PHOTO: Todd Woodford's selfie shows the exact moment of the missile's launch (Facebook: The Tailhook Association)
Posted on 08/03/2016 6:48:36 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilot has managed to capture the exact moment he fired a high-tech missile in a perfectly timed cockpit selfie.
Flight Lieutenant Todd 'Woody' Woodford took the spectacular picture inside his EA-18G Growler during a live fire exercise off the Californian coast.
The airman is one of six Australians serving in US Navy expeditionary EA-18G squadrons as part of a bilateral Personnel Exchange Program, and the first RAAF member to launch an AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation (HARM) Missile.
His Top Gun-style missile selfie was first published online yesterday by the California-based Tailhook Association.
Twelve EA-18G Growler aircraft are eventually expected to be based at RAAF Base Amberley, south-west of Brisbane, with the Defence Department expecting the aircraft to come into service there in 2018.
PHOTO: Todd Woodford's selfie shows the exact moment of the missile's launch (Facebook: The Tailhook Association)
Shutter speed?
Magnum Magnum Magnum
No missile exhaust apparently.
Photoshopped.
No need for a fast one; relative to the aircraft, the missile is just starting to advance.
See #3....
Not sure, but I think they kick away before firing, so not to mess up plane flight with side thrust? I am sure a pilot can confirm/correct.
Humm, might be but they seem to have the shadow correct.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8yKtjejhZw
I assume they just drop the missile, wait a second or two and then fire it up. Don't want to burn your wing off just to fire a missile.
LOL learn about basic missile propulsion, ‘Military Rules’?
Nope - You can see the reflection of the missile on the pilots tinted mask.
It’s powered by the latest green algae-based rocket fuel.
That's because they drop free before igniting. You don't want to set off other ordinance, blow off wing covering, or damage optic-nose on other smart weapons launching off the rails. What do you think we are? Russians? ;)
The photo is real and yes there is a slight delay before a missile plume can be seen.
Exactly. The missile is ejected off of its rack, drops a bit, and THEN its rocket motor lights up. Watch some films on The History Channel or The Military Channel, or some YouTube videos, and you’ll see that in action.
Odd, that.
That one you posted is coming out of the belly, not off the wing. And apparently an F35. What is the Aussie flying?
So this shot must’ve been taken a spit second before ignition. Talk about perfect timing!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.