[Milsurplus] AN/ARC-8 questions

[Mike Hanz]

Ray Fantini wrote:
> ...the last of the series delivered in 53/54 (B-36J) replaced the
> AN/ARC-8 with a AN/ARC-21 HF Command radio, think they were also used on
> B-47 and some early B-52 aircraft, I have tried to find any information
> on the AN/ARC-21 but nothing turns up. I have a huge investment in
> AN/ARC-38 and 38A technology with several radios in various stages but
> have no knowledge of the AN/ARC-21 sound like its large, complex and
> heavy. Can anyone point me in a direction to finding documentation,
> pictures or the radio itself? 

There is a ARC-65 is peeking out at the bottom of 
http://aafradio.org/flightdeck/vhf.htm, Ray...a corner of the control 
head is at lower right.  It is still unwired at the moment.  The 
internal modules are marked ARC-65 but the case still has the ARC-21 
nameplate inside.  There are two problems with getting this beautiful 
set up and running:  the first is finding the connectors, which are 
apparently like hen's teeth.  I finally found the inserts from Bill 
Perry, but he had to charge a king's ransom just to recover his cost and 
make a minuscule profit.  The second problem is more fundamental - if 
you have the triple dynamotor power supply, you need about 60 amps to 
drive it at full output.  Not so much a problem there except noise.  The 
other alternative is to use the PP-198 400Hz AC supply, which requires 
"only" 21 amperes at 115vac (37 amps in tuning mode) plus 20 amps of 
28vdc for fils and the like.  So, you basically are faced with finding a 
3kVA 400Hz supply.  I finally located a Behlman lab supply near here a 
couple of years ago but haven't had time to hook it all up so I can't 
comment on the maintenance aspect, which appears to be onerous based on 
the rumors.  The basic RT weighs 132 lbs and has a 230w PEP output 
rating.  The manuals for it are about 4" thick....

73,
Mike  KC4TOS