16 Sep 03

Tuesday 16 September 2003 - Aquatic Hillcrest Radome

Headline: Aquatic Hillcrest radar tracking and correlating targets out to 200+ NM, prior to alignment!!!

Ron and Bill completed the repair parts installation before lunch. I cleaned the oil leaks off the motors and gears beneath the wagon wheel, and Bill and I tried to determine the source of the leak. Since the wagon wheel also had oil on it, we couldn't determine the source. We cleaned everything up and Bill looked under the wagon wheel after lunch.

The radome is truly ours. As an example, Captain Haan came by before lunch and politely asked us permission to go onto the catwalk for a look. Sgt. Pohl helped Bill get the right cables to program the address in a RES board after lunch. The environment is very courteous. I asked Steve Dunyk and Doug Hornbacker to discuss some problems Sgt. Pohl is having at another site. That telecon occurred at 0830 EDT, as Steve and Doug were both very supportive and responsive to my request.

At 15:00 here we powered up the array and it began rotating. We quickly learned that there were no usable frequencies, and there was a problem in the frequency synthesizer on the 1st LO. Thanks to Ed Lane, Bob Sopha, Terry Goodrich, Nancy Shirak and Robin Green, who collectively responded to us (through Terry) to let us know where our tools shipment seems to be. It seems to be clearing customs. Of course, we need it RIGHT NOW.

At 1530 local (0930 EDT) Tuesday we briefed the GAF (in a few minutes.) and will figure out how to proceed after that briefing. The briefing went well. The GAF will get us a spectrum analyzer, but it can not get here until tomorrow. Captain Haan asked about calibration of the array contour instruments. His position is that it is a GAF problem, since they own 7 other alignment tools, and they must have a way to keep them calibrated, or else, they use them without calibration. The result will be that calibration of this tool will not need to be an issue at formal SAT. Of course, it also serves as a reminder that all LM tools must either be calibrated or be documented to need no calibration, or there may be issues with them. I will ask Ralph Lorraine for "Needs No Calibration" stickers for the relevant tools.

After the briefing, Ron and Bill shut down the array, wiggled some frequency synthesizer boards, re-applied power, and all the lights turned green! After taking some readings, they shut the array down again and reset some breakers, then re-started. Targets began to correlate out to 200 NM with the SSR. This is prior to alignment and prior to adjusting several frequency synthesizer boards that were replaced. There is a documented procedure (and we have it here in the radome!) for adjusting these boards after replacement, and we have not performed this task yet. And we are tracking and correlating between the PSR and the SSR out to 200 NM. Target elevations reported by SSR and calculated by the RRP-117 are very close. I am slightly encouraged.

About 1700 Sgt. Pohl asked if we wanted to accompany him to the glider flight area and observe him flying his glider. I did so while Ron and Bill continued to work on the radar. These gliders are models, and have an electric engine that is used just for takeoff and to gain elevation. The engine is then switched off and the model flies by remote control like a glider. He was very proud of his model.

I then returned to the radome and we returned to the village. We went into the village for supper, and quite by chance met up with Captain Haan and Sgt. Pohl. They are staying at Hotel Sonne in the village. We dined there, and they joined us. Captain Haan regaled us with stories of his 30 trips to Syracuse, car trips over the weekends as far as Texarkana and back (on the weekend) and having visited all states east of the Mississippi and all the first column of states west of it. He has also visited Mt. Washington 12 times.

A very long and productive day. Tomorrow I will suggest that we brief the GAF every day instead of every week. The briefings are mutually beneficial and we would like to keep them 100% informed on progress. Also, we expect to receive at least one spectrum analyzer, two if ours clears customs and gets delivered. In addition, we will perform the frequency synthesizer calibrations and re-align the radar. I found the array contour alignment procedure and will attempt a dry run if the array is shut down long enough. Captain Haan promised to provide an insignia for the jackets we are having designed.

Many thanks to Paula Trudell, Steve Dunyk, Doug Hornbacker and Brad Shannon for continued support.

All these photos are thumbnails, and you can click on them to see a bigger rendition with more resolution...

Sgt. Pohl and Ron setting up the radar software before powering up the array, and Bill checking the wagon wheel for leaks.

The gear drive section and wagon wheel from above on the left and below on the right.

Another side of the gear drives from underneath, and Ron and Bill trying to debug the FS 1st LO problem.

After the 1530 meeting Sgt. Pohl, Ron, Bill, Sgt. Seier, Sgt. Beitz, Captain Haan. Captain Haan returned the favor.

Really, tracking targets, correlated, 200 NM and more!

From the paraglider and model glider takeoff, the radome, and a paraglider takes off.

Sgt. Seier and Sgt. Pohl as Pohl assembles his glider. Two paragliders wait for the right wind.

A short run, and a long flight.

Way down into the valley.

Sgt. Pohl explains to Sgt. Zeile and others the design of his aircraft.

The model pilots use a system to avoid frequency crosstalk. Sgt. Pohl flies his model. This assignment of mine is what Ron calls "Farnham coordinating flight test profiles with the Luftwaffe."

This is a monument to all the glider pilots.