I do remember reading how a Bomber Command pilot could see 4000lb ‘cookie’ bombs exploding in the channel on the way to the target, jettisoned by crews who were desperate to gain the safety of additional height. I can’t remember who it was (Don Bennett?) but his speculation was that other parts of the bomb-loads were being jettisoned ‘safe’ in similar manner but that the ‘cookie’ couldn’t be dropped safe as it would explode when it hit the sea…..whether it was ‘armed’ or not.

Makes you wonder why they had (three) fuses at all! :confused:

Anyway, the point being that Bomber Command aircraft could ‘arm’ bombs in the air without access to the bomb-bay.

I’m new to this forum but that is easy to answer/explain. The black object shown earlier is known as a “Fuzing Unit”. Internally it functions much the same a retractable tape measure would. The fuzing unit was normally in the safe/unarmed mode which allows the fuzing wire (steel bowden cable similar to that on bike brakes) to be withdraw against spring tension. When bombs were released live, the drum would be locked by a solenoid (when fuzing is selected) and the locked system arms the fuze by removing its safety device which is retained until landing. If dropped is a safe condition (no fuzing selected), the fuzing wire is pulled out of the fuzing unit and is lost with the weapon. Although we are talking WW2 era, similar fuzing units remained in use in most bomber aircraft up to and including the V bombers.

It was still extant among the dismantled Hunter F.5 airframes lined up near the fatigue testing tanks at Farnborough in 1965; it stood out due to its duck egg green colour scheme.

I have a feeling, but stand to be corrected, that those Hunters were destroyed in ballistics testing at places like Foulness.

I remember seeing it at Farnborough during one display year (I was young then) and I clearly remember the pale green finish. Might even have a pic (B/W) somewhere in my attic.

Hmmm…never seen a Harrier drop tank…but have seen Russian FAB-250 air dropped bombs…and that thing is the spitting image of one…the blue ring around the nose denotes inert/drill round. I hope.

+1 As Clouseau would say… “it’s a berm”

Not sure that Russia et al comply with the NATO Colour Coding regulations though! Perhaps it’s described as a drop-tank because he can’t use the “berm” word?

In view of my first post on this thread which was pulled to bits by the experts it becomes harder to make any comment which is not going to be up to the standards they require. Within the next few months an ex Luftwaffe F4F will fly in to Scampton. Boyle F4F Luftwaffe.

Would that be why something has been registered as ZK848?

:confused:

Er gentlemen. Before the flamewar really gets going. I would like to see if they get a Jag flying again. As for the paint scheme.
If they choose their own, it’s their money so be it. If I had the choice it would be in II(A/C) colours. That’s just a preference.

Who needs paint?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]238142[/ATTACH]

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/121659819413?

HUD from a Spitfire! Bargain price too.

And with its NATO stock number on the box!

May not be a “personal” ID tag but could be a tag used as a receipt token for loaned equipment.

Avdel 1/8″ open and closed – ex-Lightning!