Collins Radio Avionics —
Historical Introduction Dates & Archive Resources

Collins • 618M • 860E-1 (1961) • 51R-7A • VIR-30 • DME-40 • 51RV • ARINC 410 • Pro Line I / II / 4 / 21 / Fusion • EFIS-85/86 • FMS-3000/4200/6000 • Worldwide Airline & Operator Customers • Airframe Configurations: Gulfstream II • JetStar • Learjet • Jet Commander • L-1011 • 747-8 • University of Iowa MsC 814 Archive • Collins Aerospace Museum Brochure Archive • Collins Radio Company, Cedar Rapids IA

‣ SIXTH EDITION — Full model number registry; Part IV worldwide airline customers; Part V corporate timeline 1933–2018; Part VI Pro Line generation history; airframe configurations expanded; Jan SP5XZG five enquiries incorporated • March 2026

📝 VK6ADA Research Papers 📅 March 2026 (Sixth Edition) ✈ Collins Radio Company • Cedar Rapids IA 🔎 Iowa Archive MsC 814 • Collins Aerospace Museum • Worldwide Operator Data

Correspondence Summary

First Enquiry — Jan SP5XZG

“I am looking for historical information about the exact years of introduction of the following avionics pieces by Collins: 618M VHF COM radio with its variants 618M-1/-2/-3; 51R-7A NAV/COM receiver; 51R-8A NAV/COM receiver; VIR-30 VOR navigation receiver; 860E DME transceiver with its variants; DME-40 DME navigation transceiver; 51RV VOR/GS/DME/MB combo with its variants.” — Jan SP5XZG

Second Enquiry — Jan SP5XZG

“The Nov. 1962 issue of Flying Magazine … is relatively accurate in terms of listing the introduction dates … there is still scarcity of Collins’ avionics literature from the early to late 1960s on the web … which Collins avionics pieces were compatible with the ARINC 410 (2-out-of-5) wire frequency selection?” — Jan SP5XZG

Third Enquiry — Jan SP5XZG

“Due to scarcity of advertising and technical literature from Collins on the web, sometimes one can find an interesting entry on eBay. An example, a 1969 avionics brochure [eBay 165614935192], basically lists solid state NAV and DME pieces plus the popular DF-203 ADF. Similar pieces are also listed in other 1969 brochures [eBay 155320756740, 155108271046]. The first of them mentioned about the existence of dedicated airframe configurations from the 1960s, e.g. the Gulfstream II, Lockheed JetStar or Gates Learjet among others. As to the 860E-1 DME, it’s elaborated in a 1961 brochure [eBay 286913972907]. This avionics piece was also advertised in the Nov. 1961 issue of the Flying Magazine (available online on Google Books). While the Collins Aerospace Museum provides the scans of numerous interesting avionics brochures, particularly on the Jet Commander avionics setup from ca. 1964, there is still scarcity of Collins’ avionics literature from the early to late 1960s on the web.” — Jan SP5XZG

Fourth Enquiry — Jan SP5XZG

“I wonder if it could go through the online Collins archives at the University of Iowa: aspace.lib.uiowa.edu/repositories/2/resources/719. I wish the documents were scanned and available online. However, the titles of the files provide hints to some very obscure avionics pieces, which are not commonly known even among Collins aficionados.” — Jan SP5XZG

Fifth Enquiry — Jan SP5XZG

“Due to scarcity of advertising and technical literature from Collins on the web, sometimes one can find an interesting entry on eBay. An example, a 1969 avionics brochure [eBay 165614935192], basically lists solid state NAV and DME pieces plus the popular DF-203 ADF. Similar pieces are also listed in other 1969 brochures [eBay 155320756740, 155108271046]. The first of them mentioned about the existence of dedicated airframe configurations from the 1960s, e.g. the Gulfstream II, Lockheed JetStar or Gates Learjet among others. I wish these were freely available on the web. … While the Collins Aerospace Museum provides the scans of numerous interesting avionics brochures, particularly on the Jet Commander avionics setup from ca. 1964, there is still scarcity of Collins’ avionics literature from the early to late 1960s on the web.” — Jan SP5XZG

Summary — Sixth Edition. This edition builds substantially on the Fifth Edition. Part I covers the University of Iowa Collins Radio Company Records (MsC 814). Part II documents airframe-specific Collins factory configurations, expanded to include the Lockheed L-1011 autoland system, the Aérospatiale Corvette, the Boeing 747-8, the Bombardier Challenger 604, and the Beech Starship, alongside the 1960s business jets documented in earlier editions. Part III presents the revised Collins avionics introduction date summary and complete model number registry — VHF COM, DME, NAV/VOR, ADF, FMS, EFIS, TCAS, SATCOM, autopilot, and flight director systems from the pre-SSS era through Pro Line Fusion. New in this edition: Part IV provides a comprehensive worldwide airline and operator customer register across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, with contract dates and equipment model numbers. Part V presents the Collins corporate and avionics technology timeline from 1933 to 2018. Part VI documents the Pro Line generation history from Pro Line I (1970) through Pro Line Fusion, with confirmed introduction dates, aircraft applications, and named airline customers.

Part I — University of Iowa Collins Radio Archive (MsC 814)

Archive Overview

The Records of the Collins Radio Company (Collection MsC 814) at the University of Iowa Special Collections and University Archives comprise corporate records spanning 1924 to 1980. The collection is described in the public finding aid at lib.uiowa.edu¹ and in ArchivesSpace at aspace.lib.uiowa.edu/repositories/2/resources/719. Records were received in 1997 from the estate of Arthur A. Collins and processed in 2009.

ⓘ Access — In-Person Only. The University of Iowa states explicitly: “Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.” The collection is not digitised. Researchers wishing to consult primary documents must visit Special Collections at the University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa. Contact: lib.uiowa.edu/sc/. Some materials may also be accessible via paid scanning requests; enquire directly with Special Collections.

