[Milsurplus] tank radio skip? Now A/C restoration

[Mike Morrow]

Dave wrote:

> I don't understand how someone can claim to honor
> the memory of the men who flew and the planes they
> flew, then strip them out to husked shells and install a
> Cessna cockpit.  No excuses, because there are people
> who do it right...

I agree.  What a disappontment it is to view an aircraft "restoration" that
is correct *only* in external appearance.

FWIW, below is text from an e-mail I got from someone who's restoring a
TBM-3.  He's attempting to restore all the original radio gear, and he
listed his goals and current status in the e-mail:

------ Original E-mail Follows -------------

Well out of my 1945 Pilot's Flight Operation Handbook for the TBM-3 is the
following radios:

1) AN/ART-13 Transmitter which is placed in the rear of the plane under the
gunners turrett. Ten pre-set channels which can be changed through the
pilot's control. Range is from 2000-18100 KC one was obtained on eBay (late
model) and one was donated, NOS (early model) to the ship.

2) ARB Receiver located next to the ART-13 in the rear compartment.  Tuning
box to right of pilot in the form of a tuning box and tuning head (coffee
grinder). Also controlled at the receiver panel. Range 190-9050 KC.

3) AN/ARR-2 Receiver also located under the turrett next to the ARB but
behind the ART-13.

4) AN/ARC-5 Receiver (R-26) with a Yardeny C-131/AR Spot Tuner which
provides reception on 6 preset channels. The control is the the right of the
pilot and functions with the first 6 preset channels of the ART-13
Transmitter Control.
(a) ARC-5 Pilot's control unit (original still in plane)
(b) ARC-5 Operators and gunner control boxes
(c) ARC-5 Junction Box in middle compartment
(d) Power Filter Unit in back compartment
(e) ARC-5 Jack Box beneath the pilot's right arm rest

5) RL-7 Interphone

6) ARC-1 Unit to receive and transmit voice on VHF
(a) ARC-1 Transmitter-Receiver located in middle compartment operating on
nine main channels and one guard channel. The fixed antenna, on the top of
the crash bulkhead is adapted for use with this unit. That is the tall wood
antenna right behind the pilot's head in a TBM.
(b) ARC-1 Control Unit mounted to the right of the pilot.

7) AN/APX-2 Transponder located under the crash bulkhead behind the pilot's
seat on the deck. This was the only unit still in this fire bomber TBM when
we got her.

The plane had changed hands several times over since being sold as a crop
duster in 1960. Much was eliminated obviously to save weight through it's
crop duster - fire bomber era. So all I had in 1998 was the
APX-2 and the AR-5 control box left in the plane. Ebay has been very helpful
since many of the warbird parts vendors don't have much in radios. Probably
because radio nuts were interested in that stuff as the
planes were junked. The warbird guys simply took all the other parts of a
plane. Now racks and cables for these things are a real problem. The ART-13
and ARC-1 are 50lb. monsters while cable needs can run from 3ft-15ft in
length.

Hope that helps as the TBM, being the largest Navy carrier plane of it's
time, did have the most radios as compared to a Hellcat/SBD/Helldiver.
Possibly a PBY had as much or more.

----------- End of E-mail --------------

I'm betting it will take some time for all the pieces to come together for
all these TBM  radios.  But this fellow sounds to me like his heart is in
the right place.  I didn't feel too bad about him besting me in an ebay
auction for a C-38/ARC-5.

Mike / KK5F