Piloting an AC-130 Spectre

Jay Honeck wrote: brevity snip
In order to keep the weapons on target, I would think that you'd have
to hold altitude accurately, too, and your "track" would need to be
smooth enough so that the computers could figure deflection accurately.

The capabilities of weapons systems boggle the mind. When I was an
army FO/FAC (70's) it was rumored an 8-inch tracked howitzer could put
2 rounds into the same hole. Probably exaggeration, but not beyond the
realm of possibility.

FDC's (fire direction centers) used to compute the the trajectories -by
hand-, including temperature, humidity, surface wind, winds aloft,
differences in elevation between the gun and target and the rotation of
the earth for the duration of the round flight. A good FO could "Fire
For Effect" and put "steel on target" the third round, but not without
estimating the effect of the adjustment gun's hot barrel as opposed to
the other gun's cold barrels.

I only adjusted navy guns in training but they were, by far, the most
accurate... while floating and rocking in the sea. How... I have no
idea.

With GPS and computer-controlled guns factored into the equation, if it
can be seen, it can be destroyed. I imagine Spooky pilots might not
have to fly much of an attack at all, but I would -love- to hear what
actually goes on.

I've seen video from the FLIR camera of a night attack on "personnel in
the open" using the smaller cannons and the helplessness of the targets
was truly pitiful. One second they were there going about their
business, the next few seconds they were converted to pink mist. There
was -no chance- for escape.
-----

- gpsman

Richard Riley wrote:
In the latest version all the cannons are trainable - they aren't
fixed anymore. The pilot keeps the target in sight, the weapons
officers do the actual targeting.

They've also moved from the 7.62 and 20 mm gattling guns to 30 mm
cannons. A much lower rate of fire, but each impact is huge.

The Spooky's night & all-weather capability makes visual targeting
unnecessary.

A quick search showed the new AC-130U has a trainable 25mm Gatling-type
cannon and a single 40mm Bofors mount in addition to the 105mm
howitzer. All the guns can be slaved to sensors for fire control, so
when the aicraft is orbiting (autopilot?) the FC computer is making all
the corrections as the radar is tracking outgoing 40 & 105 rounds and
the low light TV & infrared sensor allows visual verification. My guess
is a platform that sophisticated probably has an autopilot interface
with the FC computer so the pilot doesn't have to yaw the plane to
adjust the gun's aim point.

("Jay Honeck" wrote)
The recent obliteration of the Somali chapter of Al Queda by an AC-130
gunship (See http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ac-130.htm if you
don't know what one looks like) got me wondering how, exactly, one
would pilot such a craft during an attack.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16576458/
Ooooh, so close.

Would you like to take another shot at winning your gal that big stuffed
Teddy Bear? All it takes to "win" is ONE BBBBILLION dollars. Who'll play.
Who's next? How 'bout you fella?


Montblack

The FAA commercial maneuver known as Turns On A Point. It
is done by using pivotal altitude.



"Montblack" wrote
in message ...
| ("Jay Honeck" wrote)
| The recent obliteration of the Somali chapter of Al
Queda by an AC-130
| gunship (See
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ac-130.htm if you
| don't know what one looks like) got me wondering how,
exactly, one
| would pilot such a craft during an attack.
|
|
| http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16576458/
| Ooooh, so close.
|
| Would you like to take another shot at winning your gal
that big stuffed
| Teddy Bear? All it takes to "win" is ONE BBBBILLION
dollars. Who'll play.
| Who's next? How 'bout you fella?
|
|
| Montblack
|
|

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message


I notice you didn't take issue with any of my assertions.

....Just as you chose not to address any of Jay's actual questions. As usual,
you take any opportunity to spout anti-Bush/anti-military rhetoric. Really,
it's OK. It's part of your persona we've come to expect.

--
John T
http://sage1solutions.com/blogs/TknoFlyer
Reduce spam. Use Sender Policy Framework: http://openspf.org
____________________

Jim Macklin wrote:
The FAA commercial maneuver known as Turns On A Point. It
is done by using pivotal altitude.

and using pitch to adjust for wind. A fun and rewarding maneuver.

