5 rrf' (3013aq It}
HH-3E This ;'.., AIr Fore. R........ Iquadron HH-3E In
The mein rotor did noI ~ the bkId& IokIO-og "OKI."". 01 the...al $H·3 VIetnom P*l«L are rlnIOIXed to hBYe uood 1118 rotor 10 rtn Ilf\W'lCI'le$ !rOm In*. ~ Ihtm to rooc:t> downed
The HH·3E ~ h lWO-ITlIr1111gl1 ctfNI
...-..tl amour proI8Cfion ..cj a coo .... 81 .. oIIi~ radio lind nEMgationaIlMOnIOI _e,
-.:n ...
~.
Co8st GuMlI+I-3Ft acIr:i$d lor nWfimt ~ Up 10 15 ~ P81*QocUd bl8OOOi'" loIed" the ......88CtJOn
....... .....,Iart
Below: The rear loading ramp had upper and 10_ parts, allowing vehicles up to 2.21 metrvs In height to be loaded. Larpe sponsons on either sJde of the fvseIage kept the aircraft , table on water and accommodated the main landing gear.
0IbW!.
s tandard ' European OM' c' lTIOIJtht~. In 1990 tIM HH_SOG P,v. Haw1< be-g'" ~clng HH -3E •• The new hellcopt ... rat.ln ••11 1M best of its ancestor, including Jattlsonable • • temal t .... k. and . n IFR protNi .
Ito.,.,....
A ....bI!od8d .......... tal rotor _
•••
adopted
di"ectt1h"m the SH-3. A ltl\.II·bnIced ~ _ motIiIed CiIlIX*a1he Allor rnountrQ 0'1 the gro.no;I. lila a.I-Iow n-1ogroI ~ _ 00f0lIded bV the IorogIh of !he ....... ,......
COMBAT DATA
Multi-mission S-61 R
•••
••
us COAST GUARD SAR: Haw,g located the ~
t
...ng H&'Ch radar. local.
beacoos and dial_ fIarM the HH-3f CMW pIucI< el$.L$l!ies to iMlftoty using the .--::ue wonch.
.. S
USAf VIETNAM CSAR : While.
ClougI.- AO- I Skyraider pIOIIided cover. the HH-3E winched shotCIO"oIIn~ In:om
The I
-
... jo.I'IQIt.
._.....-. . . . . . . . . . . ....,.IDNIIIIIi'I
,
11.,,",(111~
USAF CH-lC DRONE RECOVERY: DC-130 Hfot!:uIa. ....... nee or tafgIIt """-. Mer .-.g up .. IhiIir lull these m:or- _ ~ by the CH·3C and .-.tumId 10 baM. where they InIIY be prwpared lor .....
,......
'13
AMER ICAN MILITARY AIRCRAfT
PHOTO FILE
SIKORSKY
S IKORSKY
S-62/HH-52 SEAGUARD conduclt:d from shore ba.-;cs, Coast Guard crewmen also scrvk....'"\.1 the 11l1-S2A unboard ship. which uflen prU"(!'d 10 he a dt:ma nding 1:I!>k. By [he lime Ihe 1a~1 ex" mplcs rctir.::d during 1989. HII -5 2s had
in any of l<xby's OMs! Guard helicopters, hcl[X.-..J t he 11I1-52A
Se'Ij.(u:mJ in its rescue duties. '111e 11I1-52A :lIso join,-""(] the
Co:!!>! Guard icc p:urul o lx::r.nions ahutl'd powerful ke-hrc:lkcrs. Typic.11 W:IS Opcr.,(ion Dcp Frec~c.
the cxplor.uion of toe
rescue helicopter
,,,,,,,"'1: 008 932-kW (1250-hp) GeoeraI Eleo::tnc T58-GE-ll turboshalt eogme
....1 _ "..11: 175km/h(109 mph)
ellis/III ""'": 144 kmIh (89 mph) 1IMgI: 762 km (472 mOles)
the 1ll0Vl'ment of nuritimc trJffic through icy \V;lt~'fWays
$er,lce cellilll: 4785 m (15,700 It) Wllthts: empty 2224 kg (4693 Ib): loaded 3765 kg (8.283 Ib)
Above: Toward the end of their service lives, HH-52s were upgraded with Northrop forwardlooking infra-red set1S01S, mounted In a small tcJrret on the nose.
