[Milsurplus] ZA Receiver/Indicator

[Jack Antonio]

Brad

To answer your question, the ZA wasn't too widely used.

And what little usage it did have, was primarily confined to
seaplanes and amphibians.

There is an interesting book about ILS and GCA systems called
"Blind Landings", (sorry, I can't remember the authors name)
that describes many various attempts at these systems, and spends
a few pages on the ZA and its ground system called the YB.

Basically the ZA was an ILS system that used MF for localizer
(left/right) with an external receiver (such as an RU or R-23/ARC-5).
The glide slope was accomplished with a VHF receiver at about 90 MHz.

Unlike later systems, the glide slope consisted of a single beam, the
pilot flying a path of constant signal strength. The trouble is,
the angle of this constant intensity line would vary with how
wet or dry the ground was.

With water borne approaches, this wasn't so much of a  problem. However 
I don't know the answer to question of where was the YB transmitter 
sited for a seaplane approach.

I've managed to collect almost all of the bits and pieces of a ZA 
system. Need to round up connectors and replace the innards of the
pilots control box, but I don't have any real desire to power it up,
as there is no source of a signal for it to use.

Hope this helps

Jack Antonio WA7DIA
scr287 at sbcglobal.net




Brad Latta wrote:
> I have recently come across a ZA glidepath receiver/indicator, I can't find any information on it, & I am wondering what aircraft they were used in,
>       Brad
> 
> 
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