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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 1879.PDF
846 FLIGHT Boeing RB-47E showing crew, flares and flash bombs. Military Aircraft 1954 Reconnaissance LONG-RANGE air-conditioned camera compartment. A crew of three is carried, with the place of the observer/navigator/bomb-aimer taken by a photographer /navigator. Provision is made for 16 cameras (any seven of which can be carried at one time, depending on the mission), and for flares and flash bombs. Equipment includes intervalometers, which make it possible to take continuous pictures of large areas at regular intervals; an optical view finder; and photo-cell-operated shutters, actuated by the light of flash illuminants for night photography. An air-conditioning system in the camera compartment maintains uniform temperature and humidity, and keeps the camera ports free of moisture or frost. Little may be added concerning the RB-47E except that it oper ates at heights above 40,000ft. The RB-47B has a convertible camera "package," made up as a unit and readily installed in, or removed from, the bomb bay. Modifications affect the bomb bay itself and call for the installation of special wiring; the hot-air ducting system is adapted to provide heat for the camera package. Conversion from the bombing to the photographic reconnaissance configura tion requires only the removal of the bomb doors, attachment of the package to standard bomb door and bomb bay fittings, and connection of heating and electrical lines. The package is temperature-controlled and includes eight fixed cameras, which can be operated in groups, or as a battery. Boeing RB-52. This reconnaissance development of the B-52 bomber (q.v.) is in production for the U.S.A.F. Convair RB-36D/RF-84F FICON Combination. It may be recalled that soon after the war ended the McDonnell XF-85 parasite fighter was developed to fit into, and be released from, the bomb bay of a Convair B-36. Experiments with this par ticular combination were abandoned, but interest revived dur ing 1952, with Republic Thunderiet F-84s as parasites. Later, special adaptations of the swept-wing F-84F were used, and it is an aircraft of this type which is now regarded as the standard reconnaissance fighter to be operated from the RB-36D long- range reconnaissance bomber. Known as the RF-84F Thunder- flash, this has a radius of action of about 1,000 miles when fitted wim drop tanks; the RB-36D has a radius of about 4,000 miles. Thus, the ultra-long-range performance of the RB-36 is teamed with the by no means despicable range, and very high over-target speed and altitude, of the Thunderflash. The Thunderflash is carried on a steel-alloy yoke which is lowered from the B-36's bomb bay and consists of a U-shaped frame, with a straight beam extending from the bottom of the U. Mounted on the nose of the Thunderflash is a probe, not unlike that used with the flight-refuelling method, and the beam extending from the U-frame is equipped with a contact hole resembling that of the refuelling drogue- The Thunderflash makes contact by means of the probe, whereupon the U-shaped frame is lowered to engage with contact points on the fuselage. Frame and Thunderflash are then raised by hydraulic means. It is known that the B-36 carries homing equipment to guide the Thunderflash pilot back to roost, and our contemporary Aviation Week mentions attempts to link the automatic pilot of the Thunderflash to that of the RB-36. The Thunderflash carries a variety of cameras, radar and electronic equipment, and is distinguishable from the F-84F by its boundary-layer fences. Armament is four 0.5in guns. Douglas RB-66A. This reconnaissance bomber, soon to be delivered to U.S.A.F. squadrons, is related to the B-66B bomber. Lockheed RC-121C. Illustrated on page 847 this picket aircraft is the U.S.A.F. counterpart of the WV-2 (page 851). Martin RB-57. A development of the basic B-57 bomber/ intruder, diis machine is now being delivered to the U.S.AJF. North American RB-4SC. A reconnaissance variant of the B-45 four-jet bomber, carrying five cameras. Convair RB-36 taking aboard an experimental Republic F-84F using the FICON procedure described in the text.
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