Earhart and Noonan by the Lockheed L10 Electra at Darwin, Australia on June 28, 1937 (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark (AE2EA), who shares the following video presentation by the Antique Wireless Association:
Radios and the the Disappearance of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan
Today, when GPS provides astounding levels of absolute position accuracy, it can be hard to appreciate the navigational challenges that Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan experienced on their around the world flight in 1937. Radio played an important part in in their success, and possibly in their failure. AWA member Brian Harrison, KN4R, takes a deep dive into the role of radio in Earhart’s last flight, it’s possible role in her disappearance and how a group of dedicated researchers are recreating Earhart’s and Noonan’s original transmissions using the same type equipment to help solve the mystery of their disappearance, and possibly locate their Lockheed Electra 10E.
What a fascinating video! Thanks for sharing. So much compelling evidence. Now to find the Electra!
For more info on the duplex aircraft comm setup,go here and scroll down to “radios”.
Lots of pictures and info:
http://www.stinsonflyer.com
What an excellent article!
BTW the reference to 3105/6210 khz can be misleading.
This was a crossband duplex setup where the aircraft transmitted on 3105 (3026.5 after
March 1953) and listened to the airport’s tower on the 200-400 khz beacon band.
Hallicrafters made the CA2 “Skyphone” transmitter-receiver postwar which
used miniature tubes,ran off its own batteries and was self contained.
From what I can find this system was phased out in favor of VHF around 1960.