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Post by gasman on Jan 25, 2007 0:06:27 GMT
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Post by P3 Super Bee on Jan 25, 2007 18:57:20 GMT
Indeed. Those upper an lower canoes look like the same ones on an EP-3E... |
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Post by Jordan Claus on Jan 25, 2007 19:28:50 GMT
You know, eventually I'd love to see this bird modelled. Too bad I don't have FSDS2 so I could work with Gary on the modelling. And on that same note it's too bad that I don't know how to model. LoL
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Post by BillA on Jan 25, 2007 19:45:11 GMT
Whats up with the black paint, I have noticed that there are some paints here at HJG that have one side of the plane painted in black. Is there a reason for it, or just for looks?
Thanks,
Bill
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jan 25, 2007 20:20:25 GMT
Definitely there's a reason for it. It's not there for cosmetic enhancement ;D I guess Gary or Jay can tell us more about that later  Mark C AKL/NZ |
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Post by christrott on Jan 25, 2007 21:41:02 GMT
Well, matte black is typically used to prevent glare from cameras, but on the Big Crow and the locations that they've painted, it's definitely for something else. The only location on that side of the plane for a camera is just aft of the cargo door, but that doesn't appear to be an optical window, it appears to be a wing illumination light cover. So, the paint must be for something unrelated to that. Jay may know, but my guess is that it's real purpose is "restricted access".
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Post by Jordan Claus on Jan 25, 2007 22:39:30 GMT
Took a little research but I found out what the paints for and the birds mission. 53132 is one of two NKC-135E "Targets" that are being flown out of Kirtland AFB. Their mission is to serve as mock targets for the USAF Airborne Laser Program. The idea is to test the illuminator lasers that track and calculate distance to a missle in the boost phase ie. the big white arrow on the aircraft. My guess is that they'll have the bird fly steep climbs while the ABL tracks and calculates the flightpath. Tests are slated to be flown (or already being flown) over white sands missle range. NKC-135E tail numbers 63-8058 and 55-3132 Happy Landings, Jay btw. chris was right on the money; the port is a wing illumination cover and not a camera port. sharp eye mate.  |
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Post by P3 Super Bee on Jan 26, 2007 5:20:41 GMT
Took a little research but I found out what the paints for and the birds mission. 53132 is one of two NKC-135E "Targets" that are being flown out of Kirtland AFB. Their mission is to serve as mock targets for the USAF Airborne Laser Program. The idea is to test the illuminator lasers that track and calculate distance to a missle in the boost phase ie. the big white arrow on the aircraft. My guess is that they'll have the bird fly steep climbs while the ABL tracks and calculates the flightpath. Tests are slated to be flown (or already being flown) over white sands missle range. Or finished and moved on to live missles(no warheads) MDA is here in Hawaii with their Gulfstream II, and VXS-1 with their P-3 AEW&C tracking missile shots. The missiles are shot off somewhere around Kwaj, suppodedly the YBL-1 is flown out of Edwards for the shot down. MDA does the tracking from here. |
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Post by Jordan Claus on Jan 26, 2007 7:23:54 GMT
Hmmmm....suspicious. I'm definately interested now. Now are they still in the aquisition and tracking phase or have they actually installed the main laser? As far as I know they are still evaluating the illuminator lasers.
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Post by P3 Super Bee on Jan 26, 2007 18:55:50 GMT
Hmmmm....suspicious. I'm definitely interested now. Now are they still in the acquisition and tracking phase or have they actually installed the main laser? As far as I know they are still evaluating the illuminator lasers. They might just be just be working on that. I'm not sure what they are doing exactly. We were flying a flight today(P-3) and we were going to be a "target" aircraft. Basically they were going to try and "shoot us down"... So what they are actually doing I'm not sure, will see if I can get some, info, if I can even spill anymore than what's already out there. Friend of mine was an F/E on the P-3 AEW&C last month when MDA was out here doing testing. Not sure if he's here this time or not. Our paths haven't crossed this time yet. Incidentally the P-3 AEW&C only mission is this stuff with MDA, she was slated for the bone yard last year, but MDA came along and keep her in service for their testing. |
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