Visibility of tracers

[Jim_hansen]

Sorry, if this ended up in the wrong section. Would it be possible to see tracers from a 37 mm AA gun while flying directly at it. The rounds were going passed both passed both sides of the cockpit? The 37 mm was fixed on the ground. Closure rate of the aircraft would be abt 500 kts. The time was some where between 1000 and 1300, clear sky.

 

[Greyman]

Yes. The 'firework' composition of tracer rounds generally burns violently enough to spew rearwards and create a visible trail from almost any angle.

 

[pbehn]

Was there ever a large group of people who could answer that question?

 

[Greyman]

There's no shortage of pilot anecdotes describing medium anti-aircraft fire directed at their very aircraft.

 

[pbehn]

There's no shortage of pilot anecdotes describing medium anti-aircraft fire directed at their very aircraft.

Pilots used to report on the type and accuracy, but I don't think they were the ones flying towards a 37mm gun.

 

[swampyankee]

Not having any personal experience, I have read that light (40 mm and under) AAA would use tracers as a psychological measure to disrupt enemy attacks, so there must have been some perceived value.

 

[Jim_hansen]

Thanks for the inputs. This has been an question whenever the thought has cross my mind. I looked up the closure rate yesterday and it would have been abt 3600 feet per second. I must admit that no damage was seen on the aircraft, I went over the plane carefully, the pilot did not recall seeing any AA fire, which is why it's been this lingering question. I was 3 feet behind him. (F-4 back seat) The target was definitely a 37mm AA gun. AAA fire was often seen before but only this once from this angle. This was combat sortie maybe 125 or so.

 

[mikewint]

I can't speak directly to your question but from experience I can say that 50cal tracers are visible in the daylight. This is a pic from Vietnam as our Hueys were coming in for a landing at BMT (Ban Me Thout). Look down near the left rear skid