Ooops!
Kind of a new chemical weapon then eh?
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 94
Likes: 2
From: Where Alberts are Fixed
Mostly Harmless says "Easier for the poor, stupid public to understand than saying "It has the same ballistic properties", I suppose. All this dumbing down is just *great*"
So it wasn't a "Smart bomb" then?
Glad that no-one was hurt on the ground, but come on....
Mac
So it wasn't a "Smart bomb" then?
Glad that no-one was hurt on the ground, but come on....
Mac
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 0
From: West Sussex
Unless the Tornado is for a strange new reason carrying super-size 'practice' bombs, 3kg is indeed about right.
They have the same ballistic characteristics as the full size item, and being able to carry 4 on each of possibly several carriers gives the aircrew a few goes for training.
Hollow steel body, on test ranges a frangible nosecap with a 'smoke & flash' tiny firework is fitted ( about the same effect, really, as a bag of flour ) to give a visual cue for cameras & ground observers as to where it hit re. the target.
No explosive potential whatsoever, but it would disimprove one's day if supremely unlucky enough to receive one on the head.
On ranges, any accidental release, usually by incorrect switching but sometimes possibly by a fault in a stores management system, required a full brief from the Aircrew & Flight Test to show the Range Control ' what went wrong & why it isn't going to happen again ' before they were allowed to continue trials.
No particular blot on a pilot's ( we were Harrier trials team so no navigator -W/O ) record - it was a high stress environment with new aircraft or systems or both - but if he did it twice questions might be asked...
As to losing a practice bomb on a cross country flight, I imagine most of the above still applies.
They have the same ballistic characteristics as the full size item, and being able to carry 4 on each of possibly several carriers gives the aircrew a few goes for training.
Hollow steel body, on test ranges a frangible nosecap with a 'smoke & flash' tiny firework is fitted ( about the same effect, really, as a bag of flour ) to give a visual cue for cameras & ground observers as to where it hit re. the target.
No explosive potential whatsoever, but it would disimprove one's day if supremely unlucky enough to receive one on the head.
On ranges, any accidental release, usually by incorrect switching but sometimes possibly by a fault in a stores management system, required a full brief from the Aircrew & Flight Test to show the Range Control ' what went wrong & why it isn't going to happen again ' before they were allowed to continue trials.
No particular blot on a pilot's ( we were Harrier trials team so no navigator -W/O ) record - it was a high stress environment with new aircraft or systems or both - but if he did it twice questions might be asked...
As to losing a practice bomb on a cross country flight, I imagine most of the above still applies.
Joined: Dec 1998
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 105
Likes: 43
From: UK
00
nope, 14kg it says. Why would you doubt it? Here's the manufacturer's leaflet (NB it's the big one at the top of the picture).
http://www.portsmouth-aviation.co.uk...acticeBomb.pdf
I'm surprised you're not familiar with it.
Perhaps it was just a little heavy for the Harrier
nope, 14kg it says. Why would you doubt it? Here's the manufacturer's leaflet (NB it's the big one at the top of the picture).
http://www.portsmouth-aviation.co.uk...acticeBomb.pdf
I'm surprised you're not familiar with it.
Perhaps it was just a little heavy for the Harrier
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 0
From: UK
Seems to be a lot of assumptions that the aircrew knew that they had released a 14kg PB. You would have thought if that was the case (switch pigs during a SAP?) they would know where it landed. As I see it they knew that it was there when they took off and that it was missing when they landed 90 minutes later - from this my guess is it just fell off, probably whilst manoeuvering (sp?). The crew cannot be held to account for this. Perhaps the crutching mechanism on the CBLS was worn. Who knows.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: UK
r supwoods,
"The RAF has a No Blame Culture ..... it says!"
And whose fault is that ?
Anyway, we are apparently now training with little weapons to avoid casualties (and headlines) on either side to keep wee two jobbies happy
"The RAF has a No Blame Culture ..... it says!"
And whose fault is that ?
Anyway, we are apparently now training with little weapons to avoid casualties (and headlines) on either side to keep wee two jobbies happy
