Evaluation of Installation of UHF Tail Cap Antenna in F-86A and E aircraft

Abstract

An ultra high frequency tail cap antenna which was fabricated and installed on an F-86A aircraft by North American Aviation, Inc., was flight tested on ultra high frequencies of 229.2, 316.2, and 385.6 megacycles for range, audio quality, and signal strength, both air-to-air and air-to-ground. The tests revealed that, althrough there are some areas of low signal strength found forward of the nose and beneath the wings of the aircraft, the antenna provides satisfactory communications, both air-to-air and air-to-ground. The radio frequency input signal strength to the antenna was greater at all times than three microvolts, which was determined by Components and Systems Lab. to be the minimum acceptable signal strength input for adequate communication reception. Maximum range of the antenna was found to be 260 statute miles while flying on an azimuth heading of 180 deg from the ground test station and transmitting at a frequency of 229.2 megacycles, and 240 statute miles while flying on an azimuth heading of 180 deg from the ground test station and transmitting at frequencies of 316.2 and 385.6 megacycles. At all other azimuth headings, the maximum usable range was found to be 210 statute miles at all three test frequencies.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1952
Accession Number
ADA075863

Entities

People

  • Robert C. Lollar
  • William F. Sandusky

Organizations

  • Wright Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Airborne
  • Aircrafts
  • Altitude
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Bands
  • Governments
  • Ground Stations
  • Navy
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Radio Frequency
  • Specifications
  • Standards
  • Transmitters
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.