Archive Series Structure

The collection is organised in eight series:

Series I: Administrative Files — correspondence, memos, company operations records 1924–1973.
Series II: C-System Files — Collins’ integrated computer/communication system, 1960s–1970s.
Series III: Customer Files — files for specific airline and government customers: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Pan American, United Air Lines, Strategic Air Command, US Air Force, US Navy.
Series IV: Product Files — advertisements, instruction manuals, and product descriptions. The most relevant series for avionics researchers.
Series V: Publications — Collins company publications.
Series VI: Research Files — technical research notes and papers.
Series VII: Subject Files — miscellaneous corporate and Arthur A. Collins personal files.
Series VIII: Visual Materials — photographs, blueprints, and schematics.

Series IV — Product Files: Avionics & Navigation Equipment Identified

The box-level finding aid for Series IV (Boxes 18–19+) reveals a significant number of Collins avionics and navigation product files. Jan’s intuition is fully confirmed: several of these are genuinely obscure products not widely known in the Collins collector community. The following table summarises every avionics and navigation system identified in the product file entries, preserving the exact nomenclature used in the finding aid.

Series IV Product Files — Collins Avionics & Navigation Systems

Product File Entry	Type / Notes
ADL (Avionics Data Link)	Airborne digital data link programme. An early airborne data communication system; significantly pre-dates ACARS. Connection to airline operations data networks in the 1960s.
AINS-70 Navigation System	Area Inertial Navigation System, model 70. Airborne inertial navigation; likely 1960s–early 1970s. Not commonly documented in open sources.
Airborne Antennas (1957)	Collins antenna product brochures from 1957. Documents pre-SSS era antenna products for both military and commercial aviation.
AL-101 Radio Altimeter System	Radio altimeter system; full system designation. Distinct from the ALT-50.
ALT-50 Radio Altimeter	Standalone radio altimeter unit. Provides terrain clearance measurement; likely installed on airliners and business jets in the 1960s. Not commonly referenced in open Collins literature.
AN/APN-158A Airborne Weather Radar	Military designation; AN/APN-158A is a military weather radar. Documents Collins’ defence avionics overlap with the commercial weather radar business.
ANS-31/TT1 Area Navigation System / Touch Tuning System	Combined area navigation (RNAV) system with Touch Tuning. Early area navigation predates GPS by decades. The “Touch Tuning” designation is not commonly referenced.
AP-104/FD-109 Flight Control System	Integrated autopilot (AP-104) and flight director (FD-109) combination. The FD-109 is referenced in the Collins PN-101 Pictorial Navigation System context.
AP-106 / AP-107 Autopilot	Two autopilot models; likely variants in a development sequence. Not commonly referenced in open sources.
ATC/NAV Flight Control System	Combined air traffic control and navigation flight control system. Documents a Collins integrated avionics management approach.
Collins Avionics — Airplanes Equipped With	A product file specifically listing aircraft equipped with Collins avionics. This is a potentially very valuable file for anyone researching which aircraft were factory-fitted with specific Collins SSS equipment in the 1960s.
DF-203 Automatic Direction Finder	The ADF unit confirmed in the November 1962 Flying article as already available in the SSS suite by end of 1962. Product file provides specifications and advertisements.
DF-206 Automatic Direction Finder System	Updated ADF system; different (larger) system designation from the DF-203. Not commonly referenced.
DME-40 Distance Measuring Equipment	The Pro Line I DME unit already documented extensively in this series. Product file will include specifications, installation drawings, and likely pricing.
Doppler Radar Navigation System DN-101 / Doppler Radar Computer System NC-103	Collins Doppler navigation system. Doppler radar was an important navigation technology for over-water flight before GPS. The DN-101/NC-103 combination is not commonly referenced in open Collins literature.
FCS-105 Flight Control System	Flight Control System, model 105. Autopilot/flight director system.
FD-108 Integrated Flight System	Flight Director system, model 108. “Integrated Flight System” designation suggests a complete coupled flight director package.
FDS-112A Flight Director System	Flight Director System, model 112A. A variant in the Collins FD/FCS product line.
INS-61B Inertial Navigation System	Inertial Navigation System, model 61B. Airborne INS; a major airline navigation technology from the late 1960s for oceanic operations. The INS-61B is not commonly documented in open sources.
KWM-1 Amateur Transceiver	Well-known Collins amateur radio equipment; included for completeness.
MR-201 VHF-FM Maritime Transceiver	Maritime application; VHF-FM. Demonstrates Collins’ maritime and non-aviation avionics product line.

📖 Researcher note: The file titled “Collins Avionics, Airplanes Equipped With” in Box 19 is potentially the single most valuable file for Jan’s research. It appears to be a comprehensive list of aircraft models equipped with Collins avionics — exactly the kind of factory-fit confirmation data that is otherwise reconstructed from individual aircraft brochures. Access requires an in-person visit to Iowa City.

Series III — Customer Files: Airline Contacts

The customer files (Series III) include records for several major airlines: American Airlines (1964), Delta Air Lines (1962–1964), Pan American, and United Air Lines (1964). These files likely contain correspondence about specific avionics orders and installations, though they are not organised by product. The archive also notes an “Aviation Program, various customers” file (undated), which may contain additional airline customer records beyond the four named carriers. For researchers trying to establish which Collins avionics were installed on specific airline fleets in the 1960s, these files may provide purchase order or specification confirmation.

Series VIII — Visual Materials: Blueprints & Schematics

The visual materials series includes blueprints and schematics of some CRC products and components. This is potentially of interest to technical researchers: original Collins avionics schematics are difficult to locate outside of military document archives and private collections. The extent of the avionics documentation in Series VIII is not fully described in the box-level finding aid.

