419:"Aircraft Radio Company,* located at Boonton, New Jersey, is the second smallest of seven operating divisions of the Cessna Aircraft Company which has its headquarters at Wichita, Kansas. ARC is engaged in the manufacture, distribution and sale of aviation communication and navigational equipment. It supplies its products to Cessna as well as to other competitive firms. ARC is conducted as an independent business; sales and profits are accounted for separately, and its wage agreements are independently negotiated. In fiscal year 1972, ARC had total sales of $ 11,000,000 and in 1971, $ 6,700,000, which resulted in net losses for each of those years. By contrast, Cessna is much larger and more profitable. Its sales for 1972 were $ 248,000,000 which resulted in profits of $ 13,500,000."
382:, the world's highest-volume airplane manufacturer. Cessna, while retaining the name and quasi-independent status of Aircraft Radio Corporation, rebranded the company's products as "Cessna avionics," and the enterprise began a notorious decline in product quality, resulting in high product-failure rates and a terrible reputation in the aviation industry —which ARC nevertheless survived through its key position as the in-house supplier of the "factory standard" avionics for Cessna, world leader in light aircraft.
487:
Gralnick was replaced by Virgil Davis as Chief
Engineer. By 1980, a rejuvenated Quality Control organization led by Paul Weeks and new engineering Managers were hard at work enhancing the tarnished quality image that ARC had prior to that time. Engineering Departments were led in 1980 by Kermit Beseke - Radios, Bob Fuller - Navigation Products, Alan Metzger - Autopilots, and Ed Burt - Elecrtromechanical Displays. In November, 1981, John Ferrara was Manager of Advanced Development.
246:) (1927-1929). These were followed by the GF transmitter (5000 to 8000 kHz), accompanied by the Model RU receiver. (1931-1933). The Model GF/RU equipment was the first to provide acceptable two-way, aircraft voice communication, feasible because of the availability of effective ignition-system shielding. The Model GF/RU (Aircraft Radio Corporation) was procured in large numbers and used extensively, and continued in use through World War II.
336:
439:
The company responded with a letter on
September 25, 1973, asserting that the sales and profits cited by IUE were those of the Cessna Aircraft Company, Wichita, Kansas, and that ARC was independently responsible for all phases of its own business, including making a profit. On the following day, the
486:
At its peak, ARC employed around 3,500 workers. Among the senior personnel during the Cessna years, Floyd Piper served as chief engineer and chief systems engineer. He was followed in the mid 1970s by Paul
Gralnick as Chief Engineer with Richard Foster assuming the helm as General Manager. In 1979
194:
was a wholly owned subsidiary of Radio
Frequency Laboratories, and was spun off as a separate company, producing navigation and communications radios for military, commercial and general aviation. ARC radios were considered mainstream, basic radios in their market segment, and were widely used. An
412:
In the mid-1970s, during a period of exceptionally high productivity for Cessna, ARC was entangled in a legal battle with its employee's union, which resulted in a 1975 judgement favoring ARC. During the proceedings, the following findings emerged as public record in the published decision of the
569:
That company says it primarily works in commercial and military aircraft technical services. with capabilities for test, repair, overhaul and calibration of navigation, communications and avionics instruments, as well as "hydraulic, mechanical, electro-mechanical" accessories and components for
522:
On
September 1, 1987, Sigma Tek, Inc. bought Aircraft Radio Corporation (ARC) from Honeywell, Inc. (When general aviation was at its most prosperous in the 1970s, ARC had been, by far, Sigma Tek's largest customer.) Through ARC, Sigma Tek now services and supports nearly all of the avionics and
140:
Consequently, many in the aviation industry—including many within its current and former parent companies—have unofficially referred to ARC, by its original name, as a continuing specific entity, regardless of its official names or owners at any point in time.
182:. RFL developed technologies, but did not manufacture products. However, when it developed an aviation-radio division, in 1924, the division, ARC, soon outgrew its parent company, with the success of its aviation radios developed and manufactured in Boonton.
