[sci.military] rotating bomb bays on b57

det@hawkmoon.MN.ORG (Derek E. Terveer) (12/13/90)

From: det@hawkmoon.MN.ORG (Derek E. Terveer)
I just saw a "wings" episode that mentioned that the rotating bomb bays on the
b57 aircraft allowed the plane to maintain full speed over the target during
its run.  I don't understand how the rotating bomb bays could provide that
capability over "regular" bomb bay doors -- unless the reduced drag of the
rotating design made that much of a difference in air speed.  My first
inclination would be that it wouldn't, but...

derek
-- 
Derek Terveer						det@hawkmoon.MN.ORG
Minnesota Field Hockey Association,  Nort

jtchew@csa2.lbl.gov (JOSEPH T CHEW) (12/17/90)

From: jtchew@csa2.lbl.gov (JOSEPH T CHEW)
In article <1990Dec13.033432.19357@cbnews.att.com>, det@hawkmoon.MN.ORG 
(Derek E. Terveer) writes...
>I just saw a "wings" episode that mentioned that the rotating bomb bays on the
>b57 aircraft allowed the plane to maintain full speed over the target during
>its run.  I don't understand how the rotating bomb bays could provide that
>capability over "regular" bomb bay doors -- unless the reduced drag of the
>rotating design made that much of a difference in air speed.  My first
>inclination would be that it wouldn't, but...

My first-order guess -- not enlightened by any specific knowledge about the
B-57, mind you -- is that the issue was whether the bomb-bay doors would
rip off at full speed.  I may of course be full of prunes as usual.

--Joe
"Just another personal opinion from the People's Republic of Berkeley"