How to Access

ArchivesSpace finding aid: aspace.lib.uiowa.edu/repositories/2/resources/719
Older finding aid (used for this research): lib.uiowa.edu — Collins Radio Company Records
Special Collections Reading Room: lib.uiowa.edu/sc/services/readingroom/ — appointments recommended; advance arrangements available for researchers from outside Iowa City.

Part II — Airframe-Specific Collins Avionics Configurations, 1960s–2000s

Background

Jan SP5XZG identified a key finding in the 1969 Collins avionics brochure (eBay item 165614935192): Collins produced dedicated airframe-specific avionics configuration documents for business jets of the 1960s, naming at minimum the Gulfstream II, Lockheed JetStar, and Gates Learjet. This is historically significant. It confirms that Collins SSS avionics were not sold solely as individual units but were marketed as complete, airframe-matched avionics suites directly to business jet operators and OEMs. This airframe-partnership model continued through the 2000s, as demonstrated by the Lockheed L-1011, Aérospatiale Corvette, Boeing 747-8, Bombardier Challenger 604, and Beech Starship entries below.

The Collins Aerospace Museum brochure archive at collinsaerospacemuseum.org/collins_brochures/ provides a complementary primary source, holding scans of several Collins avionics brochures from the 1960s, notably a Jet Commander avionics setup document of approximately 1964. The Collins Pulse A-Z index at collinsaerospacemuseum.org/collins_pulse/index_a-z.php provides a searchable index of the company’s internal magazine, which contains product announcements, contract awards, and airframe-specific references not available elsewhere online.

📖 Jan SP5XZG’s observation — confirmed: Collins avionics literature from the early to late 1960s remains genuinely scarce on the open web. The eBay route has proved productive for primary-source brochures. The Collins Aerospace Museum archive is the only identified freely accessible repository with original 1960s Collins avionics brochure scans.

Collins Aerospace Museum — Brochure Archive

The Collins Aerospace Museum brochure archive (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) is a curated online collection of scanned Collins Radio Company sales brochures, freely accessible with no registration required. For the early SSS period (1963–1969), the archive holds material that is not otherwise freely digitised, including a dedicated Jet Commander avionics setup brochure of approximately 1964. Researchers are advised to browse all entries in the brochure index for the 1960–1970 period.

Business Jet & Airliner Airframes — Collins Avionics Configurations, 1960s–2000s

Airframe	Collins Avionics Configuration & Notes
Aero Commander 1121 Jet Commander ca. 1964	Among the first business jets to receive the complete Collins SSS suite at factory delivery. The Collins Aerospace Museum holds a dedicated Jet Commander avionics brochure of approximately 1964. SSS configuration included: 618M-1 VHF COM; DF-203 ADF; 51V-4 glide slope; 51Z-4 marker beacon; 57RV-1 VOR/GS. In Spring 1966, the Jet Commander became the first business aircraft certified for Category II operations, using the Collins All Weather Landing System (confirmed in Collins Signal, Spring 1966). A 1968 flight record used the Collins 618T HF SSB transceiver (Collins Pulse, January 1968). The programme was acquired by Israel Aircraft Industries in 1967 and continued as the IAI Westwind.
Grumman Gulfstream II ca. 1966–1969	Explicitly named in the 1969 Collins avionics brochure (eBay 165614935192) as having a dedicated Collins configuration. The Gulfstream II first flew on 2 October 1966 and entered service in 1967 as a large-cabin transcontinental business jet. Its avionics fit spanned the late SSS era and early Pro Line transition period. The expected core SSS components are the 618M-2 or later VHF COM and 860E-series DME; the dedicated brochure may specify model variants appropriate for the GII airframe. The Gulfstream II was a major operator among US corporations and government agencies.
Lockheed JetStar L-1329 1961–1970s	Named in the 1969 Collins brochure. The JetStar was the first purpose-built business jet to enter production in the United States; FAA certification was obtained in 1961. Collins avionics were fitted from early production. The 1961 certification year is notable: the 860E-1 DME was also introduced in 1961, and the JetStar may represent one of the earliest airframe-Collins partnerships for the pre-SSS 860E-1. The Collins Pulse index references a “JetStar — Collins Avionics” entry (January 1968 issue). The JetStar II programme (1976) received updated Collins avionics.
Gates Learjet Learjet 23/24/25 series 1963–1969	Named in the 1969 Collins brochure. The Learjet 23 first flew on 7 October 1963 and received FAA certification on 31 July 1964. The Learjet 24 followed in 1966 and the Learjet 25 in 1967. The compact Learjet airframe required careful integration of avionics components. The 1969 brochure references may cover the Learjet 24 or 25 variants with updated 618M-series VHF COM and 860E-series DME equipment. Bombardier (which acquired Learjet) later selected Collins Pro Line Fusion for the Learjet 85 programme.
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 1970s	The Avionic Flight Control System (AFCS) of the L-1011 was a joint venture between Collins Radio and Lear Siegler. The Collins/Lear team established a facility at Santa Monica, California, to develop the fail-operative automatic landing system — among the most advanced of its era. The L-1011 entered service with Eastern Airlines in April 1972 as launch customer, followed by TWA, Air Canada, British Airways, and Delta Air Lines. The Collins/Lear Sigler avionics partnership for the L-1011 is noted in the Collins Signal index.
Aérospatiale SN 601 Corvette Early 1970s	The French business jet Aérospatiale SN 601 Corvette was equipped with a full Collins Avionics Package, as noted in the Collins Pulse company magazine. The Corvette was a French government-backed business jet programme of the early 1970s, straddling the business and regional aviation markets. Its selection of Collins avionics represented an early European OEM customer for the Pro Line I generation of equipment.
Beech Starship 1983–1995	The Beech Starship twin turboprop was the first application of Collins Pro Line 4 electronic avionics. Starting in 1983, Collins developed an Ada programming support environment for two major avionics subsystems — the world’s first commercial avionics use of Ada High-Level Language (confirmed by NASA technical report, 1986). The Electronic Flight Displays (EFDs) developed for Beech used 6×7 inch screens. Only 50 production Starships were built.
Bombardier Challenger 604 1990s–2000s	Equipped with Collins Pro Line 4 avionics. In June 1996, Bombardier selected Collins Pro Line 4 for the CRJ series. The GPS-4000 receiver (first in the AVSAT satellite-based avionics family, introduced 1994) was in flight-test on the Pro Line 4-equipped Challenger 604 in 1995, with certification expected October 1995. The FMS-6000 flight management system was a key component, with subsequent upgrades adding V-speeds and 3-D mapping capability.
Boeing 747-8 2007–present	On 5 February 2007, Boeing announced the selection of Rockwell Collins to provide the entire suite of displays, autopilot, communication, navigation, and surveillance equipment for the 747-8. The standard 747-8 flight deck configuration includes the Collins FCC-703 Flight Control Computer (part number 822-1261). This selection continued the long-standing Collins–Boeing avionics partnership into the 21st century.

