The Navy is nutz
I saw some Navy F-18's flying around towing some big parachutes behind them. Thought that was odd...now I know what they were for:
http://www.guampdn.com/guampublishing/pacificedge/data/EEZupklFEkSXpvYuHW.htm
Would you fly a F-18 fighter....tow a big parachute behind it...and let yer buddies shoot at it with 20mm Vulcan Gatling Guns?
Who thought of this procedure anyways?
http://www.guampdn.com/guampublishing/pacificedge/data/EEZupklFEkSXpvYuHW.htm
Would you fly a F-18 fighter....tow a big parachute behind it...and let yer buddies shoot at it with 20mm Vulcan Gatling Guns?
Who thought of this procedure anyways?
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I'd like to see that. 0 -
1500 feet don't seem that far away if someone is shooting ![:D] 0 -
We lost more than one aircraft in WWII because of inaccurate shooting gunners. This is nothing new and has been going on since the late 30's at least. Pilots used to hate to have to fly these missions. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by ObiWan
I saw some Navy F-18's flying around towing some big parachutes behind them. Thought that was odd...now I know what they were for:
http://www.guampdn.com/guampublishing/pacificedge/data/EEZupklFEkSXpvYuHW.htm
Would you fly a F-18 fighter....tow a big parachute behind it...and let yer buddies shoot at it with 20mm Vulcan Gatling Guns?
Who thought of this procedure anyways?
It has been around a long time. You see similar things in the navy with ships towing targets behind them for target practice.0 -
It's a Navy thing I guess.
In the AF....they take old planes and make them remote control drones and shoot them up. They take trucks out of DRMO and set them up on the ranges and shoot them.
They don't shoot at each other.....maybe bomb ally forces occasionally. [:p]0 -
I've seen target tow planes, but never an F-18 doin it, wish there was some pics of that. 0 -
"According to Chief Saville, the pilots on the Banner Tow missions use non-explosive ammunition for these training exercises - although everyone treats the rounds as if they were live for safety purposes."
Its still a 20mm round and still live!0 -
quote:Originally posted by ObiWan
In the AF....they take old planes and make them remote control drones and shoot them up. They take trucks out of DRMO and set them up on the ranges and shoot them.
That is because nobody in the AF has the balz to drag a target! [;)]0 -
quote:Originally posted by 46270
quote:Originally posted by HandgunHTR52
quote:Originally posted by ObiWan
In the AF....they take old planes and make them remote control drones and shoot them up. They take trucks out of DRMO and set them up on the ranges and shoot them.
That is because nobody in the AF has the balz to drag a target! [;)]
you would be mistaken, if you think that!
I am just kidding. I just like to stir the pot a little.
Besides, it was probably a Marine pilot anyway. They aren't smart enough to know that they are being shot at!0 -
SOP - been doing it since the thirties.[:D] 0 -
The 20mm are blue tips but still have enough weight to take down an aircraft. At one time the Navy and Air Force used fraglegible (sp?) ammo and actually shot AT the aircraft with the rounds turning to dust but leaving a impact mark. That didn't last too long.[:0] 0 -
target towing. thats SOP. they do it all the time. in my day it was sqd. VC-7's job. they used A-4 skyhawks. rule of thumb was if a pilot hit the tow plane, he was canned, period, or take tow pilot duty for a month! many pilots prefered to take a bad score than to jepordize a career.[:I]
the targets could be reeled in and out. targets use to fly low and about 1/8 mile behind the tow. and at 5-600mph on target, it aint much and one mistake could ping the tow. NAS FALLON ring a bell for any old airdales? any ever catch the target hook pickup detail or bullet painting party? officers got to score the targets. enlisted had to paint the bullets. this way they could tell whos bullets hit the target. sometimes 5 to 6 planes would strafe the same target. each plane had a different color. ever paint 9000 bullets per man per day before?[xx(] i always voluteered for runway wheels watch at night, rather than to have to paint bullets! at least i could see some wildlife in between birds...coyotes and rabbits etc...[^]
hey p3....look familiar? [8D]
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We use to tow a sled behind the carrier and the A7 squadrons would make 20mm gun runs at it.
That was a lot of fun to watch.
After night carrier landings in bad weather towing wouldn't be all that bad.[:D]
Of course I never flew so I'm only guessing.0
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