Acco_odlilln: two pilots sit10ng side-by-side and one kmmast!'O". plus _ing IOf up 10 I 1 flAy "'l\llPPl'd trl.>Op5 it required
gai,,x and $Mit ~, Ths pamvt100 Sie$ regularly retsiev«I crllshed Ot'
dama!Ied aircraft
MAKESHIFT BOMBER : In Vielnam CH-54s dropped the BLU ·82 bomb 10 make cleaMgs in the jungle.
OUTSIZE LOADS, A bewildering ~ariety of Ioods h ilS been carried by CH -54s, including boots.
Viii HI ~tt>tO(_T_
""'-*'1IIinv_oIup\(Jnino _,~
...... "",,,,_its
~1O_~~
awkward", t:ou\....,..lIa~lO_wiI!1 __
..-.... .....
-
__
tt>t~ouch
~,
PLACING ARTILLERY: The CH-54 was Ihe principal means by which Ihe US AIm-! sIlif(ed its artiIery IIt'OI.OOd Ihe battlefield.
417
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAfT
PHOTO FILE
SIKORSKY
SIKORSKY
S-65/HH-/MH-53 ... JolIw Green doorman
S-65/HH-/MH-53
An MH-53J crewman leans through the open escape hatch. A window may be fitted in this position, but is often omitted .
• Special forces helicopter. Combat rescue. Advanced sensors
.a. First of the eight Bs As the first of eight HH-53Bs, this aircraft introduced the S-65 into regular CSAR service with the USAF over Vietnam .
... Vietnam Insertion HH-53Bs were tllsked with a rrumber of covert missions in Vietnam. Troops were often dropped by rope to avoid the risk of landing in enemy territory.
... Evolving from the CH·53C There waslittl6 difference between the pure transport CH-53C and the HH-53B, eltcept for the latter's refuelling probe .
... Pave Low III Although short-lived, the six HH-53H helicopters Introduced the Pave Low //I sensor package.
)
} ne o f t he b iggest and most ver satile com bat helicopte r s ever develo p ed in the West, Sikorsk y 's 5-65 serves w ith t he USAF as th e HH-/MH-53. In the hand s o f s kill ed pilots, the 5-65 can lift heavy cargoes, ca rry s pecial f o rces t roops fa r beh ind e ne m y lines, o r su ccessfull y resc ue down ed airme n , u sing th e lat est t echno logy. Fro m Vi etn am as th e HH-53C t o the Persian Gutf as the MH-53J, t he 5-65 h as been a g reat s uccess story.
O 418
... Sensitive nose All of the MH-53J's primary 5fNJ5OfS are clustered Ilround the nose. They include the ANIMO·10 FLiR below the in-mght refuelling probe on the startxJaFd side.
FACTS AND FIGURES
• ... Many airmtm and civilians owa thair Iwas to tha gallant crews of the HH-IMH-53. Although primarily tasked with military operations, the aircraft have performed a rrumoor of highly publicized civilian rescues.
•
•
Having originItIly UMd the C H -53A In 19661fi7,the USAF r8Cetved a handful mont In 1989 as TH·S3A trainers. Sponson bracing s trut s a llowed HH -53Bs to carTY 2460-litre (65O-gallon) drop-tanks. 1'wo HH -53Cs f lew 14,500 km 19000 miles) from the U S to Vietnam with o nly seven stops.
• • •
Some C H-53C lind HH·53B hetlcopters ntmIIlned .... ""odlf\ed until the lete 1980s, when they became M H -53Js. MH-53H and MH-S3J Pave Low li s were involved in the US invas ion of Panama. M H -S3 pilot s receive special operation s training on t he TH -S3A.