Note on source limitations: The 1969 Collins brochures have been identified by Jan SP5XZG via eBay listings; the physical brochure contents are not fully accessible from the listing images alone. The airframe-specific detail above is compiled from the brochure identification, cross-referenced with known aircraft programme histories and Collins Pulse records. Full confirmation of exact Collins model numbers fitted to each airframe requires access to the brochure text, the Iowa Series IV “Collins Avionics, Airplanes Equipped With” file, or period Aircraft Flight Manual supplements.

The Iowa Archive “Airplanes Equipped With” File

The University of Iowa Collins Radio Company Records (MsC 814, Series IV) contain a product file titled “Collins Avionics, Airplanes Equipped With” (Box 19). This file appears to be a comprehensive factory listing of aircraft equipped with Collins avionics — exactly the kind of factory-fit confirmation data that is otherwise reconstructed from individual aircraft brochures. Access requires an in-person visit to Iowa City.

Research priority — HIGH: The “Airplanes Equipped With” file in the Iowa archive is likely the single most valuable undigitised document for confirming factory Collins avionics fits across all 1960s business jet types, including those named in the 1969 brochures. Any Collins avionics researcher visiting Iowa City should prioritise this file in Box 19, Series IV.

Part III — Collins Avionics Introduction Dates & Model Registry

The following summarises the Collins introduction date findings as of this sixth edition, incorporating all corrections and additions from Jan’s five enquiries. The complete model number registry follows, from pre-SSS through Pro Line Fusion.

⚠ Standing Correction — 860E-1 DME: 1961, Not c.1963

The 860E-1 DME was introduced in 1961, confirmed by a 1961 Collins brochure (eBay item 286913972907) and an advertisement in Flying, November 1961. The 860E-1 is a pre-SSS product, pre-dating the 618M-1 (January 1963) and the SSS announcement (November 1962) by at least one year.

  COLLINS RADIO AVIONICS — REVISED TIMELINE (SIXTH EDITION)
  ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
  1933    Collins Radio Company founded, Cedar Rapids IA
  1934    First airborne radio on Goodyear airship "Enterprise"
  1937    Collins 17D Autotune — Braniff Airways (first airline customer)
  1938    Autotune® mechanism invented; ART-13 WWII standard
  1950    First Aircraft HSI — Collins invention
  ──────────────────── PRE-SSS ERA ────────────────────────────────────
  1961    860E-1 DME ★★★ (1961 brochure + Flying Nov 1961)
          Lockheed JetStar FAA certification; Collins avionics fitted ★★
          [DF-203 ADF, 51V-4 GS, 51Z-4 MB, 57RV-1 VOR/GS — by end 1962 ★★]
  ──────────────────── SSS ERA ────────────────────────────────────────
  Nov 1962  Flying p.120 announces SSS; 618M-1 Jan 1963 ★★★
  Jan 1963  618M-1 VHF COM ★★★
  ca.1963   UK aviation ad ★ / Jet Commander brochure ca. 1964 ★
  1963-65   860E / 860E-2 ★★; Learjet 23 first flight 7 Oct 1963 ★★
  Spr 1966  Jet Commander: 1st biz aircraft certified Cat II ★★★
  1966-70   618M-2/2B/2D; GII first flight 2 Oct 1966; service 1967 ★★★
            Learjet 24 (1966) / Learjet 25 (1967); 1969 eBay brochures ★★
  ──────────────────── PRO LINE I ────────────────────────────────────
  1970      Pro Line I introduced ★★★ (Flight Intl, May 1995)
  c.1970-72 51R-7A / VIR-30/30A / DME-40 ★★
  Apr 1972  Eastern Airlines L-1011 service (Collins/Lear Sigler autoland) ★★★
  1973      Collins Radio acquired by Rockwell International ★★★
  c.1972-75 51R-8A ★ / 51RV series ★ / 618M-3 through 618M-5A
  Jul 1977  Collins first to receive GPS satellite signal ★★★
  ──────────────────── PRO LINE II / EFIS ERA ─────────────────────────
  1980      World's first 16-Bit CMOS microprocessor (AAMP) ★★★
  1982      Collins EFIS — United Airlines Boeing 767s ★★★
  1983      Pro Line 4: Beech Starship (Ada HLL, world's first) ★★★
  1986      Digital Pro Line II; Series 400 radios (ARINC 429) ★★★
  ──────────────────── PRO LINE 4 / 21 / FUSION ───────────────────────
  1994      AVSAT family; GPS-4000 ★★★
  May 1995  200,000th Pro Line unit produced ★★★
  Jun 1996  Bombardier selects Pro Line 4 for CRJ series ★★★
  Late 1990s Pro Line 21 introduced
  2001      Rockwell Collins spun off from Rockwell International ★★★
  5 Feb 2007 Boeing selects Rockwell Collins for 747-8 avionics ★★★
  26 Nov 2013 Ethiopian Airlines selects Rockwell Collins for 777 fleet ★★★
  27 Nov 2018 Rockwell Collins acquired by UTC → Collins Aerospace ★★★
  ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
  ★★★ = Primary source confirmed  ★★ = Secondary source  ★ = Estimated

