[Collins] KWM-1 in U2 aircraft

Dr. Gerald N. Johnson geraldj at netins.net
Mon Feb 6 21:41:38 EST 2017 

The US flight manual that Ben Wallace referenced later says the KWM-1 
was sometimes mounted in the upper forward portion of the equipment 
hatch or in a pressurized box in the right side of the fuselage just 
foraward of the wing. Paages 4-14 and 4-15. The pressurized box would 
take care of high altitude problems.

Thanks Ben for posting that link, now I have read more about the U-2 
than I needed to ever know.

73, Jerry, K0CQ

On 2/6/2017 1:24 AM, antqradio at sbcglobal.net wrote:
> Jerry
>
> Killing a little time before bed. Looked up the U2 to see if the cabin
> is pressurized. Well, not really. At a mission altitude of 70,000 feet,
> the cabin is at the equivalent of 29,000 feet, Seems that they have been
> lately modified to bring the cabin down to the equivalent of 15,000 feet.
> See the May, 2012 article:
> http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/killer-at-70000-feet-117615369/
> So what would happen to the KWM-1 when operating at 29,000 feet?
>
> Jim
>
> *From:* Dr. Gerald N. Johnson <geraldj at netins.net>
> *To:* antqradio at sbcglobal.net
> *Cc:* "collins at mailman.qth.net" <collins at mailman.qth.net>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 1, 2017 5:15 PM
> *Subject:* Re: KWM-1 in U2 aircraft
>
> Best I recall the KWM-1 I saw in that U2 was behind the pilot's seat
> mounted up above the seat back or on top of the dash so the pilot could
> use its controls since it had no provisions for remote control. It had
> the crystal plug in sold for novices. It had to be accessible in flight
> to change frequency and to tune. The 618T sure took more power but it
> was remote controlled and auto tuned as was the companion antenna
> coupler, a great deal easier for the pilot to use. I can see that if the
> cabin was not pressurized the KWM-1 would need considerable modification
> to keep it from arcing around the PA tubes and tuning capacitors while
> transmitting. According to the yellow 1959 Fundamentals of Single
> Sideband there were both 12 volt and 24 volt supplies that could run the
> KWM-1 and KWM-2. 516E-1 and 516E-2.
>
> Then the museum aircraft may have been modified at the museum to install
> a stock KWM-1 because some had been used and there were no radios in the
> aircraft that got to the museum. So we can't be sure about the radio.
> There weren't very many U2 as I recall so a couple KWM-1 and the 3 618T
> mentioned in those documents may have gone a long way.
>
> 73, Jerry, K0CQ, Technical Adviser to the Collins Radio Association.
>
> On 2/1/2017 11:27 AM, antqradio at sbcglobal.net
> <mailto:antqradio at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>  > Jerry
>  >
>  > Below are some CIA documents concerning the U2-C + (KWM-1 or SSB), there
>  > are others to be found at:
>  >
>  > https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/
>  >
>  > I just did a quick scan of these docs but it seems that the KWM-1 was
>  > heavily modified and mounted in the U2 nose area since it was packaged
>  > to operate at 70,000 feet. Support aircraft used either the ARC-58 or
>  > ARC-65 depending on the age of the aircraft and transceiver location.
>  > These docs are redacted and terse so several have to be read to get the
>  > full picture.
>  >
>  >
> https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP67B00511R000100240023-0.pdf
>  >
> https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP89B00569R000900250183-7.pdf
>  >
> https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP81B00878R000600030100-7.pdf
>  >
> https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP63-00313A000600070028-9.pdf
>  >
> https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP63-00313A000600070037-9.pdf
>  >
> https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP81B00961R000100010141-9.pdf
>  >
> https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP81B00961R000100140242-3.pdf
>  >
> https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP33-02415A000400310008-4.pdf
>  >
>  >
>  > Jim
>  >
>  >
>  > *From:* Dr. Gerald N. Johnson <geraldj at netins.net
> <mailto:geraldj at netins.net>>
>  > *To:* collins at mailman.qth.net <mailto:collins at mailman.qth.net>
>  > *Sent:* Tuesday, January 31, 2017 7:27 PM
>  > *Subject:* Re: [Collins] 312B-2
>  >
>  > Some KWM-1 flew in U-2 spy planes with the crystal plug in option. I
>  > remember seeing one in the cockpit I think at the SAC museum in Nebraska
>  > several years ago.
>  >
>  > I think the KWM-1 production was all before Art's decree for random
>  > serial numbers so the highest serial number found may hint at the number
>  > produced. I know for sure that the random serial numbers applied to
>  > KWM-2 and S line.
>  >
>  > 73, Jerry, K0CQ, Technical Adviser to the Collins Radio Association.
>  >
>  > On 1/31/2017 5:26 PM, CARLSMITHSON wrote:
>  > >
>  > > There is a new group on facebook dedicated to the KWM-1 and the fellow
>  > > wanted serial numbers of their rigs. I was trying to determine just
>  > how many
>  > > KWM-1s were made and I found a listing for a 312B-2 with a paint
> chip for
>  > > $1300.
>  > >
>  > > Sonny
>  > >
>  > >
>  > >
>  > >
>  > >
>  > >
>  > >
>  > >
>  > > -----Original Message-----
>  > > From: Gary H. Harmon, Jr. [mailto:gharmon at idworld.net
> <mailto:gharmon at idworld.net>
>  > <mailto:gharmon at idworld.net <mailto:gharmon at idworld.net>>]
>  > > Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2017 6:02 PM
>  > > To: 'CARLSMITHSON'; Collins at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:Collins at mailman.qth.net>
>  > <mailto:Collins at mailman.qth.net <mailto:Collins at mailman.qth.net>>
>  > > Subject: RE: [Collins] 312B-2
>  > >
>  > > That's good to know. I have one plus two KWM-1s plus one AC PS and an
>  > extra
>  > > AC PS cover.
>  > >
>  > > WHY? Good question.
>  > >
>  > > 73,
>  > >
>  > > Gary H. Harmon, Jr. - K5JWK - HAM Radio and ATARI Archaeologist
>  > > 6003 Archwood
>  > > San Antonio, TX 78239-1504
>  > > (210) 657-1549<home>
>  > > (210) 884-6926<cell and text>
>  > > (210) 657-1549<FAX with prior notification> gharmon at idworld.net
> <mailto:gharmon at idworld.net>
>  > <mailto:gharmon at idworld.net <mailto:gharmon at idworld.net>>
>  > >
>  > > "Retirement = Every day is a Saturday except Sunday"
>  > > http://www.grissomroadcoc.org
> <http://www.grissomroadcoc.org/><http://www.grissomroadcoc.org/>
>  > >
>  > >
>  > > -----Original Message-----
>  > > From: Collins [mailto:collins-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:collins-bounces at mailman.qth.net>
>  > <mailto:collins-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> <mailto:collins-bounces at mailman.qth.net>>] On Behalf Of
>  > > CARLSMITHSON
>  > > Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2017 4:58 PM
>  > > To: Collins at mailman.qth.net <mailto:Collins at mailman.qth.net>
> <mailto:Collins at mailman.qth.net <mailto:Collins at mailman.qth.net>>
>  > > Subject: [Collins] 312B-2
>  > >
>  > > I saw somewhere that the 312-B2 speaker,directional coupler, phone
>  > patch is
>  > > possibly the rarest Collins assessor. Do any of you know what numbers
>  > were
>  > > produced?
>  > >
>  > >
>  > >
>  > > Thanks,
>  > >
>  > > Sonny Smithson..NN8K
>  > >
>  > > ______________________________________________________________
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