SIKORSKV S - 65/HH · /MH· 53
Enhancing the 'Super Jolly'
A
lthough more ch .. n three (ie(;-.Ioc'S old, the 5-65
remains at the front Ime wilh the USAF SJl(.'CiJ.l forces rely o n it for daring mi!>.Sions,
~uch
as the raid to destroy p.... fl;()f1;.1
I' rc.~idcnl Noric!(~'s
Left: This MH-53J carrie$ a gun moont on its loading ramp_ It can be easily removed and stowed In flight
then OyillA With gre;1I disuOClion
11:I\'Ulg repbced the 'Jolly Gn.:cn Gl.lI1f. the HII-53B IX"C:lrllc the 'Super Joll y'. One mc)(hr...:d :Iircr;.ft unsucccs~fully [C~Il-d :1Il :dl-weathe r sensor
j.iliaryluel
I;mkers, Ihe 1111-53C sclVed into the bto;' 1980:-. TIle last machioc' was Ihen con\'cn~-d 10 MH-53J 1'3\0;' t ow III Enhanced st:mdard. DevelOJX--d li_. lile
A I"UT"I»" 01 ~ . . ~ 10 ~ 1he hIIIoopIIIr I!cm !he.....-.y. lhty-
ITIIlhIIi
h iii '''' -.--""~-""~"""'- __ .,....._,.~CH-5JE"'IIft.
~
"'"" h_~. Elt.OYMENT: The
Tho...., ~
The 8I;"o(:t< ~ has !In exhaust ~ sysIem .....n..:::h ~. h:JoI engone gl.w II'e htIIcopIer less 01 II tatgallo" ~.seekrog
• lOW· lEVEL FLIGHT: The o;ggest.-" of UH-8OI - . . the ,,., CavaIIy DivIsion and tho! 82rdand 10'''' Aort>or".~.
~
-.togo _
N
__
.......f8:I
~
too _
~C-"'Y_~
IItioc.1I _
~ . BuI.""'UH~""'be
__- - - n.. ......
In
BI.ck Haw!< was IhII moM ........- heIicop!er on the Gull. WIItI.,...
km
~ ~ roo.ncIa. The goprboK !h8C I t ' - _ can ..., b'
. . ~ In c:or*aI
•
-....
wi!!1 TOW anlH,lllk 1lI;,,;I(.'s
The UH-6OA, the Inl of moony ........... of !he BlKk Ha ..... 'amiIy, laW action during !he inYasion of a..n.doo In ' 981. The Black ......... hH.one. been In IICtion In
~
The UH -60 was designed with aJl the years o f eJlperience of battle in V/fIlmim In mind. The /ow profile of too airframe makes it a dirrictJlt target, atKJ safer if it crash&d.
has !he I)OWl..T !O lift a 1l1ili!ary Ilum.vl..'C tal..1K-JI vchide Io;!rov'-"fl airframe of the US Amly's Black H;...vk, the 511-6011 &::dl-~ .,m-SI.lI:lrnIIMe heIicop1. ~: two 1260-kW(I69Q.hp)
Elte\ri1 kg {16.373 Ibl MSII_ PllftoU: 3629 kg (8000 Ibl .... II
d(:fcnsil'c aml:U1lenl of the n:wJI
machines. hut do
h;,,~'
:ore often d.:ployt'(l on dnog traffoc interdiction n'J.:ht~ on:r the n.ahamas,
I ,..., L'OIQrdillmeler ta36m(53118q t.c rotor di80rneW 3.35 m (II II) length 1.5.26 m (.50 111 in) hoIoght 3 .63 m(ll tt 11 in) rRIin rotor 210.05 ""!2261 tq II)
--
a
I.
