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A-4 Tension Bar

jeffhuey1n

SMSgt, USAF (Ret.)
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,885
1,474
113
Location
Laramie County, Wyoming
I can’t remember where I got these. I’ve been trying to identify them but until today, I had no luck. I finally found some numbers on them. They are listed as “tension bar” and part of the A-4 aircraft launch equipment. Never seen one before and I have four of them. They have different “size(?)” numbers.
The two green items have no marks on them. Do know where to search for their info.
 

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jeffhuey1n

SMSgt, USAF (Ret.)
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,885
1,474
113
Location
Laramie County, Wyoming
Thanks to Hendersonj! I know what the blue/yellow items(?) were used for. He confirmed they were used to launch A4’s off of carriers. They were placed in the launch gear and once the jet had the thrust, these old break, allowing the jet to launch. The different numbers were (probably) used as required based on the aircraft’s weight.
Still don’t know what the green ones are for yet.
 

Chuckg

Member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
8
27
13
Location
Wichita, Kansas
It's called a 'Hold-Back Fitting" and were part of the A-4 Skyhawk carrier launch system. They would hold aircraft back when it went to full-power on the catapult and would break at the mid-point when the catapult was fired and launched the aircraft off the carrier.

I've included a photo of one that's been used. This is the half that was left in the 'Tension Bar' once the aircraft had been launched.

A4 Hold Back Fitting..JPG
 

jeffhuey1n

SMSgt, USAF (Ret.)
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,885
1,474
113
Location
Laramie County, Wyoming
It's called a 'Hold-Back Fitting" and were part of the A-4 Skyhawk carrier launch system. They would hold aircraft back when it went to full-power on the catapult and would break at the mid-point when the catapult was fired and launched the aircraft off the carrier.

I've included a photo of one that's been used. This is the half that was left in the 'Tension Bar' once the aircraft had been launched.

View attachment 835065
Thank you for the info. Now if I could only figure out how four of them ended up in Wyoming...
 
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