[Milsurplus] RE: Bomber Radio Pictures

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On 4/17/06, Scott Johnson <scottjohnson1 at cox.net> wrote:
> All this talk of original radios makes me chuckle.  You have two choices:
> 1.) Fly the airplane, which requires modern equipment, and with safety and
> ergonomics in mind, you WILL have to modify the panel/flight deck/ avionics
> area.

Yep, the Collings birds have the required newer gear installed and
easily seen in one of Stu's shots. It's a trade off, as you say. They
can't really 'set it up on the dashboard' since the viewing area ahead
isn't all the large, so I'm not sure where they could put it to still
have it meet requirements.

> 2.) Don't fly the airplane, which means it's not worth much now, and keep an
> array of original radios installed.

But they do have the original radios installed, albeit not entirely
'complete' or perfect. Still, I don't consider it to be 'fake' by any
means, just not 100% authentic due to being incomplete. After seeing
other birds with *zero* old gear, I was pleased they had as much as
they did. Not the best, but beats the alternative (nothing) and offers
a point at which to move forward. Smaller aircraft would be a
different story, there's only so much available space.

> I have been dealing with aging warbirds and commercial aircraft for going on
> three decades now, and I would much rather see the birds fly and keep an
> interesting collection of old avionics to use on the bands.  This way people
> can actually feel it, operate it, and experience it.  That can't be said for
> "authentic" looking installs in a certificated aircraft.  We try to keep our
> two Canberra B.2's as original as practicable, but we had to add a 760 ch
> comm, a GPS, and a modern HF radio to make them flyable.  I can live with
> that.

Works for me, too! I think maybe the issue is getting a bit clouded
between one group who refuses to do anything, and other groups who do
something, just not everything. While I agree with Dave that there is
no good reason not to include the old gear, I'm willing to accept the
compromises that need to be made in today's world. Mike Hanz has
worked miracles on the Enola Gay avionics restoration, and virtually
no one will ever get to see and enjoy it beyond his posted pictures.
Still, I'm glad he makes the effort. The Collings Foundation has
*most* of the gear in place, and while it's not as complete as we'd
make it if it was our plane, it's a whole lot better than the CAF and
perhaps other groups.

~ Todd  KA1KAQ