Air Force the Official Service Journal - Air Force Historical Studies ...

High Intensity Controlled Lighting
for Airdromes
Concentrated incandescent lights with enough candlepower
to penetrate through several hundred feet of ground
fog, haze, snow and other weather hazards that hamper final
instrumcnt approaches and radio let-downs arc heing used
by the AAf in its newest runway lighting system. These
lights enable incoming pilots to sec the outline of the field
approach and the rlll1\\'ay at the critical time when proxim itv
of the ground is likely to disturb the accuracy of instrument
readings. '
This equipment, developed by thc lighting unit of \\fright
Field's Equipment Laboratorv and tested in cooperation with
the Navy Department Bureau of Aeronautics, is in usc at
more than a score of Arm\-;'\;I\T installations in thc Aleutians,
Ncwfouncllaud and the European Theater of Operat
ions, It also has been approved for lISC at permanent statious
on rumvays having instrument approach facilities.
The individual lights arc dome-shaped units with t\vo
lenses, One concentrates the light in a vertical beam, the
other directs a high-intensity beam approximately parallel to
the runway in the angles of approach. A reflector strengthem
the main beam by redirecting r.ivs that otherwise would he
lost. Reflections from fog or water particles that might prevent
the pilot from seeing
other lights farther along the
rO\\"S arc grcath' lessened bv
restricting stra~' light to a
Red
Y.llow
Clear
Clear
lights o.... n in1
firs. approach.
• Red
~---
CI.or
Clear
Y.llow'
• Red. • •Red
tLi9hh os seen in
opposite approach.
OCTOBER,1944
l l l l l l l ll l 11m .
Ruuw.iv, approach and caution
light markers have color
screens between the inner and
outer lenses that retain color
cl.uitv when \ie\H:d throlH.;h
the halo of other colored
lights.
Five brightness settings permit
iutcusification of the light
wh c n visibility decreases,
(Continued 011 ;-\cxt Page)
Installation plan (left) for IIC\\'
lights whirh mark [(111\\';1\' and its
approaches whcu visibilirv is 1011".
Inner and outer lenses of l.uup
nnit ("elo\\) direct light bc.uu .
vcrt icallv and at approach angle.
A tow release indicator is being tested for glider tow-planes. It
tells the pilot if tow release mechanism -is properly locked, indicates
when the tow rope has been dropped .... A light steel cable with
a special safety link hook for attachment may be used to pull
heavy gliders .... All-wood, DH-Mosquitoes, built in Canada, are
being designated F-8 photo ships for the AAF. Camera equipment
consists of two K.17 or K-22 aerial cameras with 12-inch special
lens ... K.IO aerial cameras have been modified for night photography
to include an electric winding mechanism with a two-second
CYcle, a 12-inch shutter taken from a K-17 camera, a seven-andone-hall-inch,
f/2.5 lens and a K-I9B Camera photo-electric system.
for shutter operation. Cameras are to be used for night photography.
To speed up feed and ejection operations on the 20 mm cannon,
a link loader has been adapted to T-14 feed mechanisms. The
loader has separate guides for 11 links and 10 cartridges, a loading
bar and handle .... Work is in progress to reduce vibration in guo
camera mounts of fighters eliminating blurred photos. . . . Redesigned
D-6, D-7 and D.S bomb shackles provide for caution
release, even when bomb tail fuzes are attached only by a single
wire, a condition which previously resulted in a hazardous operation
to release the bomb completely from the airplane.
In P-5ID airplanes the pyrotechnic flare container has been
changed to eliminate the possibility of detonation by the pilot's
foot when entering the cockpit. . .. Versatility of wing and
fuselage tanks was initiated by installing small seal-tight doors,
making it possible to carry baggage and supplies in lieu of gasoline •
. . . A tougher, harder liquid coating is being applied to external
auxiliary tanks made of plastic materials to help make them puncture
proof against flying pebbles or stones kicked up by the aircraft
wheels during taxiing.
Being built for test purposes are a gigantic static and dynamic
test laboratory capable of testing aircraft in the 200,OOO-pound
category, new high-altitude pressure chambers that simulate cold
temperatures as well as low pressures and a pressurized, coldtemperature
10-foot wind-tunnel, the first of its kind in the world.
. . . A new flight analyzer for flight tests makes a permanent record
of altitude, air speed and vertical acceleration; may replace the
old barographs as pilot checkers. An electric spark passing between
a recording stylus and a metallic backed paper chart, burns a black
line. to indicate an aircraft's various maneuvers during a test ...•
Aviation goggles are being improved for wear with A-14 oxygen
masks and the three service gas masks .... Antenna masts made of
plastic materials are under study and may replace some of the light
metal masts now in use.
A new, tougher, braided fishing line may go into emergency kits
carried by men forced down at sea. . . . Sample blackout shades
made of satin have been installed on some aircraft. ... Back type
parachutes may get a new form-fitting ~exible back stiffener todefeat
complaints that present types lose their stiffness .... An
ice grip casing has been tested and approved for 27" airplane tires
permitting improved take-off and landing characteristics on icy sur.
faces. Of metal, grips are glued to rubber casing by a new method
of adhesion.
New electrically retractable landing lights with improved slidings
contact and cover assembly arc being fittcd for bombers .... A
direct reading gasoline gauge of the metal float tvpe mav be installed
in B-24 bomb bay tanks to replace intricate "second-hand"
indicators .... Dropped as no longer needed, have been experiments
with various mock-ups used for ditching trainers.
43