Javelin anyone?
Javelin airbrakes
Yes you could descend very steeply indeed with full airbrake in the Javelin but they didn't open fully above 535 kts The Pilots' Notes were more detailed than I remember for the Mk9, although the take-off checks had become TAFFIGROSH from TAFFIOH.
[QUOTE] He used to tell a (tall?) story about a Javelin in the Far East that entered a spin[QUOTE]
True story. It happened in India.(?????). In October 1963 the Indians and the Chinese were having a minor punch-up in the Himalayas so as a sign of Commonwealth solidarity a force of Javelins was dispatched with the kind assistance of me, plus squadron members and Valiant tanker aircraft of 90 and 214 Sqns, to provide some all weather capability.
I was sunning myself in the swimming pool in a hotel in Bombay when I heard about it. It meant that there was one less to tank onwards to Singapore.
True story. It happened in India.(?????). In October 1963 the Indians and the Chinese were having a minor punch-up in the Himalayas so as a sign of Commonwealth solidarity a force of Javelins was dispatched with the kind assistance of me, plus squadron members and Valiant tanker aircraft of 90 and 214 Sqns, to provide some all weather capability.
I was sunning myself in the swimming pool in a hotel in Bombay when I heard about it. It meant that there was one less to tank onwards to Singapore.
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Sadly XH764 fell foul of the One airframe gate guardian per airfield butchering session in 1989/90
I seem to recall the FlatIron had a nasty tendency to burst into flames on start up, and then there was the well known story I remember reading in my Air Training Corps day of the fuel tank incident at Horsham St Faith.
Somewhat distracted by 74 Sqn Hunters dropping all over the place, the 23 Sqn pilot never realised (initially) that the calls from the tower to say that you are on fire were meant for him.
As he was taxiing towards the runway the release pins? for the drop tanks came adrift, and as they had nowhere to go carried on with the jet slowing burrowing into the taxiway and catching fire.
V1
I seem to recall the FlatIron had a nasty tendency to burst into flames on start up, and then there was the well known story I remember reading in my Air Training Corps day of the fuel tank incident at Horsham St Faith.
Somewhat distracted by 74 Sqn Hunters dropping all over the place, the 23 Sqn pilot never realised (initially) that the calls from the tower to say that you are on fire were meant for him.
As he was taxiing towards the runway the release pins? for the drop tanks came adrift, and as they had nowhere to go carried on with the jet slowing burrowing into the taxiway and catching fire.
V1
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G...platz
I think there’s a slight confusion of limiting airspeeds here, 535KIAS was the never exceed limit for the aircraft (on account of the risk of elevator flutter); the speed above which the airbrakes would open only partially was more like 450KIAS. Closing the throttles and selecting them out at this speed in level flight gave about a 1G deceleration, which was thoroughly noticeable.
Coffman
I can come close with XH763 & 766, if there’s a prize for also rans
full airbrake in the Javelin but they didn't open fully above 535 kts
Coffman
XH764 in their logbook per chance?
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The pilot's notes for the Mk 7 state:
"(ii) On selection below 430 knots deceleration is high (about 1G) and immediate.
(iii) Above 430 knots the airbrakes do not open fully and produce only moderate deceleration. As the speed falls to 430 knots however, they open to the full position, with a sudden increase in deceleration. If unexpected, this can be disconcerting"
As for maximum rate of descent:
"throttles closed, airbrakes out and maintain 0.8M/350 knots. These settings will give a rate of descent of approximately 20,000 feet per minute. Some misting up will occur."
"(ii) On selection below 430 knots deceleration is high (about 1G) and immediate.
(iii) Above 430 knots the airbrakes do not open fully and produce only moderate deceleration. As the speed falls to 430 knots however, they open to the full position, with a sudden increase in deceleration. If unexpected, this can be disconcerting"
As for maximum rate of descent:
"throttles closed, airbrakes out and maintain 0.8M/350 knots. These settings will give a rate of descent of approximately 20,000 feet per minute. Some misting up will occur."
Javelin problems
The old lady could exhibit other foibles. A glide descent from 40,000ft after a good cold soak at altitude could cause the fuel crossfeed to freeze up. You could find yourself with an awful lot of Avtur you couldn't get at. Luckily it usually unfroze itself after a time at low level.
Javelin problems
What passes loosely as my mind must have been wandering. The problem with the frozen crossfeed was because I'd shut an engine down at 40k ( a very economical way of covering 200-odd miles for 500 lbs of fuel) and the frozen crossfeed meant I was unable to relight the engine. Ah well, "Adventure before Dementia".
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Cracking picture here of 64 Squadron's Javelin flight line at Duxford ... 
Aeroplane Icons : Javelin
Coff.
Aeroplane Icons : Javelin
Coff.
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Indeed the Jav was prone to start up fires. After start up the procedure was then too have a "shuffty" in the servicing bay between the engines. If all was ok, fasten up the huge panel and carefully back out. I say carefully, as in your path was a 12 in aerial, so standing up too early, it impaled itself between the shoulder blades. Trip too the Med centre, get stitched up, back too the line. 60 Sqn Line at Tengah had quite a few guys with the " Jav scar " me being one of them !!
Ich bin ein Prooner.
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As a yoof, I was on the beach at South Shields, in Durham (it was then!) and a flight of 9 Javelins flew northwards, quite low (perhaps 2,000ft.?) just offshore. The noise was unbelievable!
