[ARC5] What is it? BC455 variation?

[Taigh Ramey]

Hello,
I may be able to help with a few of your questions. The US Navy used the
ARC-5 set into the 1970's for navigation and communication. What you
have sounds like one of those sets that was used and maintained by the
Navy. The PEN that is stamped on your receiver refers to the Overhaul
and Repair facility of Pensacola Naval Air Station. The 8-57 is simply
the date of overhaul. I would guess that the internal modifications that
you mentioned could have been performed by the Navy at the time of
overhaul. 
 
The Navy and the Air Force published Technical Orders (T.O.'s) about
modifications to airframes, engines and components including radio sets
that had time compliance deadlines. These time deadlines varied with the
urgency of the modification. It would range from immediate grounding of
the aircraft until the T.O. was complied with all the way down to the
modification could be incorporated at the discretion of the operating
command. I have not yet seen all of the T.O.s for the ARC-5 but the ones
that I have come across were generally to be incorporated at the next
time of overhaul. 
 
I am the fortunate owner of a 1944 Beechcraft RC-45J that had never been
"civilianized'. When I picked up the aircraft it still had its full
compliment of radios. These radios include the following sets: ARN-30
VHF nav and localizer receiver, APN-1 radio altimeter, ARC-27 UHF comm,
ARN-7 radio compass, ARN-8 marker beacon receiver and the best part was
a complete ARC-5 set. This Beech went into the Navy in 1944 and was
retired in 1974 to Davis Monthan AFB. I was amazed that the Navy was
using the ARC-5 all the way into the 70's. With the exception of the
ARC-27 and the ARN-30 all of the other radios are also WWII vintage. I
was very fortunate in that all of the radios were and are still
functional except the APN-1. The APN-1 powers up but the needle
fluctuates wildly. All of the radios in this Beech have the same stamps
that your radio has and most have the later round sticker that had the
punched out dates of overhaul which were typically from the late 60's
into the early 70's. Incidentally every component on the entire airframe
also has the same stamps and stickers indicating the overhauling
organization and the date.
 
I have a few pictures of the inside of the Beech posted on my web site
at www.twinbeech.com <http://www.twinbeech.com/>  . Click on the orange
and white RC-45J photo and scroll down to see a picture of the forward
radio rack with the ARN-30, APN-1 and the ARC-27. I will try to post a
shot of the rear radio rack soon showing the ARC-5 and the ARN-7. If you
or anyone would like, I will take photos of the stamps and stickers and
either post them or send them directly to you.
 
I hope this helped,
Taigh
 
Taigh Ramey
 
VINTAGE AIRCRAFT
7432 C.E. Dixon Street
Stockton, California 95206
209 982 0273 Hangar
209 982 4832 Fax
www.twinbeech.com
KEEP 'EM FLYING...FOR HISTORY
 


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