Figure 7-20.-S-3A SLT arrangement.
FIXED-WING SEARCH STORE SYSTEMS
The search store systems of the P-3C and the
S-3A aircraft consist mainly of the equipment and
accessories necessary to carry and release sonobuoys.
The sono systems also have the capability for carriage
and release of several other search related stores.
Part of the system consists of unpressurized, size
A sonobuoy launch tubes (SLTs) installed in the
underside of the aircraft fuselage. Forty-eight of the
SLTs on the P-3C and all of the S-3A SLTs (60) are of
this type. These SLTs are not accessible from inside
the pressurized aircraft. Figure 7-19 shows the
arrangement of the P-3C SLTs (as you lookup at the
lower fuselage), while figure 7-20 shows the S-3A
arrangement.
The P-3C also has three pressurized size A
SLTs (fig. 7-21) and one unpressurized size B
free-fall chute. These are accessible from inside
the aircraft, and are reloadable in flight. Size A
chutes are approximately 5 inches in diameter,
and the size B chute is approximately 7 inches in
diameter.
The size B chute is a tube with a pressure-sealing
cover at the top end. If it is pressurized, the cabin of
the aircraft must be depressurized before you open the
Figure 7-21.-Pressxurized size A sonobuoy launch tubes.
7-13
