Airbus Military/EADS A319 MPA

PR19_Kit · June 25, 2011, 05:02:11 PM

Quote from: kitnut617 on June 25, 2011, 08:01:39 AM
Quote from: PR19_Kit on May 22, 2011, 12:32:34 PM
A Mk 46 torp weighs around 500 lbs, that's equivalent to around 74 US gallons.

A bit off there mate --
A US Gallon weighs 6.073 lbs which would make it 82.33 US Gallons
An Imperial Gallon weighs 7.29 lbs which would make it 68.59 Imp' Gallons

Please note that I said 'about'. And I deliberately chose a capacity that was half way between US and Imperial gallons exactly because I knew the issue would come up. It makes little or no difference to the ability of a suitable pump to shift that amount of fuel fast enough...........

rickshaw · June 25, 2011, 06:56:50 PM

Greg, on the P-3, do the Sonobouys simply fall free or are they "fired" by an explosive charge?

Hobbes · June 28, 2011, 10:45:13 AM

I've redone the sonobuoy ports. My initial effort didn't result in straight lines between the ports, drilling on a curved surface isn't easy. So I drilled holes into a piece of plasticard, and faired that into the fuselage instead.

I've also added a MAD boom. Unusually, this sits on top of the tailfin (as per the brochure that Greg linked to).

rallymodeller · June 28, 2011, 12:54:58 PM

I believe the manual tubes in the P-3/CP140 are freefall, but triggered.

As to the location of the MAD boom, the "normal" low tail position for the MAD is, in an A32X, occupied by the APU. It was probably easier to engineer the MAD boom into the fin-top than to relocate the APU and its associated systems.

Gondor · June 28, 2011, 02:53:50 PM

There is an added advantage to your portrayal of the sonabuoy launch tubes. The added plastic looks as if it could be a strengthening plate around the area of the tubes which would be a logical thing to do.

Gondor

Pablo1965 · June 28, 2011, 03:44:04 PM

This is getting more and more interesting.

Aussie747 · June 28, 2011, 05:56:04 PM

Wow, this is a great thread! I love a nice MP aircraft build. Your A319 is looking great

rickshaw · June 29, 2011, 06:48:03 AM

Quote from: rallymodeller on June 28, 2011, 12:54:58 PM
As to the location of the MAD boom, the "normal" low tail position for the MAD is, in an A32X, occupied by the APU. It was probably easier to engineer the MAD boom into the fin-top than to relocate the APU and its associated systems.

Putting a boom on top of the fin would work. As the objective is to put the magnetic sensors as far as possible from the electro-magnetic sources in the aircraft (engines/computers/etc.), in the tail or on top of the tail would be just as good. Doesn't the Tu142 Bear have one there?

I've often wondered why more use of a trailing MAD "bird" is not utilised by fixed wing aircraft. I know some naval helicopters have them but I'd have thought putting the magnetic sensor as far as possible from the aircraft would have made just as much sense for fixed wing as rotary wing.

GTX · July 01, 2011, 11:46:17 AM

Quote from: rickshaw on June 25, 2011, 06:56:50 PM
Greg, on the P-3, do the Sonobouys simply fall free or are they "fired" by an explosive charge?

On a P-3, although some could be free-fall, most were 'fired' using a Cartridge Actuated Device (CAD).

Regards,

Greg

GTX · July 01, 2011, 11:51:58 AM

Quote from: rickshaw on June 29, 2011, 06:48:03 AM

I've often wondered why more use of a trailing MAD "bird" is not utilised by fixed wing aircraft. I know some naval helicopters have them but I'd have thought putting the magnetic sensor as far as possible from the aircraft would have made just as much sense for fixed wing as rotary wing.

Biggest concern would be what happens if you get a system failure and can't wind it back in prior to landing (less of an issue on a helicopter

). Is this risk worth any additional gain?

Regards,

Greg

Gondor · July 01, 2011, 01:14:50 PM

Quote from: GTX on July 01, 2011, 11:51:58 AM

Biggest concern would be what happens if you get a system failure and can't wind it back in prior to landing (less of an issue on a helicopter ). Is this risk worth any additional gain?

Regards,

Greg

Most systems will have a set of cable cutters installed for such an eventuality. Simply fly over your home airfield and "snip" the sensor falls to the ground where it can easily be recovered and the aircraft will be able to land soon after.

Gondor

GTX · July 01, 2011, 01:20:42 PM

Quote from: Gondor on July 01, 2011, 01:14:50 PM
Most systems will have a set of cable cutters installed for such an eventuality. Simply fly over your home airfield and "snip" the sensor falls to the ground where it can easily be recovered and the aircraft will be able to land soon after.

Oh, I appreciate that is possible which is why I said "Is this risk worth any additional gain?" Anything is possible, but the real question whether it is worth it.

Regards,

Greg

Hobbes · August 02, 2011, 11:42:58 AM

I've painted the aircraft (mostly, there's still some details to do), and I've been working on the torpedos.

Once I managed to produce 6 torpedos that were close to identical, I stuck them to some plastic for painting:

Here they are, installed in the weapons bay:

The next job is to scratch some JSM missiles, if I can get enough pictures to get a good idea of its shape.

Army of One · August 02, 2011, 02:39:28 PM

Loving this more an more.........

rickshaw · August 03, 2011, 02:19:25 AM

Quote from: GTX on July 01, 2011, 11:51:58 AM
Quote from: rickshaw on June 29, 2011, 06:48:03 AM

I've often wondered why more use of a trailing MAD "bird" is not utilised by fixed wing aircraft. I know some naval helicopters have them but I'd have thought putting the magnetic sensor as far as possible from the aircraft would have made just as much sense for fixed wing as rotary wing.

Biggest concern would be what happens if you get a system failure and can't wind it back in prior to landing (less of an issue on a helicopter ). Is this risk worth any additional gain?

Regards,

Greg

Increased sensitivity of the MAD system? Not sure by what factor but it would be appreciable, I'm sure. Would that be sufficient to justify it? No idea.