Evening star., 1949-10-09

non- uecnnlcal terms, not on the
basis of what may be available in
the future, but with specific ref
erence to equipment which we
have actually operated.
AS for radar problem-at the
Naval air test center we get good
results in detecting, tracking and
controlling jet fighters-at alti-
tudes we'll above 10000 feet-with
radar equipment that is four years
old-and without any special elec-
tronic aids in the planes. Be-
cause the B-36 is a vastly more
favorable target than these jet
fighters, we expect even better re-
suits against it. From our expert
ence we see no grounds for the
statement that the B-36 can 60
undetected in enemy territoy,
simply because it is flying at 40
900 feet.
In fact there is nothing signifi-
cant about the figure 10000 when
considered without regard to the
fighters performance capabilities.
AS we increase altitude from 3d.
900 feet to 10000 or $4,000 there
are no surprises, no sudden
changes, no discontinuities. 1t is
gradual process-involving a
progressive narrowing of the limits
of speed and maneuverability un-
til the airplane reaches its top
altitude.
The top altitude of any salts
factory jet fighter is far above
that of the R-36. At all such al
titudes, high speed and maneuver-
ability are limited by those phe-
nomena which appear as we ap-
proach the speed of sound. This
approach is expressed in percen-
tage of the speed of sound. The
fighter can fly at figure which
is greater by at least one quarter
than the maximum figure for the
B-36. The fighters speed is
greater by a margin of 100 miles
per hour. And I might mention
that with our new interceptors
these margins will be greatly in
creased.
DEPENDS on Rate of Climb.
The widespread impression that,
at 10000 feet, the fighter pilot
has difficulty in seeing his target
in daylight is a false one. There
is no loss of visual acuity, the air
is generally clearer, and in many
cases the target produces vapor
trails which it may not do at
lower attitudes and which make
it extraordinarily prominent.
The B-36 is the most easily 10
Gated of all air targets because
it is the largest. The widespread
impression that interceptions at
40, 1000 feet can be completed only
with great difficulty is false one.
It becomes solely a matter of rate
of climb of the fighter. Rate of
climb figures may not be released
in open session but the time re-
quired by present Navy fighters
to climb to 10000 feet has been
quoted in the press as less than
IL minutes. That's fast enough
to insure interception of any pro-
peller- driven bomber if the radar
warning net is effective.
As regards the doctrine that
fighters cannot attack effectively
at 40, 900 feet ..~ -
If you were to ride as an OBJ
server in a B-36 at 10000 feet
during joint exercises you would
see Banshees diving and zooming
all around you and making re-
peated gunnery attacks with
speed advantage of over 100 miles
per hour. You might notice that
the maneuvers of these fighters
were more deliberate than at
lower attitudes, that their turns
were not so sharp, and that they
do not attack from broadside or
directly overhead. On these bear
ings they are restricted by the
limitations previously discussed.
But they do have the ability to
make co-ordinated attacks from
all other bearings, including those
most favorable to the fighter.
They have, in effect, the same
superiority over the B-36 that
the fighters had over the bombers
OF World War II. When these
bombers were unescorted, this su-
periority was decisive.
Same Guns on Planes.
In regard to the doctrine that
the B-36 can defend itself sue
cessfully against interceptor at
tack: except for the limitations
I've just mentioned, the effect of
altitude on the gunnery problem
is negligible at the moment. Both
planes will mount the guns of
same calibre. Gun for gun, the
interceptor is comparatively vul-
nerable but it is very small
maneuvering target. The B-36 is
very large one and, for all prac-