Antenna shop technicians make waves

  • Published
  • By Roland Leach
  • Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) --  Onboard radar systems are the eyes and ears for aircrews conducting flying missions. These sophisticated components, a vital part of the navigation system, give aircrews a clear picture of the route ahead.

Fourteen technicians here perform the important task of maintaining them. Their job is to make sure the radar system, located behind the aircraft nose cone, is calibrated to peak operating standards. The radar and nose cone combination forms what is called a radome.

"Our main function is to test the different radomes and antennas that go behind them for the various aircraft systems," said John Dunn, antenna and radar range integrated system foreman. "Our mission is to produce usable antennas and radomes in a timely fashion with no quality defects."

They do that mission at a special testing facility which acts as a functional test site for radar systems used on a variety of aircraft.

A separate shop produces nose cones for C-130 Hercules, C-141 Starlifters, F-15 Eagles and other aircraft. The radome assembly goes through a calibration routine at a special range called the radar alignment facility here.

The facility is more than 50 years old and includes 45-foot towers spread out over the length of a football field used to bounce signals between radar dishes to calibrate the radome assemblies.

The technicians use computer systems -- archaic by today's standards -- to compile test data for each radar dish tested on the outdoor range.

"This may be old equipment, but the technology at the time was well thought out," said Jeff Rhodes, an electronic technician. "Although there are times when I wish we had updated equipment, this works."

The technicians all possess the skills to fine tune any radome brought to the range.

"We know this is very important work," said George Long, an electronic technician. "We are proud when the guys going over drop the bomb where they want to drop it. We are proud that it doesn't scatter four or five blocks away."