[Milsurplus] SCS-51

[Michael Tauson]

On Mon, Apr 20, 2009 at 12:25 PM, Mike Morrow <kk5f at earthlink.net> wrote:
> The SCS-51, AFAIK, refers to the complete ILS system, both the stuff on
> the ground and the stuff flying.

Ahhh, okay.  This sounds reasonable.

> The RC-103-A was *only* the VHF localizer receiver, and it was deployed before
> the glide-slope system was available.

>From what I can see, that came into existance in 1943.  Sounds about right?

> Before war's end, the R-89/ARN-5A three-channel UHF glide slope receiver
> was available to input to the vertical travel needle on the I-101.

The single channel R-57 came before it but I have no clue when.  Would
you happen to have some idea when it, the R-89 and the R-443(?) six
channel receiver went in service?

> Except for channel assignments, it's the same ILS used today.  Amazing!

Many much more channels!  When a system works as well as this does,
it's a good idea not to mess with it - esecially with the ever growing
number of aircraft equipped for it.

> The SCS-51 is a far better ILS than the one that the USN tried to use, the
> old pre-war model ZA and ZA-1 (Air-Track) ILS.

The ZA was a good idea poorly executed.  On the other hand, I wonder
how much the ZA's concept contributed to the later BC-733 & AN/ARN-5
execution.

Best regards,

Michael