Since our founding as Collins Radio Company, Rockwell Collins and its products have been recognized for distinctive quality and state-of-the-art technology. Collins Radio Company, founded by Arthur Collins, initially designed and produced short wave radio equipment. Our company steadily grew, and captured the world's attention when Collins supplied the equipment to establish a communications link with the South Pole expedition of Rear Admiral Richard Byrd in 1933.

Our company continued to expand its work in all phases of the communications field while broadening its technology thrust into numerous other disciplines. Collins Radio Company provided communications in America's space program, including equipment for astronauts to communicate with earth stations and equipment to track and communicate with spacecraft. Collins communications equipment was used for the Apollo, Gemini and Mercury programs, providing voice communication for every American astronaut traveling through space.

Today, Rockwell Collins designs, produces, markets and supports electronic communications, avionics and in-flight entertainment systems for commercial, military and government customers worldwide.

Learn how our longstanding commitment to innovation and operational excellence allows us to continue to produce rock-solid avionics and communications systems for customers across the globe.

75 years ago - 1932

In 1932, Arthur A. Collins sold one of his first, full-sized transmitters to Benton White - a businessman from Chattanooga, Tenn. The sale of this transmitter, which was unlike the kits and components previously sold by Collins Radio Company, marked the beginning of thousands of sales throughout the world.

Born Aug. 18, 1884, White was an engineer who later became a practicing civil law attorney. After retiring in 1928, he built a home on his ancestral farm outside of Chattanooga, and became an amateur (ham) radio operator. Through the years, White built an outstanding ham radio station, and became well-known for his public service work.

Rockwell Collins image

White first took note of Arthur Collins and his company when he noticed an advertisement for "Collins Transmitters" in QST Magazine, which even today is the most widely read amateur radio publication in the United States.

Traveling through Iowa on a Sunday afternoon, White decided to locate the place where Collins was producing these radios. Much to his surprise, that place turned out to be the basement of a home located on a quiet, shady street in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This is where White met with Art Collins and Clair Miller - the only Collins employee at the time - who had just completed production of a Model 30W transmitter.

A fellow member of the ham fraternity, White was impressed both with Collins and with the transmitter he had designed. White negotiated an immediate deal and purchased one of Collins' first transmitters for $97.50. Today, a similar product would sell for about $1,438.95.

After White's death in 1963, Collins Radio Company employees tracked down the legacy-rich, early production transmitter. It can now be found on display in our company museum in Building 120 in Cedar Rapids.

In addition, White's amateur radio call - W4PL - has since been assigned to the Chattanooga Old Timers American Radio Society. Art Collins' call - W0CXX - was assigned to the Collins Amateur Radio Club in Cedar Rapids.

50 years ago - 1957

On Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviet Union announced the successful launch of Sputnik - the first artificial satellite - into orbit around the Earth.

Sputnik, which means "traveling companion" in Russian, was about the size of a basketball, but weighed 184 pounds. Inside of this satellite, which could pass over the United States about every 90 minutes, were radio transmitters on frequencies of 20 and 40 megahertz (MHz).

In an effort to learn as much about the satellite as possible, scientists and engineers around the world scrambled to receive and analyze these signals. After all, the satellite's success meant the possibility of something more sinister in the future.

On Oct. 7, 1957, Collins Radio Company engineers from our Western Division in Burbank, Calif., made an attempt to record Sputnik's signals. In an effort to locate a dual track tape recorder to help capture the information, our engineers learned that their counterparts at Lockheed Missile Division in Van Nuys, Calif., were attempting the same feat. Lockheed, however, lacked receiving equipment for 40 MHz.

Since Collins Radio Company had the receivers - a KWT-6 high frequency (HF) transceiver used on the 20.005 MHz signal and a 50P-2 receiver tuned to 40.010 MHz - and Lockheed Martin had the recorder, the two groups decided to pool their resources.

With frequency stability provided by a Collins 40K-1 Master Oscillator, and an Ampex dual-channel recorder along with Pentron and Berlant recorders supplied by Lockheed, the two companies managed to hear Sputnik pass over California at 9:11 p.m. (PST) on Oct. 7.