882:, retrieved March 31, 2021; "Unfortunately, ARC avionics a number of problems, most overheating and eventual failure. Cessna buyers began purchasing airplanes naked of any avionics... flying them to home base, NARCO or King radios local shops, ."
237:
The Bureau of
Engineering decided to explore the frequency range 3000 to 4000 kHz for short-range fighter and spotting aircraft communication and sponsored NRL's effort to provide suitable equipment (1926). The first such procured were the models MD
198:
In early 1929, an engineering conference at the Flying Field drew many people from the electronic instruments industry to celebrate the new ARC facility's opening and dedication, including a laboratory in
Boonton, and a hangar at the Flying Field.
570:"commercial... military, corporate and general aviation, fixed and rotary wing aircraft." Its press releases and reports, published in major industry magazines and news sites, indicate the company is active in fitting electronics to
585:
Repair
Station (EASA certificate 145.6521). Further, the site claims that ARC Avionics has FAA Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) certification to install and build STC kits, having "manufactured kits and parts" for various
323:, and valued at over US$ 2,400 at the time. ARC had delivered 2,700 of an ordered 2800 by December 1941, but the sudden wartime demand for tens of thousands of them forced the government to turn to a major manufacturer –
433:" implying an identity less certainly distinct from its parent company, Cessna—a fact that changed during the litigation, apparently sometime after a September, 1973 letter from parent Cessna, of which the Court notes:
211:
kept his plane at the ARC hangar, and teamed with ARC to accomplish the world's first "blind" landing – landing an airplane solely by reference to instruments, the first milestone in developing today's all-weather
24:
865:, Citation: 460 F. Supp. 1151 (1978), Docket No. 77 C 728, November 21, 1978, United States District Court, N. D. Illinois, Eastern Division, as posted on CourtListener.com, retrieved Nov. 6, 2016
355:
changed that—driving up demand for their military radios, but, again, when the war ended, ARC struggled. The situation was exacerbated by key engineers leaving to start their own enterprises.
514:
facility, ending 57 years of ARC's avionics development and production in
Boonton. The ARC relationship didn't last long. On September 1, 1987, Honeywell handed ARC off to Sigma Tek, Inc.
490:
By 1982, the 110-acre
Boonton plant was employing 900, with an estimated US$ 20 million in sales of aircraft and mobile communications systems, and navigation and guidance equipment.
1042:
563:
133:(light) aircraft, from the 1920s to the 1950s—subsequently acquired and rebranded by a succession of other companies, each of whom changed the official name, of the enterprise, while
446:
The ARC identity issue, though—and the timing of ARC's names—is further confused by this 1978 statement in a judge's memorandum in a lawsuit over Cessna's marketing of its avionics:
440:
company general manager delivered a prepared speech to the employees, explaining the distinction between ARC and Cessna and making available the financial reports of both concerns.)
466:
an independent manufacturer of avionics. ARC was operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Cessna until about September 30, 1968, at which time it was dissolved and replaced by ARCD.
429:– implying a legally distinct entity, while the appeals court decision (1975), under that original case name, repeatedly refers to ARC in the body of the ruling as "Aircraft Radio
300:
reported that "very large numbers of these equipments were obtained and utilized before and during World War II, and they were used for a considerable time thereafter."
370:
buying a controlling interest in ARC, and to their tampering with its independent status. Litton Industries got involved. Stock values fluctuated, burning some.
676:"Aircraft Radio Corporation (division of the Cessna Aircraft Co.), Petitioner, v. National Labor Relations Board, Respondent, 519 F.2d 590 (3d Cir. 1975),"
252:
The GF/RU (Army designation SCR-183), a derivative of the civilian Model B, was chosen as America's standard military aircraft radio of the early 1930s.
566:
also lists it (as a member "since 2001") in Miami Springs, at the same phone number, but as "Aircraft Radio & Avionics LLC," at a post office box.
