Flight Loads During Combat Training: An Experimental Determination using V‐g Recorders of Manoeuvres in Mustang Aircraft of the R.A.A.F.

In view of the comparative lack of information available on the magnitude of loads occurring on aircraft used for combat training, V‐g recorders were fitted to several Mustang aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force in Victoria. The recording period covered 102·5 flying hours, consisting of aerobatics and general flying, dive bombing, rocket launching, etc. The unfactored design flight envelope was not exceeded during this period, the highest load factor of n=7·3 occurring during general flying (duty unspecified) while the highest speed was 422 m.p.h. I.A.S. which was well below the maximum permissible. Consistently high loads were produced during dive bombing—the mean highest load per slide being n=5·36, while 5g was frequently exceeded, sometimes many times on a slide. Rocket launching is a similar manoeuvre although the loads were somewhat less severe. Some air to air gunnery was also practised, and the loads were the least severe during this manoeuvre.