 G 8 G M U |
THIS PAGE WILL NO LONGER BE UPDATED |
On 26 February 1935 a radio receiver was taken, in a small van, to a field just south of Weedon, in fact Litchborough.To try to detect a Handley Page Heyford bomber. The bomber had been directed to fly through short-wave (49 metre) transmissions from the nearby Daventry radio transmitter. The Heyford was detected by the vehicle & was tracked for some 9 miles. At the time known as RDF this was the 'Birth of RADAR'.
The 26 February 2010 is the 75 anniversary of the Birth of RADAR to commemorate this event a team comprising radio amateurs from the Coventry & Northampton Radio clubs will be attempting re-enact what has become known as the Daventry experiment. The team are most grateful for the support of
many people helping to bring this event about. Without the enthusiasm of these people, farmer Helen, Giles our pilot and aviation adviser, & David the owner of the replica van, and Arqiva, this event would not even have reached the stage it is at now.
THIS IS OUR LATEST STATUS
What is in place as at 21/02/2010 :- (In alphabetical order)
Access to farmer’s field
Permission granted, had feed back from Helen that the field to be used is the on the
memorial stone field site.
Please note! this link to the Old Dairy Farm is for the Facilities at the farm only - NOT THE LOCATION of the event
The location by nearest postcode NN12 8HR . The Northampton Road Litchborough off the A5 South of Weedon.
NGR. SP650 557 Please note! this is a fast county road with VERY limited parking!
Aircraft & pilot
Giles G0NXA assures me there will be aircraft on the day, subject to metrological
and air traffic control conditions.
Arqiva have granted permission to use part of the Daventry site, to site the transmitters in well appointed office space
and room to site the mobile mast.. Members of the Northampton club are supplying the equipment for this area with back up equipment from The Coventry Amateur Radio Society.
Arqiva are supplying the mobile antenna mast,The Coventry Amateur Radio Society supplying a turnstile antenna for the 2 Metre RADAR signal.
Link to Arqiva website - Please do not use this to enquire about the RADAR event
Beer
Frog Island Brewery of Northampton
Have kindly produced a special label beer for the event
Model of Chain Home RADAR
A model of a Chain Home RADAR station to be brought to Weedon by
a member of the Watson -Watt Society Brechin
DEHS
The Defence Electronic History Society will be represented,
bringing a small display
Publicity
Jim Lee G4AEH has taken on this task, this is on going up to & after the event
RADAR (Simulation)
A system is in place that
to drive the 'scope on demand for demonstration purposes
RADAR (Working)
A system is in place that
will detect aircraft , working to produce the original trace as far as possible
Replica Antennas
Replica scale antennas completed
Replica Van
AOK & replica
KX50 number plates made
Risk assessments
Done
Sanitation & Shelter
Toilet facility at the Weedon Site (no pun intended) has been ordered, as has a shelter & simple tea /coffee facility
Special event callsigns,
GB75RDF and GB0RDF for the Daventry site & GB4WWR for the Weedon site have been issued by OFCOM
Links to QRZ.COM for further information about the special event callsigns - click the links GB75RDF
GB0RDF GB4WWR
Weedon BEC Primary school.
As part of the curriculum, WW2
history & will link with us, & offer assistance if possible.
|