AIM-9 Sidewinder 1970. These were followed from the mid-seventies by the AIM-9L/P which was a substantial improvement on the early versions, particularly with an improved SR-116 reduced-smoke rocket motor. The third generation of the missile (AIM-9L/M) are all-aspect missile which share little in common with the earlier missiles. The name "Sidewinder" was selected in 1950 and is the common name of "Crotalus cerastes", a venomous rattlesnake, which uses infrared sensory organs to hunt warm-blooded prey. Originally called the Sidewinder 1, the first live firing was on 3 September 1952. The missile intercepted a drone for the first time on the 11 September
Smyth Sidewinder rights to the Smyth Sidewinder are held by EU-Wish, which continues to market the design. 290 sets of plans had been sold by 1972, with at least 46 examples registered and flying. Smyth Sidewinder The Smyth Model S Sidewinder is an all-metal two-seat side-by-side low-wing homebuilt aircraft, designed and developed in the United States. In 1958 Jerry Smyth began the design of a monoplane sport aircraft, intended to be easy to build and fly as well as stressed to +9g for aerobatics. Construction of the prototype began in January 1967, taking two years to complete. Smyth's first component-built was a