Jump to content

F-8E check pylon colour? Single or y-rack


Recommended Posts

3 hours ago, airmechaja said:

I have a close up pic from the Squadron Walk Around book and the Y adapter and LAU-7 rails are white.:thumbsup:

Any of the single missile rails?

Edited by dan
Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm doing a 1967 VF-211 F-8E, in the photos here the y racks seem white but as you guys have pointed out some colour photos show them as grey or is it just the photo quality or light etc?

 

http://vf-211.my-personal.org

 

Comparing the shade of the sidewinder (which we know is white) with the rails in black and white photos makes some seem clearly white and others grey. The angle of light on to the pylon makes a difference to.

Edited by dan
Link to post
Share on other sites

If I may;

 

The pylon's (adapters) would be grey and the launchers would be white.

 

Reasoning: The launchers are not aircraft specific (i.e. restricted to a certain aircraft type) so they would be painted in the most common camouflage color it would be next to, white. The adapters (Y Racks and single launcher adapters) were aircraft specific so they would be painted in the surrounding camouflage color of the aircraft.

 

Bear in mind, neither the launchers or the adapters (basically, all of the ordnance gear except the guns) were "owned" by the squadron, they were really owned by the Intermediate Level Maintenance activity (i.e. AIMD) and "loaned" to the squadron. The gear was turned in on regular intervals and the squadron is issued a different piece of gear, thus the reason why they were not painted to the aircraft specific camouflage scheme.

 

Were there variations, yes, but norm was white launchers and grey pylons/adapters.

 

Just my .$02, ymmv

Link to post
Share on other sites

In addition to above both Zuni launchers in the pic i posted are white, or originally were, the lower one looks to have more firings along with more handling and thus is more weathered.

 

edit: if you want a change of pace you can go 1 Y rack and 1 single rail:

 

f8ucrusaderdanang.jpg

 

Jari

Edited by Finn
Link to post
Share on other sites
23 hours ago, picknpluck said:

The LAU-7 and Y rack are clearly white in this pic

 

4DUiSwh.jpg

This picture is from the early 60's, they are still using ropes to tie down aircraft.

 

What time frame are we talking, I was thinking Vietnam (65) and later.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Cheer for the photos and info guys. Given the fact there is some variation I think the default is grey adaptors and white rails unless photos of the specific aircraft suggest otherwise. So in the case of VF -211 in 1967 it will be all white y-racks.

 

http://vf-211.my-personal.org/scan0018.JPG

 

http://vf-211.my-personal.org/scan0019.JPG

 

Edited by dan
Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...