A curious Xmas present.

[Andrew B]

I received this curious panel as a present today. My friend spotted it on eBay and decided that it would be a great present for a radio amateur's spares box. It looks to be a NOS RF/IF panel out of an aircraft judging by the valves in it. I wonder if anyone can identify what it's from ?

Thanks.

[paulsherwin]

Late 1950s by the look of it. It could be from something like a Canberra, which were retired relatively recently, hence the retention of archaic spares, though I'd have expected the original valve avionics to have been upgraded decades ago. Maybe somebody with recent RAF experience could comment.

[ms660]

Also in a Shackleton according some picclick photo's, a listing says from a Marconi ADF unit:

https://picclick.co.uk/Vintage-radio...l#&gid=1&pid=6

Lawrence.

[paulsherwin]

Also retired relatively recently. Were the RAF really still using this technology in the 21st century? We're supposed to be living on Mars by now.

[Andrew B]

Thank you Gentlemen, following your information I found it WAS part of a Marconi ADF unit. The quality of construction and the parts used it must have cost a "pretty penny" when it was new. All of the mica caps have individual values written on them, the valves are all "CV", gold bases, lots of useful parts for the repair of other "doofers/gubbins".

[Michael Maurice]

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

Were the RAF really still using this technology in the 21st century? We're supposed to be living on Mars by now.

Quite possibly, Valve technology is immune from the huge magnetic pulse created when a nuclear bomb is exploded.

[Bazz4CQJ]

Originally Posted by Michael Maurice

Quite possibly, Valve technology is immune from the huge magnetic pulse created when a nuclear bomb is exploded.

... and the pilot is flying using only one eye, with the other is heavily protected!

B

[Diabolical Artificer]

The old valve radar was still used in the Shackletons in the 1980's I think, they were used in an anti submarine role, there's some info in this video here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elENLa01XHA

Andy.

[Al (astral highway)]

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

Also retired relatively recently. Were the RAF really still using this technology in the 21st century?

They sure were.


The attached are photos from a much later design - a VHF/UHF amplifier in my collection. It is MOD/ RAF, highly ruggedised against shock and EMP.

I think this is mid-1980's? Anyone?

This is hybrid tech, with transistors, a nuvistor and a valve on-board.

[G6Tanuki]

AEW/coastal-patrol Shacs were really obsolete in the 60s, but they had their service-lives repeatedly extended because their 'Nimrod' replacements failed to meet requirements. AEW3 program was - rightfully - abandoned but other variants continued in service [with catastrophic results].

[The Philpott]

I am no longer surprised by technology still in use that in reality is already subject to supercession. (Especially where the military is concerned.) Typically we only get to know that it has soldiered on for so long after it has been removed and disseminated.
There are a lot of dusty corners. For no particular reason i am reminded of Iraqi operated tanks during the Kuwait/Iraq crisis that were using RR Meteor engines.

Dave

[Al (astral highway)]

Interesting to hear that, Dave.


It suddenly occurs to me, in the light of your insight, what if the module I'm showing in post #9 was only retired from a military aircraft in 2011?

The dates on the MOD record strip now pictured below, are stamped out from the integers 1 through to 10.

Is that possible, anyone familiar with this design? I know nothing about such numbering, so it could just be successive inspections at whatever intervals, not related to calendar years. Just curious.

[ex seismic]

The MOD record as shown is what modifications the piece of equipment has had fitted. Not everything gets every modification.

[David Simpson]

Well, I'm flummoxed. And feel such a tit, being ex 8Sqdn. AEW Shacks at RAF Lossiemouth, for not recognising it. The AEW Radar was ex Gannet & before that ex Neptune. Can't for the life of me remember the designation number. The squadron aircrew & the groundcrew avionics guys were half Navy/half RAF. The Navy guys looked after the thumping big radar, & me & my lads looked after the Air Comms equipment. We had Collins 618, ARC52, good old Radio Compass, AYF radio Altimeter, & ILS. In the mid 80's, 10 years after I left, they had a major upgrade & possibly Marconi-Elliot ILS/VOR & PTR370 was fitted. Must've been late 90's when they disbanded. WX963 still lives on at Coventry Airport, having been returned to MR2 status.
I bet the ref. no. & AP could easily be looked up on the huge VMARS Online Documentation Index.

Regards, David

[M0FYA Andy]

I suggest that module is from a Marconi AD712 ADF receiver. I don't think there is anything in the VMARS archive, though.

Andy

[Al (astral highway)]

David, that sounds like an interesting period to be in the service. David and Andy, just checking , I’m pretty sure you are now referring to the module I’ve posted pix of?

Anyone comment on the reasons for this interesting cluster of hybrid tech ?

...and any theory about the approx date of manufacture and length of service life?

Andy , what was equipment was the AD712 RX used in specifically ? (taking ADF to mean Automatic Direction Finder?)

Much appreciated.

[lesmw0sec]

Originally Posted by Michael Maurice

Quite possibly, Valve technology is immune from the huge magnetic pulse created when a nuclear bomb is exploded.

Another reason where anything that flies is concerned, is the long haul to get anything new type approved, etc...

[turretslug]

As Les says above- lots of hoop-jumping. Also, when an aircraft is in serial production, fitting the current-technology avionics with its bracketry, cabling, interfacing etc. is a routine and documented part of the overall production process. 30 years on when the avionics is looking a bit steam-age, many of those aircraft have been pensioned-off, some sold to "second-tier" countries, an unfortunate fraction have crashed.... Only a few are still in service, scattered around squadrons whose techs are thoroughly familiar with it, they've ironed out the bugs and know how to get the best out of it. Updating takes stuff off the front-line for some time and has to be done piece-meal and expensively- there have to be pretty pressing reasons to re-fit (it does happen) or the new stuff has to be seriously better than the old (again, not unknown).

[David Simpson]

The fact that it just has a 10U reference number, probably means it pre-dates the introduction of the super long NATO numbering system introduced in the 60's. Could well be good old "Radio Compass", but don't ask me frequencies or circuitry details - I've completely forgotten.
As for the RAF using previously thought of as obsolete equipment - the AEW Shack's Radar was first used in US Navy Neptunes at the end of WW2, & seemingly the likes of Ferranti, Marconi & Plessey later on could never beat it's performance. I can remember working on a Marine Craft in Cyprus in '68 or '69 which still used 1154/1155. Supposedly, some of the Vulcans who set off for the Falklands in '82 also still had 1154/1155, not even STR18. Also still in use in '74 or '75 I remember was the old 10channel 1985 series of VHF's, long after the introduction of ARC52.
Hey - Blazin Fiddles is now on BBC1 - and we know the Guitarist - Anna Massie.

All the best for the New Year, David

[M0FYA Andy]

Just to clarify, as I realise my reply in post #15 above was ambiguous, I'm saying I believe the module in post #1 came from a Marconi AD 712 Automatic Direction Finder Receiver.
In RAF use this system was ARI23084, the receiver Stores Reference was 10D/23299.

Andy