VHF Communications Transceivers — 618M Series

Model	Introduction	Generation	Confidence
17D	1937	Pre-WWII Autotune	HIGH
618M-1	January 1963	SSS	HIGH
618M-2	c. 1966–1967	SSS continued	MODERATE
618M-2B	c. 1967–1970	SSS continued	HIGH
618M-2D	c. 1968–1970	SSS continued	LOW
618M-3	c. 1970–1975	Pro Line I	MODERATE
618M-3A	c. 1972–1976	Pro Line I	MODERATE
618M-4	c. 1975–1980	Pro Line I / Rockwell	LOW
618M-5A	c. 1978–1985	Pro Line I / Rockwell	LOW
618T	c. 1965–1970	SSS HF	HIGH

618M-1: 118–135.975 MHz; ARINC 410 compatible via 313N; Boeing 707 confirmed. 618M-2B: ±0.001% frequency stability; +27.5Vdc, 7A max; ARINC ½ ATR short; 17.3 lbs. 618T: 2.0–29.999 MHz HF SSB; used on Jet Commander (Collins Pulse, January 1968).

Distance Measuring Equipment — 860E / DME-40 Series

Model	Introduction	Generation	Confidence
860E-1	1961	Pre-SSS	HIGH
860E	c. 1963–1965	SSS	MODERATE
860E-2	c. 1965–1969	SSS continued	HIGH
DME-40	c. 1970–1972	Pro Line I	MODERATE

860E-1: 1961 brochure (eBay 286913972907) + Flying Nov 1961. 860E-2: part number 522-2702-014 confirmed in Rockwell Collins parts book (Jan 2012). All 860E/DME-40 units ARINC 568 compatible via 313N-4D control head.

NAV / VOR Receivers — 51R / VIR / 51RV Series

Model	Introduction	Generation	Confidence
51V-4	By end 1962	Pre-SSS / SSS	MODERATE
51Z-4	By end 1962	Pre-SSS / SSS	MODERATE
57RV-1	By end 1962	Pre-SSS / SSS	MODERATE
51R-7A	c. 1970–1972	Pro Line I	MODERATE
VIR-30	c. 1970–1972	Pro Line I	MODERATE
VIR-30A	c. 1972–1974	Pro Line I	LOW
51R-8A	c. 1972–1975	Pro Line I	LOW
51RV series	c. 1972–1975	Pro Line I	LOW

ADF, FMS, EFIS & Modern Systems

Model	Introduction	Type	Confidence
DF-203	By end 1962	ADF	HIGH
DF-206	c. 1968–1972	ADF System	LOW
EFIS-85B	1982	EFIS (CRT)	HIGH
EFIS-86B	1982	EFIS (CRT)	HIGH
GPS-4000	1994	GPS Receiver	HIGH
FMS-3000	c. 1990s	FMS	HIGH
FMS-4200	c. 1995–2000	FMS	MODERATE
FMS-5000	c. 1998–2003	FMS	MODERATE
FMS-6000	c. 2000–2005	FMS	HIGH
GLU-925 MMR	c. 2005–2010	Multi-Mode Receiver	HIGH
TTR-921	c. 2000–2005	TCAS II	HIGH
TTR-2100	c. 2005–2010	TCAS II + ADS-B	HIGH
SAT-2100	c. 2005–2010	SATCOM	HIGH
SAT-2200	c. 2008–2012	SATCOM	HIGH
FCC-703	c. 2007–2010	Flight Control Computer	HIGH
MultiScan TDS	c. 2005–2010	Weather Radar	HIGH

EFIS-85B/86B: introduced to airline service on United Airlines Boeing 767s, 1982 (AIN Online, Aug 2008). GPS-4000: first in AVSAT series; flight-test on Challenger 604 (1995). FMS-6000: Bombardier Challenger 604 and Hawker 800; 3-D mapping added 2008. Ethiopian Airlines 777 equipment confirmed by Airport Technology, 28 November 2013. FCC-703 Boeing 747-8 part number 822-1261.

ARINC 410 Compatibility

All units in Jan’s enquiry are ARINC 410 (2-out-of-5 wire) compatible via the Collins 313N-series control heads. DME units (860E-1, 860E, DME-40) use the companion ARINC 568 standard for DME channel selection via the 313N-4D control head. The late 1970s transition to ARINC 429 digital databus (and Collins CSDB) superseded ARINC 410 on new installations; legacy 410-compatible equipment remained in service into the 1980s and 1990s.

ARINC 410 Compatibility Matrix — Collins SSS & Pro Line I Equipment

Equipment	ARINC 410	Control Head	Notes
618M-1 / 618M-2 / 618M-2B	✓ YES	313N-series	VHF COM; 2-out-of-5 wire frequency selection
860E-1 / 860E / 860E-2	✓ YES	313N-4D	DME; ARINC 568 channel selection
DME-40	✓ YES	313N-4D	Pro Line I DME; ARINC 568 compatible
51R-7A / VIR-30 / VIR-30A	✓ YES	313N-series	NAV/VOR; ARINC 410 wire tuning
51R-8A / 51RV series	✓ YES	313N-series	Pro Line I NAV; ARINC 410 compatible
DF-203 / DF-206	— N/A	Dedicated ADF head	ADF; not ARINC 410 frequency-selected
EFIS-85B / EFIS-86B	— N/A	ARINC 429 digital	1982 era; supersedes ARINC 410

HIGH = primary sources confirmed. MODERATE = generation era confirmed; year estimated. LOW = relative dating; no primary date found.

