Folks,
I thought some member would find these old brochures that Oerlikon sent me in the mid 1980s of interest. The SURA-D is still in production and very popular and because of its fixed fin design and fluted nozzle is extremely accurate. Note its unique design for mounting rows of the rockets on the aircraft. Also, the SURA-FL has been replaced by the SURA-D which adds flutes to the rocket motor nozzle to give it rotation in flight for added stability till the rocket reaches full acceleration. The SNORA is no longer in production in Switzerland. Italy has used the design for an advance 81mm rocket. The Swiss and Italian engineers solved the #1 problem of fold fin rockets, which was all the fins not snapping in place immediately after leaving the launch tube. It only takes one mal-function to send the rocket who knows where. I have talked to both fast mover (fixed wing) and slow mover (fixed and rotary) pilots of the Vietnam era. The fast movers were extremely disappointed in the 2.75 inch fold fin rocket (ie a few pilots got lost to impacts with their own rockets). The slow movers though it was the best. Note the large photo of the SNORA rocket. Look at the fins. You will notice one powerful spring for each rocket, which snaps it into place against a ridged block on the back of the missile in front of the nozzle exit. About every fold fin rocket has now adopted this feature. Whether air or land launched.
Jack E. Hammond
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OERLIKON type SURA-FL Brochure – click photos below for full size
OERLIKON type SNORA Brochure – click photos below for full size
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By: jackehammond - 29th December 2009 at 20:24
Thanks for that. The pictures of the rockets on the Hunter (my fav fighter of all times) made my day.
Have seen this arrangement of rockets on many fighters in the 1960s, but never close ups of how it all worked. The interlocking of the fins and the sliding holder is incredibly simple and clever at the same time.
The picture of the C182 made me laugh, I dont think Cessna had that in mind.
This post would be well received in the “Historic” section of the forum too!
Dear Member,
I have seen a photo of the Irish Army AF C182 fitted with a MATRA pod under each wing with each pod hold 18 of those tiny 37mm SNEB rockets for internal security.
I also have the brochures that Thomas-Brant(sp?) sent me on their air to ground weapons, like the 68mm rocket and the BAT-100 the first dedicated anti-runway weapon used in combat (ie and no folks the stories about the Israelis dribbler bomb in 1967 was disinformation). Will post those in time. Hopefully Key Publishing is archiving these postings as they promised, so after I and others are gone, those with just interest and researching can find the info. Like people can find stuff from way back on FLIGHT magazines.
Jack E. Hammond
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By: slipperysam - 28th December 2009 at 11:56
Thanks for that. The pictures of the rockets on the Hunter (my fav fighter of all times) made my day.
Have seen this arrangement of rockets on many fighters in the 1960s, but never close ups of how it all worked. The interlocking of the fins and the sliding holder is incredibly simple and clever at the same time.
The picture of the C182 made me laugh, I dont think Cessna had that in mind.
This post would be well received in the “Historic” section of the forum too!
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December 28, 2009 at 10:42 am