cover image: TRENDs IN mILITARY AVIATIoN TECHNoLoGY - ViVek kapur

20.500.12592/2cm60h

TRENDs IN mILITARY AVIATIoN TECHNoLoGY - ViVek kapur

8 Oct 2021

3, moNsooN 2021 (July-september) 58 ViVek kapur The formula for radius of turn is: r=V2/(gtanƟ), the aerodynamic where R is radius of turn in meters; V is speed of ability of its airframe the aircraft in meters per second; g is a constant and the power output and denotes acceleration due to gravity or 9.81 from its engine limits metres/ second2; and θ is the angle of bank. [...] Invention of the interrupter gear allowed the fixed guns to be mounted closer to the sighting system as these gears prevented the gun from firing a round when its own propeller blade was immediately in the line of fire.4 The term “dogfight” was born at this time. [...] In the very infancy of modern military aviation, the earlier importance of ability to turn tightly or to manoeuvre quickly in order to gain an advantageous weapon firing position gave way to the ability to fly faster than the opponent. [...] The Germans appear to have seized upon these basics first, and the historical accounts from that time tell us that the British and allied pilots, were cautioned to look for the ‘Hun from the sun’ indicating German tactics of climbing higher and using the glare of the sun to remain concealed till it was too late for the target to escape ‘high speed slashing dive attacks’ on Allied aircraft.5 Hence. [...] Further advances led to development of the swing-wing or variable sweep design, allowing the pilot, in flight, to modify the aerodynamic layout of his aircraft to better suit the role being executed at the time such as on the F-14 “Tomcat” and F-111 “Aardvark”.17 Throughout the 1950s and 1960s the emphasis remained on delivering good manoeuvrability combined with respectable top speeds; nonetheles.
Pages
19
Published in
India