C-130 Rear Vision Device (Bubble)
Abstract
In the late 1970's and early 1980's, Military Airlift Command (MAC) participation in Red Flag, Maple Flag, and other exercises provided strong evidence that airlift aircraft needed a rear vision capability for early warning and defense against air-to-air attacks. The USAF Airlift Center (ALCENT) developed and tested three devices for providing rearward vision. The first device was a standard HC-130 observation door as used in search and rescue operations. The second device was a 180 degree field-of-view (FOV) bubble mounted on the cockpit overhead escape hatch. The third device was similar to the second, but it provided a 360-degree FOV. The test was titled MAC Project 15-48-81. The three devices were tested at various exercises and in special sorties against fighters from Langley AFB, Virginia. The test director also consulted members of 47 Squadron, RAF Lyneham (C-130), to benefit from their experiences with observation cupolas. The test findings, published in August 1983, confirmed that the 360-degree FOV bubble proved to be the best of the three devices for warning against air-to-air attack and for observing the attacking aircraft during evasive maneuvers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADP006255
Entities
People
- Mark Julicher