Calling Tonka aircrew and squippers - PEC question

[Fishtailed]

I recall that Warton also had NATO sockets for their Tornados even before we did.

I managed to blag a ride with the RAF in a F3 at Leeming when Warton couldn't get me the Panavia clearance for a sandbag, but Mick in flying clothing kitted me up with everything I needed to ensure a hastle free day. All went well untill in the HAS and strapped in, ground crew passed me my helmet and tried to connect!! Unstrap, back to the hut and have a helmet measured and fitted, pilot drumming his fingers on the coming! Great flight though, thanks to Phil Askew and 23 Squadron.

[tucumseh]

ANR was battery powered, for bagger Sea King

Sea King AEW Mk2 was the first to get an integrated ANR. It was powered by 3 x 9V batteries, in a separate box stowed in a pocket, with a rotary on/off switch. The original design used a LEMO, specifically the one being mooted for Apache at the time. But the RN insisted on retaining the standard NATO jack, the reason being migration to other RN helicopters. (Part of the same decision was they didn't want in-ear devices). This didn't make sense because the aircrew wouldn't be able to use the helmet in other aircraft anyway, as ANR is unique to the Mark (e.g. in damaging noise terms, SK2 was different to SK4, and completely different to Lynx. If you ever had to go next door and fly in a Mk6, that's why your comms sounded crap). Linked to this, provision was made for all crew to have a made-to-measure helmet. But these decisions are made on high and prevailed. This meant a separate power lead/connector for ANR, which in turn meant the assembly failed emergency egress pull-weight, requiring staggered cable lengths on the comms/power bifurcation, so one connector disconnected before the other. The connectors look the same, but they are of different diameters.

A couple of years before ASaC Mk7 entered service, the Digital ANR programme passed its final lab trials and full development/production was approved. ISD was to be a year later, in early 2002 - it was required to meet the 'new' legal limit of 75dB(A), whereas analog was 85dB(A). (72/83 achieved, respectively). In the event, the legislation was delayed by many years, and I suspect, although can't confirm, the DANR programme was shut down. I understand they later changed their mind on in-ear kit.

AEW Mk7 (later ASaC) was powered from the new aircraft secure intercom overlay. The only real difference was that, being integrated with a TEMPEST system, the helmet was no longer just a piece of AEA, but a comms system LRU as it now sat within the TEMPEST boundary. In practice, when doing the test a dummy must be placed in each seat with a helmet. (Now now, RAF). The ASaC aircraft modifications - by far the most expensive part - were essentially Nil Cost, as Westland had been so efficient elsewhere in the programme they handed back excess profit, but the NATO jack was retained.

[ScottBouch]

Originally Posted by Tashengurt

Scott, stretching my memory now but I'd say that's a Tonka AR5 PEC.
The tester I'm referring to is the little hand held black box with a rocker switch that would test the comms with simple go/ no go circuit and a couple of less.
The screaming skull gave a more comprehensive result.

Haha, 'Screaming Scull'! I like that! I've had mine plugged in and making tones (it's a bit old and dusty, but appears to work), but really could do with finding the manual for it to figure out how to perform a headset test properly. I'll photograph it and start a new topic. I've only ever used the NBC intercom box as a headset tester, which it works fine for checking for crackles.

Thanks for the gen on the PEC, it's a shame it's missing it's bigger diameter hose, doubtful I'll find one for it.

Cheers, Scott