Little h wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 12:35 am
Pelican wrote: ↑Fri Feb 04, 2022 11:52 pm
AIRFLOW MASTS
Seen very recently on PoW but once you check they have appeared on both QEC carriers.
Absolutely correct David (Pelican/Mousey) .... I covered same with a number of images in the old Forum.
The PIN mast fwd of the fwd island was/is a constant on both the QEC carriers, see...
http://lewin-of-greenwich-naval-history ... s&start=10
As were the PIN masts fwd of the fwd island of both QEC carriers.
BZ though for bring it up as an observation on the PoW R09 especially since I am not able to spend lotsa time on the forum at present (family illness).
Really good to see your posts Harry and always appreciated as they are 1st class.
I must read the contents of your link but what prompted me to post the photo was its size and clarity.
Must admit I did'nt realise that the masts were in ongoing use - the 'riggers' must be able to put them up and take them at the drop of a hat.
P.S. Some comments from someone who was involved:
A Clark Mast with a Gill Ultrasonic anemometer fitted to the top for independent measurement of wind speed and direction
The capability for doing air flow / air pattern trials ended up with QinetiQ at Boscombe Down
We had 2 of the taller reference masts fitted, and then up to 10 smaller masts for air pattern work fitted to the deck, depending on configuration. For flight trials it just tends to be the forward reference mast fitted
May 2019 - Since HMS QE started her various flight clearance phases, be it for helicopters or the F35B Lightning, several temporary air data gathering masts have been installed in suitable positions on the flight deck to assess localised wind velocities and turbulence effects. Sometimes these masts have been very tall rising well over 50 feet above the flight deck. They have also been positioned in different places depending on which phase of the clearance work was being carried out.
As the QE left the River Forth on 24 May it was apparent that 3 relatively short masts have been located both forward and aft for the forthcoming phase of data gathering activity. 2 pics are enclosed with these masts marked up within the yellow circles. The mast low heights indicates data at low heights above the deck is to be measured during this forthcoming phase. This no doubt also reflects the need to "gap fill" from other data gathering exercises over the last 2 years as the earlier data and its effects have been analysed.
Understanding such local effects in a variety of wind velocities is essential to provide the safest and most operationally comprehensive clearance envelopes for the various helicopter types and the F35B that will be based on the QE carrier class.
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