Warbird antenna wires

greatgonzo · **Posted:** Tue May 31, 2011 8:50 am

I've been wandering what did the IIWW antenna wires look like. Was the line weaved of thin wires, was there a cord inside, or else? And what would be the diameter of the line?
All i can tell is the material used to be stainless steel. P-47 is my worry, but any idea will do. I don't think there could be any differance.

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Tue May 31, 2011 9:23 am

Although I have seen several modern day restorations that have used common safety wire for their antennas stainless steel wire was not normally used in military aircraft in WWII.

Army aircraft typically had a solid wire that had a steel core for strength and copper coat on the outside for conductance. This wire was bent around wrapped on itself with a specified number of turns for terminations and splices for lead ins.

Navy aircraft used a braided antenna wire sometimes made of a phosphor bronze and could also have a cord inside for additional strength. The braided wire would be terminated with crimp type fasteners.

greatgonzo · **Posted:** Tue May 31, 2011 9:32 am

Thank You very much. Is it all right to assume You are reffering to US army and navy?
Any chance for the diameter?

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Tue May 31, 2011 10:19 am

Yes, US Army and Navy and I do not have the diameter information near by right now, sorry.

greatgonzo · **Posted:** Tue May 31, 2011 12:31 pm

Very useful information. Thanks again. Still, if You happend to be somewhere around Your source for the diameter info, the question still stands. I'll wait for months, I am going nowhere

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Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Tue May 31, 2011 2:38 pm

I'll get it for you but I am in the middle of Bomber Camp madness so I can't get to it until next week. Sorry. Remind me in case I forget which, I likely already have...

K5DH · **Posted:** Tue May 31, 2011 3:26 pm

I have a new-old-stock antenna wire assembly from a B-17F/G, the one that's suspended between the two masts beneath the rear fuselage (sense antenna for the DF set, or part of the IFF set?). It's made of solid-core copper-clad steel (known in modern times as "copperweld"). It looks to be 18 AWG or 20 AWG. I haven't mic'd it, but that's a close guess.

By the way, if any B-17 crew needs this antenna, I'll donate it. (Chuckie crew, are you reading this???)

JohnB · **Posted:** Tue May 31, 2011 4:03 pm

k5dh wrote:

By the way, if any B-17 crew needs this antenna, I'll donate it. (Chuckie crew, are you reading this???)

Allow me to nominate the crew working on 44-85813 "Champaign Lady" at Urbana, Ohio.
I dropped in two weeks ago and was very cordially met and given a tour.
Very nice guys (all but two are volunteers) doing great work on a project that most of us would have written off as hopeless.

greatgonzo · **Posted:** Tue May 31, 2011 4:34 pm

Great. Really.
But what the heck is AWG?

PJ · **Posted:** Tue May 31, 2011 4:38 pm

American Wire Guage

PJ
PV-2 Harpoon "Hot Stuff"
www.amhf.org

greatgonzo · **Posted:** Tue May 31, 2011 5:08 pm

Learning about existance of AWG is interesting by itself. Does it mean this B-17 wire is some 1mm (ca 0.04") thick?

airnutz · **Posted:** Tue May 31, 2011 5:18 pm

AWG conversion chart...
http://www.technick.net/public/code/cp_ ... _to_metric

greatgonzo · **Posted:** Tue May 31, 2011 5:49 pm

Thanks, I've found the convertion chart. I just need the k5dh confirmation of the AWG numbers

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