[net.columbia] taking no chances

henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer) (07/03/83)

A recent issue of Flight International had an interesting photograph.
It was one engine pylon of the 747 Shuttle Carrier, as seen on the
ground at the Paris Air Show.  The interesting part was the two little
cylinders fastened to the pylon, high up under the wing.  These are
not standard 747 equipment.  According to the caption they are infrared
jammers, for confusing heat-seeking missiles!  Seems NASA and the USAF
weren't taking any chances on somebody shooting at the Enterprise
while it was out touring the world.
-- 
				Henry Spencer
				U of Toronto
				{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!henry

alb@alice.UUCP (07/05/83)

I don't know about the infrared jammers, but the plane itself does
have an anti-missle missile system.  NASA said this, when confronted
with pictures, but would not elaborate.