Gun tape vs gun 'camera' tape

[Easton]

Not being familiar with terminology used by pilots and other Naval aviators, I'd like to know what exactly is meant by a "gun tape"? (To be more specific, this would be the 'gun tape' found typically in an F/A-18 E or F aircraft. )

I've thought it must be shorthand for 'gun camera tape', but what I've been able to find has me wondering if those may be completely different things. I get the impression that it's some kind of recording tape but that it doesn't require a gun actually being fired for this tape to be recording whatever it records.

So my question is: what does a 'gun tape' show? In particular, does it record any kind of video imagery or just information from other onboard instruments? And who typically would be responsible for turning it on (the pilot or WSO?), and what would be a typical scenario that would result in a 'gun tape'.

Thanks!

 

[Brett327]

Not being familiar with terminology used by pilots and other Naval aviators, I'd like to know what exactly is meant by a "gun tape"? (To be more specific, this would be the 'gun tape' found typically in an F/A-18 E or F aircraft. )

I've thought it must be shorthand for 'gun camera tape', but what I've been able to find has me wondering if those may be completely different things. I get the impression that it's some kind of recording tape but that it doesn't require a gun actually being fired for this tape to be recording whatever it records.

So my question is: what does a 'gun tape' show? In particular, does it record any kind of video imagery or just information from other onboard instruments? And who typically would be responsible for turning it on (the pilot or WSO?), and what would be a typical scenario that would result in a 'gun tape'.

Thanks!

In all the high lot Rhinos and Growlers, your DDI displays and HUD camera (the view as though you were looking through the HUD and beyond to what is on the nose), radios and ICS are all digitally recorded. This is mostly used for debrief purposes where you can replay the flight, listen to the comms, and see what the jet's displays were showing the crew. All of your flight parameters are recorded, so you can see a 3D view of what your aircraft (and others) are doing. It's a great tool to maximize the effectiveness of the debrief. If you do something dumb, like draw a Sky Dong with your contrails, your CO and his boss are going to want to look at your tapes to confirm whether or not you did that dumb thing. Blessing and a curse.

So, these days, when you hear "tapes on, fights on" it is telling everyone in the flight that your recording switches are all set up, and the briefed engagement is beginning.

 

[Easton]

Thanks for the reply. To be sure I understand correctly -- if all that data is being recorded when it's "tapes on..", and you mentioned the HUD camera as recording the view looking through the HUD and out toward the nose, does that mean the the HUD camera is basically recording video of whatever is out in front of the nose?
For example, in a dogfight with an F/A-18 chasing another jet, when a 'gun tape' is recording all you described, does that mean there should also be some video footage showing the view of the other jet out in front (something akin to what we see in the movies when we see a pilots view of the jet he's chasing.

I'm just trying be sure on that point... whether what's called a 'gun tape' records both instrument data as well as raw video images of what's happening.
Thanks again!!

 

[Brett327]

Thanks for the reply. To be sure I understand correctly -- if all that data is being recorded when it's "tapes on..", and you mentioned the HUD camera as recording the view looking through the HUD and out toward the nose, does that mean the the HUD camera is basically recording video of whatever is out in front of the nose?
For example, in a dogfight with an F/A-18 chasing another jet, when a 'gun tape' is recording all you described, does that mean there should also be some video footage showing the view of the other jet out in front (something akin to what we see in the movies when we see a pilots view of the jet he's chasing.

I'm just trying be sure on that point... whether what's called a 'gun tape' records both instrument data as well as raw video images of what's happening.
Thanks again!!

The term "gun tape" is an anachronism, but essentially yes. We just call them "tapes." The below video shows an older example. More modern HUD video is color, but it still isn't great quality. It's a fairly narrow field of view, so you're really only seeing what is directly in front of the jet.