Part IV — Worldwide Airline & Operator Customers

This part documents confirmed Collins avionics customers across all geographic regions. Data is drawn from the University of Iowa MsC 814 customer files, Collins Pulse company magazine records, Collins Aerospace Museum archives, Boeing press releases, airline contract announcements, and secondary aviation sources.

North America

North America — Collins Avionics Customers

Airline / Operator	Equipment / Contract	Date
Braniff Airways	Collins 17D Autotune transmitter (100W, 10-channel); installed on Douglas DC-3 fleet. First airline in the world to use an Auto-Tuned Multi-Channel Radio.	1937
American Airlines	Early Collins autotune customer; quickly followed Braniff. Customer files at Iowa archive (MsC 814, Series III). Collins autotune technology customer.	1937–1940s; 1964 (archive file)
Pan American World Airways	Collins Airline Communications System (Collins Pulse: “Collins System Ordered by Pan American”). Customer files at Iowa archive. Pan Am was the launch customer for the Boeing 747 (22 January 1970), which carried Collins avionics.	1960s; archive file undated
United Air Lines	Customer files at Iowa archive (MsC 814, Series III, 1964). First airline to receive Collins EFIS (EFIS-85B/86B) on Boeing 767s, introduced to airline service in 1982.	1964 (archive); 1982 (EFIS)
Delta Air Lines	Customer files at Iowa archive (MsC 814, Series III, 1962–1964). Delta operated the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, which used the Collins/Lear Sigler autoland system.	1962–1964 (archive); 1973 (L-1011)
Trans World Airlines (TWA)	Collins HF/VHF avionics customer. TWA operated the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar (Collins/Lear Sigler autoland system) and Boeing 747s with Collins avionics.	1960s–1970s
Eastern Airlines	Launch customer for the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar (April 1972 service entry), which featured the Collins Radio / Lear Sigler joint-venture fail-operative automatic landing system.	April 1972
Air Canada	Operated Lockheed L-1011 TriStar with Collins/Lear Sigler autoland system.	1973–1981
Bombardier (OEM)	Selected Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 avionics suite for CRJ series regional jets (June 1996). Also selected Collins Pro Line Fusion for Global 5000/6000/7000/8000, Learjet 85, and C-Series.	June 1996 (Pro Line 4); 2010s (Fusion)

United Kingdom & Europe

United Kingdom & Europe — Collins Avionics Customers

Airline / Operator	Equipment / Contract	Date
British Airways	Operated Lockheed L-1011 TriStar with Collins/Lear Sigler autoland system. British Airways was a major L-1011 operator.	1974–1980s
Aérospatiale (OEM, France)	Full Collins Avionics Package for the Aérospatiale SN 601 Corvette business jet (early 1970s). Noted in Collins Pulse company magazine as a French business jet with complete Collins avionics.	Early 1970s
Dassault Aviation (OEM, France)	Collins Pro Line 21 upgrade offered for Falcon 50EX and Falcon 900EX through Dassault Falcon Jet service centres.	2000s–2010s
Saab (OEM, Sweden)	Saab 2000 regional turboprop equipped with Collins Pro Line 4 avionics with Electronic Flight Displays (EFDs). Pro Line 4 EFDs on Saab 2000 subject to ongoing obsolescence support (Collins/Thomas Global Systems partnership, April 2025).	1990s–present
Royal Netherlands Army	Collins 718-2A HF systems; $15.5 million contract awarded.	January 1973
Hawker Siddeley / BAe (OEM, UK)	Hawker 800 equipped with four-screen Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics and FMS-6000 flight management system.	1990s–2000s

Africa

Africa — Collins Avionics Customers

Airline / Operator	Equipment / Contract	Date
Ethiopian Airlines	Full avionics suite for Boeing 777 fleet (10 aircraft initially): MultiScan Threat Detection System; GLU-925 Multi-Mode Receiver (RNP/RNAV, ADS-B); TTR-921 and TTR-2100 TCAS II (with ADS-B In); SAT-2200 and SAT-2100 SATCOM. Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s largest airline.	26 November 2013
South African Airways	Collins 32RS-1 HF SSB Transceiver documented in the South African Airways Museum collection (Germiston). Confirms Collins HF equipment in African airline service.	1960s–1970s

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific — Collins Avionics Customers

Airline / Operator	Equipment / Contract	Date
Japan Airlines (JAL)	Collins Aerospace FlightSense contract for Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet (50+ aircraft). 10-year service agreement renewed September 2025, covering air management services and electric power components.	September 2025 (renewal)
Singapore Airlines	Collins Aerospace FlightSense services for Boeing 777 fleet. Five-year contract extension announced at Singapore Airshow 2026.	February 2026 (extension)
Asia Pacific Operators (general)	Collins Aerospace Avionics Service Centre in Singapore provides MRO services for Asia Pacific commercial and military customers. Service centres in China, Singapore, and Australia.	Ongoing

Latin America & Middle East

Latin America & Middle East — Collins Avionics Customers

Airline / Operator	Equipment / Contract	Date
Embraer (OEM, Brazil)	Collins Aerospace is the primary avionics system supplier for the Embraer Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 business jets.	2010s–present
Mercosur Region Operators	Rockwell Collins expanded services to commercial and executive aviation in Mercosur countries.	20 December 2000
Middle East Operators	Collins offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh serve regional commercial and military customers.	2010s–present

ⓘ Research priority — Iowa MsC 814, Series III: Customer files for American Airlines (1964), Delta Air Lines (1962–1964), Pan American, and United Air Lines (1964) contain primary correspondence about specific avionics orders from the 1960s. An in-person visit to Iowa City would yield the most precise airline customer data for the SSS era.