831:
175:
385:
During this time, ARC's "Cessna" avionics line expanded and diversified radically to include most types of avionics for light planes, including
231:
A history of U.S. Navy radio research and development describes how little ARC beat out competitors far larger in the electronics world:
1082:
1001:
1020:
981:
452:
The Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna), is the largest manufacturer in the United States of general aviation aircraft. Through its
343:
The military avionics market evaporated after World War II, and ARC found itself outmaneuvered in commercial airline radios by
319:– "the only powerful command set... available to American aviators at the beginning of the war" – particularly useful in the
917:
590:(STCs) held by ARC, as well as other STCs licensed under design approval agreements with FAA 8130-3 (EASA Form 1) approvals.
582:
472:
Other sources, including a Cessna job ad in 1981, also indicate that Cessna, at one time, referred to ARC as "Aircraft Radio
351:. The postwar collapse of the light plane industry took their last market, and for the first time, ARC was losing money. The
862:
770:
705:
811:
216:. ARC developed the radio-beam and onboard radio receiver navigation equipment essential to the flight, the first radio
531:
ARC Avionics Corporation claims to be "successor to Aircraft Radio Corporation." Apparent press releases published in
920:
and Charles River Publishing, Inc., Cambridge. Mass. (ISSN 0148-9607) as cached on Google.com, retrieved Nov. 6, 2016
840:
243:
891:
678:
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Argued June 26, 1975. Decided July 24, 1975, retrieved November 6, 2016
223:
The system they developed led to the creation of their "Model B"—an early radio navigation system for the airlines.
631:
498:
In late 1983, Cessna finally sold its avionics subsidiary onto rival avionics maker (and industrial conglomerate)
799:
1957, Office of The Chief of Military History, Department Of The Army, Washington, D. C., retrieved April 1, 2021
170:-technology research organization, developing and holding numerous patents and employing such radio pioneers as
863:"FONTANA AVIATION, INC., Plaintiff, v. The CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY and Cessna Finance Corporation, Defendants,"
587:
398:
1087:
675:
293:
In the 1940s, ARC radios were everywhere in U.S. military aircraft. Lewis Hull served as ARC President.
394:
281:
communications radio system, which was a leading suite of Allied airborne electronics equipment during
828:
577:
According to their website, ARC Avionics has operated continuously since 1980, and has operated as an
966:
875:
297:
217:
324:
296:
The 1930s-era Model GF/RU remained valuable throughout World War II. An historical document of the
792:
195:
airport was developed to accommodate the needs of the booming enterprise, on 116 acres near town.
701:
379:
75:
760:
Report #NRL 8300, 1979, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., retrieved November 6, 2016
559:
304:
539:
magazine describes it as "a wholly-owned business unit" owned by AirSpeed Engineering (ASE).
543:
359:
277:
The ARC-designed Navy ATA/ARA and SCR-274N communications radios were soon followed by the
758:"Evolution of Naval Radio-Electronics and Contributions of the Naval Research Laboratory,"
729:
8:
929:
551:
547:
303:
Among the company's most notable wartime programs was the development – jointly with the
260:
155:
50:
23:
933:
757:
499:
367:
89:
82:
1017:
363:
213:
179:
511:
386:
348:
256:
239:
130:
1024:
835:
507:
208:
425:(* Note that the original (1972) title of the case named ARC as "Aircraft Radio
1039:
312:
271:
62:
1055:
1076:
797:
United States Army In World War II: The Technical Services: The Signal Corps,
402:
171:
159:
909:
845:
McGraw-Hill, as transcribed at aviationresearch.com, retrieved Nov. 6, 2016
344:
282:
137:
continuing ARC's primary function, staffing, facilities and product focus.
949:
702:"Aircraft Radio Corporation and Their Role in the Development of Avionics"
480:
320:
315:
voice-communication radio for aircraft, ranging up to frequencies of 20
642:
571:
352:
406:
316:
308:
264:
96:
335:
390:
278:
126:
885:
558:
Magazine lists the company as being based at a street address in
503:
378:
In 1959, ARC was acquired by one of its principal customers,
255:
By 1933, ARC-designed radios were being installed in the 1st
167:
122:
462:
In 1959, Cessna obtained the stock, business, and assets of
125:(ARINC) – was a principal pioneer and major manufacturer of
493:
483:
at the company's private airfield adjacent to the factory.
