Baldonnel Mobile Radar Unit?

[Jetjock]

Was browsing boards.ie and I came across this photo taken at Baldonnel in 2007. Not my photo. Link to boards.ie thread here:http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...p?t=2055950955

I am aware of the history of the Cessna in the photo but what of the radar unit behind it? At first I thought it was a Flycatcher unit but there appears to be differences.



Compare to this flycatcher pic from the IMO gallery.

[Tadpole]

Looks like a Blue Cedar anti aircraft radar:

http://www.duxfordradiosociety.org/r...k7/aa3mk7.html

Not sure how it got there or who used it though

[Jetjock]

The question may be answered in that link Tadpole. The Duxford example is also a former Irish example. Seems they were used in conjunction with 3.7 inch guns. Certainly looks of that vintage.

[DeV]

Where is GttC?

[Saracen]

Giraffe Mobile Radar unit as employed by the ADR, superceded by the Giraffe BV.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIRAFFE_Radar

ADR had an exercise in Baldonnel that year.

[Jetjock]

Hi Saracen,

You are looking at the wrong photo. No problem in identifying the Giraffe in the second shot.

Look at the first photo, behind the blue/yellow charity Cessna.

Thats what we are trying to identify.

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi all,
I don't know the exact model but it was never an Air Corps item. It was for the old heavy AA and later the L60s.Allegedly, despite it being 50 years or more, of age, it is still in working order. The Museum was given two Bofors and the radar was also part of the package. It was, so I'm told, purely an anti-aircraft radar and not a landing/aircraft guidance radar. There's also a generator and miles of power lines with it.
regards
GttC

[Jetjock]

Amazing to see the at least superficial similarities between this 50/60 year old piece of equipment and the latter day Flycatcher.

Has probably had better storage arrangements throughout its career than the Flycatcher, whose relability was affected by "sitting exposed on the sqaure" when they first arrived. Those very words uttered by an operator attempting to fire up one of the Flycatcher units at the Salthill Airshow a few years back. Water damage getting in the way of a chance to track some real fast jets that day.

Unbelievable that it still works GTTC. You can be almost certain that it operates in a band and frequency that absolutely no enemy would think to jam!

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi there,
Doesn't say much for the quality of the Flycatcher's build if it can't keep out a bit of rain. The radar dish on the old unit in the hangar is one of the perforated-dish styles.I'm sure the electronic gurus on here would be able to identify the exact frequency range and it's model.
regards
GttC

[Tadpole]

The link above gives a frequency of 3.0-3.1 GHz and max 200Kw. The one in Bal is likely to be the same.

[concussion]

Thanks for the answers folks, I was going to wait a few more days for a reply on Boards before posting here.

[Goldie fish]

You can be assured that we would not get second hand modern units unless the past owners really wanted to be rid of them.

[Fouga]

one of the Flycatcher units at the Salthill Airshow a few years back. Water damage getting in the way of a chance to track some real fast jets that day.

They were originally going to try and track the 2 LN F-15E's but the F-15E fellas shot that down as soon as they were told of it, they were very concerned about countermeasures being released if there was a "lock" in any shape. They said the chances of that happening were slim but they didnt want to take that chance.

[Jetjock]

They were originally going to try and track the 2 LN F-15E's but the F-15E fellas shot that down as soon as they were told of it, they were very concerned about countermeasures being released if there was a "lock" in any shape. They said the chances of that happening were slim but they didnt want to take that chance.

Hi Fouga,

No F-15's on the year in question. You may remember the Giraffe radar was quietly spinning throughout the airshow in the carpark along with all the other army equipment on display. It was the only piece of kit off limits to the public that day apart from the waterlogged Flycatcher. Busy tracking real targets, not Cessnas with drogues for a change. A genius stroke by the ADR in terms of expanding knowledge. Make it look like part of the Armys static display but all the while gaining some experience with real targets.

[GoneToTheCanner]

So are the Flycatcher and Giraffe able to do each other's work, ie, track flying targets and direct guns/SAMs, or are they limited to one weapon type?
regards
GttC