Flat Turns
04-02-2008 | 06:33 PM
#11
APC co-founder
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: B777
04-02-2008 | 06:46 PM
#12
With The Resistance
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Burning the Agitprop of the Apparat
VLF--a frequency so low, the waves will actually propagate through earth---and water. The Navy uses it to communicate with subs, for National Command and Control of nuclear subs and ICBMs. The wavelength is something measured in miles (2-4; can't remember).
The wire is as fat as your pinky because it is about 2 miles long!! (So it needs to be that thick to support the weight of 2 miles of cable). I believe it is weighted-down with about a 50lb weight on the end, so, as the E-6B (TACAMO) circles overhead, making the weight almost stationary, the antenna wire scribes a cone above it--remaining almost vertical.
I'm pretty sure each antenna is used one time, then snipped-off--too hard to reel back in.
The wire is as fat as your pinky because it is about 2 miles long!! (So it needs to be that thick to support the weight of 2 miles of cable). I believe it is weighted-down with about a 50lb weight on the end, so, as the E-6B (TACAMO) circles overhead, making the weight almost stationary, the antenna wire scribes a cone above it--remaining almost vertical.
I'm pretty sure each antenna is used one time, then snipped-off--too hard to reel back in.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TACAMO
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/c3i/vlf.htm
04-18-2008 | 11:59 AM
#13
Thx Age 65
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: MD11CAP
It gets reeled in most of the time. Takes 10-15 minutes. sometime it falls off due to icing, sometime it gets tangled (picture a fouled up fishing reel) and has to be snipped.
04-18-2008 | 05:20 PM
#14
Owner
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: TC-12B (SELRES)
The E-2 guys do those type of turns. Helps steady the radar picture when flying with the Airwing around the ship.
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