Newbie questions Rail / Ejector launchers

Pete wrote:

"AL" wrote in message ...


Hi,


Here is a newbie question.

What are the merits and the pitfalls of rail vs ejector launchers
for guided missiles? I suppose bombs have to be ejector launched and
rockets rail.

Whenever I visit an airshow, I ended up scratching my head.



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

Ejector racks kick the missile out from the fuselage to get out of the
airflow, to clear other protuberances (other missiles, etc) and also to
limit the burn effects from the missile motor.

Consider if the F-4/Sparrow were on rails. The front missile can't launch
without burning the aft missile, and the aft missile can't launch because
the front missile is in the way.
(Not counting the fact that two of the fins are recessed into the fuselage,
and the missile body itself is in a slight recess)

Pete




So a AIM-9 when mounted on the fuselage willl be ejector launched or are
they limited by design?

--
AL
New anti-terrorism tool, "Fly naked"
http://www.alfredivy.per.sg

So a AIM-9 when mounted on the fuselage willl be ejector launched or are
they limited by design?

All AIM-9's are rail launched. Fuselage mounting of one would require a
short pylon and a rail attached to it.

"Bob Martin" wrote in message
...
So a AIM-9 when mounted on the fuselage willl be ejector launched or are
they limited by design?

All AIM-9's are rail launched. Fuselage mounting of one would require a
short pylon and a rail attached to it.

A-7
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/a-7-dvic154.jpg

Pete

"Pete" wrote in message
...

"Bob Martin" wrote in message
...
So a AIM-9 when mounted on the fuselage willl be ejector launched or
are
they limited by design?

All AIM-9's are rail launched. Fuselage mounting of one would require a
short pylon and a rail attached to it.

A-7
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/a-7-dvic154.jpg

Looks like it fits the discription well, doesn't it.

"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

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

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).

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.

The Zipper can carry them on the wing-tips, as you stated, but also on a
double belly pylon, just in front of the main gear doors.

_____________
José Herculano

The F104G had a double rail pylon (2xAIM9s) that could be mounted on
the center fuselage station. I don't know if the C had the same
capability. FWIW USAF experimented with a 104A carrying a Genie (MB1)
nuke rocket on an extendable rail hung on a center fuselage station. I
think the problem was lack of precise ranging information for an
accurate launch. (Glad they didn't do it - nukes were always a PITA.)
Walt BJ

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