fixed Zuni Rocket Pod too heavy?

[Flagrum]

I could not perform a vertical take off with 4 x Zuni pods. So I checked my weight in the mission editor and it was ofc way above the respective weight limit.

 

4 Zuni pods too heavy as a payload? Checking 4 x Mk.82 ... this would be ok. That felt strange. So I looked closer: one LAU-10 with 4 ZUNIs weight - according to the mission editor - over 900 lb!

 

According to Wikipedia a single rocket (just the motor, no warhead) weights about 80 lb. Warheads seem to be typically in the range of about 45 - 50 lb.

 

That makes it 130 lb per weapon ... times 4 makes it 520 lb. And the pod itself then weights about another 400 lb?

 

That seems to be a "tad bit" off, no?

Edited January 3, 2018 by Flagrum
Corrected thread title (I hope)

[Mumby]

According to db_weapons_data.lua in DCS World\Scripts the LAU-10 weighs 440 lbs, so very close to your estimate. I assume this is empty?

 

I can't find an authoritative source on what it should weigh, but agree that does seem a lot.

 

Cheers

 

Paul

Edited January 3, 2018 by Mumby

[Flagrum]

According to https://www.scribd.com/document/326655141/1959-D149ZUNI-5-0-FFAR-pdf the launcher alone weights about 105 pounds. Granted, that document is from 1959, but the design of the launcher probably hasn't changed that much, I suppose.

[Britchot]

I wondered what the fairings were made from, I'm quite surprised (yet impressed) it's paper, though!

[Ramsay]

According to https://www.scribd.com/document/326655141/1959-D149ZUNI-5-0-FFAR-pdf the launcher alone weights about 105 pounds. Granted, that document is from 1959, but the design of the launcher probably hasn't changed that much, I suppose.

Agreed, AV-8 Tactical Manual Vol 2, page 127, says it weighs 136 lb empty

 

• LAU-10 with 4 ZUNI D/A = 688 lb,

• a single 5" rocket = 138 lb,

• an empty LAU-10 = 136 lb

 

Ref.

AV-8 Tactical Manual Vol 2, A1-AV8BB-TAC-050, Pages 125, 127, 995 - Example 3

 

Edit:

 

Note, NATOPS Flight Manual AV-8B Performance Charts, A1-AV8BB-NFM-400, page 30 gives slightly higher weights (+10 lb) and adds another 10 lb for the fairing

 

LAU-10 D/A with 5-inch ZUNI (Mk 63 HE-FRAG Warhead, Mk 71 Mod 1 Motor, Mk 93 Fuse)

• Full with fairings = 708 lb

• Full without fairings = 698 lb

• Empty = 146 lb

 

LAU-10 D/A with 5-inch ZUNI (Mk 24 GP Warhead, Mk 71 Mod 1 Motor, Mk 188 Fuse)

• Full with fairings = 668 lb

• Full without fairings = 658 lb

• Empty = 146 lb

 

but is still 262 lb (970 - 708 ) short of the 970 lb found in 1.5.8

 

Edit 2 (for info):

 

For comparison, the DCS AV-8B "LAU-68 - 7 FFAR Mk1 HE" = 260 lb is 39 lb heavier (260 - 221) than expected from the AV-8B Performance Charts, page 31

 

LAU-68 D/A with 2.75-inch FFAR (Mk 1 Warhead, Mk 4 Motor, Any Fuse)

• Full with fairings = 221 lb

• Full without fairings = 211 lb

• Empty = 85 lb

 

in game weight is closer to a more modern (typical) Hydra 70 configuration

 

LAU-68 D/A with 2.75-inch FFAR (M151 Warhead, Mk 66 Motor, M427 Fuse)

• Full with fairings = 256 lb

• Full without fairings = 246 lb

• Empty = 85

Edited January 4, 2018 by Ramsay
Check AV-8B AI loadout in 1.5.8, remove ref to pylon weight as DCS LAU-68 weight is closer to RL

[Flappie]

Thanks so much for this thread, gents! I stumbled upon it yesterday while thinking the same thing: the LAU-10 pod looked too heavy compared to the weight of a single rocket. I searched the AV-8 manual like you did, and I've just found this:

And then this:

 

Since we don't carry fairings with us, these pods are supposed to be lighter!

Our rocket weighs 125 lbs, and I presume we have the D/A pod variant (C/A is not to be used on ships since the Forrestal accident), which means each loaded pod should weigh about 637 lbs, not 699 lbs.

Issue reported.

 

Edited February 28, 2023 by Flappie

[Flappie]

Weight issue fixed in OB.

[Thanatos31]

This might also explain why you can easily rip off wings with ZUNIs but not other loadouts it seems ? 

[JackHammer89]

That would explain our exploding rocket runs a few months ago