{"id":38591,"date":"2019-07-21T07:55:16","date_gmt":"2019-07-21T11:55:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=38591"},"modified":"2019-07-21T07:55:16","modified_gmt":"2019-07-21T11:55:16","slug":"david-warren-radio-enthusiast-who-invented-the-black-box-flight-recorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/david-warren-radio-enthusiast-who-invented-the-black-box-flight-recorder\/","title":{"rendered":"David Warren: Radio enthusiast who invented the “Black Box” flight recorder"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

As a schoolboy, David was fascinated by electronics and learned to build his own radio sets (Source: BBC and the Warren Family Collection)<\/p><\/div>\n

Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post<\/i>\u00a0contributor, Paul W4\/VP9KFPaul W4\/VP9KF<\/a>, who notes that David Warren, inventor of ‘Black Box’ recorders was a ham radio operator and radio enthusiast.<\/p>\n

The following short biography comes from this memorial website:<\/a><\/p>\n

David Warren (full name David Ronald de Mey Warren) was an Australian inventor. He is most famous for his invention of the Flight data recorder (invented in 1956), or more commonly known as the \u201cblack box\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201cBlack Box\u201d is a device that records in-flight conversations and data. Warren came up with the idea of recording the flight crew\u2019s conversation on a device that could be protected to increase its chances of surviving the crash. Although it has the name \u201cBlack Box\u201d, it is coated with heat-resistant bright orange paint for high visibility in a wreckage, and the Black Box is usually mounted in the aircraft\u2019s tail section, where it is more likely to survive a severe crash.<\/p>\n

David Warren was born on the 20th of March, 1925, on Groote Eylandt, an island off the coast of the Northern Territory. He was the first child of European descent born on the island. When he was at the age of four, he was sent to Tasmania and Sydney to spend most of the next 12 years in boarding schools (Launceston Grammar School in Tasmania and Trinity Grammar School in Sydney).<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s first major air crash in 1934 claimed the life of David\u2019s father.<\/p>\n

Warren had received a crystal set from his father just before the disaster that started his interest in amateur radio and electronics. Almost 20 years later, when the age of commercial jet aircraft was just beginning, Warren worked as a chemist, specialising in aircraft fuels at the Aeronautical Research Laboratories.<\/p>\n

Dr Warren was working as a scientist at Melbourne\u2019s Aeronautical Research Laboratory, where he was helping to investigate the 1953 mystery crash of a Comet jetliner. New fuels being used in Jets in the early 50’s were more likely to become explosive at altitude than conventional aircraft fuels and this was identified as a possible cause of the Comet crash. While listening to the arguments over possible causes of the Crash, Warren realised that the solution could be at hand if someone on the plane had been carrying a device similar to the then newly released \u201cProtona Minifon\u201d portable recorder that he saw at a trade fair.<\/p>\n

The device would be fire proof (using steel wire as the recording medium like the \u201cPocket Recorder\u201d) and erase itself so that the last hours of the flight were always recorded. The device consisted of a single steel wire as the recording medium and provided four hours of recording and automatically switched itself on and off with the aircraft. It was during this period that Dr Warren incorporated the idea of recording instruments on a separate channel – his interest in electronics as a schoolboy was brilliantly applied to turn instrument readings into recordable dots and bleeps.<\/p>\n

The recorder was well received in England (where the name \u201cBlack Box\u201d was made up by a journalist at a briefing) and also in Canada where the idea was seen as a potential addition to beacons being developed there.<\/p>\n

Warren continued to lead the project, developing the Flight Memory device to record more instruments with greater accuracy. This led to the first commercially produced flight recorder-the Red Egg.<\/p>\n

A further disaster at Wintoon in 1967 saw Australia become the first country to make both flight data and cockpit voice mandatory on all jets.<\/p>\n

While a student at the University of Sydney, David met Ruth Meadows, who became his wife and lifetime supporter. Together, they raised a family and shared an interest in science and education. When he retired, David and Ruth lived in Caulfield South, Victoria, in regular contact with their four children and seven grandchildren.<\/p>\n

David died at the age of 85 in 2010, 19 July, Melbourne, Australia. After his death, He was buried in a casket bearing the label \u201cFlight Recorder Inventor; Do Not Open\u201d.<\/p>\n

Then in June 2012, the ACT Government named a road, David Warren Road, in the suburb of Hume in recognition of Warren. On 25 March 2014, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation renamed their Canberra headquarters to the David Warren Building.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thanks for sharing this, Paul!\u00a0 Fascinating…<\/p>\n

