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Aviation History
1960
1960 - 1580.PDF
320 FLIGHT, 2 SeptemberI960 The larger warhead of the operational V.897 (below) increases overall length from 35.46in (V.891 above) to 42.17in. The head has a diameter of 5.16in and carries a contact probe 6.9in long Vigilant Success Story ON August 25 Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) announced thatthe War Office has ordered the Vigilant (Visual GuidedInfantry Light ANti-Tank) missile for assessment trials by infantry. These trials are expected to take place early nextyear, and they mark the surmounting of perhaps the largest single hurdle in the development of this remarkable little weapon. In our May 22, 1959, issue we published a history and descrip-tion of the V.891 development missile. At that time it had been under development for almost exactly two years, and (exceptingthe fact that the motor had been produced by ICI) the entire cost had been borne by Vickers. Perhaps because it was a privateventure its development had been very rapid, and even at that time guided rounds had been fired by US Army troops in apresentation at Redstone Arsenal. Support from the British Army had been restricted to the provision of range facilities and tointimate co-operation in ensuring that Vigilant would be developed in close contact with the most important potential customer. In making the announcement Vickers revealed for the first timedetails of the operational Type 897 weapon, and explained some of the more basic design choices which have now begun to reaptheir reward. When development started there were already a number of wire-guided missiles in the same category, yet thecompany felt justified in embarking on the programme (which, in view of the likely cost and commercial risk, was a bold decision)after satisfying themselves that they could produce a weapon markedly superior in several important respects to any competitor.Its advantages can be listed in the following terms. 1. Velocity Control. The difference between velocity andacceleration control was briefly outlined in an assessment of anti-tank problems published in our issue of June 17. Thevelocity-type system is fundamentally simpler to learn, skill is retained by an operator for much longer periods, control improvesas maximum permissible manoeuvre increases and flight speed can be increased substantially. The cost of training operatorsis reduced by a factor of not less than four compared with accelera- tion-type systems, and in view of the large number of roundsrequired this would mean a saving of many million pounds per year to a large army. SAILPLANES AT FARNBOROUGH ON the public days of the SBAC Show at Farnborough ademonstration of sailplane aerobatics and general flying will be staged by the Royal Aircraft Establishment Gliding Club, withthe assistance of instructors from Lasham Gliding Centre. Four types of aircraft will take part: Slingsby Swallow and Skylark 3,and Elliotts Olympia 2b and Olympia 460. A new type of tug aircraft will be used on this occasion . Thisis the Auster 6A, a version of the military Mk 6 modified for towing gliders or banners, and having a modified engine equiva-lent to the latest Gipsy Major 10/1 standard. The Auster company state that the first six Mk 6As will be soldat £995 each, with engines having at least half of their l,000hr overhaul life still to run. Further aircraft are likely to have newlyoverhauled Majors and will cost approximately £1,400. TWO MORE "FLIGHT" SHOW NUMBERS . . . Se;t 9. FARNBOROUGH REPORT Sept 16. FARNBOROUGH REVIEW 2. Flight Speed. 450 to 500ft/sec is roughly doubk thatof most of the Vigilant's competitors, the SS.ll and Majkara alone having comparable velocity. 3. Manoeuvrability. Vigilant, which can pull 4g, again howsan improvement of the order of 100 per cent over its competitors The low-aspect-ratio wing cannot stall in flight and angle ofattack may safely reach 30°. 4. Size. With its span of 11 in Vigilant is one of the smallestmissiles. The French JEntac has a span of 15in, and all other anti-tank missiles are much larger. 5. Weight. Even with the larger warhead V.897 weighs only311b, and the complete carry-box/launcher, missile, cable drum and sight/controller weigh but 451b. Rapid deployment ofVigilant troops could be accomplished by airline; a Viscount could carry at least 60 operators with two rounds apiece. 6. Warhead. As the illustration shows, the new optimumhollow-charge warhead is much larger than the head fitted to the V.891 development rounds. Operational V.897 Vigilants canhave any of a range of heads between 51b and 121b in weight. Vickers believe that the payload of over 30 per cent of the launchweight is unmatched by any other guided missile, and is approxi- mately double that of an average anti-tank shell. 7. Accuracy. Vickers last week showed a number of films—principally recording a presentation to NATO at Larkhill in September 1959 and firings against moving targets earlier thisyear—which demonstrated beyond doubt diat this parameter is adequate. Trained operators can hold the weapon consistentlywithin 18in of a fixed sight-line, and it has been found possible to hit targets from 1,500yd down to below 250yd. No othermissile can rival the figure of 50 per cent hits at 180yd which has already been achieved, suggesting that Vigilant could eventu-ally replace, rather than supplement, the anti-tank gun. The addi- tion of an autopilot to provide automatic correction for gusts orpassage through light undergrowth substantially eases the opera- tor's task, and both real-time and slow-motion films emphasizethe steadiness of the weapon in flight. 8. Concealment. Vigilant is undoubtedly virtually impossibleto see from the receiving end. On most types of terrain there is nothing to give away the launch point (in any case the operatoris situated remotely) and both boost and sustainer motors make little flame and virtually no smoke. The guidance flare can beseen only from almost directly astern. 9. Readiness. The missile is instantly ready at all times. Oncethe box has been opened the missile can be fired immediately, there being no assembly, test or checkout operations of any kind. 10. Logistics. At present, with production running to hundredsof rounds, a practice Vigilant costs about £500. When the impend- ing assessment trials have been completed, Vickers may be askedto manufacture tens of thousands of Vigilants and—as a member of the British Aircraft Corporation—have ample resources to fulfilorders rapidly at a cost per round which it is hoped will be of the order of £300. This is still more expensive than most comperingmissiles, but in view of the fact that the weapon system does not require any control box, test equipment or anything other thanthe missile, launcher, guidance wire and sight, the total logistic cost appears to be substantially less. This is particularly the casewhen training costs are taken into account. The Army consider 5hr on a simulator and between two and five live firings to besufficient to train an operator to a satisfactory standard, and that three firings per year, and possibly only two, will suffice to main-tain such a standard. With acceleration-type controls much greater expenditure is needed; the US Army considers the minimumnumber of rounds per year necessary to keep an operator proficient on SS.10 to be 13. FORTHCOMING EVENTS Aug. 28- Sept. 4. Czech Aero Club: World Aerobatic Championships. Sept. 3-5. French and Savoy Aero Clubs: International Centenary Rally, Aix-les-Boins. Sept. 4. Wolverhampton Aero Club At Home. Sept. 5-11. SBAC Disolay and Exhibition, Farnborough. Sept. 7. Kronfeld Club: "To over 25,000ft," by Fit Lt G. Rondel and Pit Off I. Strachan. Sept. 8-12. AGARD and Instituto Lombardo di Scienze e Lettere: Seminar on Propulsion for Astronautics, Varenna. Sept. 9-12. Popular Flying Association Rally, Cranfield. Sept. 11. International Landing Contest, St Nicholas Maes. Sept. 12-16. International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences: Second Congress, Zurich. Sept. 12-T8. Battle of Britain Week: Exhibition, Horse Guards Parade, London; RAF Airfield "At Homes," September 17. Sept. 14. Kronfeld Club: Film of German World Championships, by John Furlong. Sept. 21. Kronfeld Club: "Flying in the US Nationals," by Ph^P Wills. Sept. 25. Milan Aero Club: Helicopter Rally. Sept. 28 Kronfeld Club: Meteorological Discussion. Sept. 26- Oct. 1. AGARD Structures and Materials Panel Meeting, Athens.
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