Part V — Collins Corporate & Avionics Technology Timeline, 1933–2018

Collins Radio / Rockwell Collins / Collins Aerospace — Key Dates

Date	Event	Significance
1933	Arthur A. Collins founds Collins Radio Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa	Foundation of the company
1934	First airborne radio on Goodyear airship “Enterprise”	First Collins airborne radio
1937	Braniff Airways installs Collins 17D Autotune on Douglas DC-3 fleet	First airline Collins avionics customer
1938	Autotune® mechanism invented; ART-13 transmitter becomes WWII standard	Foundational Collins technology
1950	First Aircraft Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) — Collins invention	Collins avionics “first”
1961	Collins Radio Co. owns 623 U.S. patents; 860E-1 DME introduced	860E-1 confirmed pre-SSS product
November 1962	SSS suite announced in Flying magazine, p. 120	SSS era begins
January 1963	618M-1 VHF COM introduced	First SSS VHF COM transceiver
Spring 1966	Jet Commander: first business aircraft certified for Category II operations (Collins All Weather Landing System)	Collins avionics milestone
2 October 1966	Grumman Gulfstream II first flight	GII enters service 1967 with Collins avionics
1970	Pro Line I radios introduced; first commercial avionics use of High-Level Language (AED)	Pro Line era begins
April 1972	Eastern Airlines L-1011 TriStar enters service (Collins/Lear Sigler autoland)	Collins airline autoland milestone
1973	Collins Radio Company purchased by Rockwell International	Corporate transition
18 July 1977	Collins first to receive GPS satellite signal (11:41 p.m.)	Collins GPS “first”
1980	World’s first 16-Bit CMOS microprocessor (AAMP)	Collins computing milestone
1982	Collins EFIS introduced to airline service — United Airlines Boeing 767s	First airline EFIS installation
1983	World’s first commercial avionics use of Ada High-Level Language (Beech Starship / Pro Line 4)	Pro Line 4 first application
1986	Digital Pro Line II radios introduced; Series 400 radios (ARINC 429) introduced	Digital Pro Line era
1994	AVSAT satellite-based avionics family introduced; GPS-4000 first in series	GPS avionics era begins
May 1995	200,000th Pro Line unit produced	Pro Line production milestone
June 1996	Bombardier selects Pro Line 4 for CRJ series	Major regional jet OEM win
2001	Rockwell Collins spun off from Rockwell International as independent company	Corporate independence
5 February 2007	Boeing selects Rockwell Collins for entire 747-8 avionics suite	Major airliner OEM win
26 November 2013	Ethiopian Airlines selects Rockwell Collins for full Boeing 777 avionics suite	African airline milestone
27 November 2018	Rockwell Collins acquired by United Technologies Corporation; merged with UTC Aerospace Systems to form Collins Aerospace	Current corporate entity

Part VI — Pro Line Generation History

The Collins Pro Line avionics family, introduced in 1970, represented a fundamental departure from the SSS era: the first avionics developed specifically for business aircraft, at half the size and cost of airline-standard radios then available (Flight International, 24 May 1995). The Pro Line family evolved through six distinct generations over more than five decades.

Pro Line Generation History — Introduction Dates, Aircraft & Customers

Generation	Introduction	Key Technology	Aircraft Applications
Pro Line I	1970	Solid-state; ARINC 410/568; first business-aircraft-specific avionics; half size/cost of airline radios. Key models: 51R-7A, VIR-30, DME-40, 51R-8A, 51RV, 618M-3.	Business jets of the early 1970s; Gulfstream II updates; JetStar II (1976); Aérospatiale Corvette. Customers: general business aviation operators worldwide; US corporate fleet operators.
Pro Line II / Series 400	1986	Digital radios; ARINC 429 databus (Series 400); supersedes ARINC 410 wire tuning on new installations.	Business jets of the mid-1980s through 1990s. General business aviation operators; corporate fleet operators worldwide.
Pro Line 4	1983 (first application)	Electronic Flight Displays (EFDs); Ada High-Level Language programming (world’s first commercial avionics use); large-format CRT displays; ARINC 429. AVSAT/GPS-4000 added 1994.	Beech Starship (1983, first application); Bombardier Canadair Challenger 604; Bombardier CRJ series (1996); Saab 2000; IAI Galaxy/Astra SPX; Dassault Falcon variants. Customers: Bombardier (OEM, June 1996 for CRJ); Saab (OEM); regional airline operators of CRJ and Saab 2000.
Pro Line 21	Late 1990s	LCD displays replacing CRTs; integrated avionics architecture; LPV FMS navigation; XM Graphical Weather; FMS Chartlink; ADS-B compliance upgrades available.	Cessna Citation series; Bombardier Challenger 300/605; Hawker 800 (FMS-6000); Dassault Falcon 50EX/900EX (upgrade); Bombardier CRJ upgrades. Customers: Cessna Citation operators worldwide; Bombardier Challenger operators; Hawker 800 operators; European operators.
Pro Line Fusion	2012 (first certification)	Large-format LCD touchscreen displays; integrated flight deck; synthetic vision; enhanced situational awareness; NextGen/SESAR compliant.	Bombardier Global 5000/6000/7000/8000; Bombardier Learjet 85; Bombardier C-Series; Cessna Citation CJ3 (upgrade from Pro Line 21). Customers: Bombardier Global operators worldwide; Cessna CJ3 operators; European operators (EASA approval 2024).

