f-18c/D

[dean spirkoff]

why do hornets have flat ejecter rack on the 4,5,6,7,pylons how are mers or ters  attsched.

thanks  dean

Edited January 18, 2017 by dean spirkoff

[AlienFrogModeller]

Mr. d spirkoff,

A quick explanation to help you understand the workings on pylons and ejector racks.

 

On the Hornet A/B/C/D - Stations 2-3-5-7-8 (labeled from the left to right , aft looking forward) carry Racks that can carry MERs and VERs. Back to that in a minute.

Stations 1 and 9 carry (typically) weapons or instrumentation pods of a specific/limited type. Their mass, length, radius may vary in size. In general terms something similar to the AIM-9 missile family.

Stations 4 and 6 are specific/limited as well much like the stations 1 and 9. However they can carry a larger type ordance such as the AIM-7 Sparrow family and AMRAAM family. Exception is an adaptor is avail to carry various types of FLIR pods. Such as the Sniper and Nite Hawk pods.

Back to stations 2-3-5-7-8

Stations 3-5-8 are "wet" stations can carry fuels tanks.

Stations 2-8 are dry, cannot transfer fuel, however MAY carry ext tanks for the purpose of ferry tanks to another location - rarely done.

Stations 2-3-7-8 can carry the same type of pylon - typically.

Station 5 utilizes a specific pylon for the center line. This was engineered for ground clearance, hence the height difference compared to the station 2-3-7-8 pylons.

Now back to your original questions...

"flat ejector racks" - not sure what the real intent on this question, as most ejector racks are "flat".

How are they attached by way of the BRU-32 ejector rack - there are two hooks that - when engaged rotate- one forward one aft and clip into two suspension lugs (one frw, one aft) that are on the MERs and VERS. These suspension lugs are universal and are also seen on the top side of the connection points on most air-to-ground weapons. The suspension lugs are virtually just screwed into the weapon and MERs/VERs by a few course threads. 

Most of the BRU-32 ejector racks that are in the Pylons used on stations 2-3-5-7-8 are universal/interchangeable.  Where the Weapon meets the BRU-32, for example- on the BRU-55,  is two of the very same BRU-32 ejector racks used in the pylons. So for one station that has one pylon and one BRU-55 ( or even the BRU-33 VER - Vertical Ejector Rack)) have  three  BRU-32 ejector racks.

As for the other type of ejector racks such as the MER (multiple ejector rack) typically hold more that two weapons. Typically have a different system of connecting the weapon to MER interface.

 

I would suggest a quick google for the following to see excellent pics to help you visualize the explanation.

 

Google; then select images at the top of the google results screen

BRU-55

BRU-33

VER vs MER ejector racks

BRU-32

 

Hope this helps!

 

[Joe Hegedus]

3 hours ago, AlienFrogModeller said:

 

Most of the BRU-32 ejector racks that are in the Pylons used on stations 2-3-5-7-8 are universal/interchangeable.  Where the Weapon meets the BRU-32, for example- on the BRU-55,  is two of the very same BRU-32 ejector racks used in the pylons. So for one station that has one pylon and one BRU-55 ( or even the BRU-33 VER - Vertical Ejector Rack)) have  three  BRU-32 ejector racks.

As for the other type of ejector racks such as the MER (multiple ejector rack) typically hold more that two weapons. Typically have a different system of connecting the weapon to MER interface.

 

BRU-32 is the parent station rack, in the pylon, as you note.  The ejector units in the BRU-33/55 family, though, are not BRU-32s.  They are very similar, but the BRU-32 allows 14 or 30-inch spacing of the store suspension lugs whereas the ejectors in the BRU-33/55 racks only have hooks for 14-inch spacing of the lugs.  

 

BRU-33s are either VERs (Vertical Ejector Racks) or CVERs (Canted Vertical Ejector Racks), depending on the variant of the BRU-33.  They are phyisically different in that the VER has the ejector units mounted perpendicular to the ground plane, and the CVER has the ejector units mounted so that they lean outward from each other at the bottom so that the spacing between the bombs is greater and the bombs hang with the fins rotated a bit from the "X" orientation seen on the VER.  I don't recall the exact angle the racks are set at; I've been away from that world for about 5 years now.  The CVER is also a bit wider between the ejector units than the VER.  The intent of widening and canting the ejectors was to allow some additional store types to be carried on the CVER that didn't fit on the VER. All BRU-55 racks are modified from BRU-33A/A CVER racks, and the BRU-33/A VER is no longer in USN/USMC use.  

 

Hornets may only use the BRU-41 IMER to carry small practice bombs (MK-76, BDU-48, BDU-33), LGTR, LUU-2/19 flares, or MK58 smoke markers.  Carriage of anything other than those small stores on an IMER is not authorized on any FA-18 variant. The BRU-42 ITER is only used for the TALD/ITALD decoy on FA-18A-D versions as far as I know, although I believe those stores are either out of inventory at this time or will be very soon, so there is no use for the ITER on the Hornets.

 

All secondary suspension equipment (IMERs, ITERs, VERs, CVERs, BRU-55, or any of the rack-mounted launchers such as the LAU-118 HARM launcher) are connected to the BRU-32 via suspension lugs just like a bomb would be, and connected electrically to the aircraft via an umbilical from the rack to a set of connectors in the pylon behind the BRU-32.  Most use 30-inch suspension, but certain types can be set up to use 14-inch suspension if necessary (Harriers, for example, are only capable of loading 14-inch suspension stores on their pylon racks).

 

As to why the Hornets use VERs and CVERs, they use those for the same reason earlier airplanes used the MER or TER - to allow multiple stores to be carried on a pylon.  

[AlienFrogModeller]

Nice point, and I stand corrected on the BRU-32 parent rack!  Nice pick-up Joe!