Temco ASM-N-8 Corvus

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A missile project by Convair (apparently with Temco) which I have never heard before:

http://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/1251_Models_A-C#Project_31

Why the name "Fenice" associated to the project? I have no idea, but it sure sounds like a strange name for a missile.

[Edited to correct URL after NASA changes - Admin]
 

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Could "Fenice" have been a mistranscription of "Phoenix"?? I know it's different from the Phoenix missile, but it could have been a competing design. Just a thought.
 
I believe it's a model of the Temco ASM-N-8 Corvus. In fact, I'm pretty sure of it:
http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/asm-n-8.html
xasm-n-8.jpg
 
Tailspin Turtle said:
I figured you were good for connecting the dots between Fenice and Corvus...
Click to expand...

Fenice is, I think, Italian for "Phoenix," while Corvus is Latin for "raven." Apart from that, I got nuthin'. Given the vaguaries of the NACA images and their naming and backup data, "Fenice" could jsut as easily have been the name of the primary investigator for these tests.
 
If one was to write "Corvus" in cursive (badly), I would imagine it likely that a later reader could guesstimate "Convair"...

On "Fenice" - I've got nut'in - unless you write "Temco" (again, sloppily in cursive) and squint really hard...

Looking at some of the Tunnel Log Book pages that are posted...this may not be too unlikely.
 
They really need to enable commenting, cos there's a whole bunch of errors we could help them fix :)
 
Ohmygod, NASA letting a BUNCH of internetters HELPING them correcting their mistakes ??? NASA doesn't do mistakes, only has different opinions of the reality.
 
I've just come across this Corvus missile for the first time in one of my favourite books The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of the Worlds Rockets & Missiles by Bill Gunston! It states that it was intended to be the primary weapon of the Douglas A4D Skyhawk! So a little search on the web and I found the following ......

Regards
Pioneer
 

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Here are some color shifted and airbrushed images of a Corvus launch at White Sands Missile Range.
VAHF archive


bill
 

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In Vought Aeronautics report AER-E1R-TIA-2 26OCT61
It discusses a Target Identification and Acquisition (TIA) subsystem for the B-70.


The system "is basically a passive Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) device having
inherent capabilities for rapid display of information on multiple types and patterns
of communication and radar emitters."


Towards the end of the report is shows a CORVUS Azimuth display, CORVUS RF/PRF-
Tuning panel, and an CORVUS armament panel. In the notes it states that a B-52
installation could have an additional CORVUS Armament panel.


bill
 
Seems quite a shame this missile system was cancelled: It seemed a great idea and I think it could have been a good benefit to the USAF honestly as well as the USN. While it didn't quite have the range of the WS-121, it was smaller and lighter, more aircraft could carry it, and larger aircraft could carry more of them (apparently this wasn't something lost on its designers, as @Bill S pointed out).

The hypergolic propellant left a lot to be desired: While the USAF seemed less concerned about this (they developed the Titan II which used UDMH and N2O4). While the propellant was pre-packaged, which avoided the hazards of fueling it up aboard ship: If it sprung a leak, you'd have everything from gassing a bunch of sailors to triggering a rather respectable explosion (it wouldn't be as bad as the Damascus disaster -- not as much propellant, but it'd be impressive).
 
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CaseyKnight said:
The hypergolic propellant left a lot to be desired: While the USAF seemed less concerned about this (they developed the Titan II which used UDMH and N2O4). While the propellant was pre-packaged, which avoided the hazards of fueling it up aboard ship: If it sprung a leak, you'd have everything from gassing a bunch of sailors to triggering a rather respectable explosion (it wouldn't be as bad as the Damascus disaster -- not as much propellant, but it'd be impressive).
Click to expand...
The USN's default is that anything with fluids in it WILL leak.
 
whatismoo said:
Didn't the USN use the liquid fuel sparrows for a minute?
Click to expand...

No, that was the USAF, it deployed the AIM-7D (Initially called the AIM-101A) on the F-110A Spectre (Which was quickly reclassified as the F-4C Phantom II under McNamara's new tri services designation system).
 
NMaude said:
No, that was the USAF, it deployed the AIM-7D (Initially called the AIM-101A) on the F-110A Spectre (Which was quickly reclassified as the F-4C Phantom II under McNamara's new tri services designation system).
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I think I confused it for the liquid fuel bullpup which I think the navy used?
 
It's not exactly a ban on liquid fuels.

Tomahawks, for example, run on some flavor of jet fuel (JP10?). Some of that spills and the only thing that happens is your boot treads get a little melted.

But it's a hard ban on hypergolics.
 
Scott Kenny said:
The USN's default is that anything with fluids in it WILL leak.
Click to expand...
Generally true...
It's not exactly a ban on liquid fuels. . . . But it's a hard ban on hypergolics.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure I can really hold that one against them...

NMaude said:
No, that was the USAF, it deployed the AIM-7D
Click to expand...
Actually, if I recall, the missile was called the AAM-N-6a with the USN. I don't exactly know when the developent was signed off on, but designation-systems listed it as starting production in 1959.

I'm not exactly sure what propellant was used on the AAM-N-6a/AIM-7D, admittedly...

BTW: Thanks @CTimm, that was awesome.

Edit: 03/13/2026
 
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