So, what is pivotal altitude for AC-130 flying at what? 200+? knots

The faster, the higher, the better, I would guess.



"Montblack" wrote
in message ...
| ("Jay Honeck" wrote)
| The recent obliteration of the Somali chapter of Al
Queda by an AC-130
| gunship (See
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ac-130.htm if you
| don't know what one looks like) got me wondering how,
exactly, one
| would pilot such a craft during an attack.
|
|
| http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16576458/
| Ooooh, so close.
|
| Would you like to take another shot at winning your gal
that big stuffed
| Teddy Bear? All it takes to "win" is ONE BBBBILLION
dollars. Who'll play.
| Who's next? How 'bout you fella?
|
|
| Montblack
|
|

In article ,
Bill Watson wrote:

It's going to get bloody in here.... Jay, there's a lot of descriptive
stuff written about this setup and lot's of action stories. I"m sure
people will hook you up. But I always had to turn away from those
stories - even though it's not the most effective, high tech weapon out
there, it is the epitome of high explosive terrorism from the air. Naw,
cluster bombs sound worse.

Objectively, it's not always clear who the biggest terrorists are. So
let's pick up that bloody flag and wave it some more.

Objectively, the terrorists attacked civilians in our own country, via
methods unlawful even in warfare. Had they not done this, we would not
be there.

They take their families along with them and hide behind civilians,
daring us to shoot.

They want to commit terror -- we can (and will) show them what *REAL*
terror is! Mullah Omar reputedly remarked that he was surprised at the
fury of our response to 9/11. Let them know that it is really not a good
idea to pull on a tiger's tail!

AOPA Online Instructor Reports - Pivotal Altitude Explained
....
Pivotal altitude depends on groundspeed. The faster
the groundspeed, ... To estimate pivotal altitude, square
the groundspeed and then divide by 15 if you ...
http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications...fm?article=226
- 26k - Cached - Similar pages

To estimate pivotal altitude, square the groundspeed
and then divide by 15 if you use mph, or 11.3 if you prefer
knots.
That will provide a starting altitude. For example,
100 mph times 100 equals 10,000, divided by 15 equals 666
feet approximate
pivotal altitude. A groundspeed of 95 mph results in a
pivotal altitude of 600 feet.
Hence, traveling at 100 mph on the fast side, pivotal
altitude is 666 feet. On the slower side-the side into the
wind-95 mph results in a
pivotal altitude that is 60 feet lower than the fast
side.


Using mph 200^2 is 40,000/15 equals 2666.66 and 300 needs
6,000 feet. A Cub is down around 500 feet. But 200 knots
gives 3539 feet and 300 knots needs 7965, high about small
arms, but still range of shoulder fired missiles.

Of course the C-130 can carry the Daisy Cutter and MOAB to
really clear the area.




"Bill Watson" wrote in message
...
| Jim Macklin wrote:
| The FAA commercial maneuver known as Turns On A Point.
It
| is done by using pivotal altitude.
|
| and using pitch to adjust for wind. A fun and rewarding
maneuver.
|
| So, what is pivotal altitude for AC-130 flying at what?
200+? knots
|
| The faster, the higher, the better, I would guess.
|
|
|
| "Montblack"
wrote
| in message ...
| | ("Jay Honeck" wrote)
| | The recent obliteration of the Somali chapter of Al
| Queda by an AC-130
| | gunship (See
| http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ac-130.htm if you
| | don't know what one looks like) got me wondering
how,
| exactly, one
| | would pilot such a craft during an attack.
| |
| |
| | http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16576458/
| | Ooooh, so close.
| |
| | Would you like to take another shot at winning your
gal
| that big stuffed
| | Teddy Bear? All it takes to "win" is ONE BBBBILLION
| dollars. Who'll play.
| | Who's next? How 'bout you fella?
| |
| |
| | Montblack
| |
| |
|
|

Les Matheson is frequently on rec.aviation.military. He was an EWO
(Electronic Warfare Officer) on AC-130s for awhile, I'm sure he could answer
your question about how the pilots fly the plane during the attack. Try
posting your question there.
Scott Wilson

Of course the C-130 can carry the Daisy Cutter and MOAB to
really clear the area.

The what?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"