[ARC5] Aircraft B-18A Bolo

[Mike Hanz]

As I suggested to Peter in a private note, it all depends.  In general, 
I think that Mike provided excellent suggestions.  However, the first 
decision to be made is the same one all aircraft museums have to wrestle 
with, and that's the time period that the museum wants to reflect.  
According to the various websites on the aircraft, production began in 
January 1936, so the early aircraft might well have had the same 
equipment we have discussed for the B-15, with the BC-AA-191 as the 
transmitter and earlier versions of the SCR-**-183.  If the preferred 
date is determined to be the late 1930s, then by all means use a 
BC-191-A and perhaps a BC-224-B or so.  I agree with Mike - the RDF 
receiver may well have been the SCR-242-A in that late 1930s time frame 
- but I suspect that it may have been something else if an earlier date 
is chosen.

On the other hand, the aircraft was in use through *1943*, so a later 
(and much more easily obtained) 1941-43-ish suite of equipment would be 
just as valid, and would certainly prove the point the museum will be 
trying to make with a more accessible exhibit.  Only one in a hundred 
thousand people touring through the museum would know the intricate 
differences between the sets (and most of them are on this reflector...) 
:-)

73,
Mike   KC4TOS.

On 1/3/2012 2:46 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:
> Peter wrote:
>> we have a rare B-18A (Bolo) Aircraft at the Wing over the Rockies
>> Museum.
> The B-18A dates from 1937 and 1938.  I assume it used a 12 vdc electrical
> system.
>> what was the proper radio equipment for this plane.
> Very likely, a command set SCR-AH-183 or SCR-AJ-183 (BC-AH-229, 230), and
> a liaison set SCR-187-A (BC-191-A, BC-224-A).  The radio direction finder
> may just as likely have been the SCR-242-A (BC-310-A).  All of these were
> available in 1937 - 38.
>> We have a large collection of radio equipment and could come up with the
>> equipment for that display.
> You will probably not have the sets I listed. (I don't either, except the
> SCR-242-A receiver and control box.)
>> We have in mind to make it as authentic as possible and set it up at the
>> outside of the plane to make it accessible to the public.
> Excellent approach to which most aircraft museums pay little heed, including
> the highly regarded U.S. Air Force Museum (the *real* reason to attend the
> Dayton Hamvention).