Ucndix/KinM sc.l«h rJd .lf. TIlt.-y
rotor disc ...... 8 .63 "" ($6 tq 1'1)
U<e the ~ rotor. the tao! IOIOf
.roor·b!OOed iWld 1lOOflXIrl\l0l I~
For 8lowagEl n
COI'lI"rlas aboIwd ~. lhe
COMBAT DATA
.ro the to.b can . . , be canted
f'nlI:lo*Ig the5euiwM< \tfI:O.Vllhs . . . . 1oor-bl9d8d".., ~_ ~ gwe:I d..wroJ lhs ViBIrwn w. ....ed n ~ IlrOnO tcanuTL bIiIdIoI t.1g tned ....t.::tl _ 08I0ql8d to at.otb hots Iran 23-nTn IIh8Ia. The L'OIQr 1-..1 srnpkJys juSt ... elMl:OfflIII'oI; ~ .. ~ to 18 on ~ other dI.Iovw. ~ 11 """"81 ~ lW1d'" J'I'IWIIen8IlCe!me
'""'- HH-eoH _ .... 11M ~ s of H503 'Tridenl" whictI is .no..-bIoMd .. HAS J acksotMlle In Florida. AI ~ 11M unit operates • rnU:Iln of SH-IOF lind HH-eo vsrisnls StId 110 . .signed 10 c.mer AIr Wing 3 MId the USS TIMoodon ROCIiStI'NIf.
rat.: 2t 3 mI..., (698 !pm)
"-It: 966 km {600 miIMI WettMs: wnpty 61 1. kg (13 .•79 Ib): '-led
191 unrt QWl be Iw1ged to POfI
SEAHAWK
Z96 krrvtI (IS( mph)
IIItIaI el"
dcpIO)o."CI Jboord Cl,ucrs. rcSCut.~
.,..!
C..ut raIIi": .63 km (288 miIMI
1,1""'" bIOOes.
HH·60H
HH-IOH S..hawk l'JIM: sulk. relCU8lcovert O98'1ltlOf'8 heIcopter
I ,I.f!!. "''liW'u
20 d8gI98S • rlICf..Od. A long II!*l. fUIy IT'ICMIfIt* IIILI\pIIIrlt • IitIfICIb ~d ~ actIVIty over grest dlstanol!lol.
Tlw ~_.
_
.......
k:r .......
FAIRCHILD 0A- 1OA THUND£RIIOI..T 11: Cumootly A-lOs 8ffI ~ IlLS resc.,. oupport IWCrnll, e\Ml'lnO S path /of the
•
.-:ue Ileiocopters Some ..... also
"* for
obMrv~1lon .....,.,...
n-
LOCKHEED tt(; . llOP HERCULES: 5p8CiaIy toQUIPI)ed varisnts ~ thellblqulloos Co too ... used prm.IIv to alppOO1 heIicopttn dur'Ilg reecue opwabOnS :;;~:.::______ . , •
~
mm
:::::.:.o-:=r
Combat rescue support aircraft •
us ,,-a.-
=I~ t..tn
.--. _d. -_ _ pUtting
~~~
---...... --
it.. - ,.oiiilj.a$
,
.
_~10"" ~-
ongone l1li tiH.e6t
427
AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAR
PHOTO FILE
SIKORSKY
MH- 60 PAVE HAWK ... Hawk over water
MH- 60 PAVE HAWK
Rescues at sea are also possible with the M H-6OG, although i t lacks the amphibious capabilities o f /he HH-3E it replaced.
• Covert operations . Combat search and rescue . Combat-proven
... Defence suppression With its door-molJnted guns, the MH-OOG is able to keep enemy heads down in the drop zone.
-
...... .
IuMIage length 17.38 m (57ft) 5.13m(16f1.10in) height main rotor 210.05 rri (2260 sq It) disc area
ooicu ~ radao" to 8YOk:I the worst
oonditOll. ThIS is I"'CII deal b" a epeci;Jl i::lrCtls aircrnll.
in the fu ture.
COMBAT DATA
--........_o..._--'---'-' ImliI 1IItoolqI .... _ _ ...... _
MH-60G PAVE HAWK to AI Jouf in Saudi Ar.tN during the 11.1 GtIIf War.
