Spicy110 – The Rolleron from an Aim-9 Sidewinder missile
An evening pause: An example of simple but very clever engineering designed to keep a missile flying in a stable manner.
Hat tip Tom Biggar.
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“To the Sea, a Sidewinder: 50 years of snakes on the wing.”
Technical Information Division NAVAIR Weapons (2002)
https://youtu.be/jWkMS7msV5Y
(1:07:08)
That’s pretty genius.
That’s pretty cool. Available on eBay https://www.ebay.com/itm/272892724587 for $2100 (you get four).
It may be interesting to the group regarding what was the first combat use of the famed Sidewinder. When i arrived at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in 2002 as the XO, the Command was hosting the 50th Anniversary of the Sidewinder’s development and production. I learned the first combat use of the weapon was during the height of the Second Taiwan Straight Crisis in 1958. In short, ROCAF F-86’s armed with Sidewinders shot down more than several Chinese MIGs. The missile played a role in keeping the island free. Indeed, the missiles inventor, Dr. William McLean, received an award by President Eisenhower. More details in the hyperlinked article. Thanks for posting the video regarding the “rollerons.” https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42544/the-legendary-sidewinder-missile-made-its-first-kill-over-the-taiwan-strait
I understand we lost one up a MiG’s tailpipe where they improved upon it.
Jeff Wright – Not improved – the original was a slavish copy of the ‘Winder (even the part numbers were the same), but hampered by usual Russian quality control
Flight jacket patch worn by a very good friend who started out as a GIB (Guy In Back) on F-4’s – A picture of a Sidewinder with the caption “I Do It With Snakes”
Yes Jeff, TY Col B. for the info. The Reds had something to copy. Seems they’ve been doing that for a long time.