A simple radio broadcast 91 years ago proved we could spot hidden planes
In 1935, British physicist Robert Watson-Watt used a BBC radio transmitter to prove that radio waves bouncing off an aircraft could reveal its position, marking a pivotal moment in the birth of radar.
Robert Watson-Watt and Arnold Wilkins demonstrated the first practical application of radar by tracking a bomber using shortwave signals from a BBC station. They observed that the aircraft caused distinct interference in the radio waves, confirming that metal objects could be detected from a distance.
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