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Aviation History
1958
1958 - 0618.PDF
FLIGHT Span Length ... Wing sweep T/c Ratio Wing area 33ft 8in 45ft 1(Hin 40deg 8-5 per cenc 340 sq ft HUNTER F.6 MARTIN-BAKER MK 2H OR 3H EJECTION SEAT LINK COLLECTOR BOXES GUN BLAST DEFLECTORS ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT The permanent armament feature is the pack of four 30 mmAden guns, firing high-velocity ammunition. For rearming, the pack is lowered from the aircraft, with the aid of three Type Cbomb-hoists, on to a cradle running on casters which is in turn picked up by a rubber-tyred trolley fined with its own hydraulicfork-lift. Several of these can be towed to the armoury by Land- Rover for rearming; and the guns are normally harmonized in thepack away from the airframe. Before the pack is taken out, the barrels are detached from the breech mechanisms and the wholesystem is so arranged that any barrel will fit any gun and any pack will fit any aircraft. Complete interchangeability is thus provided,and results have shown that a high degree of accuracy is neverthe- less maintained. The gun-sight and battle camera are harmonizedseparately with the airframe. Effective performance of the gun-pack has been conclusivelydemonstrated in the most rigorous tests. Unrestricted firing is allowed in any attitude, at any speed and at any height, consider-able positive and negative g being tolerated. A truly marathon firing trial was carried out during development. Some 20,000rounds were fired through one gun pack under the most difficult flight conditions (500ft and 600 kt). Each time the trigger was held to discharge the full ammunition load in one burst and theaircraft was brought straight back to Dunsfold for rearming. After the 20,000 rounds the whole installation was inspected, some veryslight modifications were incorporated and a second cycle of 20,000 rounds were then fired off without any trouble. Thisperformance, Hawkers claim, is unequalled by that of any other gun-firing aircraft in the world—30 mm or otherwise. The Aden gun does not require to be mounted right-way up;
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