Stratofortress

[FLYBOYJ]

That's why i don't think any of the airlines have gone for the idea.

[jbabcock]

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

Depends on how high you are and how far away you are from it.

It's my understanding that modern flares are pretty cool. Modern IR seekers are pretty discriminating, and the all aspect ones try to home in on warm skin like leading edges, and ignore really obvious things like the sun and jet pipes. Hence, the modern flares are made to burn colder.

Still, a smoldering fire is nothing to laugh about. I used to be a fire fighter, and those fires can be hard to put out and are plenty capable of flaring up into something free burning. Plus the ejector charges are quite substatntial, even deadly according to a classmate of mine who services C-5's.

[jbabcock]

Originally Posted by syscom3

I remember reading about some B52 crews being angry that the gunner was moved forward. They liked having a set of eyes looking backards for any SAM's launched at them from the tail position.

I was once told by an acquaintance who knows a thing or six about AAMs and SAMs that most pilot's first warning of a missile launch is seeing the rocket engine as the missile overshoots. So, yeah, I can understand wanting to have eyes in the back instead of a radar antenna. Still, these days just about all combat aircraft have launch detectors that are much more sensitive at the right wavelengths than the human eye. As long as there are not muzzle flashes, explosions and what not saturating the sensors, they should give a much better warning. And if you are in a situation with that much IR noise, you are probably already executing countermeasures anyway.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by jbabcock

It's my understanding that modern flares are pretty cool. Modern IR seekers are pretty discriminating, and the all aspect ones try to home in on warm skin like leading edges, and ignore really obvious things like the sun and jet pipes. Hence, the modern flares are made to burn colder.

For the most part yes, but the IR jammer has to be set for the most major threat. That was our biggest proplem was keeping up with the worst threat when we were in theatre.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by jbabcock

I was once told by an acquaintance who knows a thing or six about AAMs and SAMs that most pilot's first warning of a missile launch is seeing the rocket engine as the missile overshoots. So, yeah, I can understand wanting to have eyes in the back instead of a radar antenna. Still, these days just about all combat aircraft have launch detectors that are much more sensitive at the right wavelengths than the human eye. As long as there are not muzzle flashes, explosions and what not saturating the sensors, they should give a much better warning. And if you are in a situation with that much IR noise, you are probably already executing countermeasures anyway.

If you are doing your job right it is the corkscrew that you see first and with that you can still evade the damn thing. Ive had SA's fired at my aircraft before.