Simviation Forums

Good morning all...

Thought Doug or Paul would be able to help me with some information about this type of Attitude Indicator.

Anyone else with information on this type of Attitude Indicator including manufacturer and aircraft types used on would you please post it here.
Also, the Airspeed Indicator that was used on the outside wing struts had a needle which pointed to an airspeed on a metal face plate, the manufacturer and type of aircraft used on would also be most appreciated.

I contacted Airtron Instruments, Stamford, Lincolnshire and they had no information at all.

I have contacted The International Auster Club Estd. 1973 and awaiting to hear from them.

Several Old Retired Rocking Chair Flying Geezers at the bugsmasher field flew the Taylorcraft of England Auster Aircraft and both remember the Attitude Indicator but are trying to search for the manufacturer.
One chap flew the Auster without flaps which surprised me. My dad's Auster had this type of Attitude Indicator and flaps however all the books we have on type are packed away as they are doing the library at the old homestead. HMMM...I thought it looked okay the way it was...

The Auster Aircraft here at the museum does not have this type of Attitude Indicator but the curator and I have seen several videos of this Attitude Indicator in Auster Aircraft in flight.
We sure would like to know who the manufacturer was.

Links would also be most appreciated.

Here are a few pictures:







Comments and advice most appreciated...

I wont interfere here, Doug, but this might be something
http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/24885/ASOR199702797.pdf

Nice shots

Hi Doug. That is the Reid & Sigrist Turn & Bank indicator - part of the standard blind flying panel fitted to most RAF aircraft during WWII. These include Tiger Moth, Magister, Hurricane, Spitfire, Blenheim, Mosquito, Lancaster etc. etc. http://www.pro.rcip-chin.gc.ca/bd-dl/artefacts-eng.jsp?emu=en.artefacts:/Proxac/ws/human/user/www/Record;jsessionid=jhvp9j1jp1&upp=0&m=150&w=NATIVE%28%27INSNAME%20EQ%20%27%27CANADA%20AVIATION%20MUSEUM%27%27%20and%20image%20=%20%27%27X%27%27%27%29

These instruments were in use on British manufactured aircraft until well after the end of WWII & are still fitted to many vintage types today.

RAF blind flying panel. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1937/1937%20-%202313.html

...'Trucker... ....

I'm afraid that my remembrance of the old Auster Aiglet spotter plane which I very occasionally had the opportunity of flying in the British Army in 1957, has long since faded from my memory...
...it was a LONG time ago!... ...!

I just admire them at Air Shows now!

Paul.... ...!

@Bass: That Auster accident report which you posted was very interesting. Typical of the sort of failure that I would regularly experience in reality, with my low altitude, low speed flying in the flight sim, with my Cessna 150/152!
It illustrates just how unrealistic the flight sim is, in relation to real flying in adverse conditions and incorrect attitudes!
A dangerous game. If only we were invincible in real life!... ...!

Thanks Bass and Paul "Fozzer" hit it just right with his comments...

Thanks Paul and much appreciated for your time...if you are out and about keep that Attitude Indicator in mind for me, you will probably have more chances to see it than I will...

Hi Doug...

Thanks for the Links.

Know those panels all to well...

What I am talking about is that pendulum bar with a ball on the end of it between the left front windscreen by the air vent and the port door and to the left of the words.

It is attached to the aircraft frame and swings forward and backwards.

I would like to know the manufacturer of that, it is on a lot of Austers.

FlyingTrucker wrote:Hi Doug...

Thanks for the Links.

Know those panels all to well...

What I am talking about is that pendulum bar with a ball on the end of it between the left front windscreen by the air vent and the port door and to the left of the words.

It is attached to the aircraft frame and swings forward and backwards.

I would like to know the manufacturer of that, it is on a lot of Austers.

I think that's a fancy hand-hold cord to hold on to while getting in & out of the aircraft. This photo shows it clearly. http://www.flickr.com/photos/roblangham/2214719736/

Thanks Doug...

I thought about that also and the Link shows it very well.

My dad's Auster must have had two also and I remember it having two ashtrays also.

Oh my...those Old Retired Rocking Chair Flying Geezers at the bugsmasher field will not let me live this down.

However the hand hold does make a good Up and Down Indicator....

I found it strange the one chap flew an Auster without flaps, he said it had a Rolls Royce made engine and took forever to climb.
He mentioned the top speed was only about 82 MPH.

I am sure later Austers were equipped with flaps and about the same speed as a Cessna 172.

Again thanks for your time Doug...have a great day...

Definitely two in all the photos I've seen. The more basic ones were leather or webbing straps like this. http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/116917/g-aijt-private-auster-5j4/

Left a post above your last post Doug...

Thanks for the last Link.

Now that is more like a Hand Hold although not sure about that light blue colour...

Have you got anything on the Airspeed Indicators that used to be affixed to an outside strut?

They were activated by the forward movement of the aircraft and used a needle to point to the airspeed on a fixed metal plate.

FlyingTrucker wrote:Left a post above your last post Doug...

Thanks for the last Link.

Now that is more like a Hand Hold although not sure about that light blue colour...

Have you got anything on the Airspeed Indicators that used to be affixed to an outside strut?

They were activated by the forward movement of the aircraft and used a needle to point to the airspeed on a fixed metal plate.

Hi Doug. You must have edited your last post after I replied.

Those wind activated ASIs you mention are still fitted to some vintage Moth biplanes although they will have a conventional ASI in the cockpit. I imagine that someone has started manufacturing them for vintage enthusiasts. I should have some photos somewhere. I'll look one out for you & post it here later.

Thanks Doug...much appreciated...

FlyingTrucker wrote:I found it strange the one chap flew an Auster without flaps, he said it had a Rolls Royce made engine and took forever to climb.
He mentioned the top speed was only about 82 MPH.

I am sure later Austers were equipped with flaps and about the same speed as a Cessna 172.

Again thanks for your time Doug...have a great day...

The only Rolls-Royce engine I can think of suitable for an Auster would be the RR Continental fitted to some of the later types. I'm certain these would all have had flaps & had a comparable performance to the C172.

Here's that photo I promised you. A mechanical ASI fitted to the port front interplane strut of a Tiger Moth. Taken at a fly-in at Popham last month.

Awesome Doug...thanks for taking the time to find and post that....

Here is a wonderful Link and story Doug.

http://theausterdiaries.com/articles-an ... ve-affair/

Taken from the above Link:

It is powered, somewhat lethargically, by a retro fitted Rolls Royce Continental 0-200, horizontally apposed four cylinder engine, which drives a two bladed, fixed pitch propeller. Although sounding quite impressive, the 0-200 is a little inadequate for the relatively heavy and flapless J4. They say that you get what you pay for and in this case, I can confirm that it is true.

http://www.austerj4.co.uk/?page_id=8

I might be wrong about the J4 having a Rolls Royce up front...

Can now tell the old girl I have accomplished something today.

OH OH... bet those folks at The International Auster Club Estd. 1973 are probably wondering what I am talking about...