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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0738.PDF
McDonnell RF-101A. MILITARY AIRCRAFT 1956 Reconnaissance LONG RANGE Typical Sagebrush mission involves a flight of about 1,500 miles overfive targets, lasts four and a half hours. Some 15 to 20 pictures are taken of each target from flares at an altitude of 20,000ft. The printsare made at Randolph in mobile air-transportable trailers, brought here from Shaw A.F.B., S.C., in C-124s of the 18th A.F. Twice-a-day courierservice flies the finished prints to Aggressor headquarters at England A.F.B., La., nearly 400 miles away. It takes eight C-124s to move thereconnaissance outfit, partly because the trailers are not economical packing cases. On the other hand, the darkroom equipment is setup ready for action and finished prints can be supplied quickly once they are unloaded at a new base." Martin RB-57D Described as a test-bed for the Pratt and Whitney J57 two-spool turbojet, this may well be the precursor of a long-span reconnaissance development of the Canberra for the U.S.A.F. North American AJ-2P Savage The duties of this heavy carrier- borne reconnaissance aircraft may eventually be taken over by the Douglas Skywarrior (see under "Carrier-borne Strike"). It is powered by two Pratt and Whitney R-2800 piston engines and one Allison J33 turbojet, and has a maximum speed of about 425 m.p.h. Eighteen different cameras are available for installation for night or day photo- graphy, and seven of these can be installed at any one time. Photo- flash bombs are carried in the bomb bay for night reconnaissance. SHORT- AND MEDIUM-RANGE GREAT BRITAIN Hawker Hunter F.R.4 Basically an F.4, this machine has a nose capof normal contour but detachable to expose no fewer than six cameras, two looking sideways, two downward oblique, one forward oblique,and one straight ahead. The aircraft carries the standard 4 x 30 mm gun pack and gun camera but no radar-ranging sight. Vickers-Supermarine Swift F.R.5. The Swift is now in service withfighter/reconnaissance squadrons of the Royal Air Force, and is well equipped for the duty by virtue of its high speed at low level and therapid acceleration conferred by the Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet with afterburner. Internal fuel capacity is great and a 220-gal jettisonabletank can be attached beneath the "fuselage. The cockpit canopy is of a new clear-view type, and the armament has been reduced to two30 mm guns. Three reconnaissance cameras are normally installed. U.S.A. McDonnell RF-101A Voodoo The world's fastest reconnaissanceaircraft, the RF-101A should achieve maximum speeds of the order of Douglas RB-66C. Vickers-Supermarine Swift F.R.5. 1,000 m.p.h. It differs from its fighter prototype in weighing less andin having a lengthened nose compartment, air-conditioned and housing automatically controlled cameras. Republic RF-84F Thunderflash The standard RF-84F is essentiallysimilar to the RF-84K Ficon machine, and though its operational radius is, of course, less, it is equipped for in-flight refuelling and isclaimed to be capable of "global reconnaissance missions duplicating the 5,118-miles non-stop record flight of Thunderstreaks from London,England, to Texas in 1955." It is known to carry a large number of magnesium flares in flash ejector cartridges under the wing and isthe first machine of its class to have a camera control system and view- finder for the pilot. A makers' announcement states: "An automaticcomputer in the camera control system analyzes factors of light, speed and altitude and automatically sets the cameras. This virtually eliminatescamera error and accounts for the clear, sharp photos taken by the RF-84F from as high as seven miles up. The viewfinder enables thepilot to see exactly what he is photographing so that, for example, in following a grid pattern he can spot landmarks to gauge his 'edges'and compensate for wind drift of the aircraft. The Thunderflash is also equipped with a wire recorder which the pilot uses for making'notes' while taking pictures or for visual reconnaissance missions. Chance Vou.|ht F.7U-3P Cutlass This version of the Cutlass isthe fastest carrier-borne reconnaissance aircraft in service, and carries oblique and vertical cameras in a specially modified nose. Auxiliary fueltanks are normally carried on the inboard under-wing pylons.
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