Anntena wire

Mark D · **Posted:** Sun Nov 22, 2009 6:39 pm

Hi All

What type of wire was commonly used for radio anntenna aerials for BT or T-6?

I am thinking it is a brass alloy

Mark D

valdez25 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 22, 2009 10:50 pm

I'd like to know too. I got the insulators for my '6 this summer.

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Reel antennas used thin cable, although most GA aircraft I've seen use steel wire.

http://www.columbiaelectronics.com/id239_m.htm

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/a ... nawire.php

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/av545.php

http://www.dallasavionics.com/adf/adf.pdf

http://www.avionicsinternational.com/pr ... 9&id=66590

I doubt brass wire would be strong enough.

Do you have a spec from the parts manual I can look up for the antenna or wire?

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:17 am

Most all AT-6's and SNJ's in WWII used the steel core, copper coated solid wire for antennas as did just about all Army Air Force aircraft. The pure Navy aircraft often used a braided wire with a fiber core inside. The wire is just like what is described in a few of the links that BDK posted and it is readily available. It lasts a long time but the copper does tarnish with age and sometimes the steel will rust through the copper coating.

The AAF aircraft also used standard terminations, splices and lead-ins which involved a separate piece of wire and three sets of turns typically with 10 wraps each. This is hard to describe but easier to see in a diagram. I will try to find a good diagram or photo to show you what I am trying to convey. Rarely do you see it done correctly on restorations these days. Even more rare is the use of the correct wire. I have seen everything used but most commonly safety wire seems to be the preferred material. Please do not use safety wire as it will not last and can easily tear up paint and possibly foul in something more important.

The terminations are usually found in the manufacturer's blueprints and I feel certain that there is an Air Corps/AN standard for it somewhere but I have not found it yet.

More information tomorrow,

Taigh

Mark D · **Posted:** Tue Nov 24, 2009 3:15 am

Thanks for the info Taigh and BDK

I do have a few Vultee drawings that show how to wrap the lead in and splices.

Mark D

Mark D · **Posted:** Tue Nov 24, 2009 3:18 am

BTW guys

I am looking for 1 anntena shackle

John Dupre · **Posted:** Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:18 pm

Taigh Ramey wrote:

The AAF aircraft also used standard terminations, splices and lead-ins which involved a separate piece of wire and three sets of turns typically with 10 wraps each. This is hard to describe but easier to see in a diagram. I will try to find a good diagram or photo to show you what I am trying to convey. Rarely do you see it done correctly on restorations these days.
Taigh

I was taught the correct way to do what you describe at my first job with Stead Aviation in NH back in the early 80s when we still did a lot of wire ADF antenna installations. I think they had a hand drawn diagram as an aid. I found a 1940s radio manual in the late 90s that had a very good diagram of how to do it. I have rarely seen it done since though as I remember the technique was for aircraft that cruised over 200 mph. I used to do it regardless since it was a more secure installation.

John

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Tue Nov 24, 2009 3:51 pm

Here are some shots of a P-40 at OSH last time that has the correct type of antenna termination. I have not seen any specifications that called for soldering over the wraps shown here so I wonder if it may have been a Curtis requirement.

I have several different manufacturers drawings for these types of terminations, lead ins and T's and they do not mention soldering. I also have several original examples in our collection that also do not show soldering.

The lead in on this P-40 is also different than the ones I am familiar with so once again I wonder if it is a Curtis thing. I also question the spring simply being hooked as it is. The normal springs used in antennas in WWII were a lot stronger and were not open type. They were usually secured with shackles, clevis' and clevis pins.

Mark D · **Posted:** Wed Nov 25, 2009 10:17 am

I do have a Vultee drawing of how to do the wraps. The drawing says "do not solder" also. Got some copper coated steel wire thanks to BDK's links and all I need is a shackle like the photo above, it has a 1/2" opening for the insulator - do you have any Taigh?

Mark D

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:01 pm

Mark,

I checked for the part and all I have is a crude one made from a flattened tube. I would be glad to send it to you but it isn't the nice factory one, sorry.

Taigh

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Anntena wire

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