"Airboy" Radio Receiver

Motorola

Aircraft radios did not come into wide use until the late 1930s. During his first six years as an Alaska pilot, Bob Ellis flew without a radio, completely out of touch with the ground once his plane took off. The portable, battery-powered "Airboy" was a popular first radio for many pilots. While it did not enable them to talk to ground stations, they could hear transmissions and tune in navigation radio beacon signals - where they were available.

Loan to Ketchikan Museums, L2020.4.28.5