[ARC5] NAA Cutler, ME

[D C _Mac_ Macdonald]

The T-29s that were used as flying classrooms for USAF Navigator School training at Harlingen AFB, TX and James Connely AFB, TX (Waco) had a trailing wire antenna. I don't remember its purpose; may have been for LORAN or HF radio. 

 

Anyway, there was a prohibition against using it.  It seems that somebody had reeled it out and then couldn't get it back in and the big lead weight at the end of the wire went through a roof in Brownsville, TX and penetrated at least one additional floor. 

 

Truth or fiction?  We students didn't know for sure. 

 
* * * * * * * * * * * 
* 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 * 
* (Since 30 Nov 53) * 
* k2gkk hotmail com * 
* Oklahoma City, OK * 
* USAF & FAA (Ret.) * 
* * * * * * * * * * * 
 
 
> From: timsamm at gmail.com
> Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 20:52:32 -0800
> To: gzook at yahoo.com
> CC: arc5 at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [ARC5] NAA Cutler, ME
> 
> Hi Glen - TACAMO was an interesting concept antenna-wise. I had understood
> the C-130 flew in circles but the trailing wire antenna end found its way
> down into the center of the circle, so the antenna was primarily vertical.
> This technique is also used by light aircraft to deliver and pick up small
> items from remote places with no landing strip. Trail a long rope with a
> bucket on the end - fly in circles around the clearing, bucket lands and is
> stationary for cargo in/out. Then head off straight, bucket follows... It
> works!
> Tim
> 
> 
> On Tue, Nov 26, 2013 at 8:34 PM, Glen Zook <gzook at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> > The TACAMO VLF radio systems that Collins Radio made for airborne
> > communications with U.S. Navy submarines, had a "trailing wire antenna"
> > several miles long! Many times, before the system was really operational,
> > there would be "snags" when reeling in the antenna so that the aircraft
> > could land. At that point, the antenna would have to be cut from the reel.
> > There are several hundred miles of this antenna wire at the bottom of the
> > Gulf of Mexico!
> >
> > In the late 1960s, Collins had a 35 mm slide presentation on the TACAMO
> > system. One slide showed a disheveled "Heckle and Jeckle" (cartoon crows
> > of the era) lamenting "there goes that damned wire again" (referring, of
> > course, to the trailing wire TACAMO antenna).
> >
> > The C-130 aircraft, with the TACAMO equipment aboard, would fly in circles
> > approaching the end of the trailing wire antenna.
> >
> > Glen, K9STH
> >
> >
> > Website: http://k9sth.com