Aircraft signals

H.J. Eppig, Stability of Pyrotechnic Compositions Employed in the AN-M53 to M58 Aircraft Signals , PATR 1588 (1946)... 

Although many pyrotechnic items, such as flares, aircraft signals, simulators and photoflash bombs are released from aircraft and are actually bombs, only photoflash bombs are classified as bombs and stored with bombs and not with pyrotechnic items. The reason for this is that the fillin g of photoflash bombs is explosive and such bombs are hazardous to handle. Another reason is that they resemble in appearance conventional aircraft bombs... 

Fig 2-26 AIRCRAFT SIGNAL, ILLUMINATION, DOUBLE STAR, RED-RED, AN-M37A1... 

Lusardi (Ref 24) describes in Section 300 analytical procedures for the following compositions used in pyrotechnics igniter, first fire, flash, matchhead, delay and relay Method No 320. Igniter Composition, Aircraft Signal Type - Red lead 33-1/3, CuO 33-1/3 Si 33-1/3 [US Army Spec No 50-55-9 (1946)1... 

LDNR 5%, used by the Western Cartridge Co in the modified No 3 Battery Cup Primer for Aircraft Signals and M-9 Flares and found it to be more satisfactory than previously used mixtures MF 44.5, K chlorate 28.5 Sb sulfide 27.0%... 

Fokker Bond Tester. An ultrasonic inspection technique commonly used for aircraft structures is based on ultrasonic spectroscopy [2]. Commercially available instruments (bond testers) used for this test operate on the principle of mechanical resonance in a multi-layer structure. A piezoelectric probe shown in Figure 3b, excited by a variable frequency sine signal is placed on the surface of the inspected structure. A frequency spectrum in the range of some tens of kHz to several MHz is acquired by the instrument, see Figure 3a. 

In 1963 Pains was amalgamated with the Wessex Aircraft Engineering Company (WAECo) who were based at High Post near Salisbury and who were, in turn, owned by the British Match Company. Within two years Pains Fireworks had relocated from Mitcham to High Post in a move that extended the Factory s product base from fireworks to distress flares, signalling smokes, line carrying rockets and munitions simulators trading under the name of Pains-Wessex. 

Safety Fuse, described in Spec MIL-F-20412, is used for delaying action in the Aircraft Smoke and Illuminating Signal AN-Mk 5 Mod 1 (Drift Signal), where ignition is effected on impact on the water and a 9-sec delay gives time for submersion and resurfacing prior to smoke and flame emission (Ref 57, p 207)... 

Safety fuse for Float Light" AN-Mk 6 Mod 2 is of a much longer delay time (90-sec), because this signal is initiated at the moment of release from an aircraft (Ref 57, p 207). 

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