The International Cessna^® 170 Association

I installed "cat" whiskers on the top of my vertical stab. They point backwards. I was advised by an antenna expert they are most effective forward of the aircraft placed that way and least effective pointed forward but that it probably didn't matter either way. A poll of the local aircraft showed half forward and half back. As the Narco antenna went backwards that is the way I went.

With the antenna pointed backwards there is a slim eye pocking possibility which exists but only when you would be getting in close to inspect your rudder or rudder hinges. I'm in no hurry to point them forward in any case.

Running the wire was no big deal. Climbing into the tail to secure it from the controls being the hardest part. Had to manufacture the former plate the antenna is attached to which wasn't that difficult. Drilling the rivets and removing the top former of the vertical stabilizer then installing nut plates for screws to reinstall the former takes some time.

I need to install a VOR antenna. I may want to install an original Narco -- can someone give me a part number or other description to use when I call salvage outfits? Anyone have one laying around they'd be willing to part with?

Yes, I have the vor cat whiskers style I just removed from the verticle I can part with.

You could always install a Dorne and Margolin-EDO DM N56-1 Freq 108-118 MHz Boeing Aircraft Antenna
regularly priced at only $10,992.00 ... a mere $9,893.00 On Sale! Used on Boeings usually.




I went out to look for a pn on mine and cannot locate any datatag info.
Be alert there was another Narco "mast" type antenna that was not original to 170's but may have been
installed at some point, PN VRP-37, which had a fiberglass mast. The original Narco had a metal mast.



Check your original Equipment LIst's for Part Numbers.

George,

Thanks for the tip on that Dorne and Margolin! I'll be CATIII capable with that baby. I've seen the ad for that Narco mast antenna , and that's what prompted my post asking for a part number. Now I know I'm looking for a metal mast. My original equipment list doesn't include an antenna, so it was no help.

Squaretail, I'm looking for an original Narco mast antenna, but thanks.


Dave

Well, at the risk of showing my selfish side... My airplane came with an original Narco mast-type which was just-for-show: Beautifully restored and painted/powder-coated mast with radiator-elements, and installed on the cabin...the trouble was..... it wasn't functional, as all it's "guts" were removed. It was basically only a "dummy", just for show. The balun was missing as was the original RCA connector*. This was because no nav radio actually existed in the airplane when I purchased it. The VOR receiver in the panel was also a "dummy". Neither of these early Narco radios are anything but the restored faceplates of the originals.... designed to "cover" the actual radio installations simply for "show". (And it can also be seen, the airplane previously had what appeared to be accomodations for portable avionics, subsequently removed since they were also not operational, in what had to be the world's only fake portable-avionics installation. That instrument position is now "blanked", as can be seen in the second photo of the actual avionics installation.)
The advantage of that "dummy" antenna was that no hole was cut in the cabin roof, either. (The Narco antenna has a connector at the base of the mast which would have required a hole to be cut n the cabin roof. The cabin had been re-skinned during restoration to get rid of all the unnecessary holes from previous multiple-antenna installations.)

I wanted a functional antenna for a planned VOR installation and cast-about at the old yahoo site for an original Narco antenna, and one of our own members (Jim McIntosh, aka "c170b53") generously sent me one he'd removed from his airplane. I used the restored mast and radiators from the dummy to refurbish his generous gift, and have it ready for installation, whenever I find the cash to obtain a Garmin 430. The point of all this is to remind folks how valuable original equipment is. Don't throw that stuff away because someone, somewhere, someday will have a need for it. (And this is another example of how the original design can sometimes be the best solution, after all. Those Narco VOR antennas were/are a great antenna, and they don't make 'em like that anymore.)

* The RCA connector (sometimes also known as an "audio" connector) on the original Narco antenna was common on antennas of all types in the forties/fifties, but has fallen into disuse in modern times, being almost universally replaced with a BNC connector. There's no harm in modifying the unit to accomodate new installations.