C-123B and C-123K radios
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C-123B - Circa 1967
AN/ARC-3 VHF Command
AN/ARC-27 UHF Command
AN/ARN-14 VOR/ILS Receiver
AN/APN-22 Radar Altimeter
AN/AIC-10 Intercom
AB.ARN-12 or -32 Marker Beacon Receiver
AN/APX-25 or AN/APX-6 IFF
Collins 618-81 Liaison Radio
AN/ARN-31 Glide Slope Receiver
AN/ARN-21 TACAN
C-123K
AN/AIC-10 Interphone
Collins 618 HF Liaison Radio
AN.ARC-3 VHF Command
AN/ARC-27 or AN/ARC-34 UHF Command
AN/ARA-31 FM Homing Group
AN/ARC-44 FM Liaison
AN/ARA-26 UHF Direction Finder
AN.ARN-6 Radio Compass
AN/ARN-14 VOR/ILS Receiver
AN/ARN-31 Glide Slope
AN/ARN-21 TACAN
AN/ARN-12 or 32 Marker Beacon
AN/APN-22 Radar Altimeter
AN/APX-72 IFF
AN/APN-157 LORAN
AN/ARN-97 TALAR (ILS)
FM-622A VHF.FM Radio
TSEC/KY-8 Voice Encryption for UHF
The control pedestal image is rather murky, but it's the best I've got.
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- #3
Thank you very much indeed for the detailed reply.
I'm just wondering why the non-jet-equipped C-123B lacked the ARN-6 ADF, which was common on US aircraft from the 1950s onward.
I only managed to find a poor sketch of the radio panel of the C-123B, in which I was able to recognize two ARN-6 ADF radios.
The interesting AN/ARN-97 TALAR, which enabled blind landings on improvised airstrips in Nam, is elaborated in this document:
I'm just wondering why the non-jet-equipped C-123B lacked the ARN-6 ADF, which was common on US aircraft from the 1950s onward.
I only managed to find a poor sketch of the radio panel of the C-123B, in which I was able to recognize two ARN-6 ADF radios.
The interesting AN/ARN-97 TALAR, which enabled blind landings on improvised airstrips in Nam, is elaborated in this document:
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ThomasP
Chief Master Sergeant
It may depend on what period you are interested in. There was an avionics program in the early- to mid-1960s that involved a complete avionics package (radios, antennas, radio compasses, nav systems, assisted landing systems, etc) intended for aircraft that might have to be operated from remote and/or rudimentary airfields with little-or-no ATC equipment. The idea was to fly in portable ATC systems for ground controllers at the air field, if necessary, and to put together a complete standardized system for aircraft and airfield.
The complete set was intended to be installed in all of the appropriately serviceable aircraft on a specific list, which I remember included the C-123B among about 10 other airframes (including airframes ranging from the HU-1 to the C-130). IIRC the list included various ASR types as well, including some Coast Guard airframes. I believe most - maybe all - of the C-123B received the new avionics fit.
One of the items that I remember being on the list to be installed was the ARN-59 in place of the ARN-6. So depending on when the sources you have are dated from this may explain the lack of the ARN-6.
Maybe?
Unfortunately, I do not remember the name of the program. I may have the list of avionics listed in the program and will look for it.
The complete set was intended to be installed in all of the appropriately serviceable aircraft on a specific list, which I remember included the C-123B among about 10 other airframes (including airframes ranging from the HU-1 to the C-130). IIRC the list included various ASR types as well, including some Coast Guard airframes. I believe most - maybe all - of the C-123B received the new avionics fit.
One of the items that I remember being on the list to be installed was the ARN-59 in place of the ARN-6. So depending on when the sources you have are dated from this may explain the lack of the ARN-6.
Maybe?
Unfortunately, I do not remember the name of the program. I may have the list of avionics listed in the program and will look for it.- Thread starter
- #5
We can safely assume that military airframes were subjected to hundreds if not thousands of modifications during they lifespan. This also involved modifications to the avionics suite like adding more contemporary and more capable equipment. Without a flight manual and the specific airframe log one cannot be sure about what precisely they were fitted with. The flight manual usually suggests an avionics setup, which was common the type at a given time.