OpemIOUI ....1-= about 964 km (600 mileS) with two 1703-1itre (45Q.gal1onj drop !anI
DlllllMiollS:
12.80 m(42 It) 10.36 m (34 ttl
3.12m(10113inl 28,33 ~ (305 sq It)
Above: In 1938 France's naval air service ordered the SB2U under the Vought company designation V-156-F3.
The D1esapeake had ptOIIisO:In lor tour forward· frilg mac:hine (]..OS in the
wrva. with II ft.ottw !re8-mounted
~
in thlt roo.- co:::kpi!. Ame.1cM S82U-3s had one forward- and one afI-fifng 12.7- natiorIeI marIojets
MI.I_.,.ad: 1094 kmth (ti78 mph) at
L
argc quantities of German O~,tnio
w_ _ lIOinIIto
A fooll.6e 01 -'Y moOOIs was \he small JlCIoSoe and law ~ canopy, ....nctl reO.Jced pilot".;sotrty an carrie< ........ tIiiChes Although 1his was m:rlfied irltatar modeis, Iorwaro".;",;an
bo~1oI
FlY me f\rs1. 1irI1I.I. ~ stoomg was fitt(id an tho 1M4dtioca,,,,,,,. Tho rna;" IEIno:kJg goo
:=:'Blue Angels' display mounts
MAXIMUM SPEED
F"_ _ _
GRUMMAN F&F. $ HEU.CAT: The tirst ",est c.trricr·basc:d
Q
ncofthcflN
~hGs
in ViCtnMll a dl'Cldc I:ucr I'ik)(", "", .... the 1"-8 J'" the uhim:w.' dogfiglHcr: light m:IIl~U\'r:Lhlc
CillO p.lCkmg
With ils supersonic ';tn."a
nile' shape :' nd powerful ) 57
flglncr when it wem 10 "~Ir in ViClrl:Lnl, In action ncar Ibooi.
hC:I\')' C'.mllon :Lrrll.uncnt. Unlike
Cru!>,- ... piIoIo _ ... .....-.otIIy \erS. F·&Ja reoeMId the m:JI9 pcM9'IU 87.3!H0cI_ • _
..-
fIgI>t.- """" Ito inoooption. Ihoo
- . Ther.t;Q-2 .....
..... _
~
~
F~
_
""'"
... _ _ 'pOinI_
-.,.odcwoe respect and aIToo ion in which the Vought F8 was held by those who flew it is perhaps best summed up by the following qUOIe. which was inspired by the arrivJI of the F4, 'When you're out of Crusaders. yoo're out of fighters .'
fighter-bomber
. . . . ,. .1: one &O,Ol_kN (18,OI6-Jb.-ltvust)
h
fighters of the Vietnam War. 'X'hcn the US Navy wenl to V,':If in Southeast Asi a, the
boasted one crucial ~Idvant;lge over the miSl)ile-ann,xl F4: it had built-in gun arrnament tn Vietnam. the US N:lIly's C'.!rrier-based Cru5~lders were backed up by Marine Corps F-&; deployed to land ooses in South Vietnam. TIl(, Crus;Jder carried out three rnajor roles; fighter, dose-su pport and photol"(.'O)I1naissance. But it was as the US Navy'S top scoring fighter that the CIUs;Jder found its forte. Between June 1966 and August 1968. Crusaders shot down 18 North Vietnamese MiGs. a tally which was not overtaken b y Na\'}' Phantom s until 1972. All but one of the F8's kills were scored with the
Cruud.r ry,.: singl6-seat. canief-capable IIghl9r and
~
V
ought's F..g Crusader ""'as one o f the flneS! jet
'.8J
left; The prominent 'Sharll" 's mouth' marltings identify this F-8F liS belonging to US Navy Squadron VF- l 11 'Sundowners', deployed aboard the USS Oriskany in 1966.
h
Last of the 'gunfighters'
1. . . . 411 Z1 ....I ""'-J ......
_ _17f-.c'
_.......-.....
....
11._.... .",
----",- ".... ...
''',,"
MAXIMUM THRUST
~ ~.
