Maximum weight of sonobuoys in each launcher is ____ lbs.

• A. 280 lbs
• B. 520 lbs
• C. 360 lbs
• D. 440 lbs

Answer: (D)

Weight limits for each sonobuoy launcher are set to protect the launcher and aircraft performance, ensuring safe ejection, proper center of gravity, and no overload of the launcher mechanism. The published maximum per launcher is 440 pounds, which accounts for the weight of the sonobuoys plus associated canisters and hardware. Staying at or below this limit keeps the system within its design load and prevents excessive stresses during launch and handling.

Choosing a higher value, like 520 pounds, would exceed the permitted limit and could risk launcher damage or unsafe flight characteristics. Values well below the maximum, such as 280 or 360 pounds, do not reflect the documented limit for the per-launcher load, though they would be conservatively safe. Therefore, 440 pounds is the correct maximum for each launcher.