Calibration of a C-131 Aircraft as an HF Test Vehicle.

Abstract

This report describes a method of accurately calibrating an aircraft test vehicle by using an HF standard gain ground reference antenna whose design includes ground conductivity parameters. After calibration at its home base this vehicle can embark on a test mission to evaluate by means of radiation pattern measurements the absolute power gain characteristics of HF antenna installations. Analytical and experimental test programs were performed, with a C-131 aircraft and its associated wing-tip antennas calibrated as a transmitting 'unit,' thereby taking into account variations in antenna pattern performance resulting when the frequency of operation approaches the resonant frequency of the air frame. Based upon the extreme care and control with which flight test measurements were made, the absolute gain data obtained in this report is considered accurate within plus or minus 1.5 dB. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1970
Accession Number
AD0870220

Entities

People

  • Edward J. Christopher

Organizations

  • Rome Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Calibration
  • Conductivity
  • Frequency
  • Gain
  • Measurement
  • Power Gain
  • Radiation
  • Radiation Patterns
  • Resonant Frequency
  • Standards
  • Test Vehicles
  • Vehicles
  • Wing Tips

Fields of Study

  • Engineering
  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Electromagnetic Wave Scattering and Antenna Radiation Engineering