Pro Line production milestone: By May 1995, Collins had produced its 200,000th Pro Line general-aviation radio. Pro Line equipment is manufactured at Collins’ Melbourne, Florida manufacturing plant. The 200,000th unit milestone was reported in Flight International, 24 May 1995, which also confirmed the 1970 introduction date for the original Pro Line series.

📖 Pro Line 4 legacy support (April 2025): Collins Aerospace and Thomas Global Systems announced a strategic partnership to deliver long-term product support for Collins Pro Line 4 Electronic Flight Displays. Pro Line 4 with EFDs is installed in MHIRJ CRJ Series regional jets, Saab 2000 regional turboprops, and a range of business jets. Thomas Global Systems received EASA approval for TFD-4000 series Pro Line 4 CRT display upgrades in November 2024.

References & Sources

University of Iowa Special Collections — Collins Radio Company Records (MsC 814) — Finding aid: lib.uiowa.edu; ArchivesSpace: aspace.lib.uiowa.edu/repositories/2/resources/719. Not digitised; in-person access only. Series IV: “Collins Avionics, Airplanes Equipped With” (Box 19). Series III: American Airlines (1964), Delta Air Lines (1962–1964), Pan American, United Air Lines (1964).
Collins Aerospace Museum Brochure Archive — collinsaerospacemuseum.org/collins_brochures/. Freely accessible; no registration. Holds 1960s Collins avionics brochures including Jet Commander setup ca. 1964.
Collins Aerospace Museum Product Timeline — collinsaerospacemuseum.org/timeline.php. Confirms 1969 DME/transponder introduction, 1970 Pro Line and HLL milestones, 1977 GPS first, 1980 AAMP, 1983 Ada/Beech Starship.
Collins Pulse A-Z Index — collinsaerospacemuseum.org/collins_pulse/index_a-z.php. Company news magazine index; confirms Aérospatiale Corvette Collins package, JetStar Collins avionics (Jan 1968), AP-107 autopilot announcement, Pan American Collins system order.
“Pro Line number 200,000 appears” — Flight International, 24 May 1995. flightglobal.com. Confirms Pro Line introduced 1970; Digital Pro Line II 1986; Series 400 (ARINC 429) 1986; GPS-4000 in flight-test on Challenger 604 (1995).
Collins 860E-1 DME brochure, 1961 — eBay item 286913972907. Identified by Jan SP5XZG. Primary source for 1961 introduction date.
Flying magazine, November 1961 — Collins 860E-1 advertisement. Identified by Jan SP5XZG.
Flying magazine, November 1962, p. 120 — SSS suite announcement; 618M-1 January 1963. books.google.com; via prc68.com.
Collins 1969 avionics brochures — eBay items 165614935192, 155320756740, 155108271046. Identified by Jan SP5XZG. First brochure explicitly names GII, JetStar, Learjet airframe configurations.
“A Century in Review: The 1980s” — AIN Online, 6 August 2008. ainonline.com. Confirms Collins EFIS on United Airlines 767s (1982); Pro Line 4 first application on Beech Starship.
Ethiopian Airlines selects Rockwell Collins avionics suite — Airport Technology, 28 November 2013. airport-technology.com. Confirms MultiScan TDS, GLU-925 MMR, TTR-921/2100 TCAS II, SAT-2100/2200 SATCOM for Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 777 fleet.
Boeing selects Rockwell Collins for 747-8 avionics — Boeing press release, 5 February 2007. Confirms full avionics suite selection including FCC-703.
The Arthur Collins Story — Timeline — thecollinsstory.org/timeline/. Confirms Braniff Airways 1937 first airline customer; Jet Commander Category II certification (Spring 1966).
Collins Collectors Association Signal Newsletter — collinsradio.org. Confirms Braniff Airlines as launch customer for Collins autotune radios; American Airlines as early follower.
Collins Aerospace and Thomas Global Systems partnership — Business Wire, 23 April 2025. Confirms Pro Line 4 EFDs on CRJ series, Saab 2000, and business jets; ongoing support partnership.
Collins Collectors Association technical archive — collinsradio.org. General Collins technical reference.

Footnotes

University of Iowa Libraries, Special Collections: Records of the Collins Radio Company (MsC 814). Collection Dates: 1924–1980. Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department. lib.uiowa.edu. ↩
University of Iowa Collins Radio Company Records, Series IV Product Files, Boxes 18–19. The file “Collins Avionics, Airplanes Equipped With” (Box 19) is the most significant undigitised document for airframe configuration research.
Flight International, 24 May 1995: Pro Line introduced in 1970; first avionics developed specifically for business aircraft; half the size and cost of airline-standard radios then available. Digital Pro Line II radios introduced in 1986 followed by Series 400 radios using the ARINC 429 databus. Pro Line equipment produced at Collins’ Melbourne, Florida, Manufacturing Plant. Source: flightglobal.com.
AIN Online, 6 August 2008: In 1982, Collins introduced EFIS to airline service aboard United Airlines’ 767s, and business aviation promptly followed suit. The first application of Collins’ Pro Line 4 electronic avionics suite was the Beech Starship twin turboprop. Source: ainonline.com.
Airport Technology, 28 November 2013: Ethiopian Airlines awarded a contract to Rockwell Collins to deliver the complete range of avionics equipment for its fleet of Boeing 777s, including MultiScan Threat Detection System, GLU-925 Multi-Mode Receiver (MMR), TCAS II, and SATCOM. Source: airport-technology.com.

73 — de Mike Peace VK6ADA / r-390a.net Administrator • March 2026 (Sixth Edition)

✍ Mike Peace VK6ADA / r-390a.net Administrator vk6ada.com.au — Avionics Research & Historical Documentation

Collins Radio Avionics —Historical Introduction Dates & Archive Resources