On Wed, 12 Nov 2003 17:47:36 GMT, Ed Rasimus wrote:

On Wed, 12 Nov 2003 11:11:56 -0600, Alan Minyard
wrote:

On Wed, 12 Nov 2003 04:00:33 GMT, "Pete" wrote:


"Pete" wrote


A general rule for missiles might be:
Ejector racks next/on the fuselage
Rails away from the fuselage. underwing and wingtip.

And of course, to any "general rule", there is an exception.

A-7
Little pylons w/ rails, mounted to the fuselage.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/a-7-dvic154.jpg

Pete

As with the F-8 and F-104

Al Minyard

Certainly the F-8 mounted AIM-9s on fuselage pylons, but don't think
you'll find any Zippers with such. Strictly wing-tip mounts as I
recall.

I don't think there's a "general rule" for rail vs ejector. Certainly
free-fall weapons are ejector released, predominantly to insure clear
and immediate separation from the airframe.

Missiles, it seems, depend upon the size. Smaller missiles tend toward
rail mount since they obtain an initial stabilized vector from their
launch run. Larger missiles, with a larger impulse motor, seem to lean
toward ejector release with an umbilical that allows for motor fire
once clear of the airframe. Examples would be the large AGM-12C
Bullpup (ejector) compared to the AGM-12B (rail). Or, the AGM-45
Shrike (rail) compared to the AGM-78 Standard (ejector).

There was a seldom used set of rails that mounted on the C/L just aft
or the front gear door. I don't think they were used operationally, but
they did exist.

Al Minyard