A quick tour of Luftwaffe avionics in the valve era

In this video, we show and explain over 30 of the most significant advances in German aviation electronics - or avionics during the valve era in under an hour! From the first steps of airborne radiotelegraphy in 1917 to beam navigation, onboard radar and sophisticated tactical VHF vox radio communication in the last days of WW2. We have previously uploaded a longer and more detailed version of this tour - but this is for people in a hurry! (Not fast enough? See the index below and jump straight to the instrument that interests you)

Our survey takes the form of a quick tour around one of Europe's finest collections of German valve-era avionics, covering communications, navigation and combat. Over several decades Dieter Beikirch has assembled one of the world's largest and most comprehensive private collections of German avionic instruments produced during and after the First World War until the early 1960s and the end of the valve era.

The second world war lasted six years and one day and marked one of the worst periods of tragedy and cruelty in the 20th century, if not in all of human history. But the intense conflict spurred invention and accelerated the birth of much of the technology that defines our modern world. Most of the collection's most important specimens originated during the years of intense conflict during the Second World War. Dieter's collection extends to well over 80 complete and immaculately restored systems; in this sprint tour, we show you over 30 of the most important.

00:00 Intro
00:11 Our intentions
01:13 Telefunken D4 spark-gap transceiver
02:45 FuG21 - Telefunken 378 valve transceiver
02:57 The rise of the Luftwaffe
03:48 FuG VII first tactical VOX
04:05 FuG III
05:03 FuG 10 transeiver system
06:39 FuG 17 10 watt VHF transeiver
07:32 FuG 16 the standard radio (with Peilfuf DF)
08:47 FuG 16 ZY
10:01 101 N Telefunken ground DF with HE1 receiver
10:55 Peil G IV
12:34 Peil V
13:47 Peil VI
14:35 Lorenz FuBI 2 Blind Landing Sys.
16:15 X-system (Wotan I) with X clock
17:34 Knickebein "Crooked leg"
18:58 Wotan II with Y method ranging
21:23 The Y method explained
23:52 Siemens K4 ü Course control
25:01 Horizontmutter horizon display and autopilot
26:46 FuG 101 fine alt. FuG 102 Course alt.
29:33 Naxos FuG 350 Z vs HS2
32:45 Neptune FuG 217 rear attack warning
35:04 FuG 220 Lichtenstein SN2
40:31 Hohentwiel FuG 200 ship hunter
44:52 BZA-Stuvi dive bombing computer
50:42 Henschel Radio Control for Hs293 and Fritz-X
56:02 Hs293 D TV guided version
57:00 coming attractions!
57:34 The electronics of the V2 rocket
57:56 End credits

Please see our back catalogue for longer and more detailed treatments of some of the instruments listed above.

Presented by Dieter Beikirch and Robert J Dalby.

Special thanks to Reiner Sigmund for his assistance in the making of the Hs293 video.

The two still showing the Hs293 in the introduction are from Wikipedia and the full credit reads: Deutsches Museum Munich photo Jean-Patrick Donzey

Video produced by Astronomy and Nature TV

2023 all rights reserved

[Joquai-wi]

I was searching of FuG16zy because I want to now how to use this device correctly for a FW190D9 in a flight sim. It was great how detailed you and Dieter gave an overview in your video to this device and I was even more impressed as I saw this video. It was so interesting to follow your tour through the history of wwII avionics, thank you very much.

[malcolmmoy]

Astonishing, what a fantastic achievement to have collected and restored these devices.

[JoelWegher]

An extremely well done video. The air war during WW2 was highly advanced for it's time.

[TheSkipjack]

Words fail me to describe how precious this is to my aviation nerd self. I'm very happy to have found your channel.

[VoidElectronics]

Great video! It's amazing to see what they've achieved with such primitive technology.

[alfredschulte]

fascinating documentary, very well explained. Thanks a lot.

[FlyingBoxHead]

It's amazing to think how many advancements in both radio, radar, and even television guided munitions (which I had no idea!) have their roots in the technology and industry for the Luftwaffe. Amazing pieces of history to have preserved in such a manner and a testament to German innovation in technology and manufacturing.

[smalcolmbrown]

Naxos FuG 350 used a polyrod antenna. Thanks :)

[jonbon]

Brilliant stuff, but completely and utterly insane 😜👍🇷🇺

[powerjets]

Gibt es etwas über die Steuerung von Düsentriebwerken zu sehen?