Anti flash question

[wombat]

One of those random thoughts that pop into your head - V bombers had anti flash white and window blinds. presumably the White went with the switch to low level, so how was it decided it was no longer needed. And what were the guys in fast jets with we177s supposed to do without blinds? Or did they have to rely on the old eyepatch?

[Lancbuilder219]

In Buccaneers, the delivery was an 'over the shoulder toss' which meant the aircraft was going flat out at low level away from the area. All office lights were turned up full and anti flash lighting turned on (to help the crew see after the flash).

I think US crews had special goggles that had lead / zirconium lenses that went dark as a reaction to the flash.

[Kes]

Antiflash white was for altitude bombing, once Soviet SAMs became sophisticated enough to become a serious threat low level under the radar and wraparound disruptive camouflage began??

. . . Kes

[MikeC]

When the V-bombers first went low-level the first camouflage was grey/green on top, the white was retained underneath.

[robvulcan]

As well as the altitude I have alwas assumed it was something to do with the weapon types being carried.

For example when the early V Bombers such as the Vulcan B1 and Victor B1 came on the scene the weapons where free fall so there is a good chance the aircraft might be in the radiation zone I assume.

Later on with the B2 versions they moved to low level despite having wings developed for even higher altitudes than the B1 version as said due to new anti aircraft technologies. But further to this I believe the Blue Steel Missile could be launched from about 100 miles of the target giving the bomber escape time and I guess the anti flash paint was no longer so important.

The development of the Vulcan and Victor would have been to missile carriers rather than conventional Bombers carrying Skybolt missiles and then the Vulcan B3.

There was even a proposal for the vulcan to Carry Gnats under wing as a parasite fighter to drop Into the air near a target location.

The early camo scheme did use a special formulation of paint to later on and did look quite different as well as being gloss.

Also many later B2s where delivered in camo and where never white.

From what I remember of being in the cockpits of a few Vulcans the window covers where black. Possibly leather I think.

Cheers Rob

[wombat]

What I've never been clear on is what the odds were of being blinded by someone else's bucket of sunshine while you were merrily on the to/back from dropping yours.

I remember reading about one of the later astronauts, possibly Mike Collins, while in USAF Germany having a time on target according to the warplan 30 seconds before a Thor would land in the vicinity.

[wyverns4]

IIRC, (NBC instructor in a different life, ), The white anti-flash finish had nothing to do with what most consider the radiation produced by a bucket 'o sunshine going pop, (Alpha and Beta particles and Gamma rays, (5% of released energy IIRC)), but with the thermal radiation released, (30-45% of the energy released IIRC). Simply put, dark colours, (those with a low albedo), absorb thermal radiation, whilst lighter colours, (high albedo), reflect them. Thus the white anti-flash finish with markings and stencils in pale colours was designed to reduce the thermal radiation stress on the airframe from any nearby detonations.

A clear demonstration of this can be found by Googling and looking for thermal radiation burns on survivors. There are several where the casualty was wearing a light coloured kimono with a dark pattern. The dark pattern can be clearly recognised on the body as a distinctive burn.

TOT -30s before a Thor lands would make for an interesting day...

Again, IIRC, the Tonka Toy crews were issued with the eye-patch MK I to be worn when the final moment came, "All crews to cockpit" and awaited all.

Christian, exiled to africa