Aircraft Radio - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

PJC58-Hythe · 16th May 2023, 8:14 am

On the BBC1 news this morning they were talking about Scotland's air ambulance service and showed some historical footage of a light aircraft with a shot of the wireless operator, and the a partial view of the set he is operating, can anyone identify what it is from the picture?

ms660 · 16th May 2023, 11:04 am

Looks like it might be a Marconi installation:

https://www.baesystems.com/en/marcon...ny-page-part-1

Lawrence.

PJC58-Hythe · 16th May 2023, 2:52 pm

Thanks Lawrence I do believe that's the one! Always bugs me when I see something I can't identify.

ms660 · 16th May 2023, 4:35 pm

No problem.

If you open the link below there are refs. to several combinations of that series (Marconi Review, May-June 1935, mag. page 31):

https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Mar...1935-05-06.pdf

Googling those refs. will come up with a few more hits.

Lawrence.

m0cemdave · 16th May 2023, 10:19 pm

I think that transmitter is a Marconi AD41

ms660 · 17th May 2023, 11:18 am

There's a couple of nice illustrations of the Marconi AD 49/50 which was designed to fit into smaller aircraft, the file's too large to upload but here's a link for it:

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&ur...AAAAAdAAAAABAD

(Mag. page 10 for the cockpit installation...Mag. page 11 for the stand alone T/R units)

Lawrence.

PJC58-Hythe · 18th May 2023, 1:41 pm

Thanks Lawrence I found the bit about power sources fascinating, especially the one about a double output wind driven generator!

The Philpott · 19th May 2023, 9:29 pm

That looks like the sort of cramped setup that was installed in the DH Dragon Rapide/Dominie.

Dave

broadgage · 21st May 2023, 12:54 pm

Wind driven generators on aircraft were common until at least the 1950s, and some no doubt remained in use long after that date.

Considered to be simpler, more reliable and lighter in weight than a generator driven directly by an engine.

Modern large passenger jets are still equipped with wind generators concealed within the fuselage and deployed manually "if all else fails"

16th May 2023, 8:14 am	#1
PJC58-Hythe Heptode Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hythe, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 632	Aircraft Radio On the BBC1 news this morning they were talking about Scotland's air ambulance service and showed some historical footage of a light aircraft with a shot of the wireless operator, and the a partial view of the set he is operating, can anyone identify what it is from the picture? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Peter - M0HYT - BVWS Member - GQRP Club http://www.retroworkshop.co.uk

16th May 2023, 11:04 am	#2
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Aircraft Radio Looks like it might be a Marconi installation: https://www.baesystems.com/en/marcon...ny-page-part-1 Lawrence.

16th May 2023, 2:52 pm	#3
PJC58-Hythe Heptode Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hythe, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 632	Re: Aircraft Radio Thanks Lawrence I do believe that's the one! Always bugs me when I see something I can't identify. __________________ Peter - M0HYT - BVWS Member - GQRP Club http://www.retroworkshop.co.uk

16th May 2023, 4:35 pm	#4
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Aircraft Radio No problem. If you open the link below there are refs. to several combinations of that series (Marconi Review, May-June 1935, mag. page 31): https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Mar...1935-05-06.pdf Googling those refs. will come up with a few more hits. Lawrence. Last edited by ms660; 16th May 2023 at 4:42 pm. Reason: grammer

16th May 2023, 10:19 pm	#5
m0cemdave Octode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 1,223	Re: Aircraft Radio I think that transmitter is a Marconi AD41

17th May 2023, 11:18 am	#6
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Aircraft Radio There's a couple of nice illustrations of the Marconi AD 49/50 which was designed to fit into smaller aircraft, the file's too large to upload but here's a link for it: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&ur...AAAAAdAAAAABAD (Mag. page 10 for the cockpit installation...Mag. page 11 for the stand alone T/R units) Lawrence.

18th May 2023, 1:41 pm	#7
PJC58-Hythe Heptode Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hythe, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 632	Re: Aircraft Radio Thanks Lawrence I found the bit about power sources fascinating, especially the one about a double output wind driven generator! Attached Thumbnails __________________ Peter - M0HYT - BVWS Member - GQRP Club http://www.retroworkshop.co.uk

19th May 2023, 9:29 pm	#8
The Philpott Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Colchester, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,108	Re: Aircraft Radio That looks like the sort of cramped setup that was installed in the DH Dragon Rapide/Dominie. Dave Last edited by The Philpott; 19th May 2023 at 9:55 pm.

21st May 2023, 12:54 pm	#9
broadgage Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: North Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,130	Re: Aircraft Radio Wind driven generators on aircraft were common until at least the 1950s, and some no doubt remained in use long after that date. Considered to be simpler, more reliable and lighter in weight than a generator driven directly by an engine. Modern large passenger jets are still equipped with wind generators concealed within the fuselage and deployed manually "if all else fails"