AUTOMATIC DIRECTION FINDER

(ADF)

Charitha Subasinghe
Sqn Ldr
OC Avionics
 INTRODUCTION
 Navigation

 Visual Flight Conditions

 Accomplished by various methods

 Instrument Flying Conditions

 Accomplished only by Radio Waves

ADF IS A VALUABLE AID TO NAVIGATION

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Contd… INTRODUCTION

 ADF

 It is a Radio Compass
 Provides the Relative Bearing to the tuned station
 Can be used to
 Approach air fields
 Keep track when flying en route
 Obtaining a fix
 Two antennas are required for operation
 Works by the EM properties of the wave

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TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE

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 IT IS A HIGH QUALITY RADIO RX WHICH IS TUNED IN THE MANNER
ADF AS SAME AS THE RADIO AT HOME

 Major components

 Light weight receiver

 Non directional wire antenna (Sense Ant.)
 Directional antenna (Loop Ant.)
 Indicator
 Control unit

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 PILOT SELECT THE DESIRED METHOD
ADF OPERATION WITH THE FUNCTION SWITCH ON THE
CONTROL UNIT

 Control selector position

 ANT
 Rx connected only to the Sensing Ant.
 For tuning and identification of the station

 Loop
 Rx connected only to the Loop Ant

 Compass
 Rx connected to Sense and Loop Ant(s)
 Indicator points to the Station automatically at all times
 Normal position of ADF operation for Rado Navigation

Cont… 6
ADF ANTENNA RADIATION PATTERN

Cont… 7
Contd… ADF ANTENNA RADIATION PATTERN

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 NDB
RELATIVE BEARING
STATION
TO THE STATION

ANGLE IS
MEASURED
CLOCKWISE

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 NDB
STATION

0° - Nose of the A/C

180° - Tail
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 NEEDLE SHOWS WHERE THE STATION IS LOCATED
INDICATOR RELATIVE TO THE AIRCRAFT

NDB STATION A

NEEDLE ALWAYS POINTS TO

THE STATION THE RECEIVER
IS TUNED

NDB STATION B

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DETERMINING THE DIRECTION TO THE
Magnetic Heading
STATION MN
030°

030°

090°
NDB STATION

Magnetic Heading + Relative Bearing = Magnetic Bearing

030° + 060° = 090°

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LOOP ANTENNA
 Direction Finding Antenna
 Enables us to use the Radio Station that transmits
Non Directional Signal
 Should be within the Range of the Radio Station

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