August 8, 2011 at 1:24 pm
A friend of my Dads has recently passed on to me a Blind Flying Panel which his father had in his garage for many years.
Having had a quick look on the internet I have found it is the early straight edged type stamped AM 6A/616.
It has all six instrument in place and having looked over them I can only find AM inscriptions on three
Air Speed Indicator – 6A/1268 K.D.G
Artificial Horizon – 6A/599 (15194/42)
Direction Indicator – 6A/602 (14475/40)
(Having looked further I believe the Turn and Slip Indicator to be a 6A/675 with a white face?)
and the Kollsman Altitude instrument is a MK XIVA
The turn and Slip indicator has the hand scratched letters THFB in the Bakelite.
I thought the experts on here may be able to help me identify an aircraft type this could have come from.
All of the cables on the back have been cut to roughly the same length which leads me to believe that the panel has remained intact since it was cut from the aircraft. Pipe work between instruments is also in place. The turn and slip indicator also has a very fragile cloth bag and paper label attached which at some point (but no longer) contained screws to help remove the instrument without damage.
I can try and post a picture up if it would help?
Many thanks
Matt
By: SolentSpotter - 8th August 2011 at 15:40
Will do Bruce
I had already cleared a space for it in the garage, so it can sit face down, as the radiation issue had crossed my mind.
By: Bruce - 8th August 2011 at 15:13
Take care – it sounds like most of those instruments will be radioactive. Keep it in the garage; not the house or den!
Bruce
By: SolentSpotter - 8th August 2011 at 14:29
Thanks
Having had a look it seems with the high top speed indicated on the ASI of 550 MPH it would put this panel as having come from one of the faster fighters possibly Tempest.
Would these have still had the straight topped Panel? I assume this depends on space in the cockpit having looked on google for images of Tempest/Typhoon cockpits they seem to have rounded.
Matt
By: QldSpitty - 8th August 2011 at 13:59
Early WW2 aircraft I think..Worse thing they were used in a lot of different fighters..There is a bit of info here..
http://www.spitfirespares.com/SpitfireSpares.com/Pages/reference3.html