ACMI loadouts on F-18s

[Supertom]

Hey guys,

If an F-18 has an ACMI pod mounted on the port wingtip, would there be anything mounted on the starboard wingtip, like a training round?

And if so, would the training round be a blue body or a gray body with blue stripes? I'm thinking current day F-18C's.

[Dave Williams]

Usually a Sidewinder acquisition round. Aside from helping with the balance, you need the round to cue you that you are locked onto the source if you are engaging in ACM training.

[Supertom]

Thanks Dave!

So an acquisition round is just a dummy round with an active seeker head, right?

And speaking of which, I've seen pictures where it's all-blue with white fins, and all-grey with blue stripes. Which would be more appropriate?

Edited March 9, 2006 by Supertom

[Joe Hegedus]

Thanks Dave!

So an acquisition round is just a dummy round with an active seeker head, right?

And speaking of which, I've seen pictures where it's all-blue with white fins, and all-grey with blue stripes. Which would be more appropriate?

Currently, I'd say a blue missile body with gray wings would be appropriate. The guidance section and canards would be as for a live missile.

[Supertom]

Thanks Joe and Other Dave! Well it looks like now it's down to choosing whichever looks better aesthetically on the model then. Watch the forums for the completed build!

[mrvark]

One other small point. On a legacy Hornet (i.e., A-D) with a TACTS or LATR pod (that's what the Navy pods are actually called; ACMI is an Air Force system) on one wing tip, the opposite wingtip can only be empty (launcher only) or have a CATM-9 loaded. Launchable Sidewinders (or another pod) are not permitted--so no brown band on that missile!

[Supertom]

Thanks Jim!

[Finn]

To add some more info to this subject, on the CF-18B when a P4 pod, as we called the ACMI, was loaded on a wingtip station, the other rail had to have something on it for balance. Usually a CATM or a DATM and sometimes another P4.

Jari

[A6BSTARM]

Here is a couple shots of F-18's with a TACTS pod and a CATM-9

[HokieSNFO]

I see Legacy Hornets coming through NAS Pensacola all the time, enroute to Key West. Some have TACTS pods and CATM-9s (and usually 3 drop tanks), while others just have a TACTS pod OR a CATM-9 (and 3 drop tanks). All the CATM-9's I can remember have been the previously mentioned blue and white.

HTH,

Mike

[GreyGhost]

Same difference! (insert your own smiley face here because I hate emoticons)

Here ya go Dave ...

:D

Gregg

PS, good info on the ACM training Hornets fellas !!! ;)