Don't tangle with this E-6B | Aviation International News

Don't tangle with this E-6B

In aviation’s early days, long-distance HF communications used wire antennas trailing behind the aircraft.

By John Sheridan

August 4, 2008

In aviation’s early days, long-distance HF communications used wire antennas trailing behind the aircraft. Stored on a reel inside the fuselage, the 100- to 200-foot antenna was usually hand-cranked out and back in. Reeling in was important–to keep the antenna taut when trailing, its end carried a heavy lead weight, which became a lethal weapon if the antenna remained extended while landing.

Trailing antennas are still used in 16 Boeing E-6Bs (derivatives of the 707) operated by the DOD as airborne national command posts to cover national emergencies and other situations. Officially called TACAMO ships–a John Wayne-sounding acronym standing for “take command and move out”–E-6Bs can even communicate with submarines, using very powerful, very low-frequency transmissions and a trailing antenna.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

South Korean Air Force Receives First KF-21 Fighter

Jet was first production example made by Korea Aerospace Industries

Korea Aerospace Industries KF-21

Uzbekistan Takes Delivery of First Embraer C-390

Milestone marks inaugural central Asian customer for Brazilian airframer

Grey C-390 in hangar

KlasJet Wins FAA Approval for U.S. ACMI Operations

Company targets seasonal peaks and capacity shortfalls

Boeing 737 from the rear, on the ground

Vertical Expands UK eVTOL Aircraft Manufacturing Site

Expanded facility at Cotswold Airport precedes final mass-production location

Vertical VX4 prototype being rolled into new hangar

Bye’s eFlyer 2 Electric Trainer Makes First Flight

Conforming prototype flew for about five minutes near Denver

eFlyer 2 in flight

Starfighters Space Sells Mach 2 Testing by the Sortie

Company says F-104 Starfighter jets offer a “wind tunnel in the sky”

Two Starfighters Space F-104s in flight

Australia Boosts Capability With Trio of ISR Platforms

Fleet now includes MQ-4C Triton, MC-55A Peregrine and the P-8A Poseidon

Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon and MC-55A Peregrine aircraft

Textron Aviation Marks Rollout of 500th Latitude

Aircraft entered service in 2015

Textron Aviation rollout of 500th Cessna Citation Latitude