Jump to content

Spitfire IFF antennae?


AnonymousAA72

Recommended Posts

..one of them questions that I should (and probably do!) know, but when was the IFF antennae added to Spitfires? The one's that go from the roundel to the tail plane. I'm building an early-ish Mk1 with the early mast type aerial - whether that would have any bearing on the answer or not....

Cheers

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Slightly off topic, but if you are building a Spitfire with the TR9 series radio switch controller,

it should be on the Port side of cockpit and is not the push button type I have seen

moulded by some companies

If you click on this link and scroll down you can see the TR9 Radio control types, Note TR9D especially

TR9 Radio control

The TR 1133 photos

Controller20TR1133.jpg

TR1133RadioreceiverI.jpg

The TR1133 would have been located on the Port side also

Of note for aircraft using the TR9D radio set, there was only the aerial between the mast and rudder post,

had a range of around 30-40 miles.

The TR1133 just had the mast with the aerial inside it, other aircraft types had the aerial for the TR1133 located on the lower

fuselage generally near the main undercart.

If you are doing an early Spitfire Mk I, if it was before the Battle Of Britain it would have had the

TR9 depending on the time period would determine the radio set (eg TR9/C/D) and thus the aerial(s) carried.

Hope that helps

Alan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Slightly off topic, but if you are building a Spitfire with the TR9 series radio switch controller,

it should be on the Port side of cockpit and is not the push button type I have seen

moulded by some companies

If you click on this link and scroll down you can see the TR9 Radio control types, Note TR9D especially

TR9 Radio control

The TR 1133 photos

Controller20TR1133.jpg

TR1133RadioreceiverI.jpg

The TR1133 would have been located on the Port side also

Of note for aircraft using the TR9D radio set, there was only the aerial between the mast and rudder post,

had a range of around 30-40 miles.

The TR1133 just had the mast with the aerial inside it, other aircraft types had the aerial for the TR1133 located on the lower

fuselage generally near the main undercart.

If you are doing an early Spitfire Mk I, if it was before the Battle Of Britain it would have had the

TR9 depending on the time period would determine the radio set (eg TR9/C/D) and thus the aerial(s) carried.

Hope that helps

Alan

Thanks Alan, It all adds to the overall picture! I'm building an early 92 Sqn Mk.I GR:U N3290, based at Hornchurch May/June 1940. According to the "On Target Profiles No 4" it certainly has the earlier post mast and aerial between the mast and the rudder post- so this would appear to have the TR9D.

Thanks again - muchly appreciated!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...