Target tug

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Target tugs, such as this Phantom are often painted in high visibility colors to differentiate themselves from the targets they tow.

A target tug is an aircraft which tows an unmanned drone, a fabric drogue or other kind of target, for the purposes of gun or missile target practice. Target tugs are often conversions of transport and utility aircraft, as well as obsolescent combat types. Some, such as the Miles Martinet, were specially designed for the role. It was, and is, a relatively hazardous job, as live fire is typically employed and the people doing the shooting are usually still in training.

History

World War 2

Boulton Paul Defiant TT Mk III target tug, number N1697; RAF Desford, May 1944. Note the wind-driven generator that provided power for the target winch

Prior to and during

air arms on behalf of which they flew, and were usually conversions of aircraft that had failed in combat or that were otherwise unsuitable or obsolete in their design roles (see Fairey Battle and Short Sturgeon). These aircraft typically trailed a drogue fabric sleeve at the end of a several-thousand metre long cable. Student fighter pilots or air gunners
would shoot at the target from other aircraft using painted bullets so that hits could be recorded and later analysed.

In the RAF,

TBD Devastator
as target tugs. The Luftwaffe and the VVS (Red Army) also used tugs.

The chief modifications to the aircraft were a station for the

stall speed before the drogue could be jettisoned (see Hawker Henley
).

Post-War

Fairey Firefly TT.1 target tug, painted mustard yellow, of the Swedish Flight Service at Manchester (Ringway Airport) in 1955

The use of such aircraft continued post-war, although a trend developed whereby ex-military aircraft were purchased, modified and operated by civilian companies under contract. Deutsche-Luftfahrt Beratungsdienst of

Douglas Skyraider
. Many air arms however continued to operate target tugs on their own behalf.

In later years the use of civilian companies expanded significantly worldwide, with many companies forming or entering the field in the 1960s and 1970s. The trend was still to use ex-military aircraft, for example Fawcett Aviation in

airshow
circuit or under restoration to fly, and in aviation museums.

Current usage

An FR Aviation Services Dassault Falcon 20 modified for target towing at the 2006 Royal International Air Tattoo

Today, more air arms have turned to civilian companies for provision of target towing services. Many companies operating in this field today do so using modified

Learjets and (in something of a reversal of recent trends) EIS Aircraft Gmbh in Germany using Pilatus PC-9
aircraft.

Target towing operations are not without risk. On September 17, 1994 a Golden Eagle Aviation

live-fire exercise. All four occupants were killed.[5]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Target tugs.
  • Target drone, an unmanned aerial target craft
  • RP-63 "Pinball" (a piloted target craft)
  • Towed seaborne target
    , the naval counterpart
  • Banner towing
    , a similar technique in which an aircraft tows a banner for advertising purposes

References

  1. ISBN 0-589-07130-0
    .
  2. ^ "Flight Systems Sabres". Archived from the original on 2002-04-03. Retrieved 2002-04-03. Retrieved 2007-07-18
  3. ^ http://www.landings.com Archived 2021-06-08 at the Wayback Machine Online search of US civil aircraft register database performed July 18, 2007
  4. ^ "Cobham Flight Operations and Services - UK". Archived from the original on 2007-05-28. Retrieved 2007-07-18. Retrieved 2007-07-18
  5. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Learjet 35A B-98181 Taitung". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
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