Multiple-site investigation of the properties of an HF radio channel and the ionosphere using Digital Radio Mondiale broadcasting

The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), one of the new digital radio broadcasting standards, has been designed to overcome typical short wave radio channel difficulties, such as the multipath propagation and fast temporal changes of the received signal level, both related to the properties of the ionosphere along the path of propagation. In particular, some of the RF carriers used in the applied COFDM transmission technique serve to estimate the current state of the radio channel to enable the proper demodulation of the received signal.We have been detecting such RF carriers on select frequency channels (standard DRM broadcast) using a network of recording stations located in different parts of Poland in order to collect data on the HF radio channel. We have been also evaluating the usefulness of this procedure in providing information on the current state of the ionosphere in the refraction region between the transmitter and receivers. When the DRM system becomes more widespread, this method can supplement data that comes from the ionosondes, since it does not require much financial resources and the receivers can be easily scattered over a large area. This paper presents a set of experimental data and its analysis.     

Radio noise level due to electric power lines and its relation to line design parameters

The main results of radio noise measurements taken in Poland for 220 and 400 kV power lines are presented. The influence of various line parameters, such as conductor diameter and number, phase spacing, and height of conductor above ground on the radio noise level for power lines is discussed. The basic philosophy of choosing the line parameters and route at the design stage in Poland is described taking into account radio noise levels, electrical field gradients, and corona losses.     

Aircraft maneuverability improvement by direct lift control system application

The handling qualities of an aircraft will be improved if the Direct Lift Control (DLC) system is applied. In this paper, an attempt has been made to evaluate the influence of DLC-type system parameters on the aircraft's maneuverability and to determine the desired values of these parameters for the purpose of obtaining required values of the handling maneuverability criteria. Published papers which deal with direct lift control do not list requirements for evaluating handling qualities and maneuverability of aircraft equipped with DLC system. In this paper, three new criteria permitting the evaluation of results of employing DLC have been defined. Analysis of influence of DLC system parameters on selected known handling qualities criteria (for example CAP, C^*), as well as new DLC efficiency coefficients, have been illustrated with a numeric example of A4D “Skyhawk” fighter aircraft and PZL M-18 “Dromader” agricultural airplane control system modification.     

Magnetically Driven Shock-Tube Flow Studies at High Velocities

An attempt to employ a magnetically driven shock tube as a tool for aerodynamic studies of high velocity and high enthalpy flows is described. Examples of results are given.