Th ARN-59 ADF was in fact a commercial product by the Aircraft Radio Corp. from the 1950s also known as the Type 21. It, however, still employed vacuum technology. The only advantage over the ARN-6 was its smaller size and weight.
As to the blind approach systems for rudimentary airstrips that appeared in Nam, I recall two such sets.
The first was the ARN-97 TALAR (Terminal Approach Landing Aid) was used with the TRN-27 portable ground stations. In general, it was a miniaturized ILS made by Singer and used on the C-130H.
The second was the ARQ-25 UHF ranging approach system used with the TRQ-26 ground station. The system provided 6 duplex channels. It was designed and made by Sperry and saw use on the AC-119G. In general, it substituted TACAN, VOR/ILS and ADF when not available in the jungle.
Both were rather obscure and not so common. Perhaps the latter was also used on the NC-123K. However, without the flight manual one cannot be sure about that.
Th ARN-59 ADF was in fact a commercial product by the Aircraft Radio Corp. from the 1950s also known as the Type 21. It, however, still employed vacuum technology. The only advantage over the ARN-6 was its smaller size and weight.
As to the blind approach systems for rudimentary airstrips that appeared in Nam, I recall two such sets.
The first was the ARN-97 TALAR (Terminal Approach Landing Aid) was used with the TRN-27 portable ground stations. In general, it was a miniaturized ILS made by Singer and used on the C-130H.
The second was the ARQ-25 UHF ranging approach system used with the TRQ-26 ground station. The system provided 6 duplex channels. It was designed and made by Sperry and saw use on the AC-119G. In general, it substituted TACAN, VOR/ILS and ADF when not available in the jungle.
Both were rather obscure and not so common. Perhaps the latter was also used on the NC-123K. However, without the flight manual one cannot be sure about that.
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The B Model is missing the ARn-6 because I missed typing it in - 2:00 AM Fuzziness.
The Murky Photo is from the C-123K Dash One.
I found the list for the USCG C-123s, circa 1961
Mostly the same as the USAF B Model, with the addition of the AN/ARC-38 HF Transceiver, AN?APN-70 LORAN, an AN/ARN-44 ADF substituting for p\one of the AN/ARN=6s.
There was often the addition of an AN/APS=42B Nav Radar in the nose.
Makes sense, since the Coast Guard used them for Logistical Support of remote stations as they built out the LORAN-C Chains, and supported other remote Aids to Navigation (ATON) activities. Lots of long overwater flights.
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- #7
Thank you for the reply. As to the USCG Provider avionics setup, it sounds consistent with the SC-130B Hercules of similar vintage. Hercules obviously received more equipment thanks to its larger size and performance.
Meanwhile I managed to identify more radios from the C-123B radio panel sketch.
I am still confused as to what instrument was the one I marked as the IFF, as well as a small Dzus panel underneath it.
As to other operators of Providers, the most militarized one seems the ROCAF C-123B/K. In 1966, these bird received the Bendix RDR-10 weather radar with the antenna installed just over the cockpit, and the AN/ARN-131 Omega Navigation System. Two years later they were brought to the C-123K standard with underwing jet engines. The ECM was also added and consisted of the AN/APR-25 RWR and AN/ALE-1 chaff dispenser to protect against SA-2 SAM radars. Other avionics remains unknown. A museum photo is available below.
View: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mambo1935/5405123137/
As far as I know the USAF NC-123K night bomber was not equipped with the RWR.
Meanwhile I managed to identify more radios from the C-123B radio panel sketch.
I am still confused as to what instrument was the one I marked as the IFF, as well as a small Dzus panel underneath it.
As to other operators of Providers, the most militarized one seems the ROCAF C-123B/K. In 1966, these bird received the Bendix RDR-10 weather radar with the antenna installed just over the cockpit, and the AN/ARN-131 Omega Navigation System. Two years later they were brought to the C-123K standard with underwing jet engines. The ECM was also added and consisted of the AN/APR-25 RWR and AN/ALE-1 chaff dispenser to protect against SA-2 SAM radars. Other avionics remains unknown. A museum photo is available below.
View: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mambo1935/5405123137/
As far as I know the USAF NC-123K night bomber was not equipped with the RWR.
