Radios in Aircraft

[KJ_Lesnick]

What were the first aircraft to have radios of any kind, and what were the first to have voice radios?

[kerick]

I remember reading about how Charles Lindburg's aircraft had radios when he explored routes to South America in 1928. It was an HF radio using Morse code.

[Rheged]

RE 8  aircraft of the   RFC  were certainly  using morse radio as  artillery spotters in World  War  One. The  only other detail that I can recall  is  that "GG"  was code for "on  target,  barrage fire"

[rickshaw]

Presently reading "Air War Gallipoli".  The RNAS was flying various seaplanes over the Dardanelles which carried radios in early 1915.  However, they were transmit only sets and relied on Morse.  No receiver.  They attempted to spot for the bombardment of the Turkish forts unfortunately with little success (for various reasons).

[The Rat]

There were WWI aircraft with radios, not sure which ones. A friend who recently passed had an RFC book about aircraft, for the edification of pilots, that was printed around 1917/18, and it mentioned them. It talked about how the aerial was winched out to trail behind the aircraft, don't recall anything more.

[KJ_Lesnick]

Would it have been possible to fit a fighter plane from 1930 to 1933 that would have been able to include a simple morse code radio that a pilot could use to bang out some dits and dahs with that wouldn't clutter the cockpit up too much or affect the aerodynamics of the plane significantly?

When was voice radio first made possible in any airplane

[The Rat]

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/1998/6866-aviation-radio-history.html

[KJ_Lesnick]

The Rat

I appreciate the link, and it is fascinating to know how heavy some early radios were.

I'm curious if you have the answer as to how much their weight reduced from the 1914-1918 era to the 1920-1930 era, and from there to the 1930-1940 era.  Also do you have any information as to when the first voice radios (i.e. being able to simply speak over the radio)

[The Rat]

The Rat

I appreciate the link, and it is fascinating to know how heavy some early radios were.

I'm curious if you have the answer as to how much their weight reduced from the 1914-1918 era to the 1920-1930 era, and from there to the 1930-1940 era.  Also do you have any information as to when the first voice radios (i.e. being able to simply speak over the radio)

No idea, that's one of the few relevant links I found.

[KJ_Lesnick]

Do you have any idea where I could find more information?

[Rheged]

Do you have any idea where I could find more information?

Do those here assembled think that either Cosford  or Hendon  would have the answer?   If so

Contact Cosford
T: 01902 376 200
cosford@rafmuseum.org

Royal Air Force Museum Cosford,
Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 8UP


Contact London
T: 020 8205 2266
london@rafmuseum.org

Royal Air Force Museum London,
Grahame Park Way, London
NW9 5LL