AIRCRAFT RADIO DIRECTION FINDING AND HOMING SYSTEMS IN THE 40-100 MC RANGE
Abstract
Homing-antenna systems were developed for Navy type AF and P4M aircraft. The antenna was a partial-sleeve type with an input impedance varying from about 20 ohm at 100 mc to 120 at 40 mc. Tuning was accomplished by a remotely operated condenser, and fixed tuning over about a 20-mc band seemed possible. A received field intensity of about 60 db below the freespace value was estimated for an aircraft at 1200 ft and a distance of 100 mi. Satisfactory homing operation was indicated for a pair of the antennas flush-mounted or faired-in on the wing leading edges. Rudder mounting for vertical-polarization homing was less satisfactory. Phase-shift and amplitude-comparison RDF systems were also investigated; both use the homing-system wing-edge antennas as well as pairs of tail- or fuselage-mounted partial sleeves. The systems gave bearings which were accurate in 40 deg azimuth sectors off the nose and each wing tip. Correct sector identification was always obtained.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1953
- Accession Number
- AD0012031
Entities
People
- D. Royal
- N. Yaru
Organizations
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign