[Milsurplus] ZA ILS system and Book review

[Jack Antonio]

In researching the ZA system, I came across a book
titled "Blind Landings, Low Visibility Operations
in American Aviation, 1918-1958" by Erik Conway.

The book details the developement of ILS systems,
the give and take between the airlines and the
military requirements, how the war influenced
the developement, the origin of the Army's SCS-51
and the developement of GCA. While not deeply
technical, it does go into some detail of how
the systems involved worked.

Concerning the ZA, the book doesn't mention the
ZA, but does mention the ground part of
the system, the YB, and the problems the
Navy had implementing the system, which
resulted in its abandonement in 1943.

The book also says that the Navy only intended
the YB for seaplane bases. Which does lead
to some questions as to how the transmitters
were installed, on boats or bouys? But the book
doesn't mention anything about that part of it.

Still, an interesting book.

Jack Antonio WA7DIA
scr287 at sbcglobal.net