Wildcat - why is turret on top of nose?

[[email protected]]

That may have been more to do with the poor (narrow tyres and little clearance) undercarriage it had which was unsuitable for soft ground.

[alfred_the_great]

If the nose down altitude in flight thing is a red herring, my presumption would be that because the Lynx Mk10 started off like that..

[dangermouse]

There are no such things as an Army Wildcat and a Navy Wildcat, they are the same airframe fitted with role specific kit, any Army one can be turned into a Navy one and vice versa (unlike a Merlin for instance)

so as correctly stated above to give a 360 radar picture the radar goes underneath, if you want a radar and an EO on a helicopter that fits into a ships hangar that you can change by LRU swapping into an 'Army' aircraft guess where the EO goes?

(BTW there is no such thing as a Lynx Mk10)

DM

[[email protected]]

BTW there is no such thing as a Lynx Mk10)

perhaps that is what the Super/Wild/Lynx/Cat started out as

If it walks like a duck................

[Trim Stab]

Originally Posted by dangermouse

There are no such things as an Army Wildcat and a Navy Wildcat, they are the same airframe fitted with role specific kit, any Army one can be turned into a Navy one and vice versa (unlike a Merlin for instance)

so as correctly stated above to give a 360 radar picture the radar goes underneath, if you want a radar and an EO on a helicopter that fits into a ships hangar that you can change by LRU swapping into an 'Army' aircraft guess where the EO goes?

(BTW there is no such thing as a Lynx Mk10)

DM

Hmm, but the Merlin manages to get both radar and EO on underside of aircraft.

The radar and EO would not unduly obstruct each other if fitted underneath if there was a gap between them - no more obstructive than the fixed gear on a helicopter anyway.

Would be interesting to know if EO with limited horizon is really that constrictive on Wildcat role. It would be nigh on impossible to use on a fixed wing aircraft.

[Bing]

Hmm, but the Merlin manages to get both radar and EO on underside of aircraft.

Would that be the Merlin that carries it on the starboard weapons carrier?



Or the one that carries it on the nose?

[[email protected]]

Wing mirrors, how quaint - is he planning to tow a caravan ?

[tucumseh]

I remember back in 1985 a few folks were having kittens at the thought of a radar scanner fault. 3-point jack on a rolling ship, remove 36 bolts, drop radome.... Not sure if anything changed.

[Just This Once...]

Originally Posted by dangermouse

There are no such things as an Army Wildcat, only a Navy Wildcat being flown by the Army

Fixed that for you.

[Bismark]

The fact is it doesn't matter that it is where it is. Te Army got what the RN were getting, no choice in the matter. The EO pod aids the aircrew in their search capability. In general, and given the detection range of the sensor, the aircraft will be heading towards the target (+_ 100deg). The 360 radar allows for a ground stabilised picture which makes life so much easier for the crew.

[switch_on_lofty]

Bit of clarification here:
Lynx Mk3 - 180deg radar + TANS + plotting board on observer's lap. No camera.
Lynx Mk8 - 360 radome but only a 180deg scan due to interference. Central tactical system i.e. 1 colour screen for tactical stuff. Sea Owl near-IR camera.
Wildcat HMA Mk2 - 360 radome with new radar and MX15 turret atop with many cameras and lasers built-in. Generally radar used to search and camera(s) used for ID in conjunction with other sensors like EW and AIS. So unless you want to look at something behind you or directly below you you can use the turret. Since you have a 360 radar you can keep tracking everything while you move the aircraft to put the target in the field of view.
Wildcat AH Mk1 - like HMA but with no radar.

[SASless]

Wing mirrors, how quaint - is he planning to tow a caravan ?

BAE failed again....if they had put a pair of Mirrors on the Tail Fin....the Pilot could look at the back of his own head.

[Trim Stab]

Originally Posted by Bismark

The fact is it doesn't matter that it is where it is. Te Army got what the RN were getting, no choice in the matter. The EO pod aids the aircrew in their search capability. In general, and given the detection range of the sensor, the aircraft will be heading towards the target (+_ 100deg). The 360 radar allows for a ground stabilised picture which makes life so much easier for the crew.

It must somewhat limit surveillance tactics though if they can only fly straight at a target. When flying surveillance on a fixed wing we would always stand off and circle a decoy target (another boat, or some other poacher's camp fire) while keeping the real target geo-locked on the MX15. We used sometimes to use it pointing down like a radar altimeter on VFR night approaches in Africa. I expect crews would find lots of other uses for it if it could point down - might be useful for winching for example, or perv-flying along the beach

[John Eacott]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Wing mirrors, how quaint - is he planning to tow a caravan ?

I guess you never noticed those shiny things out of the side window of your yellow peril, crab@ ??



But I'm impressed that the left seat driver remembered to signal for a left turn

[pulse1]

If this article turns out to be correct, it might not matter where the turret on the Wildcat is:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/t...view-5kmpwgtd8

[[email protected]]

John - they removed them all a few years before we stopped flying the yellow bus and lots of us weren't happy with it

Shame the cojo is indicating left while they are in a right turn........... another one who needs L and R on his gloves

[Trim Stab]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

John - they removed them all a few years before we stopped flying the yellow bus and lots of us weren't happy with it

Shame the cojo is indicating left while they are in a right turn........... another one who needs L and R on his gloves

The two crew members are saving money by using their palms as lifting devices. Very dedicated.

[KiloB]

Try it!

Originally Posted by Trim Stab

The two crew members are saving money by using their palms as lifting devices. Very dedicated.

Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. A mate and I flew a light aircraft for about 20 min just using a hand out the vent panel on each side during an afternoon ‘bimble’.

KB

[[email protected]]

There is a theory that when cupping your palm into the airflow at 90 kts, it feels exactly like a perfect female breast.............discuss.......

[kintyred]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

There is a theory that when cupping your palm into the airflow at 90 kts, it feels exactly like a perfect female breast.............discuss.......

Yes, but you need to put a peanut in your palm to simulate the nipple!