airfield,aircraft arrester wire systems

i know all modern Tornado airfields had RHAG’s fitted, this was in case of thrust reverser failure (a not uncommon snag!) as the mainwheel brakes weren’t man enough to stop the aircraft by themselves (they only provide something like 25% of the braking force).

That probably is the case also, but the AM did have worries about the take off and landing lengths of the new all metal, monoplane bombers. Initially this is why the arrester system was taken up. I dare say bombing of airfields was a consideration, but it would be fairly useless in that circumstance as bombs could fall near the fixed arrester gear or any where close on the runway.

I believe the bomber type arrester installations during WWII were to do with the Air Ministrys worry that take of and landing runs of the new breed of bombers were too long (even though very short by todays standards). Even airfield catapaults were trialled. In the event there wasn’t the perceived problem.

If I recall correctly, that’s actually slightly incorrect. The consideration was that there was a fairly serious risk of the airfields being bombed, and the runways being damaged. The catapult/arrestor installations were a safeguard to allow the aircraft to land and takeoff should the runways be damaged.

airfield arrester wires

thankyou everyone for these responses and many photos etc .

Hi Alan

By pure coincidence I visited the “Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre”
Museum at Tattershall Thorpe, on the B1192 south of Woodhall Spa, back in September and discovered that they have an example of this type of airfield arrester gear on display. I took a few photos (attached) – hope they are of interest. Place is well worth a visit – only a short drive north of RAF Coningsby.

I’ve also found an old shot of a Lanc with arrester hook and clearly shows arrester wires across runway. Afraid I don’t know which airfield involved.

I haven’t forgotten our other on-going pm subject – will post to your e-mail address asap.

Cheers

Richard

many thanks for posting the photos richard, i can remember seeing the winding gear inside the pit at marston moor under several feet of water ! interesting shot of the lanc too it must be a rare photo thanks again
regards

Every major RAF airfield had a RHAG (Rotary Hydraulic Arrester Gear) fitted from the late 1960s on as part of a NATO recommendation. This was to try and stop the newer breed of fast jets (Lightning, Phantom, Jaguar, Tornado) in case of emergency. St Athan has just had it’s removed and St Mawgan will have soon.
Ironically Binbrook, the final Lightning home, used barriers. These are used wherever Hawks are likely to operate from, as they arn’t strong enough for hooks.
These are very different from what Victor45 is talking about. I believe the bomber type arrester installations during WWII were to do with the Air Ministrys worry that take of and landing runs of the new breed of bombers were too long (even though very short by todays standards). Even airfield catapaults were trialled. In the event there wasn’t the perceived problem.

Hi RJA,
That Lancaster in your photo I’m pretty sure is a Manchester.

In the 1960s Edinburgh’s Turnhouse Airport was possibly the only civil airfield in the UK to have an arrestor barrier net, which was located at the 13 threshold where the Kirkliston road crossed the overrun area. This was needed because Ferranti used a variety of fast jet aircraft in radar trials and Turnhouse’s runway was not that long.

I saw a FRU Meteor TT20 entangled in the net one day.

This s the RHAAG set up at Fairford…….

I also know that there is a WWII arrester gear at East Kirkby.

Regards,

John.

I am sure there was something like this at Cosford last summer (when we were there for the airshow) and consisted of mobile installations each side of the runway.

RAF Grimsby (Waltham) also had such a system. Links to a couple of photos I took in 2005 slots in the main N/S runway, which may or may not be part of these experiments:

http://airfieldarchaeology.fotopic.net/p20793968.html
http://airfieldarchaeology.fotopic.net/p20793969.html

Also, although I don’t have a photo, Lincolnshire Aviation Hetitage Centre also have an example of the bit which did the work – cable drum, etc. but it’s not in anywhere as a goog a condition as the shots in the post above!

Chris

Marston Moor nr wetherby had this system installed but it was soon curtailed as it tore the rear fuselages off the aircraft(halis,lancs stirlings) as they werent sufficiently strengthened when arrester hooks were fitted to take the shock, were there any other airfields which had this system,i knew the clerk of works who was based at marston moor,he related this story to me some years ago,the system was basically a large undergound pit which housed the winding gear and cable reel at the runways edge the cable then travelled across the runway to two pulleys mounted in tandem ,back across the runway to another pulley and then into the main pit ,leaving the twin cables stretched across the runway very simple really .:cool: 😎 😎

I know the RAF still used a similar system for Lightnings & Phantoms as late as the early 1990’s (RAAG’s & PAAG’s)-it was almost a daily occurence for an F4 to”take a wire”,when I was based at Wattisham-it it still used anywhere or has the use of reverse thrust made the system redundant?

They mention such arrester gear at Boscombe Down Airfield
http://www.qinetiq.com/ix/defence/test_and_eval_and_training_support/singlesitefacilities/bd_facilities/airfield_services.html

AIRFIELD ARRESTER GEAR

Marston Moor nr wetherby had this system installed but it was soon curtailed as it tore the rear fuselages off the aircraft(halis,lancs stirlings) as they werent sufficiently strengthened when arrester hooks were fitted to take the shock, were there any other airfields which had this system,i knew the clerk of works who was based at marston moor,he related this story to me some years ago,the system was basically a large undergound pit which housed the winding gear and cable reel at the runways edge the cable then travelled across the runway to two pulleys mounted in tandem ,back across the runway to another pulley and then into the main pit ,leaving the twin cables stretched across the runway very simple really .:cool: 😎 😎

Hi Alan

By pure coincidence I visited the “Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre”
Museum at Tattershall Thorpe, on the B1192 south of Woodhall Spa, back in September and discovered that they have an example of this type of airfield arrester gear on display. I took a few photos (attached) – hope they are of interest. Place is well worth a visit – only a short drive north of RAF Coningsby.

I’ve also found an old shot of a Lanc with arrester hook and clearly shows arrester wires across runway. Afraid I don’t know which airfield involved.

I haven’t forgotten our other on-going pm subject – will post to your e-mail address asap.

Cheers

Richard