The International Cessna^® 170 Association

I just bought a 48 170 project and it has a Wright Airborne Electronics "Executive 90" Comm radio. Has anyone heard of this radio and I believe it might have been original. How can I get a copy of the original equipment list so I can verify it?
Thx,
Dan

I doubt it will be listed on the original equipt list, but... you can obtain a copy direct from Cessna Publications: 316-517-6215

Hi Dan! It's unlikely that your 1948 model 170 came with a VHF radio. VHF was just coming into use, with the introduction of the VOR system. The 1948 Stinson
Flying Station Wagon came with either a General Electric AS-1B low/medium freq transceiver or a Hallicrafters Skyphone, also non-VHF. Narco introduced the first lightplane VHF in early 1950, followed closely by Lear.

I've seen only one Executive 90, mounted in a 1960 Cessna 180. Judging by it's appearance, that's the right time period. If I remember, it's crystal-controlled, correct? It's only legal to use for receiving...if it works! Hope this helps. Russ Farris

Thank you, good info.
Dan

George and Russ:
I did finally find the information in the 337's.
In 1948 a GE LF radio was installed and then removed in 1960 to be replaced by the Wright Executive and a Lear ADF.
Does anyone have one of the GE LF radios for sale?
I plan to make this one original.
Thx,
Dan

I believe LF radios may require a Ham operator's license. (FCC rules have changed since the good ol' days.) But even so, the old thing would require vacuum tubes (valves according to the Brits) and a power supply that will sink a 14' boat, not to mention the long-wire antenna and electrical load.

Hi Dan! When I bought my 1946 Stinson in 1992, it had an amazing 290 hours total time, an original un-restored airplane (including fabric; it was in a desert hangar in Nevada) and the original GE AS-1B LF tranceiver! The radio went with the airplane when I sold it in 1999, when I purchased my 170.

Those early post-war lightplane sets are rare today, because most went into the trash with the advent of VHF, kind of like Lorans today. You understand, of course that the only thing a working LF/MF set would do today is listen to commercial AM radio stations? They had dedicated high voltage power supplies and weighed close to 15 pounds installed.

I have seen at Oshkosh and Sun-N-Fun vintage airplanes with modern avionics, but the face plate of an old AS-1B, SkyPhone or Narco VHT-3 SuperHomer covering the modern units for display only. I think GA Horn's 170 had a similiar arrangement when he bought it. Put a watch on that famous action site, that's your best chance of finding something...Russ Farris

russfarris wrote:...Those early post-war lightplane sets are rare today, because most went into the trash with the advent of VHF, kind of like Lorans today. ...

I've got a KLN-88 Loran and two more for spares because I intended to keep them. The Loran system had been extended and was expected to outlive the VOR system until recent budget reconsiderations. Now it may be in limbo again.. Many GPS systems require Loran for timekeeping signals, as do many utilities, and the multi-chain Loran system was expected to make a come-back.

I hate to see them flip-flopping on this subject, as Loran is an excellent backup to GPS. Ol'Gar and I found Natchitoches day before yesterday with that Loran when the GPS displayed a "lost satellite reception" message.

So...srite your congresman, and keep your Lorans and your Confederate Money, boys.... the SOUTH IS GONNA RISE AGAIN!

Here's the old radios ..faceplates only, for show.... which covered up the modern radios when on display:

What George has on his 170 is what I probably will do as I certainly don't want to try to operate one of the LF radios and it is too heavy. I would appreciate it if anyone has one of the old GE Low Freq radios to let me know so we can try to work out a deal. The 48 170 I just brought home was in storage for 29 years, has 1800 hours on it and has the original interior including headliner. I didn't realize that Cessna was so colorful back then as the trim is black and red. The black vinyl has the alligator texture.
Dan

Them was the good old days! All the aircraft transmitted on 3105kc and received on a tuneable 200kc to 500kc receiver via the tower or a radio range station.

I can remember the guys saying "What in hell are they going to do with 90 channels?" Then it went to 180, then to 360. Now it's 760 and I expect that will be trippled by going to 8 1/3 kc spacing, as in Europe, in the near future.

Maybe then everyone in California won't be trying to talk on 122.8.

Here is an interesting link about LF radios and how they were used. Russ Farris

http://personalpages.tdstelme.net/~west ... n-srad.txt

Russ, that was an interesting page. I did see a couple of errors. One had to do with not using the radio range with the radio compass. We regularly used the low frequency radio ranges to make radio compass and loop approaches to airports. We also used them when flying a radio compass orientation to find our distance from the station. The four legged range was usually the only facility at the airport. The 3105 transmitting frequency was still in use when I sold my Stnson L-5 in 1952 down in San Antonio, TX.
Looking back, I sometimes wonder how I managed to live so long.