Hawker Hunter radar?
Per Nyström
I recently read a remark that the Hawker Hunter F. Mk 50 in service with
the Swedish Airforce had a range-finding radar in the nose. I didn't
think that any Hunters had such a device.
Can somebody more knowledgeable help to clarify this?
Regards
/Per
Peter Stickney
Mike Tighe <mik...@dircon.co.uk> writes:
> On Mon, 23 Jul 2001 23:11:19 GMT, Per Nyström <pe...@telia.com> wrote:
>
>>I recently read a remark that the Hawker Hunter F. Mk 50 in service with
>>the Swedish Airforce had a range-finding radar in the nose. I didn't
>>think that any Hunters had such a device.
>
> With just a few exceptions, the single- and two-seat Hunters carried a
> relatively simple ranging radar to provide data to the gunsight.
>
> The antenna was contained within the cap on the tip of the nose, and I
> think the whole system fitted into the space provided within the first
> couple of structural frames along the fuselage.
>
> The Hunter F. Mk 50s exported to Sweden were basically similar to the
> RAF's F.4 and operated under the local designation 'J-34'. (After
> service as few were returned to the UK and refurbished/remanufactured
> as T.68 two-seaters for the Swiss AF).
To elaborate a little bit... Teh ranging radars, like the
U.S. APG-30, are very simple little beasts. They use a fixed antenna
that sends and receives in a narrow cone ahead of teh aircraft. The
range gate (Basically a timer that looks for an echo at a certain
distance is always sweeping in and out between minimum and maximum
range. If an echo does appear, the range gate tracks the echo, giving
accurate range data to the gunsight. There is one complication. It
is sometimes possible for there to be more than one target in the
radar's field of view. In that case, the radar tracks the nearest
target, unless the pilot pushes (In the USAF case) a button on the
control stick grip that signals the radar to track the next target
further out.
These are fairly small installations, and don't require the entire
nose, or a huge radome. In teh Hunter, it's i the tip of the nose.
In the F-86 day fighers (A,E,F, and H models) it's in the upper intake
lip, behind that little beak.
--
Pete Stickney Klein bottle for rent -- inquire within.
Per Nyström
/Per
Mike Tighe wrote:
> On Mon, 23 Jul 2001 23:11:19 GMT, Per Nyström <pe...@telia.com> wrote:
>
> >I recently read a remark that the Hawker Hunter F. Mk 50 in service with
> >the Swedish Airforce had a range-finding radar in the nose. I didn't
> >think that any Hunters had such a device.
> <snip>
>
> With just a few exceptions, the single- and two-seat Hunters carried a
> relatively simple ranging radar to provide data to the gunsight.
>
> The antenna was contained within the cap on the tip of the nose, and I
> think the whole system fitted into the space provided within the first
> couple of structural frames along the fuselage.
>
> The Hunter F. Mk 50s exported to Sweden were basically similar to the
> RAF's F.4 and operated under the local designation 'J-34'. (After
> service as few were returned to the UK and refurbished/remanufactured
> as T.68 two-seaters for the Swiss AF).
> --
> Mike Tighe
> Speaking from the bottom left
> hand corner of the big picture.
Philip Morten
>
>
> >Thanks. Do you know the manufacturer or designation for this radar?
>
> Hunter books by various authors and come up blank apart from a few
> pictures of the unit itself. Anyone else able to help?
> --
I think it was Radar Ranging Mk.1 (ARI.5820) with Gyro Gunsight Mk.5 or
Mk.8, the radar was made by EKCO. There was a Mk.2 which was used in
the Swift F.7 for Fireflash guidance I don't know if that was also used
in later Hunters.
There are references in "British Aircraft Armament, Vol 2 : RAF Guns and
Gunsights from 1914 to the Present Day", R Wallace Clarke, ISBN:
1852604026
Philip Morten