I was just reading the article in the Spring 2004 issue of the EMC Newsletter by Dan Hoolihan regarding Richard R. Stoddart. I wonder if the Aircraft Radio Company he started in 1940 is the same as that of the ‘ARC’ radios, which were originally installed in Cessna aircraft until the 80’s (I am a pilot myself and last year I just replaced the old but reliable ARC radios in my aircraft with new stuff to satisfy the new regulations). Maybe the author has some information about it. (I do not know the e-mail address of Dan Hoolihan.)
One of the reasons I am interested is that it is sometimes told that these radios are unreliable. However, my own experience is that they are quite reliable on condition that the pilot/operator does not mismanage them. Moreover, the new European ‘FM immunity’ (this is in fact EMC stuff!) rules require new radios that conform to new standards. However, I never experienced anything of interference with these ARC radios. When you open the ARC radio, the first thing you observe is that they are very well designed and realised (of course, taking into consideration that these were designed more than 25 years ago).
Thanks a lot for forwarding this question to Mr. Dan Hoolihan.

Editor’s Note: This e-mail was promptly forwarded to Mr. Hoolihan, who was recently added as an Associate Editor to this Newsletter. Mr. Hoolihan will be a regular contributor to the Newsletter on various topics related to the history of the EMC Society as we approach the celebration of the Society’s 50th Anniversary in 2007. Please contact Mr. Hoolihan per the information shown on page 3 under “Newsletter Staff” should you have anything to share. Many thanks to Professor Melkebeek for sharing his observations with the EMC Newsletter. EMC

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