910:"AIRCRAFT RADIO & CONTROL, Cessna's avionics division"
270:
By 1934, the company had its own airfield and airplane (a
1002:"ARC Avionics Completes DUAL FMS Installations for GNSS,"
771:"A User's Guide to Aircraft Radio Corporation Receivers,"
581:-Certified Repair Station (FAA certificate LQ4R345M) and
578:
542:
The ARC Avionics Corp. website indicates it is based in
456:, Cessna also manufactures and sells avionics equipment.
744:
booklet, 1929, Aircraft Radio Corporation, Boonton, NJ
366:
to work on a secret military radar system led to the
1040:
Member Listing: "Aircraft Radio & Avionics LLC,"
730:"Aircraft Radio Corporation Airfield, Boonton, NJ,"
868:
202:
1074:
944:
942:
732:, Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields website
409:—mostly at the low end of the quality spectrum.
129:for military and commercial aircraft, and later
894:FundingUniverse.com, retrieved November 6, 2016
962:
960:
958:
696:
694:
692:
690:
688:
686:
684:
166:, which had started in 1922, in Boonton, as a
939:
807:
805:
752:
750:
413:U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit:
996:
994:
977:
975:
923:
821:
625:
623:
523:flight control systems for Cessna Aircraft.
311:– of the SCR-274-N, an exceptionally useful
955:
952:company website, retrieved November 6, 2016
908:Cessna Aircraft Co., job advertisement for
904:
902:
900:
861:Flaum, District Judge, Memorandum Opinion,
724:
722:
720:
718:
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681:
671:
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621:
619:
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611:
609:
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605:
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526:
510:Sperry decided to relocate ARC to Sperry's
1011:
802:
747:
454:Aircraft Radio and Control Division (ARCD)
22:
991:
972:
967:ARC Avionics Corporation official website
916:Volume 101, Number 44, October 27, 1981,
878:May 23, 2017, updated November 25, 2020,
517:
1048:
897:
874:Cox, Bill: "What Not To Buy" section in
857:
855:
853:
851:
742:Development of Aircraft Radio Receivers,
711:
700:Helfrick, Albert (former ARC employee),
660:
600:
494:Sperry / Unisys / Honeywell acquires ARC
334:
274:parasol monoplane, for experimentation.
1033:
982:"Avionics Upgrades - Nasa Tech Briefs,"
793:"The Test (December 1941 To July 1943)"
1075:
373:
1064:Aviation Week & Space Technology,
918:Massachusetts Institute of Technology
892:"History of Cessna Aircraft Company,"
848:
785:
629:
829:"B/CA Analysis: Cessna 425 Corsair,"
706:Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
339:An A-13B antenna made by the company
763:
735:
226:
162:—as the aircraft radio division of
13:
1030:Magazine, retrieved April 27, 2017
1008:magazine, retrieved April 27, 2017
988:magazine, retrieved April 27, 2017
986:Aerospace & Defense Technology
841:Business & Commercial Aviation
632:"Tubes, Transistors and Takeovers"
164:Radio Frequency Laboratories (RFL)
14:
1099:
1083:1924 establishments in New Jersey
791:Thompson, George Raynor, et al.:
630:White, Gordon Eliot (June 1984).
479:In 1978, the ARC had an employee
464:Aircraft Radio Corporation (ARC),
158:—a rural setting within sight of
1043:Aircraft Electronics Association
564:Aircraft Electronics Association
533:Aerospace and Defense Technology
192:Aircraft Radio Corporation (ARC)
502:, who, in turn was acquired by
476:- Cessna's avionics division."
185:
1018:Listing: "ARC Avionics Corp.,"
776:
588:supplemental type certificates
1:
593:
936:, retrieved November 6, 2016
121:) – not to be confused with
70:Radio Frequency Laboratories
7:
876:"Used Cessna 182 Skylanes,"
10:
1104:
1060:Overhaul & Maintenance
1045:, retrieved April 27, 2017
969:, retrieved April 27, 2017
773:retrieved November 6, 2016
330:
288:
154:ARC originated in 1924 in
149:
144:
115:Aircraft Radio Corporation
17:Aircraft Radio Corporation
827:Aarons, Richard N., ed.,
298:Naval Research Laboratory
218:instrument landing system
61:
45:
30:
21:
1066:retrieved April 27, 2017
818:retrieved April 27, 2017
527:ARC Avionics Corporation
325:Westinghouse Corporation
123:Aeronautical Radio, Inc.
