[MRCA] More ZA

[MARK DORNEY]

I think ZA had something to die with glide path

Mark D. 
WW2RDO

“In matters of style, float with the current. In matters of Principle, stand like a rock. “.   -   Thomas Jefferson 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 17, 2023, at 11:36 AM, Jack Antonio <scr287 at att.net> wrote:
> 
> The book I referenced "Blind Landings"
> 
> Autor:   Conway, Erik M.
> 
> 
> 
>> On 11/17/2023 11:08 AM, Jack Antonio wrote:
>>> On 11/17/2023 10:28 AM, Al Klase wrote:
>>> While we're on the subject, does anyone know what "ZA" was?  Saw a reference to it on an aircraft check-list placard.
>> Al and the list.
>> The ZA was the aircraft side of an early ILS system. The system
>> used LF/MF for localizer and VHF around 90 MHz for glide slope.
>> The set used an external receiver such as an RU or RAX or AN/ARC-5
>> for receiving the localizer and its own receiver for the glide
>> slope. The system was developed by a company called Air Track.
>> I will have to research what the designation of the ground(or shore based) system was.
>> According to the book "Blind Landings" (I can't find it right now so
>> can't name the author) the system wasn't too reliable. According to
>> the book the glide slope angle varied with the dampness of the underlying ground, and the localizer suffered from day/night issues.
>> Its use seems to be confined to seaplanes and amphibians. In any event it was not in service for very long, and very few ground installations existed.
>> Also, from reading the operation manual, getting the airplane lined
>> up properly to make the landing involved quite a bit of manuevering and
>> switch flipping. I would guess that it would make a bad weather approach
>> a lot more stressful.
>> About the book "Blind Landings", it delves into the developement of instrument landing systems from the interwar period and into the use of radar for GCA.
>> I do have the components for the ZA, but have not attempted to put it
>> together as a display. Since I'm on a downsizing kick right now, if
>> someone would like to have it for making a display, let me know, I think
>> we could probably work something out.
>> Jack Antonio
>> WA7DIA
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