Project 5.4.— In-Flight Participation of a B-57B - lst Lt, Harold M. Wells Jr OBJECTIVE The objective of this project is to measure the effects of a nuclear detonation on an in-flight B-57 aircraft. Recorded data will be used to verify or correct the B-57 Weapons Delivery Handbook, In addition, the project will provide basic research data for design criteria of future USAF aircraft. INSTRUMENTATION For thelied(cirerone shot, the B-57 was instrumented with approximately 220 channels to record blast, gust and thermal effects to the aircraft. Instrumentation consisted of strain gages, termocouctes, calorimeters, radiometers, pressure gages, and various other transducers. It was planned to position the B-57 in a position corresponding to approximately 80-85 per cent limit load on the critical member of the aircraft. AIRCRAFT POSITION IN SPACE The planned position of the B-57 was on an in-bound heading of 105°T, 42,000 feet absolute altitude, with a horizontal offset of 5,000 feet southwest to be abreast of ground zero at H-110 seconds. The horizontal range of the aircraft at T, was to be 80,750 feet. RESULTS J None, The B-57 aircraft aborted on thelMMEN (CHEROKEE) shot. The B~57 aircraft was to be positioned and tracked by the Raydist Navigation System, and shortly after take-off, all Raydist signals from Eniwetok Relay Station were lost. . COPIED/Dg LANL Re e Raydist could not maintain positive