CHAPTER 10 SUSPENSION, ARMING, AND RELEASING EQUIPMENT

CHAPTER 10 SUSPENSION, ARMING, AND RELEASING EQUIPMENT The Navy uses complex suspension, arming, and releasing devices in combat aircraft and weapons. The high speed and performance of potential targets and our own aircraft require the electronic operation of suspension, arming, and releasing equipment. The equipment covered in this chapter is part of the aircraft search or kill stores systems. Generally, these devices operate electrically and are controlled by aircraft electrical circuits. They are actuated manually by a hand switch or automatically by a circuit-closing device in the system. BOMB RACKS LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify the purpose and use of bomb racks. Recognize the bomb racks used for various configurations, and identify the operation of bomb racks to include electrical and manual release and arming. Aircraft bombs, torpedoes, mines, and other stores are suspended internally or externally from the aircraft by bomb racks. Bomb racks carry, arm, and release stores. AERO 65A SERIES BOMB RACK Aero 65A bomb racks are used to suspend, selectively arm, and release 1,000-pound class stores. These stores have suspension hooks spaced 14 inches apart. When used with the Aero 1A adapter assembly, you can suspend weapons/stores with lugs spaced 30 inches apart and weighing up to 2,000 pounds. Some Aero 65A bomb rack models are pylon mounted to the wing stations of the P-3C aircraft. Aero 65A series bomb racks (fig. 10-1) consist of a frame. Mounted inside the frame are an electrical release unit, two arming solenoids, two hook assemblies (spaced 14 inches apart), a manual release cable assembly, a release linkage assembly, a hook tie linkage assembly, and a cable assembly. The frame is a U-shaped, alloy steel channel. It has holes at both ends so you can mount it in an aircraft or attach Aero 1A adapter assemblies. Access holes in the frame let you visually verify that the hook closing is latched. These holes let you insert the safety pin, cocking lever, and hoist bracket. The electrical release unit is a spring-loaded plunger. It is mechanically cocked and electrically released to provide the force that initiates hook release. Figure 10-1.—Cutaway view of a typical Aero 65A bomb rack. 10-1