~1!tJ57
lhat 01 h
1M)·21
•. I1 k1
4,.,"'.1_1
Of
MiG--17.hF~"
fllil-l 7f " IIISCO-C:' (lm _) :n. _ ' 4k1
-,..;gtrt~~
• oI9dIY n.IOf
1I"tuol·IO--...Igt!t ",tIo
Nnlhatolh MiG--~1 ~_~ ... O_OSl.
F· 8 Vietnam missions INTERC EPTOR: The F·8 was paputar with ~s pilots bacause of rts gun armarrwrt. but ironicaty alt but one of the MiG kilts scored by the CI\IsacIef were achieYed with the AIM-9 air-to-air missile. Most were MiG-Hs. bulthe Crusad&r also shot down MiG·2I S.
N"
l:,
fllil-Zt " S 'f _ IH'
.... k. 1"... ·_1
..-•• AIIH _ _
/ 1 .ZJ..- _
I •• ·lll · _ .....
44'
AMERICAN M'LITARY AIRCRAfT
PHOTO FILE
VOUGHT
A-7
CORSAIR
V OUG HT
A-7
CORSAIR
II ""III
II
High visibility
Upon entering service, Navy Corsairs proudty displayed colourful squadrotl m4f1fings on their tails and wings.
• Vietnam veteran . Subsonic bomber . Carrier deployments
'Y On the approach Trajling its tail hook, a CMsair II
"' Compact Corsair
returns to the carrier from a combat sortie with empty bomb racks.
Carrier operations have alWays been restricted by space. With its IoIdingwing, a 'Golden Dragons' A-7 CMsair /I can taJd while aboard ship.
A true naval attack aircraft In every way, this Corsair 1/ displays Its folding wings and enonnoos waf1oad. The Corsalr" has been used around the world by tile US Navy for attack dutie$ and flew its last combat missions during the Gulf War of 1991.
here is a saying in aviation, 'if something looks right, it flie s right.' Taking into account the stubby appearance of the A-7 Corsair II, one may think the aircraft was therefore a poor performer. In fact the Corsair II proved to b e one of the most capable a ttac k aircraft in the US Navy. Replacing the diminutive Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, the Corsair II provided a quantum leap in technology that the US Navy w as quick to exploit.
T
'ACTS AND I'ICIURU
... A typical carrier..cJeck scene as a US Navy A-7 CMsair is re-arm&d and prepared for night. The aircraft achffwed an excellent maintenance record whenever operating on deployment.
~
The A -7 CorNIr II ••• d •• 'ItlIed . . . ,.pr "'ent for the A ..... SkyNivwtlln the etteek role.
~
In .... 3&15 A -7"-. A -71h 8I1d A -7E. took pert In the 'Attnam War, They new Mth • total of Z1 US Nevy eq.. J IA ' S .
~
Vought named the CorNlr II eft., the World War II F4U naval fight.,.
~
The Impt'Oved A-7E ent....ct service oft the VIetnam coast In M ay 1970.
~
The first combat mission fOl' the COI'S8ir II took place in December 1967.
~
Altogether, 54 US Navy A-7s _lost t o enemy fire.
VOUGHT
A-7
CORS AIR II
PROFILE
Vought's venerable warrior
O
ftcn.O\'e~hadOW(.'d
&How: The strilling capability o f the nIlVM carrier is depicted in fhis view of four Cotsair lis over-ftying fheir
,IS the 'Argonau~ _ ' O pera ting aho;mj USS NlIIIgcr, the fln.l comh:u deployment includ",'d
ahoard the ;I;rt;rJft cnmcr by the
A· 7E CorNlr II
~I(:ck
fi~IUcr~ nc~tk-d nlonW-idc it, Vought's 1\-7 Corsair 11 hid its
a
cnormou~ C'd pabilities heneath :1 :.hOl't hulky fu"-Cbge. Ob!.c .... CN so....il1,1t the aircr.!ft for the first tllll. 111C A-7A new its first combat mi,~ion in Vietnam in 1967 wilh VA- 147, mon' commonly know n
HIMng ~ ........uuB attad< ~ lor .,. US Navy• .". \A::Jo.VlI . . , . . . . ~ 1o!llMoe end \JIM u-. ~~...-.:y WiIh h acn. I."'" ~ Iw9'Q c:&'lCIPY _ pmwjBd. The piQt _ . - . d on ~ ~
C;1(tn:
SlniCI celli",: 12,800 m (42,000 tI)
Abo ....: With its nose leg exfElfl(/«1, I ~ II from USS Coral Sea refums to itlJI homfJ peNt after a cruise.
