Dropping a slick from level flight below 1000 is dangerous because the
bomb can bounce back up.

Known as "broaching"(if the weapon actually enters the ground below it, then
"pops back up) or "ricocheting" (if the weapon simply hits the ground and
bounces back up).

We dropped inert Mk82s at 300 AGL 500K and
the things were bouncing up level with us. (They were also bouncing
off the Avon Park range so we had to stop that.)

Walt, surely this was known about in the 60's and 70's no? I find it hard to
believe this is a recently discovered phenomena. It's not a comfortale feeling
to fly "in formation" with your own weapons. As a young co-pilot I watched one
of our Mk-82 AIRs fly up in front of the wing, then off to the side. Obviously
the AIR didn't function.


BUFDRVR

"Stay on the bomb run boys, I'm gonna get those bomb doors open if it harelips
everyone on Bear Creek"