615crewdog
F-106 Qualified
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Post by 615crewdog on Dec 29, 2007 6:37:38 GMT 9
I was told once that the reason the SIX was designed with the knife edge windscreen and the steel bar down the middle of the canopy (before the bubble canopy was installed on the A) was so the pilot could survive after ramming an enemy bomber. He was to launch the genie rocket into the bomber formations then pick off the survivors using the AIM 4's. Once all ordinance was expended he would take out the next bomber using the tailhook and if there were any bombers left after all this, he was to ram the next bomber. Now I have to ask, how much of this was true and how much was BS. I worked the SIX for 8 years and I only asked 1 pilot about this and he told me he had never heard such a thing but if he ever found himself in such a situation that is actually what he would do.
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Bullhunter
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318th FIS Jet Shop 1975-78
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Post by Bullhunter on Dec 29, 2007 6:52:41 GMT 9
I think it's BS. There is something to say about RTB and rearm & refuel. Then it's possible to shoot down more aircraft. That is why during the cold war ADC had it's alert fighters spread out. SAC did the same.
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Post by Jeff Shannon on Dec 29, 2007 9:34:03 GMT 9
I think it's BS. There is something to say about RTB and rearm & refuel. Then it's possible to shoot down more aircraft. That is why during the cold war ADC had it's alert fighters spread out. SAC did the same. I agree, if it were that bad I believe more aircraft would have been launched.
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Post by Mark O on Dec 29, 2007 11:06:50 GMT 9
As far as the top frame on the canopy, I've read that it was because the technology didn't exist for a blown canopy to withstand the high mach speeds the F-106 was capable of at the time. Eventually, like everything else, the technology caught up but I suspect a lot of bitching went on about visibility and that stepped up the development and installation of the blown canopy. Just my two cents on that one....
Mark
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sixerviper
F-106 Skilled
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Post by sixerviper on Jan 5, 2008 12:53:19 GMT 9
I think the windshield design was Convair's effort to reduce drag as much as possible. That v-shaped front frame was pretty sharp, as I recall. I would think that the bubble canopy mod had the added benefit of enabling the pilot to eject through it in addition to the added visibility. I remember it took some getting used to when the modded jets came out into the field. It always looked like the canopy was missing.
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ikar
F-106 Qualified
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Post by ikar on Jan 16, 2008 9:28:58 GMT 9
I remember when one of our pilots, I won't mention who, had his front right windscreen cave inone winter at Minot. He was just about frozen bu the time he landed. Eventually he was given the part on a plaque at commander's call.
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