Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

I've noticed a pronounced antenna on the backbone about 6' behind the cockpit that we didn't have when I worked A-10s in the late '80s. Somebody fill me in. TIA.

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Looks like a GPS antenna. Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I could easliy be wrong, but that doesn't look like any GPS antenna I'm familiar with.

ARC-210 antenna

OL

(BLOS & secure, indispensable for stadium flybys)

Thank you Outlaw! I know other jets have the AN/ARC-210 radio but I don't remember seeing that type of antenna on any of them. Maybe because the other jets are supersonic, they could not have this type of antenna.

I think you're correct.

Here's another style, probably better suited to fast movers.

http://www.sensorantennas.com/antenna_p ... 82-910.pdf

The one on the A-10 looks draggy, but probably has minimal effect on an airplane that slow. There was some concern about airflow patterns in front of the engines however.

Maybe they get XM radio over it too?

OL

darkvarkguy wrote:

I've noticed a pronounced antenna on the backbone about 6' behind the cockpit that we didn't have when I worked A-10s in the late '80s. Somebody fill me in. TIA.

Dude … I started on the A-10 in the 80’s and they have been significantly upgraded.
When I worked them at Bentwaters there was only one computer. (SAS)
Damn, I remember when a TCTO came out to put INS in them! … Normal cockpit set-up back in the day was to pull the maps out of the aircrews helmet bag and lay them under the bungie cord that was strapped across the glare shield.
Early NVIS was the break “then” Glow sticks with velcro that was strategically placed around instruments and panels in the cockpit.
Now the HOGs have MPD’s and all kinds of sh*t on the backbone.
GAU 8 has never changed … I guess its so good, kinda like the 1911 in .45
And that was my jet when I was stationed at Nellis 658 … came from Eglin. Thumb

That's cool. Here's a picture of the jet I worked at Suwon in 87-88 (80-0283). We had INS and just started getting Pave Penny but that was pretty much it.

Different type of antenna, but its there.

darkvarkguy wrote:

Thank you Outlaw! I know other jets have the AN/ARC-210 radio but I don't remember seeing that type of antenna on any of them. Maybe because the other jets are supersonic, they could not have this type of antenna.

Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

A-10 question