Under Development

NAVIGATION

RADIO COMMUNICATION & NAVIGATION

Early radio communication and navigation were researched mostly by the military. Below, from Air & Space Magazine, is an article that describes some of the early Army work. Note citation of Register pilot Clarence C. Culver.

Early Air-to-Ground Radio Communication (Source: Air & Space)

Radio "beam" navigation was described in a short article from Popular Aviation magazine, September, 1932 (PDF 2Mb). At the end of this article, "two-way radio" is discussed. Below, from Popular Aviation (PA), December, 1935, is a diagram showing the installation of a contemporary two-way radio in a biplane.

Installation of Two-Way Radio, Popular Aviation, December, 1935 (Source: PA)

With the coming of WWII, advertising trended toward wartime activities, like this RCA consumer two-way radio oriented toward Civil Air Patrol flyers.

Consumer Two-Way Radio, Flying Magazine, August, 1942 (Source: FM)

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MECHANICAL NAVIGATION

PIONEER DRIFT SIGHT

Below are twelve views of the Pioneer Drift Site. This instrument was made for the U.S. Navy and is similar to the type used by the first and second place winners of the Trans-Pacific Dole Race in August, 1927.The drift sight enabled the navigator to estimate the drift from true course caused by crosswinds.

Pioneer Drift Site Views (Source: Kalina)

Thanks to Tim Kalina for allowing me to photograph his drift meter.

KOLLSMAN INSTRUMENTS

Below, from Flying Magazine (FM), August, 1942, is an advertisment that incorporates the Doolittle Raid on Japan in April that year. Kollsman instruments included compass, sensitive altimeter, vacuum gauge and air speed indicator among others.

Kollsman Instruments, August 1942 (Source: FM)

Not only were Kollsman instruments on the B-25 medium bombers flown on the Doolittle Raid, but they were also used over a decade earlier when James H. Doolittle executed a takeoff, flight and landing while referring only to instruments.

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AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Popular Aviation, January, 1931.

The K-10 Aero Camera (Source: PA)

Five years later, Popular Aviation for May, 1936 documented a much more complex (and considerably more expensive) aerial camera, below.

Fairchild Ten-Lens Aerial Camera, Popular Aviation, May, 1936 (Source: PA)

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THIS PAGE UPLOADED: 10/07/16 REVISED: