TACAN

In message .com,
writes
Is there an on-line directory of TACAN locations? For example, the FAA
lists on
http://www.faa.gov/atpubs/LID/A_B.htm
a TACAN on Bald Mountain Nevada, with designation GBM. However, there
is more than one Bald Mountain in Nevada. I'm looking for lon/lat.

Is TACAN still in use? I worked on it briefly in 1956 when I was in the
RAF.

Mike
--
M.J.Powell

"M. J. Powell" wrote

Is TACAN still in use? I worked on it briefly in 1956 when I was
in the RAF.

Of course. TACAN was developed by the US Navy for use on its
aircraft carriers, the bearing component of VOR being too large
for shipboard use. Nothing has changed.

Bob Moore

In message , Bob Moore
writes
"M. J. Powell" wrote

Is TACAN still in use? I worked on it briefly in 1956 when I was
in the RAF.

Of course. TACAN was developed by the US Navy for use on its
aircraft carriers, the bearing component of VOR being too large
for shipboard use. Nothing has changed.

Except ICs instead of valves?

Right. Thank you.

Mike
--
M.J.Powell

"M. J. Powell" wrote

Except ICs instead of valves?

It wasn't the size of the electronics, but rather the
large antenna array required of the VOR system. A VOR
antenna must be permanently aligned to the earth,
something not possible with such a large array onboard
a ship. The TACAN system operating on a different
principle than VOR solved the size and alignment problems.


Bob Moore

Bob Moore wrote:
"M. J. Powell" wrote


Except ICs instead of valves?


It wasn't the size of the electronics, but rather the
large antenna array required of the VOR system. A VOR
antenna must be permanently aligned to the earth,
something not possible with such a large array onboard
a ship. The TACAN system operating on a different
principle than VOR solved the size and alignment problems.


Bob Moore
Can you either explain how a TACAN works or provide a reference? Thanks.

In message , Stubby
writes
Bob Moore wrote:
"M. J. Powell" wrote

Except ICs instead of valves?
It wasn't the size of the electronics, but rather the
large antenna array required of the VOR system. A VOR
antenna must be permanently aligned to the earth,
something not possible with such a large array onboard
a ship. The TACAN system operating on a different principle than VOR
solved the size and alignment problems.
Bob Moore
Can you either explain how a TACAN works or provide a reference? Thanks.

I can't, sorry. I've long forgotten it. Even though I was supposed to
write the Vol 1 for the RAF. After a fortnight they posted me!

Mike
--
M.J.Powell

"Stubby" wrote in message
. ..
Bob Moore wrote:
"M. J. Powell" wrote


Except ICs instead of valves?


It wasn't the size of the electronics, but rather the
large antenna array required of the VOR system. A VOR
antenna must be permanently aligned to the earth,
something not possible with such a large array onboard
a ship. The TACAN system operating on a different principle than VOR
solved the size and alignment problems.


Bob Moore
Can you either explain how a TACAN works or provide a reference? Thanks.

There's a nice writeup at

http://www.radarpages.co.uk/mob/nava...can/tacan1.htm

Keith

Keith W wrote:
"Stubby" wrote in message
. ..

Bob Moore wrote:

"M. J. Powell" wrote



Except ICs instead of valves?


It wasn't the size of the electronics, but rather the
large antenna array required of the VOR system. A VOR
antenna must be permanently aligned to the earth,
something not possible with such a large array onboard
a ship. The TACAN system operating on a different principle than VOR
solved the size and alignment problems.


Bob Moore

Can you either explain how a TACAN works or provide a reference? Thanks.


There's a nice writeup at

http://www.radarpages.co.uk/mob/nava...can/tacan1.htm

Keith


That's a fine reference. I saved a bookmark there. It looks as if the
UK TACAN is the same as the USAF TACAN, but I'm still not clear as to
the differences from a VOR. Maybe it's just the frequencies. Or, I
believe all TACANs are supposed to have DME built in.

"Keith W" wrote in message
...

"Stubby" wrote in message
. ..
Bob Moore wrote:
"M. J. Powell" wrote


Except ICs instead of valves?


It wasn't the size of the electronics, but rather the
large antenna array required of the VOR system. A VOR
antenna must be permanently aligned to the earth,
something not possible with such a large array onboard
a ship. The TACAN system operating on a different principle than VOR
solved the size and alignment problems.


Bob Moore
Can you either explain how a TACAN works or provide a reference? Thanks.

There's a nice writeup at

http://www.radarpages.co.uk/mob/nava...can/tacan1.htm


Here is another description that explains how the VOR ground station signals
are used to determine the radial.

http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;...a&linktext=VOR

In message , Bob Moore
writes
"M. J. Powell" wrote

Except ICs instead of valves?

It wasn't the size of the electronics, but rather the
large antenna array required of the VOR system. A VOR
antenna must be permanently aligned to the earth,
something not possible with such a large array onboard
a ship. The TACAN system operating on a different
principle than VOR solved the size and alignment problems.

Right. Thank you, again.

Mike
--
M.J.Powell