g A MOHAWK ) Project 5.6 ~ In-Flight Participation of an F-101A - Capt. M, H. Lewin OBJECTIVE The objective of Project 5.6 is to determine the responses of an in-flight F-101A aircraft to the thermal blast and gust effects of a nuclear detonation, A correlation of the responses, combined with known character- istics of any weapon, will be used to define the maximum safe delivery capability of the aircraft, INSTPUMENTATION The aircraft was instrumented with radiometers, calorimeters and pressure transducers to measure the *hermal and blast inputs and with strain gages, thermocouples and various other instruments to measure the aircraft response to the inputs, For this shot, the aircraft was positioned to theoretically receive a AT of 350°F on the 0,020" skin covered honeycomb surfaces based on the positioning yield and the on-time position. aircraft was to be flown at supersonic speed. The It was expected that it would out run the shock, thus gathering no gust data, AIRCRAFT POSITION IN SPACE The aircraft was to fly at 21,500 feet absolute altitude on an inbound heading of O40° at a ground speed of 1170 fps. It was planned that the air- craft would be beyond ground zero at a distance of 8500 feet at time zero, Actual shot position was 470 feet short and 280 fect to the right of the planned position. The aircraft out ran the shock, RESULTS Damage Raydome Sample: The black rain erosion coating was scorched U |