Magnetic Anomoly Detector and aircraft detection underwater

[Wolfala]

Is it possible that a MAD equipped aircraft like a P3 would be able to detect something the size of a TBM?

Wolf

[1K3]

Its confidential:)

[Nilsen]

Yes Wolfala.

[Chairboy]

The plane is non-ferrous aluminum, you're hoping the MAD can pick up the engine block, right?  So the q should say 'size of a TBM's engine' if you're TBM hunting.

Also depends on the depth.

[Hangtime]

Originally posted by Wolfala
Is it possible that a MAD equipped aircraft like a P3 would be able to detect something the size of a TBM?

Wolf

Like Chairboy said.. the engine is about all that's detectable.. and it's doubutful a 30 year old P3 would use anywhere near that kind of senstivity setting.. or would even calibrate to that small a level.

Figure your average sub hull would have approximately 300 times more metal density than a WWII P&W Radial.. On the oither hand MAD equipped P3's were used routinely out here on the torpedo range.. either they were hunting subs training on the range or hunting torpedo casings.. I dunno.

Certainly there's towed array MAD equipment that can be dragged behind a small boat for smaller item searches.. some scuba guys out here had one setup to hunt a revolutionary war wreck buried in a couple of hundred years of mud. I don't think he found the wreck but he did find a few outboards and a dumpster.

[Bodhi]

When I have hunted for a few wrecks in water, each time we have used either a plotted reference point, i.e. a set of gps coordinates or min lat and longitude, then done preliminary bottom searches on SCUBA or TRIMIX if deep.  If the location is really sketchy, then side scan sonar is brought in, and they find it that way.  More often than not, that works, although I have been lucky in the case of a P-51, and using the original loss coordinates, dropped down an anchor line right beside the fuselage.  Unfortunately, we can not get an EPA permit to raise that one....   Guess they just want to wait for the rest of the oil, hydraulics, and coolant to seep out of the tanks upon final deteriation... tards.