Tuesday, April 12, 2011

What's this?



I haven't had much time for soldering so here's just a litle radio related post to keep the blog updated.

One of this days I went to the city park with my daughter for some fun and in this public space there's a nice little plane, it's there for the time I remember, for some time neglected now it's on a more proper shape. Beeing an ham, couldn't help from spoting some radio related parts.... but there's one I don't know what is it maybe someone can tell me:


The white cap look's like an insulator for the HF antenna at least it's very similar to the ones used in boats but the bullet shaped big device on top I could only guess it's some sort of radar or direction finding antenna inside, honestly I don't know, maybe someone knows....

The plane it's a Beechcraft DS 18/C 45 under "FAP" registration number 2508

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

http://www.navfltsm.addr.com/ndb-nav-history.htm

Ricardo - CT2GQV said...

Hello,

Spot on! It's an Automatic Direction Finder!

Thank you,

Ricardo - CT2GQV

Pedro-CT7ARQ said...

De nada foi um prazer !!!

clynt said...

agreed. It is an argosy 131 radio direction finder for coastline navigation. effective line of sight rande of 35 miles at 1km altitude. Naval frequencies under 89 meters. We have one in operation at the Yanks air museum in chino california USA. It's funny because it is located across the street from a womans prizon for youth offenders. Wishful thinking in sight.. KI6UMT

Ricardo - CT2GQV said...

Paul,
Thank you for the detailed info.
Just spoke with my father who worked in qualitly control of plane maintenance on the time that mechanics flew after repairing the engines.... and he also refered to that piece as a "...loop for direction finding..."

Thank you,

Ricardo - CT2GQV

Anonymous said...

the dark colored teardrop shape antenna is an AN/ARN6 RDF (radio direction finder antenna. Navigation using common radio stations. The small round fuselarge mounted antenna was probally for a short HF antenna. It in an insulated feed thru. Hope this Helped. I used to work on this stuff many, many years ago in US Air Force

Bruce KA1HFY

Ricardo - CT2GQV said...

Hello Bruce,

Thank you for the info!

73 de Ricardo, CT2GQV