Racal Orange Blossom on the Herc

[Jackonicko]

On five C1 aircraft (or three?) including 206, 213.

From 1984 until ?

Said to have been fitted to give a rudimentary maritime recce capability in the Falklands? Or was this disinformation?

Found to have other applications, or always planned to have other applications?

Who on the crew monitored/operated it?

[Zone 2 Alt]

Why don't you write to the MOD, If it's not classified I'm sure they will tell you, otherwise people can end up in the sh*t if it isn't.

[lineslime]

If it is the big lumpy things fitted to the wingtips many moons ago then I think you may find they were fitted to stop albert from totally submerging in boggy fields, just off the odd runway here and there. :p

[Jackonicko]

Zone 2,

We're talking about kit that has vanished, some time ago. Possibly restricted, but only because no-one's been bothered to declassify it.

:rolleyes:

Lineslime,

That's them!

:}

[Pontius Navigator]

Here is what can be found on open source. If you want the facts, as the MOD sees them, why not just file an FOI request? Do it tonight and you will have the answer in just 26 days.

http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/radar.htm

Orange Blossom
ESM on Hercules.
Entered service.
N/A

http://www.aeromilitaria.com.ar/bffi/flota/hercules/

It is worth the trouble to emphasize that the conflict of 1982 and the later installation of the model in malvinense territory gave rise to the development of two specific variants implemented by the Marshalls company of Cambridge: Hercules C.1P was equipped with positioning system Omega and sounding of flight refuelling, made its first flight the 28 of April of 1982, entered the 5 of May in good condition and of him 25 conversions from C.1 apparatuses were made. Hercules C.1K counted on all the additions of the C.1K and added a system of flight refueling installed in the loading door. It made his first flight the 8 of June of 1982, entered the 5 of July in good condition and of him six conversions from C.1. cells took place Six apparatuses (four C.1K and two C.1P) operated by the squadron of special operations of the LTW were equipped with pods of passive electronic countermeasures, systems of defense and inertial navigation and GPS. Both models and their variant of "special operations" have served in the Falklands from 1982; although the C.1K were deactivated and replaced by Vc-10 in 1996.



Dimensiones Longitud total, 29,79 m; altura total, 11,66 m; envergadura, 40,41 m.
Pesos Vacío, 34.287 Kg.; máximo , 45.093 Kg.; capacidad máxima de carga, 19.685 Kg.
Performances Velocidad crucero promedio, 602 Km/h; techo de servicio, 13.075 m.
Planta de poder Cuatro turbohélices Allison T-56A-15 de 2.312 shp de empuje máximo.
Aviónica
Equipamiento
de misión Hercules C.1P: Sonda de reaprovisionamiento en vuelo y CMA-771 Omega. Hercules C.1K: Sistema de reabastecimiento en vuelo Flight Refuelling Mk.17B. Variante "operaciones especiales" (identificadas con un "(+)" en los listados de flota): Dos pods de contramedidas electrónicas pasivas Racal Orange Blossom, sistemas de defensa (incluyen sistema de proximidad de misiles) de navegación inercial y GPS.
Ocupantes 5 o 6 tripulantes y 92 soldados, 64 paracaidistas o 74 camillas.

[ZH875]

74 camillas

And Charles has enough problems with only One.

[Trumpet_trousers]

74 camillas

..That's enough to run a Grand National 3 times over, isn't it? :D

[Jackonicko]

Thanks PN!

28 days is way past my deadline!

[Pontius Navigator]

28 days it the max. They aim to turn round in less than 10 days. My photograph request took about 6 weeks however. The subject was exactly what I wanted unfortunately it was from the wrong aircraft.

If you don't try . . .

How about asking Racal?

[Jackonicko]

"Six apparatuses (four C.1K and two C.1P) operated by the squadron of special operations of the LTW were equipped with pods of passive electronic countermeasures, systems of defense and inertial navigation and GPS."

Thanks to a fellow PPRuNer, I know that the total includes

C1K XV201, 203, 204 and 213
C1P (SF) XV206 and ???