This feat was repeated for succeeding orbits during the next few days, and the recorded signals were played to crowds of employees during coffee and lunch breaks. Three weeks later, Sputnik's battery failed, and the satellite was never heard from again. The signals from Sputnik, however, had dramatically "announced" to the world the beginning of space exploration by mankind.

25 years ago - 1982

In early 1982, the Boeing 757 twinjet - which was ahead of schedule in its development - completed its inaugural flight. Operating with the Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) developed by Rockwell Collins' Air Transport Division (CATD), the first flight lasted 2 hours, 31 minutes. Pilot John H. Armstrong referred to the 757 as a "very straightforward-handling airplane" and he described the flight as "perfect."

The Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) was developed in 1982 by Rockwell Collins' Air Transport Division.
Rockwell Collins image

In addition to EICAS, the 757 also was outfitted with the Collins FCS-700 Autopilot-Flight Director System and Electronic Flight Instrument System (EIFIS). After a second test flight, Armstrong said EICAS worked "beautifully" throughout the flight.

"There were no squawks on the EICAS at all," said Armstrong. "It worked as advertised and we're very happy with it."

Without a doubt, these words were satisfying to the many Rockwell Collins employees whose hard work, skill and dedication brought EICAS to reality.

10 years ago - 1997

Ten years ago, Rockwell International, Inc. was experiencing a time of great transition. Virtually debt-free, our company was stronger financially than at any other point in history. In addition, the members of our senior management team were taking a more worldwide view for the future, engaging in additional global business opportunities.

The automotive side of our business spun off and created an independent, publicly traded company known as Meritor Automotive, Inc., which is referred to today as ArvinMeritor. In December 1996, the sale of Rockwell International's aerospace and defense business to The Boeing Company also was completed.  And in 1997 our company began to take on a more familiar structure, Rockwell and Collins commercial and government avionics activities were merged into one large business in order to address the total avionics and communications market worldwide.  Additionally, in July of 1997, former Chief Executive Officer Donald R. Beall announced his plans to retire at the end of fiscal year 1997. He would step down as chairman in February of 1998.

With its fundamental restructuring goals complete, our company was strategically placed to meet the goals set by the members of our management team. Beall, 59, had served as chairman or president for nearly 20 years. He felt it was the perfect time for a change in leadership, and he was confident that his successor, Don Davis, would lead Rockwell International toward a bright future.

5 years ago - 2002

In the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, our company was striving to overcome various business challenges and strike a balance between our customer base and our business models. During our first full year as an independent organization, our company's senior management team and our workforce displayed a keen ability to take quick, decisive action. And, despite a fundamentally-changed world and an unsteady commercial aviation marketplace, our company performed well in fiscal year 2002.

In March of 2002, Rockwell Collins strengthened our rapidly expanding Government Systems business by acquiring Communication Solutions, Inc.

Two months later, our senior management team attained a fresh perspective with the appointments of Bob Chiusano to executive vice president and chief operating officer of Commercial Systems, and Greg Churchill to executive vice president and chief operating officer of Government Systems. Clay Jones, our president and chief executive officer, also assumed an additional role as chairman of the board.

Another key milestone in 2002 was the introduction of one of our company's most heralded products, MultiScan weather radar. This product quickly gained acceptance and was selected for the avionics packages on 12 leading commercial airlines.

In August 2002, our company expanded our cabin electronics product offering with the acquisition of Airshow, Inc. This was our second acquisition of the year and the eighth in a five-year time period.

With new acquisitions, expanding product lines and fresh leadership in place, Rockwell Collins was now ready to meet the challenges of the post 9/11 world.

-- The information in this article was compiled and written by Marielle Rodeheffer and Rod Blocksome. Rodeheffer is an intern in Enterprise Communications at Rockwell Collins. She is a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University (BS) in Allendale, Mich., and Ball State University (MA) in Muncie, Ind. Blocksome is a longtime Rockwell Collins employee and principal electrical engineer in Government Systems.