[ARC5] BC-348 Franken-Fied

[Mike Morrow]

>Adding to the commentary, the Collins 18S-4( ) was also used (and hated) 
>by the USAF as an ART-13/ARC-8 replacement.

Although the 18S-4 was used under its commercial designation, the 18S-4A improved with Collins mechanical filter in the IF was given the JAN nomenclature of RT-380/AR, part of AN/ARC-59.

The USAF also bought a lot of 618S-1 144-channel crystal-controlled HF sets and RCA's USB tunable modification 618S-1/MC all under commercial nomenclature.

>The ART-13 was obviated by the RTCA, et al, in the 
>early 50's.  The US military was allowed to continue usage for a while 
>longer.  In 1959, while a CAP cadet, I flew in a C-53 with the ARC-8 
>still installed but not in "use".  Enroute to Wright-Patt we used it on 
>75 meters with the help of the crew chief.
>
>Jeep - K3HVG

Interesting coincidence!  In 1970 I was a CAP senior member at lovely Blytheville AFB in Arkansas.  The base commander allowed use of his utility aircraft to fly the whole unit with cadets to Wright-Patterson AFB to tour the always excellent USAF Museum.  The aircraft was an ex-T-29 turned C-131, complete with its AN/ARC-8 facing aft of the cockpit.  I had studied WWII surplus gear since 1964, and was amazed to see a real live BC-348-R and T-47A/ART-13 still flying in 1970.

Mike / KK5F