[Amps] 432 Cavity Amps; Thomson TH 331

Carl km1h at jeremy.mv.com
Fri Mar 2 08:10:14 PST 2012


Looking Glass was a Boeing EC-135 (modified C-135)developed as a wartime 
command post last resort if all ground based command centers were destroyed.

It mirrored the ground station capability including generating ICBM launch 
commands.The capability also included air to air links with others in the 
fleet.

Many versions were flown for 37 years 24/7 without an accident.
The program was then transferred to the Navy in 1998 using modified 707's as 
the E-6B and is still operational.

There are also 4 USAF E-4B's, converted 747's, which serve as onboard 
command posts for the politicians.

The amps I have were for multi MHz broadband data, video and voice thus the 
low distortion linear mode. At full bore 140cfm of air at 1.9" water are the 
minimum requirement. Not something to be in the same room with.

Filament is a modest 5.7V at 24A and the HV can run up to 7500V for 
"typical" operation. In GG for 2000W at 420 its 5500V at 450ma, and 7500V at 
650ma for 4000W. Drive is 90 and 150W respectively.

Carl
KM1H




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Lyles" <jtml at losalamos.com>
To: <amps at contesting.com>; "Carl" <km1h at jeremy.mv.com>
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2012 1:02 AM
Subject: 432 Cavity Amps; Thomson TH 331


> That sounds like it would be a potent amplifier. What was the looking 
> glass program?
> Or would you have to shoot me after telling?
>
> Never heard of that tetrode, but I do have a GE industrial catalog of 
> loose leaf datasheets. I will check tomorrow. as I'm curious.
>
> If it is a coaxial line circuit, and at 350 MHz, then moving it 80 MHz up 
> isn't as bad as the other way. That would kick butt on 432, bounce off 
> Mars, etc. and needs big air blowers for certain.
> 73
> John
> K5PRO
>
>> Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 20:23:28 -0500
>> From: "Carl"<km1h at jeremy.mv.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Amps] 432 Cavity Amps;  Thomson TH 331
>> To:<jtml at vla.com>, <amps at contesting.com>
>
>> GE made a big tetrode for the USAF Looking Glass program. It was the
>> GL-51064, with 2750W PD and rated at 4000W CW output at 400MHz. Its 
>> capable
>> of 4.2KW input at 1GHz
>>
>> They were used in a 1000W output AM linear at around 350MHz in a Collins
>> 648B-1 which is in a standard airborn slide in rack configuration.
>>
>> I have 2 of the amps, refurbishd with new tubes, stored and then 
>> surplused.
>> No power supplies of course.
>>
>> Id love to get some helping on getting one on 432.
>> Tube spec sheets, and Collins schematics are on hand.
>>
>> The amps date to around 1987 and the tube sheet is dated 11/69 so there 
>> must
>> be some out there. There is also an ET-T2009 designation on the sheets 
>> which
>> may be an alternate ID or an internal code. Maybe its an European tube 
>> thats
>> been rebranded for GE ??
>>
>> Carl
>> KM1H
>
>
>
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