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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 0356.PDF
364 FLIGHT, 23 March 1961 SURVE Racal Instruments SA.S09 jet engine speed tachometer installed in a TCA DC-8 with the sensing leads plugged into the points provided for the purpose. The r.p.m. read-out is digital Calibrating Jet Engine Speed A PORTABLE jet engine tachometer, designed by Racal InstrumentsLtd and supplied to TCA, was recently demonstrated to airline and RAF representatives in a DC-8 at London Airport. The purposeof the instrument is to provide an exact measurement of compressor r.p.m., using the normal engine-driven tachometers, in order toassess the condition of the engine and to calibrate the cockpit instruments. The Racal S A.509, as it is called, fits neatly into a recessin the DC-8 cockpit wall and its leads are plugged into test sockets conveniently provided by Douglas. The instrument is also arrangedto measure Rolls-Royce Tyne high- and low-pressure spool r.p.m. by simple adjustment of a selector knob: the necessary outputswould be taken from the r.p.m. gauge inputs. Weighing 351b in its portable case, the SA.509 contains a solid-state frequency meter which counts the revolutions of the tacho- meter output from an electro-mechanical multiplier during anaccurately fixed time-interval. The reading is then displayed on latched digital counters until the next measurement is made. Atest setting permits preliminary checking of the instrument. The multiplication factor is fixed at 60 to allow all measurements to bemade in a maximum of six seconds. A new counting cycle is automatically begun after a fixed display-period of two seconds. Weather by Closed-Circuit TV IN collaboration with the Ministry of Aviation, Peto Scott ElectricalInstruments Ltd have developed a closed-circuit television system for disseminating meteorological information to various parts of acontrol tower. Such a system must be as foolproof as possible, in order to ensure that the transmitted information is actually receivedat the various points and that a permanent record of the information is retained. Weather conditions at any particular time are therefore writtenon a special form and placed face-downwards on a glass window on top of the TV camera console. As soon as the lid is closed, a35mm camera photographs the form as displayed on a television monitor and red lights indicate that the information has reached theother screens. The recipients then cancel warning lights on their own receivers as soon as they have used the information. A warninglight also indicates failure or end of film in the camera. The first equipment is being sent to Bahrein Airport. EUiott-Litton Co-operation NEGOTIATIONS for co-operation in the microwave valve field havebeen successfully completed between Elliott Brothers (London) Ltd and Litton Industries Inc. A new £400,000 company, Elliott-LittonLtd is to be formed at Manor Way, Borehamwood, Herts. Both companies have considerable experience of microwave tubes, LittonIndustries with their Electron Tubes Division and Elliott in pioneer- ing development of high-power microwave valves for the millimetrewave-bands. Elliott will assume responsibility for the principal British and Commonwealth interests of the Electron Tube Divisionof Litton; and it is the intention of the new company to combine the knowledge and skills of the two parent companies and greatlyextend the markets for their developments. 3-D Radar and Collision Avoidance THE Federal Aviation Agency has made preliminary trials of thenew Air Height Surveillance Radar (AHSR) at Atlantic City and has begun tests of a Sperry Luneberg lens aerial for collision-avoidance purposes. The AHSR is a passive radar with a 165ft-high, three faced fixedaerial which derives height information in conjunction with a normal surveillance radar. During the initial trials a Tri-Pacer wastracked through a series of climbs and descents and accuracies of "within 500ft at 20 miles" were obtained. The equipment had notyet been fully adjusted. Signals were presented on the ground in the form of an altitude-filtered c.r.t. display tracking the test aircraftat between 3,500ft and 4,500ft. The radar should eventually be able to separate two aircraft which are on the same bearing, 50 n.m.from the aerial but 1,000ft apart vertically. The Luneberg lens aerial is part of a Sperry collision-avoidancesystem which is intended to give bearing, range and height informa- tion relative to two aircraft and to initiate avoiding action throughthe autopilot. A simplified warning device is also possible. The aerial is at present being tested for its ability to provide all-roundas well as directional coverage. White Light for Cockpits FILTERED white cockpit lighting, instead of the traditional redlighting, is being provided as standard in Northrop T-38 supersonic trainers for the USAF. It has been found that pilots" eyes adaptjust as quickly from pure white light to night vision as from red light; and white light allows much greater colour discrimination inmaps and instrument markings. The necessary pure white is produced by blue filters. White light has been applied as a replacement for existing redsystems in some USAF aircraft, but the T-38 application is the first to be specified from the outset as standard. Sarah rescue receivers, made by Ultra Electronic Ltd, are to befitted in a further six Gannets of the Indonesian Navy. Delivery is to begin during this year. Through their Canadian agents, C.M.C., Marconi Instruments Ltd have received a $160,000 order from the RCAF for Type TF 801D/1 signal generators for the 10 to 470Mc/s band. The RAF has ordered a further 300 Type D.I03 airborne emergency UHF transmitters from WS Electronics Ltd. They are designed for exceptional reliability and operate on distress and one other frequency. A Marconi S.232/2 surveillance radar has been ordered for the FrenchCentre d'Essais en Vol at Istres. Similar equipment has been in use at Bretigny for some years. The S.232/2 is an improved and modernizedversion of the established 50cm, 50kW S.232. The instrumentation division of AEI has dispatched a Type MS7spark-source mass spectrometer to Radio Corporation of America. Valued at £20,000, this MS7 is the first to be exported, but other ordersare on hand for Holland, Germany, Switzerland and Russia. The International Association of Cybernetics has issued the pro-ceedings of the 2nd International Congress on Cybernetics held at Namur, Belgium, in September 1958. The document includes 80 papersin 1,000 pages and can be obtained from Association Internationale de Cybernetique, A.S.B.L., Rue Basse-Marcelle 13, Namur, Belgium for800 Belgian francs. Closed-circuit TV transmission of weather information by Peto Scott Electrical Instruments Ltd. Each form is photographed and reception at the remote screens is positively registered. This set is for Bahrein
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