I T~AI' would rL"(I UL~ Vought
10 dclclop a land-ba,,.ed l' Memor 14-15,87, 353 UC·12B l2 Ik ll AH · I l-IueyCohr~ (sing:lc) 8.
'&-7 AIH IlucyCoorJ (twin) 28-9 All-! Scacobr:t 421 AI-I · 1W ' Wh isk~1' Cobrd' 28,29 11· 131-1 Sioux 215 Modd 47 219 Medel 206 Jetr.mgcr 3O-l Model 212 25 MCKlel 214:., 25 0 1l4A 30 OH· 13 Sioux 31 01-1·)8 Kiowa 30-1 .217 OIl·)8D Kio" 'a Warrior 3 1.
,2-,
1'·39 Air:lCohr.. 20-1. 23. 11 7 1'·59 Aird~""'''-'( 23 P--6j Kinj(cohr~ 2H 11-\·57 SeaRanger 30-1 "1'1-1--67 CfL.., k 31 UH· l Iroquois 24-5.27,75. 4fI5, 407 UH·6oA Blackhawk 2S X· 14 14 XH· I 21 XI'·39 20 XI'--63N 22 XP·77 2,i XV· 15 yj Ik lVBoeinj.( V-22 Osprey 7, 34-5.79. 20S Ik r;ev A·50 'M~;nst~y' 65 13c--6 '~1:ldge' 195,241 Be· 12 'Mail' 2um IJo I ~M 33 McDonnell F2H Dansht..., 93. 294-5, F2H-'I Da nsht..., 147 F3H Demon 149. 296-7. 35 1,437 , F- iOl Voodoo 58. 231. 239. J02-3 . 359 · fll-l Phantom 292-3. RF-iOl V(X)(kx. 304-5 RF-iOIH Voodoo 153 McDonnell Doogbs A-'I Skyha wk 298-9. 389 A-'I Skyhawk 11 300-1 A-36A AP.1Che 445 AH-64 Ap~ che 31. 3~'Z-3 AV-8U Ib nicr II 275. 3*7 C-9 Nightingale 3 1Z-13 C-9B Sk)1r~ in II 3 13 C- 17 G lob •.'m.a ster III 330-1 F-4 Ph:mlOm 14 1. 306 F-'I Phantom 11 6. '1!)7, lO6-7, lO9. ,., F-'l E Kurll:lSS 2000 301 F-4G PhanlOm Jl 310-11 , 389 F- 15 Rallle S.72. 105, 170. 263, 275. 314-15 F-15E Eagle 316-17 .359 F/ A-18 I1omet 200.20 1, 211, 275, 31~19. 327. 333 F/ A-ISF./F Home! 33Z-3 KC-1O Exll.'ndt.'f 320-1 MII-6H 253 RF-'I Phantom 54, 305 RF-'I Phantom II 308-9 T-4 5 Gosh~wk 3~'-' TA-4 Skyha wk 9. 267. 325 Mc[)onl1t'U l)ougLas/BAe AV-81l I \:Irricr 11 Plus 328-9 McDonnell DougLasiGener:.1 Dynamics A-12 .Avenger 11 333 MesSI"r.;chmiol Sf 109B-2 399 Bf 109E-7 117 1}f]09G 2 ] ,225,343, 381 Me 262 23 1. 341 Mikoyan-G urcYich MiG-1 5 ' Fag
