[Milsurplus] Milsurp demos

[CL in NC]

Perhaps everyone knows this, but it was new to me.  At an air show at Triple Trees in Woodruff SC, we had a big display of the equipment we obtained so far for the Lucky 13 B17 restoration.  While I could not bring my SCR274N set up, I did bring a dynamotor run BC375 and assorted TU's, and a BC348.  I had hopes of establishing scheduled communications with a couple hams, but when I set up , the racket from various switching power supplies in and around the facility, plus the 4 amplidynes running on the 2 machine gun turrets that where up and running, made it impossible.  (I think it was Hammarlund that made a lead filter kit to reduce the RFI from the amplidynes in WW II, but these did not have them) I did have it up and running on a dummy load so folks could PTT and press the key and see it putting out power.  I about talked myself hoarse giving demos all day, with one lady who came specifically to see this gear.  Her Grandpa was a radio op on a B17 and she had pics of him at position, and was almost at tears when she could operate the gear.  Her daughter took pics and videos of her at the controls.  So instead of demos at a hamfest, preaching to the choir, go visit an airshow with WW II aircraft and give the folks a show with working gear, plus any shows featuring military ground equipment would be a venue for all the earth based radios.  It was also a fundraiser for us, but any bonafide milsurp club could probably do a similar thing and raise some funds for the purchase and repair of gear.

Charlie, W4MEC in NC.