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Aviation History
1950
1950 - 0118.PDF
FLIGHT RADIO FOR LIGHT AIRCRAFT . . . place to V.H.F. and the main application is now lor navi- gation—apart from listening to the B.B.C. Unless long- distance flights outside the United Kingdom are contem- plated, it should not be necessary to cany H.F. equipment. If it is required, however, some details of suitable sets can be obtained by reference to articles in Flight of April 28th and September 22nd, 1949. A typical example in the Mar- coni AD97 /108, which is fitted as standard in a number of aircraft. Over 200 Doves have been so equipped. • Navigational Aids.—Although such equipment does not comply with the Air Navigation Regulations, a pilot in an aircraft fitted with a V.H.F. transmitter/receiver can, by using the ground V.H.F. D/F. organization, obtain navi- gational assistance. By the generally accepted meaning of navigational aids, the equipment suitable for light aircraft—and their owners' pockets—is not very extensive. For long-range navigation the Ferranti Consol receiver, FER 11, is of technical interest in that it operates off the 24-volt battery power supply with no additional power unit, the circuit being so arranged that the valves work with 24 volts H.T. Consol is particularly useful if long over-water nights are involved, where the aircraft may be out of range of other faculties. The set is also designed to receive radio-range signals and met. broadcasts. Pilots who are also yachting enthusiasts may find this set useful to them in—or on—another element. The equipment measures only 8in x 4m x 4m, weighs 3f lb and consumes 18 watts. The most common aid at present in use, and probably for many years to come, is the M.F. beacon—which may be a broadcasting station. Although automatic radio- compasses such as the Marconi AD7092 are fitted to larger aircraft, these may be too expensive for the average private flier. The Murphy manual M.F. D/F. MR 70 is available as an alternative and will provide similar information. The loop is rotated by hand and bearings taken aurally. The loop can also be set and homing to the beacon carried out by using the visual indicator. The power consumption is 45 watts and the total weight of the installation, includ- ing the loop and loop-housing, is approximately 20 lb. Having navigated successfully to bis destination, the pilot may now have to descend through cloud. Assuming that no G.C.A. is available to talk him down, he must either let down on the radio range (if it is fitted), on a V.H.F. bearing or on one of the instrument approach systems. At present the only I.L.S. sets going into pro- duction are rather costly, having been designed for the scheduled operators' requirements and there is thus only S.B.A. to fall back on, figuratively speaking. The Marconi Company make a miniature S.B.A. receiver, the AD86. The total weight of a complete instal- lation is under 18 lb and the power consumption is 45 watts. A marker receiver is incorporated. Marker beacons on the airways system operate on 75 me/s. Surplus American marker receivers have been available, but Aeronautical Radio Services have now developed a receiver for 38 and 75 mc/s. It is hoped that, by the time S.B.A. is superseded by I.L.S., sets suitable for light aircraft will be available. Equipment providing both communication and naviga- tional-aid facilities is made by Romac and a similar set is under development by Aeronautical Radio Services. These sets, which are not yet type-approved, combine S.B.A. and M.F. D/F. receivers and V.H.F. transmitter/ receiver; the former make has 12 channels and the latter II. An S.B.A. marker receiver is also available. The overall dimensions of the Romac sets are approximately 13m x 7in x gin and the total weight is approximately 28 lb. The power consumption (all facilities) is 100 watts. The advantage of these latter sets is that all the facilities—if required—are combined in one neat installation. It is not intended to give exact prices of each type of equipment as details of these figures can be obtained from the manufacturers or their agents. One of the five- or six- channel V.H.F. sets would cost about £150 to ^200 and the installation about another £30 to £40, apart from any charges for ignition harness or special work. The naviga- tional aids vary in cost but a comprehensive installation of communications and navigational aids might be obtained for about £400 to ^500, the combined equipments being somewhat cheaper. Maintenance costs would be of the order of ten shillings per man-hour plus the cost of any spares required. Names and addresses of firms making equipment (Below) Controller for the Romac V.H.F/M.F. Model 160.Standard Telephones S.T.R.9 set with remote control. (Betow left) Romac S.B.A. controller and(right) S.T.RJ2 V.H.F. T.R. with control box*
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