380:Cessna Aircraft Company
76:Cessna Aircraft Company
812:"Cessna 177 Cardinal,"
560:Miami Springs, Florida
518:Sigma Tek acquires ARC
340:
305:U.S. Army Signal Corps
1000:Van Wagenen, Juliet,
782:(caption, p. 66)
338:
1028:Aviation Maintenance
556:Aviation Maintenance
203:First "blind" flight
930:"Floyd Piper, '43,"
708:, Daytona Beach, FL
374:Cessna acquires ARC
358:An engagement with
261:U.S. Army Air Corps
156:Boonton, New Jersey
51:Boonton, New Jersey
18:
1088:Avionics companies
1058:November 1, 2010,
1023:2017-04-28 at the
1004:January 29, 2016,
950:"Company History,"
934:Cornell University
834:2016-03-03 at the
756:Gebhard, Louis A.
368:Rockefeller family
341:
257:fighter (aircraft)
90:Unisys Corporation
83:Sperry Corporation
16:
816:Aviation Consumer
728:Freeman, et al.,
648:on 23 August 2006
364:David Rockefeller
259:squadrons of the
214:instrument flight
180:Stuart Ballantine
112:
111:
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1052:
1046:
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948:SigmaTek, Inc.,
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814:March 31, 2016,
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709:
704:, presentation,
698:
679:
673:
658:
657:
655:
653:
647:
641:. Archived from
636:
627:
554:area). However,
512:Phoenix, Arizona
327:– for the rest.
240:General Electric
227:Military success
207:Pioneer aviator
131:general aviation
41:
39:
26:
19:
15:
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1102:
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1056:"ARC Avionics,"
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1038:
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1025:Wayback Machine
1016:
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999:
992:
984:August 1, 2016
980:
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880:Plane and Pilot
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849:
836:Wayback Machine
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769:Tauson, M. W.,
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508:Honeywell, Inc.
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321:Pacific Theater
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209:Jimmy Doolittle
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838:January 1981,
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550:, Washington (
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105:(1987–present)
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1054:Svitak, Amy,
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650:. Retrieved
643:the original
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405:radios, and
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345:Bendix Corp.
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283:World War II
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244:Westinghouse
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186:Independence
163:
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118:
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46:Headquarters
652:20 December
574:jetliners.
481:flying club
474:and Control
427:Corporation
100:(1986–1987)
86:(1983–1986)
79:(1959–1983)
72:(1924–1927)
1077:Categories
932:obituary,
639:AOPA Pilot
594:References
572:Boeing 737
562:, and the
407:autopilots
353:Korean War
317:megacycles
242:) and ME (
914:The Tech,
309:U.S. Navy
265:U.S. Navy
190:By 1927,
135:initially
103:Sigma Tek
97:Honeywell
1021:Archived
1006:Avionics
832:Archived
544:Kirkland
537:Avionics
431:Company,
360:Laurence
279:AN/ARC-5
272:Berliner
127:avionics
795:, from
552:Seattle
548:Everett
535:and in
506:, then
349:Collins
331:Postwar
289:Wartime
150:Origins
145:History
36: (
31:Founded
504:Unisys
500:Sperry
401:, and
93:(1986)
63:Parent
646:(PDF)
635:(PDF)
459:* * *
168:radio
654:2022
583:EASA
546:and
362:and
347:and
307:and
263:and
178:and
38:1924
34:1924
912:in
579:FAA
399:DME
395:ADF
391:COM
387:NAV
119:ARC
1079::
1062:/
993:^
974:^
957:^
941:^
899:^
850:^
804:^
749:^
713:^
683:^
662:^
637:.
602:^
397:,
393:,
389:,
313:HF
285:.
267:.
220:.
174:,
54:,
843:,
656:.
238:(
117:(
40:)
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