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the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
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- Dec 20, 2003
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FLYBOYJ said:"The Teledyne-Ryan Firebee drone was acquired by the RCAF to provide training for interceptor crews probably in anticipation of the procurement of the CF-105 Arrow interceptor. At the same time, two Lancaster Mk 10 aircraft were reactivated from storage to act as "mother" ships for the drones.
The Lancaster modifications were carried out by Fairey Aviation and included fitting of Firebee launch racks under each wing along with the associated electrical wiring and control units. The Lancasters were then operated by the Central Experimental Proving Establishment and the drones were primarily planned for testing and evaluating of then present and proposed future weapons systems. After release from the launch aircraft, the Firebees under remote control could climb to 40,00 feet in approximately 10 minutes and could be made to perform any manouevre of which contemporary high performance aircraft were capable. An airborne duration of 1 hr 20 minutes was typical. The drones could also be fitted with wingtip mounted radar reflector pods to ensure optimum radar energy reflection. Assuming the drone was not shot down, recovery was then effected by means of a two-stage parachute, which had a built-in flotation system. Refurbishment and re-use for up to 15 operational flights was possible."
Don't get him started...CurzonDax said:At least we quit talking about French Bombers.
:{)
the lancaster kicks ass said:actually the lanc could carry a tallboy without modification, the B-24 couldn't even carry one, let alone the grandslams, could the B-24 even carry a cookie? i doubt her bomb bay would let her, which discounts anything larger, what about lifeboats, the lanc could carry them whilst the B-24 couldn't, what about the engine test beds, could the B-24 do that?
so in a way the AAF has a part of that in the fact that enough pressure was relieved from the situation in Britian to allow such extravagances to occur
and no sorry i don't have any extra pics, lancs in foreign service are hard to get photos of..........
syscom3 said:and no sorry i don't have any extra pics, lancs in foreign service are hard to get photos of..........
Theyre hard to find because all the countries asked for and received B24's