July 2, 2011 B-17 Radio Work

Went out to the museum after breakfast this morning and got a few more things done in the radio compartment of the B-17.  Steve, K4SDJ and Bill, K4WP finished up the connectors on the coax then tested and labled each run.  I installed and routed the power cables for the amateur radio gear which is now nicely mounted underneath the radio operators table.

While we were there Rocky, Jeff, and others on the Saturday crew installed the three 12v batteries that will power our compartment as well as other equipment throught the aircraft.  Once they have all of thier wiring completed we'll be able to test the 12v and 24v distribution in the radio compartment.  One step closer to powering things up.

left to right.....Kenwood TS-480SAT HF radio, Kenwood TM-D710A VHF/UHF radio, RR4005C Rig Runner Power Panel

Underneath the Radio Operators table looking toward the left

Underneath the Radio Operators table looking forward

Handing a box of wire up to Rocky thru the crew entry chute

Rocky up in the forward belly of the plane installing battery system

One battery to give us 12v for amateur radio gear and two batteries in series to give us 24v for the original radio gear

Simple sketch of power distribution plan in the radio compartment

Group Photo of "City of Savannah" Restoration Team

Another Piece of Original Equipment For The B-17 Radio Compartment

We got a nice surprise today at the Mighty Eighth when John Finch showed me the BC-306-A Antenna Tuning Unit that he found and brought back from his recent trip over to Barksdale AFB to work with the restoration team of the "Yankee Doodle II". This is an item that we've had on our wish list for the last year. John's eagle eye spotted it and the guys there told him that they have two of them so they gave one of them to us. This will be mounted right above the Liason Transmitter on the bulkhead behind the radio operator.  Sweet!

B-17 Radio Compartment Progress

Spent a couple hours at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum this afternoon working on the radio compartment of our B-17.  Got the two new Kenwood amateur radios and the 12v power distribution panel installed under the radio operators table.  Thanks to Bob MacDonald for his help in getting everything mounted.  Once Jeff and Rocky get the 12v and 24v power terminal strips and the battery system is installed, we'll be ready to power up the radios.  We also hope to install and power up the BC-348 Reciever in the next week or so. 

Steve, K4SDJ and Bill, K4WP installed the PL-259 connectors on the antenna feedline coax.  The coax is now run from the radio compartment out through the left wing where it will exit and be run through the external wall of the building.  We plan to go back out to the museum on Saturday and solder the connectors.

Bill, K4WP installing the PL-259 connectors on our antenna feedline

Underneath the radio operator table before HAM radio installation

Bob MacDonald preping the brakets for the HAM radio gear

Bob MacDonald installing the brakets for the HAM radio gear

New EC for Bulloch County

Welcome to the new ARES EC for Bulloch County, Casey Brown KF4BSC.