Note that the BBC<\/a> recently published an amazing piece about Dr. Warren on the 9th anniversary of his passing–click here to read<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor, Paul W4\/VP9KFPaul W4\/VP9KF, who notes that David Warren, inventor of ‘Black Box’ recorders was a ham radio operator and radio enthusiast. The following short biography comes from this memorial website: David Warren (full name David Ronald de Mey Warren) was an Australian inventor. He is most famous for his invention of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5984,545,3],"tags":[104,7904,7905,7864],"class_list":["post-38591","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aviation","category-ham-radio","category-news","tag-bbc","tag-black-box-recorders","tag-david-warren","tag-paul-evans-w4-vp9kf"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-a2r","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":40804,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/radio-deal-hro-black-friday-sale-icom-ic-7300-899-95-after-rebates\/","url_meta":{"origin":38591,"position":0},"title":"Radio Deal: HRO 2019 Black Friday sale Icom IC-7300 $899.95 after rebates","author":"Thomas","date":"November 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans (W4\/VP9KF), who notes that HRO's Black Friday sale features the Icom IC-7300 for $899.95 after rebates. That's the lowest price I've seen on the IC-7300!\u00a0 Thanks for the tip, Paul! Click here to view this deal at Ham Radio Outlet. Check out\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Deals"","block_context":{"text":"Deals","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/deals\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/IC-7300-Sale-Rebate.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/IC-7300-Sale-Rebate.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/IC-7300-Sale-Rebate.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/IC-7300-Sale-Rebate.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41668,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/ham-cap-and-voa-prop-fixing-ssn-look-up-files\/","url_meta":{"origin":38591,"position":1},"title":"Ham CAP and VOA Prop: Fixing SSN look-up files","author":"Thomas","date":"January 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Paul Evans, who notes: Users of these two propagation prediction programs will find that they don't work beyond Dec 2019 because the SSN look-up files didn't go any further. I noticed this 2-3 years ago and added to the end of the files required. I entered guesses\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/voaprop-1s.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":45061,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/fcc-proposes-50-fee-for-new-ham-radio-licenses-upgrades-and-vanity-applications\/","url_meta":{"origin":38591,"position":2},"title":"FCC proposes $50 fee for new ham radio licenses, upgrades and vanity applications","author":"Thomas","date":"August 28, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to Paul Evans (W4\/VP9KF) who notes that FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking--MD Docket no. 20-270--outlines a new fee structure for several radio services including the amateur radio service. If I understand correctly, a fee would be collected when an FCC employee would need hands-on time to process an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/FCC-proposal-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/FCC-proposal-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/FCC-proposal-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/FCC-proposal-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45148,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/09\/elecraft-posts-photos-of-the-new-k4-transceiver-in-production\/","url_meta":{"origin":38591,"position":3},"title":"Elecraft posts photos of the new K4 transceiver in production","author":"Thomas","date":"September 2, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Elecraft had hoped to start shipping the new K4 flagship transceiver this week and I'm sure it's been a real challenge realizing this goal in the day and age of the Covid-19 pandemic. This morning, Elecraft posted the following photo on their Twitter account with the caption, \"New K4s in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Elecraft-K4-Production-e1599054036326.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Elecraft-K4-Production-e1599054036326.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Elecraft-K4-Production-e1599054036326.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Elecraft-K4-Production-e1599054036326.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Elecraft-K4-Production-e1599054036326.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46841,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/12\/can-you-id-this-radio-in-death-in-paradise\/","url_meta":{"origin":38591,"position":4},"title":"Can you ID this radio in “Death in Paradise”–?","author":"Thomas","date":"December 9, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans (W4\/VP9KF), who writes: Oh no, I spotted another radio to identify in about a 1 second clip from \"Death In Paradise\", Series 9, Episode 7. This should be easier, but is it? Bonus points for the name of the lizard! Oh! That's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/dip1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":46666,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/11\/can-you-id-the-radio-in-this-pharmaceutical-ad\/","url_meta":{"origin":38591,"position":5},"title":"Can you ID the radio in this pharmaceutical ad?","author":"Thomas","date":"November 26, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thank to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans (W4\/VP9KF), who writes: I was watching a TV advert (well, no I wasn't), but then this one comes on with a drug for COPD. On the kitchen table, along with the inhaler thing there just happens to be a radio :-) Let's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/trelegy.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/trelegy.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/trelegy.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/trelegy.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38591","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38591"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38591\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38591"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38591"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}