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Aviation History
1958
1958 - 0641.PDF
657 ' ' A genus of dipterous insects of numerous species'' 'T'HIS is the definition of "gnat" as given by-•- Chambers's 20th Century Dictionary; and the Gnats of Folland production promise to be equallyprolific in their variations. Above is Ministry of Supply Gnat XK741 carrying two 500 lb bombs andtwo of the latest Folland 66-gal drop tanks. The latter are modified Bristol asbestos-phenolic tanks,and are being used to test the aerodynamic qualities of the new shape. Eventually they will be of all-metalconstruction. The second picture is of an Indian Gnat, which will shortly be engaged in tropical trialsand is instrumented accordingly, though otherwise an operational aircraft. It carries radar-rangingequipment and a radio compass. The rear-view win- dows have been deleted, as have the small ram-airintakes at the roots which are visible on the M.o.S. machines. The earlier type of drop-tank is carried. DEFENSE (Continued from opposite page) New Jersey, and just to show the local citizens how they coulddepend on the Army to defend them from air attack, the authorities had flown fourteen good citizens from New York to see how it wasdone. They were briefed on Ajax and Hercules, told that Hercules can shoot down any operational aircraft that can be built, that Ajaxcan look after any present operational aircraft and some aero- dynamically supported missiles as well, that Hercules can take careof "certain types of other devices," that 3,000 Ajax missiles have been fired (many times that number have been built), and thatwhen Zeus came along the anti-missile-missile age would have been reached. The citizens were, of course, impressed. This happens everyweek, as batteries come to Red Canyon from different parts of America. Incidentally, the range is also used for the annual train-ing of Corporal units deployed in Europe. The "shoot" we were to see was organized on a competitivebasis. The battery is given thirty minutes' warning of action, then has twenty seconds to find and lock-on to its target. A burst under75 yd from the target is considered a satisfactory round. Points scored for these things, and for general efficiency, produce a finebit of morale-boosting for troops who have a static job under aggravating conditions amounting almost to inactivity. Targets used at Red Canyon are the little Arkats (or R-Cats):OQ-19B drones that can fly at 300 m.p.h. at 20,000ft if the wind is right. Afterwards I saw the launching site of these efficientlittle target planes. With their 74 h.p. flat-four engines (built for 24 hours' life) making a satisfactory roar they are either catapultedfrom a JATO-powered ramp or take off from a trolley running on a circular track. The latter system is preferred, for JATO canscost money, even in the U.S.A., and the range is run on a cost- accounting system. Soon to be introduced as a drone is the RP-76, powered by asolid charge with twin nozzles. This will fly at 40,000 to 60,000ft at over 600 m.p.h. It will be launched from a mother aircraft—probably an F-89 Scorpion with one on each wing. Later it is planned to use a drone mother aircraft as a launching platform;this will be the RP-77, a turboprop machine with at least two hours' endurance.While waiting for the rounds to be fired we struck out along a dirt road into the desert to see an old stage-coach hut, wherehorses used to be changed on the long haul through the desert from El Paso to Santa Fe. Built in 1870, its timbers were stillsound, showing how well the clear and dry desert air preserves them. There was an old corral nearby, built 60 years ago andstill standing. '"Ware rattlers," warned die sergeant leading us. We kept oureyes skinned, for in the camp we had seen a sizeable specimen caught only the previous day.Back on the range, the New York citizens and ourselves saw a brace of Nike Ajax missiles fired; and down came the Arkats.A very satisfactory day's work, spoiled only by the wait we had for the C-47 to come in and fetch us off the lonely strip. Said thecaptain: "Sure am sorry to have kept you. I had to orbit for twenty minutes because the range people wouldn't let me in. Someguy was firing a missel!"
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