[Milsurplus] 400 cycle 3 phase and WW2

[Bruce Gentry]

Bruce Gentry wrote:
> Ray Fantini wrote:
>> Thought all the old WW2 stuff ran from 28 volts DC and the B-36 was 
>> the first aircraft to exclusively use 115 volt 400 cycles 3 phase AC 
>> distribution? Being that AC distribution reduced design weight by 
>> several thousand pounds on a large aircraft. Recall reading something 
>> along this line in "Magnesium Overcast" by Dennis Jenkins. Maybe 
>> there was some application of 400 cycle AC prior to the B-36 but 
>> don't know what it would be. Did the old GO and GP transmitter have 
>> engine driven generators or motor generators  to develop their 
>> voltages from the ships DC distribution?
>> Ray Fantini KA3EKH
>>
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>>   
> The B-36 is a very interesting airplane because of it's complexity and 
> craftsmanship. Each engine drove a 400 cycle generator through a 
> constant speed hydraulic drive unit and their outputs distributed for 
> AC loads and rectified for local DC loads by compact lightweight power 
> supplies. I have a strong interest in technological products and 
> inventions in the late 1940's. It was certainly a time of great hope 
> and promise, lessons and developments learned during the war were 
> incorporated, sometimes carelessly,  into  things we all needed and 
> wanted.  Some of the most ingenious ideas  in military radios were 
> developed at that time, and  I think I am correct in saying it was the 
> pinnacle of vacuum tube  design.  Sadly, the Lockheed Constellation, 
> DC-6,  DeHavalland Comet airliner,  and Alco locomotives with the 244 
> engine  all had tragic faults.  We learned hard lessons for being too 
> hasty, and the things we built later were among the finest and most 
> interesting ever made.
>
>   Bruce Gentry,   KA2IVY
>