[Milsurplus] Service life (was Collins Book

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

That brings to mind a worthy thread subject.  What early set (for the sake 
of argument I'll define early as introduced 1970 or earlier) enjoyed the 
longest actually installed and lit off service life in US service (third world 
service not counted)?  Based on TM dates (date of introduction probably 
earlier) and personal experience (I actually did performance tests on a pair in 
November, 1968) the TDQ/RCK made at least 25.5 years.  But I have a feeling 
that the winner might be the much maligned BC-640 as two were surplussed out 
of Barksdale AFB between 1969 and 1971 (I bought them but can't for sure 
recall what year).  Note that the TDQ/RCK pair were the Navy counterparts to 
the BC-639/640.  And that the Navy and Blue Suiters had a mandate to be able 
to talk to civilian aircraft.  Which in my experience neither were ever very 
serious about.  Hence the old equipment on old ships or bases.

In a message dated 11/27/2011 00:21:52 AM Central Standard Time, 
kk5f at earthlink.net writes: 
> The AN/ARC-27/55 gets my vote for the most significant, most important, 
> and
> most technologically innovative command set of all time, even in 
> comparison
> to the A.R.C. MF/HF command sets that we all love.  It's absolutely 
> amazing
> technology for a design that's more than 60 years old, and that enjoyed a
> 25-year service life.

Robert Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480