[ARC5] SCR-718 in a KC-135

[Taigh Ramey]

Mac,

That's the one. 

I had heard about the use of this set for Pressure pattern navigation from a
Navigator who still has this rating on his FAA license. Very interesting. 

Thanks,

Taigh

Taigh Ramey
Proprietor, Vintage Aircraft
7432 C.E. Dixon Street
Stockton, California 95206
(209) 982-0273 Shop
(209) 982 4832 Fax
www.twinbeech.com
'KEEP 'EM FLYING...FOR HISTORY'


-----Original Message-----
From: arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
Behalf Of D C *Mac* Macdonald
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 5:00 PM
To: Taigh Ramey; ARC-5 Mail List
Subject: Re: [ARC5] SCR-718 in a KC-135


Greetings, Taigh! 
 
Is that SCR-718 the same radio altimeter with a round scope about 3" in
diameter that was in T-29 navigation training aircraft?  It's been 50 years
since I had my nav training so nomenclatures have probably faded!  The ones
we used had a circular pattern that read from 0 to 5,000 feet or could also
indicate 5,000 to 10,000 feet of radio altitude to the ocean.  It did NOT
state which but you should know whether you were at 2,000 or
7,000 feet! There was a "pip" straight up at 0 and you averaged out the
other one that varied with wave height. 
 
We used them overwater in conjunction with pressure pattern navigation. The
aircraft flew at a steady pressure altitude and you compared the change (if
any) in pressure and radio altitude to estimate the drift and difference
between air speed and ground speed to derive an estimated position. Not very
exact, but it might be all you had if sky was overcast and you could not get
a "line of position" (LOP) from a sextant shot on the sun and/or moon. Going
from USA across the big pond known as the Atlantic, you could pretty much
figure you could find Europe or Africa!  (;<p)
 
* * * * * * * * * * *
* 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 *
* (Since 30 Nov 53) *
* k2gkk at hotmail.com *
* Oklahoma City, OK *
* USAF, Ret (61-81) *
* * * * * * * * * * * 
 
(long ago B-52F EWO)



 
 
> From: Taigh at twinbeech.com
> To: arc5 at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:57:54 -0700
> Subject: [ARC5] SCR-718 in a KC-135
> 
> Speaking of KC-135s... I was on a crew to fly the B-29 Hawg Wild from 
> Tucson to the Imperial War Museum in Duxford England in 1980.
> We stopped for a week at Loring AFB in Maine for repairs in 
> preparation for the trip across the Atlantic.
> 
> We had some nice base tours while we were there and a B-52 navigator 
> named Jake Huffman had taken us in a B-52 going through overhaul and 
> then we got to go inside a KC-135. I was astonished to see the 
> indicator for the SCR-718 radio altimeter mounted on the left side of 
> the Navs panel. It was complete with DAY-44 on the data plate.
> What a surprise to see a WWII radio installed in a current Air Force 
> aircraft, well current for 1980 anyway.
> 
> 
> Taigh
> 
> Taigh Ramey
> Proprietor, Vintage Aircraft
> 7432 C.E.Dixon Street
> Stockton, California 95206
> (209) 982-0273
> (209) 982-4832 Fax
> www.twinbeech.com
> KEEP 'EM FLYING...FOR HISTORY!
 		 	   		  
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