? what about launching missles ? Or do they have to slow down significantly to drop them ?

If I eat Taco Bell, full speed. Otherwise I have to slow down!

Like all things in life, "it depends".

Or in the case of Taco Bell, it helps if you WEAR Depends.

So - if pylon carried, I guess there is a top speed they want you to adhere to while carrying. Can you drop at that same speed ?

If not allowed to discuss - just say so, and I'll drop it.

The answer "It depends" still stands and is the best I can do for you.

Even the term "Full Speed" depends on a number of factors.

Oh, you can discuss it, but it's too broad a discussion - but in general yes, there are limits to all external stores aircraft carry, to include use limitations.

Every weapon configuration is different - one may think of a bomb as a bomb, but they all have different 'setups', like your Taco Bell Gordita Crunch - do you want hot sauce or mild? Cheese or no? How about Sour Cream?

quote:

Originally posted by SBrooks:
? what about launching missles ? Or do they have to slow down significantly to drop them ?

Yes and no.

Some munitions are designed to be released at certain lower speeds and some at extremely high speeds.

It depends on the platform, the weapon, the mission and other factors.

There are free-fall (gravity bombs), retarded munitions, that use fins, drogue chute, streamers or parachutes, there are power assisted standoff bombs, and canister release devices that can release at high speed then slow before opening and dispersing.

Most A2A and many A2G missiles can be fired from high speeds and above Mach.


Some of the issues are proper separation from the platform and stability of flight/glide away from the platform before firing (jettison missiles), and to a degree (but less rare) missiles released from rails.

For example, the Maverick (AGM-65x) was designed to be launched below Mach. We did some testing at Eglin above Mach, but as far as I know (from more than 25 years ago) it was limited to testing. While we did a test of the AIM-120 (AMRAAM) that we "uptuned" engines on an F-15 to 106% in order to release four AIM-120s simultaneously at four different targets at different altitudes, different flight paths, some head on, side attack, and flying away above Mach in a "threat level", various and multiple SOJ (Soviet Offensive Jammers) and other suppression with the F-15 above Mach 2.5.

All four targets were effectively "killed".

thank you very much Monkey.

quote:

Originally posted by SBrooks:
If not allowed to discuss - just say so, and I'll drop it.

I see what you did there!!

quote:

retarded munitions

That guy was in my unit.

quote:

Originally posted by 46and2:

quote:

retarded munitions

That guy was in my unit.

I think one is issued to every unit.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

quote:

Originally posted by 46and2:

quote:

retarded munitions

That guy was in my unit.

I think one is issued to every unit.

It's a High Pri 1 Billet that they must keep filled at all times.

quote:

Originally posted by navyshooter:

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

quote:

Originally posted by 46and2:

quote:

retarded munitions

That guy was in my unit.

I think one is issued to every unit.

It's a High Pri 1 Billet that they must keep filled at all times.

Yeah, Bupers never gaps that one.

In fact, they quite often send one of their own to fill it.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Like all things in life, "it depends".

Or in the case of Taco Bell, it helps if you WEAR Depends.

Let's not denigrate the Bell. The essence of life springs from Baja Blast.

Ask my son.

Especially right After I hit the window lock button

The answer depends on factors such as precision needed at impact, altitude, attitude, airspeed, the type and extent of enemy aviation, the quantity of incoming AAA, the type of bomb, and whether it is a dumb bomb or a not-so-dumb bomb.

For example, during WWII the B17s over Europe tended to drop at close to the maximum speed because that is what was needed to keep them aloft at high altitude. Those same types of planes in the Pacific dropped at slower, very specific airspeeds when skip bombing Japanese ships.

Not at all in 'bomb free' zones.

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Bob C.:
Not at all in 'bomb free' zones.

That’s in effect whenever my wife is in the bathroom.

Define full speed

Full military power? Full afterburner? A specific speed in mind ie 400kts, 600kts? Mach 0.9? Mach 1.2?

It depends on what plane the bombs are being dropped from as well as the type of bomb.