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CHAPTER 13 AIRCRAFT AND SHIP IDENTIFICATION - 14244_265
HELICOPTER IDENTIFICATION - 14244_267

Signalman 3 & 2 - Aviation theories and other practices
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wingspan provides the final clue for identification (fig. 13-3). IDENTIFICATION AIDS The study of aircraft shadows can often lead to identification. Since shadows tend to overemphasize aircraft features, it is sometimes better to study the shadow rather than the aircraft itself. Wing shadows, however, are misleading because of their relation to the direction of light, upsweep of the wings or dihedral, and the ground angle of the aircraft. Nose shadows are helpful; even transparent noses will cast a shadow where there is rear light. Under the conditions of rear lighting, the shadow of the nose, engine, nacelles, and gun turrets are well defined. Fin and rudder shadows also should be carefully studied since they provide important recognition features. Wing Characteristics Because of their size and shape, the wings of aircraft are perhaps the easiest aircraft component to identify. The wings constitute the most important identification feature on vertical imagery. The identification features of the wings are their overall shape (fig. 13-4) and the shape of their tips (fig. 13-5). Wing shapes are generally classified according to their taper, amount of sweepback, design of leading edge, symmetry, or delta configuration, as shown in figure 13-5. Wing sweepback is measured as shown in figure 13-3. Recent technological advances have developed a unique ultraforward-swept wing (fig. 13-6), which may lead to a new line of super-fast tactical fighters with enhanced maneuverability. Figure 13-3.—Aircraft measurements. Figure 13-4.—Wing shapes. 13-2







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