Question about F-15C ordnance, please

[Bennygman]

Hi all, very quick one.

 

Does anyone know wht the things are that look like finless AMRAAMS that go on the outside of the fuel tank pylons? I though they might be ballast/dummy missiles for weight purposes?

 

e.g. here

 

Thanks,

Steve.

 

[NealParkes]

I’d say dummy rounds. Any pictures to help out identifying them?

 

 

[Murph]

They're ballasted shapes that simulate the weight and drag of the real missile to familiarize the pilot with what effect live missiles would have on maneuvering.  The same thing was done with the AIM-7, when that was the primary armament of the F-15A/C, except they were invariably mounted on the forward intake stations, because that had the greatest effect on handling.

 

Regards,

Murph

[exdraken]

26 minutes ago, Murph said:

They're ballasted shapes that simulate the weight and drag of the real missile to familiarize the pilot with what effect live missiles would have on maneuvering.  The same thing was done with the AIM-7, when that was the primary armament of the F-15A/C, except they were invariably mounted on the forward intake stations, because that had the greatest effect on handling.

 

Regards,

Murph

only weight representatives? no working radar in order to practice lock on procedures like for the Aim-9s?

[Murph]

3 hours ago, exdraken said:

only weight representatives? no working radar in order to practice lock on procedures like for the Aim-9s?

Nope, purely for the weight and secondarily to give the weapons troops some practice in uploading and downloading.  The AIM-7 shapes, for instance, had a marked effect on the ability to point the nose in a slow speed fight, as you would expect when you add 1,000 pounds forward of the CG.  There's no reason to use them for anything other than weight, since a radar missile provides no cockpit feedback, unlike an IR missile.

 

Regards,

Murph

Edited October 29, 2018 by Murph

[Bennygman]

Excellent, thanks Murph. Very much appreciated.

 

Steve.