Reception & transmitting was by the V-aerial stretched from cabin mast to rudders . A belly aerial (of which I am not sure that it was presenr , pictures are not ad fundum convincing , that is , I saw photographs showing the two wires running (front end) longer than the aircraft , suspecting it is manipulation) may have been formerly used for an RDF installation (Hooven) which was removed from A/c due to its weight : it may also have been for a Glide Path Receiver which was however , not installed in NR 16020 .
Can you cite what evidence you are relying upon when you say "Reception & transmitting was by the V-aerial stretched from cabin mast to rudders" ?
I suspect you have not done your homework. Ric and others would be a better source than I, but at this point I believe it has been well established that the dorsal V antenna was used for transmitting, and the belly antenna was for receiving. RDF was through the loop over the cockpit.
This configuration, and the loss of the belly antenna, explains why the Itasca could hear her transmissions from the dorsal V, but she could not hear them as the receive antenna was missing, except when she was trying to DF on them using the loop.
Your assertion that the belly antenna didn't exist at all is countered by the fact that photos of the aircraft clearly prove that the starboard belly antenna was re-installed during the repair by Lockheed . Further, professional forensic image analysis of the L-10 taxing to the runway at Lae indicates that the belly antenna and masts were there, so your assertion that the belly antenna photos are manipulated is countered by the evidence as determined by qualified forensic imaging specialists. What are your qualifications as a forensic imaging specialist?
The Hooven DF "Sense" antenna mounted on the port side of the belly was not re-installed after the Hawaii crash, however the starboard side belly antenna was clearly re-installed after repair of the aircraft by Lockheed. In fact, the starboard belly antenna is the one antenna that existed throughout the life of the aircraft preceding the dorsal V, and remaining after the trailing LF and the Hooven sense antenna were removed.
Why would a belly antenna for a glide path receiver be installed if the glide path receiver was never installed? Doesn't make sense, why do you suggest it?
You are wildly speculating at this point as to the purpose of the belly antenna, which only indicates that you really have no real idea of the antenna configuration on the aircraft, and are only guessing instead of reviewing the research that has already been done, or presenting research of your own.
If you want to challenge the research that has already been done, thats fine, but be prepared to present evidence that is compelling, not just your opinion and guesswork.
Searching Google for "TIGHAR Belly antenna" yields lots of material. Of particular interest is discussion in the old Forum on the history of the radio gear over time. See Ric's post of 6/21/00 to get a better understanding of what antennas were installed and removed prior to the second attempt. It would serve us all to think about the answers to the questions Ric poses regarding the purpose of the antennas at different points in time.
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From Ric
Okay, let's get into this. What was the function of the belly antenna? I don't pretend to know for sure, but I think that the history of the airplane might provide some clues. I'll be very interested to have your opinion on the following facts and questions.
1. When the airplane was delivered to AE in July 1936 it had a WE 13C transmitter and a WE 20B receiver, the same radios (or so it would seem) that it had when it disappeared. However, there was no dorsal antenna on the airplane at all. There was a belly antenna identical to the one that was apparently lost at Lae with a lead-in that entered the fuselage right under the copilot's seat where the 20B receiver was mounted. The only other antenna on the airplane was a trailing wire that deployed from the extreme tail of the airplane, just under the navigation light. At that time the airplane appears to have no DF capability at all.
What, in your opinion, was the function of the belly antenna at that time?
2. Sometime around October 1936 the Hooven Radio Compass was installed. This involved a separate receiver mounted on a fuel tank in the cabin, a dome-shaped antenna on the cabin roof, and another belly antenna that ran parallel to the original belly antenna but on the opposite (port) side of the airplane. The trailing wire in the tail remained unchanged.
What, in your opinion, was the function of the new belly antenna?
What, in your opinion, was the function of the original (starboard) belly antenna at this time?
3. In mid-February 1937 Earhart flies the airplane to New York to announce her planned World Flight. While she's on the east coast Western Electric installs a new dorsal vee antenna. All the other antennas remain unchanged.
What, in your opinion, was the purpose of this antenna?
4. Back in California in late February the trailing wire is moved from the extreme tail to deploy from a mast under the cabin. Right around March 1st comes the big change in DF equipment. Hooven's Radio Compass and it's domed-shaped antenna go away and are replaced by the Bendix loop over the cockpit. The belly antennas -- both port and starboard -- remain unchanged.
What, in your opinion, is the function of each of these antennas at this time?
5. The airplane goes to Hawaii, gets wrecked, and comes back to Burbank for repairs. When it come out of the shop several changes are apparent in the antenna set-up.
the dorsal vee has been lengthened by moving the mast forward.
the trailing wire is gone.
the port side belly antenna (that had been added when the Hooven DF was installed) is also gone.
Unchanged are the Bendix loop over the cockpit and the starboard side belly antenna.
What, in your opinion, is the function of the belly antenna at this time?
There is no change to the airplane's antenna configuration while it is in Miami or later (until the belly antenna gets knocked off in Lae.)
LTM,
Ric
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http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Archives/Forum/Highlights81_100/highlights93.htmlA. McKenna