THE AIA RADAR

摘要

The AIA set in the F4U-2 was the MIT Radiation Laboratory's 3cm-wavelength product. It had an accurate search range of two miles (1.24km) at altitudes at or above 2,000ft (607m). The key to its success was the 18in (45.7cm) parabolic antenna mounted in an aerodynamic pod on the outer edge of the starboard wing. On the cockpit instrument panel was a 3in (7.6cm) scope for the pilot. The apparatus, which slowed the Corsair's speed by only 2mph (3.2km/h), would lead to more sophisticated radar sets used by the later night-fighter versions of the F6F Hellcat.