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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0736.PDF
736 FLIGHT Boeing RB-47E. MILITARY AIRCRAFT 1956 Reconnaissance LONG-RANGE are positions for 16 cameras and any seven can be carried at one time,depending on the nature of the mission. Flares and flash bombs are carried in the bomb bay and mtervalometers make it possible to takecontinuous pictures of large areas at regular intervals. Other equipment includes an optical viewfinder and photo-cell-operated shutters actuatedby the light of flash illuminants for night photography. Boeing RB-47K Stratojet The RB-47K version of the Stratojet hasbeen specially modified for Strategic Air Command to undertake both weather reconnaissance and photography. The crew, as in other Strato-jets, numbers three. Special equipment measures and records wind velocities and directions., moisture, temperatures and barometric pres-sures, and to maintain a permanent record the weather instruments —located on a single panel in the nose—are photographed at regularintervals. Data can be correlated with cloud photographs (also taken at regular intervals) for predictions of weather, or under certain circum-stances can be relayed to base immediately. Additionally the RB-47K can undertake high- or low-altitude photographic missions by dayor night. Boeing B-S2 Stratofortress The bomb bays of the B-52B and Ccan accommodate a pressurized capsule, resembling a boiler, with stations for a two-man crew and having provision for four cameras.A makers' mention of "interchangeable electronic equipment and antennas" suggests also a countermeasures function.Convair GRB-36/Republic RF-84K Ficon The purpose of the Picon (fighter conveyor) combination, whereby a fighter/reconnaissanceaircraft is carried and launched by a "mother ship," is officially des- cribed as "to provide the air force with the capability of long-rangehigh-speed reconnaissance with a high probability of survival for personnel and equipment." The RF-84K Thunderflash is a specialmodification of the RF-84F. The intake ducts are in the wing roots and the nose is lengthened to permit installation of a "sweeping varietyof cameras, radar and top secret electronic equipment." In addition to several special night cameras there are 15 standard cameras availablefor installation. It is claimed that the Thunderflash is "the first recon- naissance aircraft equipped with the whole combination of aerialcameras plus the dicing camera for dose-up photos of individual targets." It is also said to be the first fighter-type aircraft to be equippedwith the tri-metrogon camera, which takes horizon-to-horizon pictures. The tailplane of the Thunderflash is given negative dihedral to permitstowage in the GRB-36 and a retractable nose hook and fuselage pins are fitted for attachment to the trapeze of the large aircraft. Additional"special radar" (doubtless to facilitate a meeting under unfavourable conditions) has been installed. A Republic announcement runs: "On a typical Ficon mission theThunderflash and GRB-36 will take off separately and rendezvous for a mid-air hook-up. The fighter approaches the trapeze mechanismwhich has been lowered from the mother plane. Gradually closing the gap between the two planes, foot by footj the Thunderflash gentlyengages its nose hook onto the boom. The fighter pilot then lowers his wing flaps to make the aft part of his plane rise. A hydraulic mechanismretrieves the steel boom to draw the fighter closer to the bomber's fuselage until side latches on the trapeze lock onto the Thunderflasbfuselage pins and hold the smaller plane steady. Then the trapeze raises the fighter into the bomb bay. The Thunderflash pilot can climb outof his cockpit and enter the bomber by means of a catwalk. With the Thunderflash snuggled in its belly the GRB-36 would proceed aroundthe globe to the fringes of the target. Then, lowering the RF-84K, the Thunderflash pilot would cut loose and proceed to the target areato accomplish the mission. A later rendezvous and hook-up gives the Thunderflash pilot his hitch-hike home." At night the two pilots make their rendezvous by radio, and thepilot of the Thunderflash lines up his machine with the bomber's formation lights. The bomb bay of the GRB-36 is illuminated and aspotlight picks out the trapeze. The RF-84K is armed with four O.Sin guns and has a range of about2,000 miles. The GRB-36 carries B-36 bomber armament and has a range of some 10,000 miles. Convair RB-S8 Hustler A reconnaissance system for this versionof the B-58 supersonic bomber is in pilot production at Fairchild and is said to include "three 9 x 9in and three 9 x 18in cameras, one 70 mmforward facing image motion compensation camera, and two alternate co-installations—a single 70 mm downward aiming camera or a fanof five downward facing 70 mm cameras." The television closed-loop viewfinder is said to have an azimuth sweep of 45 deg right and left,elevation control from straight ahead to 90 deg down, fields of view of 10 and 40 deg, and a light range of 0.5 to 8,000 foot-lamberts. Douglas RB-66B and C These are reconnaissance variants of thebasic B-66 powered, like the "B," with Allison J71-A9s or 1 Is and having maximum speeds "between 600 and 700 m.p.h." Altitudes "up to45,000ft" are attainable and the range is such as to "permit deep pene- tration into enemy territory for all-weather, around-the-clock, photo-graphic and mapping missions." The two 20 mm guns, remotely con- trolled by means of General Electric equipment, are retained. Emptyweight of the RB-66B is 39,686 lb, gross weight 70,000 lb, and overload gross weight 79,000 lb. It is reported that the RB-66 will be the lastreconnaissance bomber for Tactical Air Command of the U.S.A.F. and that in future adaptations of fighter or "special designs of fighterperformance" will be utilized. Martin RB-S7B This reconnaissance version of the American-built English Electric Canberra is serving in the United States and with the Tactical Air Command of the U.S.A.F. in Germany. The crew numbers two (pilot and photographer/navigator). Under "Bombers" we quoted from Aviation Week's report on the B-57 bomber in Exercise Sagebrush. Reviewing reconnaissance opera- tions the journal reported: "Reconnaissance pilots of the 363rd find the B-57 a big improvement over the B-26, mainly because of its speed. Convair GRB-36 taking aboard a Republic RF-84K Thunderflash.
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