[Milsurplus] Another Estate
D C *Mac* Macdonald
k2gkk at hotmail.com
Mon Jul 17 20:36:12 EDT 2006
That makes sense now, Paul.
When I was in the 3d Mobile Combat Group
here in Oklahoma City at Tinker AFB, we had
AN/MPN-13 Mobile GCA (Ground Controlled
Approach) and AN/MPN-14 Moblie RAPCON
(RAdarAPproachCONtrol) systems. These
were later replaced around 1975 or so by
the AN/TPS-19 Transportable RAPCON system.
I just wasn't aware of the item at all and was
just wondering how or why that particular
nomenclature was used.
Mac, K2GKK/5
USAF, Retired
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Paul Alexander" <paul.alexander10 at gmail.com>
To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Another Estate
Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:27:32 -0400
<snip>
I'm wondering how an AN/FPN-16 (Fixed Radar Navigation)
ends up with a trailer???
<snip>
An FPN-16's usual home was a trailer. This was an precision approach
radar which was used to guide aircraft down to the runway. An air
traffic controller would watch a scope that indicated if the aircraft
was above, below, left or right of glide slope and give a constant
stream of updates to the pilot until touchdown.
Similar units are often seen on airports as large aluminum boxes
painted with white and orange squares, positioned right next to a
runway. In some cases, the air traffic controllers may be actually in
the trailer, or the radar video may be remoted to a more comfortable
position.
I maintained a newer FPN-63 back in the early 80's at Cubi Point, RP.
Our unit even sat on a turntable which would allow it to be used for
both front and back-course.
Paul Alexander
WB9IPA
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