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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0741.PDF
Lockheed RC-12W. MILITARY AIRCRAFT 1956 RADAR PICKET 'T'HE early-warning radar picket aircraft is an American develop-••• ment of recent years, and most, if not all, of the large machines in this category have been built by Lockheed (for the U.S.A.F. andU.S. Navy). A spokesman of this company has rightly claimed that these are "the next best thing to a 'phone call from the enemy";he remarked that they could provide as much as three to five hours' warning of an enemy attack on the U.S.A. Smaller carrier-borne machines perform a like service for thefleet, and are typified by special versions of the Douglas Skyraider. One of these will eventually be replaced in the Royal Navy by adevelopment of the Fairey Gannet anti-submarine aircraft. U.S.A. Douglas AD-5W Illustrated on this page is the early-warning ver-sion of the "Multiplex" Douglas AD-5 Skyraider. This type continues in service with carrier-borne units of the U.S. Navy.Lockheed WV-2 A development of the Super Constellation for the U.S. Navy, the WV-2 is powered with four Wright Turbo-Compoundengines. It has an endurance of over 24 hours (by virtue of large internal and wing-tip fuel capacity); carries more than six tons ofelectronic equipment; has a crew of 26, and numbers among its amenities bunks convertible to couches, a galley with refrigerator, run-ning water and grills. It is classed as a radar picket and counter- measures aircraft. For picket duties it carries very powerful searchradar to high altitudes, where this equipment attains its maximum effectiveness; and even should the enemy approach under the beam ofnormal radar the WV-2 could pick him up far beyond normal protection zones. By the use of U.H.F. radio details of enemy strength, direction,height and speed can be transmitted to defending intercepters. The most distinctive features of the aircraft are the great fungus-likegrowth above and below the fuselage. The upper protuberance is 8ft tall and houses the height-finding radar antenna, whereas the"guppy" bulge below carries equipment to determine the speed, strength and direction of air or sea threat. The cabin of the 113ft-long fuselage is pressurized to maintain10,600ft altitude at 25,OO0ft; it is liberally soundproofed, and the seats are scientifically designed to minimize fatigue on long patrols. EachWV-2 carries a complete electronics maintenance shop and a team of specialists to make in-flight adjustments and repairs. A special point ismade of keeping the crew well fed and refreshed, and two crews are carried for all stations so that rested men are instantly available in anemergency-search situation. The operational nerve centre is the "combat command centre," whereradar watchers provided by the Combat Intelligence Organization do their spotting, plotting and directing. To the rear are five radar searchscopes, and, at the extreme after end of the cabin, bunks. Photographs show, for example, intercom switches for crew-membersdesignated CTCO, ACICO 1, ACO 2, 3, 4 and 5, height finder, radar operator, ECM operator, poster, talker and plotter. Lockheed WV-3 This new development of the WV-2 carriesmeteorological equipment in addition to its electronic gear, and is thus suitable for use as a "hurricane hunter" as well as a long-rangeradar picket. Built in is a pressure chamber for releasing balloons. Lockheed RC-121D The RC-121 is the U.S.A.F. counterpart ofthe Navy's WV-2, and the "D" variant, introduced late in 1954, is distinguished from earlier models in having 600 U.S. gallon wing-tiptanks and a 1,000 U.S. gallon fuselage tank to extend endurance. Total fuel capacity is 8,750 U.S. gallons. Interior changes include new radarconsoles with larger viewing scopes. A point of interest is the special cooling system to relieve the heat generated by approximately 3,000vacuum tubes used in the radar and other electronics facilities. Of the family of Lockheed radar pickets generally the company'schief engineer has said that the addition of the vast radar protuberances has little effect on handling or performance, apart from decreasing speedby a few per cent. He added that the triple-fin tail was particularly well adapted to the job because the outboard vertical surfaces were notaffected in any way by flow disturbances round the fuselage. Dorsal and ventral radomes of Lockheed RC-121D. Douglas AD-5W early-warner.
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