Presumably the other two C1Ks (XV192 and 296) were not rotated through the Falkland det, and were retained for training/UK use?

If there was a second C1P with pods, which was it?

I'm only asking about Orange Crop, not really sensitive stuff, like you'd see at:

airliners.net/open.file/530900/M/ and airliners.net/open.file/520979/M/


:eek: :confused: :} :E

You'd have thought that new windscreen washers, nosewheel monitors and SAR locator beacons would be smaller than that.....

[Pontius Navigator]

Jackinoko, see your PMs.

Not 'cause its sneaky beaky but just don't want to clutter these pages.

[mbga9pgf]

Not part of this thread I apologise, but how often are Practice Assy landings carried out at Lyneham, as per the above photo? Or do you only do simulated assy landings?

[Fence-sitter(?)]

What is it about XV295 and engines...
http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/airshow00/waddo/xv295.htm



and

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=783581&WxsIERv=Ybpxurrq%20Urephyrf%20P1%20%28P-130X%2FY-382%29&WdsYXMg=HX%20-%20Nve%20Sbepr&QtODMg=Svaavatyrl%20%28RTKV%29%20%28pybfrq%29&ERDLTkt=HX%20-%20Ratynaq&ktODMp=Frcgrzore%2017%2C%201993&BP=1&WNEb25u=Tnergu%20Ubear&xsIERvdWdsY=KI295&MgTUQtODMgKE=Neevivat%20jvgu%20ahzore%20guerr%20cebc%20srngu rerq&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=164&NEb25uZWxs=2005-02-25%2003%3A41%3A34&ODJ9dvCE=295&O89Dcjdg=4261&static=yes&sok=JURER%20%20%28ert%20%3D%20%27KI295%27%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL %20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=1&prev_id=&next_id=665428

(anyone want to tell me how to shorten URLS)

?

... Excuse to night-stop & get to Aircrew Party - shoorley not?

[oldfella]

not really sensitive stuff, like you'd see at

Jackonicko,

It happens to be on an aircraft. It happens to be at Boscombe.
Why does it have to be really sensitive stuff? Yet more surmise?

This is why most people will not give any information, a simple photo leads to "really sensitive stuff" being thrown around. Imagine what could be made of a simple comment.

[Jackonicko]

Old fella,

Are you American? Have you not heard of 'irony'? Didn't you take a chill pill this morning?

1) If the programme illustrated by the photo was really militarily sensitive, I wouldn't have posted the link.

2) It's the first photo of what seems to be the TI (Trial Installation) aircraft for the Enhanced Vision System upgrade launched in 2002.

There may be some political sensitivity, as the programme was supposed to have been completed by last year, so there's clearly been some kind of procurement cock-up.

In 2002 Marshall announced that:

"Marshall Aerospace is pleased to announce that they have been awarded the prime contract to integrate an enhanced vision system onto Royal Air Force C-130 aircraft.

Marshall Aerospace, as the prime contractor, is the overall system integrator and is responsible for integrating and certifying the Hercules Enhanced Vision System, exploiting the existing system and product capabilities of the following companies.

Marshall Aerospace (Cambridge) - Aircraft Design Authority and Integrator
BAE SYSTEMS Avionics Ltd - Titan 385Multi-Sensor Turret
- Fixed Low-light-level television camera array
- Imaging frame store
- LINS 764G Inertial Reference Unit
- TERPROM® TAWS (Terrain Awareness and Warning System).
QinetiQ - Advanced Mission Computer.
- Sensor Augmented Display Image Enhancement
BarcoView - Avionics Displays.
IO Limited - Data entry and audio warnings.
Goodrich Sensor Systems - Digital Air Data Computer."

On their website. Three years ago. Sensitive, eh?

The photo also shows the ARI 18246 Nemesis DIRCM (existing kit that's not part of the new upgrade) which "uses infrared laser energy to disrupt the guidance systems of even the most advanced infrared-homing missiles."