[ARC5] Yet More ZB

[Robert Eleazer]

Reference Mike H and Kludge comments 

Note that the manual calls ONLY the ARR-2 the Navigation Radio.  The ARC-5 Range receiver was not even there in many applications since it served no 
use on shipboard.

So I must assume that the control is associated with the ARR-2.  And I am glad you think it looks like a spiraling telescoping control, since I thought I was seeing things when I thought that. 

I was inclined to think of it as an adjustable stub coupler of some kind - EXCEPT that the ARR-2 is in the back somewhere, as is the antenna, and putting that kind of control in the cockpit makes no sense at all, given that you have access the radio compartment to set the ARR-2 to the Frequency of the Day - so why put anything like that in the cockpit - and from a what I can recall of the ARR-2 I have packed away it has an antenna adjustment on the front panel anyway.

To make things worse, take a look at the F6F manual (pages sent to Mike).  It has no mention of such a control and the directions for the ZB use are somewhat different and add some interesting cautions, such as setting the sensitivity too close to max amplification (at least I think that is what they mean) will make homing difficult - which is just what we were discussing.

I wonder if it could be a retractable antenna of some kind?  How it would work is far from obvious.  It is true that with the F4U gave much more attention to streamlining than they did with the F6F.

Wayne