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Aviation History
1944
1944 - 0918.PDF
47« FLIGHT MAY 4TH, 1944 FLYING FOR The famous "ball of fire,'' showing the traverse ring, controlling motors, tubular supporting member and span ning bracket. bulky flying clothes one can imagine a few hours in either of these seats becoming uncomfortable. Twin control columns are surmounted by half- wheels with a microphone button switch in the outer " horn " tip. Rudder control is by plate type pedals suspended from torque tubes. Centrally mounted between the two pilots is a pedestal, on top of which are the switches for fuel shut-off valves and booster pumps, lights, cooling gills, undercarriage, flaps, landing lights and engine ignition. At the rear of this panel are the mixture controls and the throttles, and behind these and a little below, the airscrew pitch controls: all these lever controls are provided with separate fric tion locks. Elevator and rudder trim wheels are at the base of the pedestal to the left and rear respectively, whilst the control panel for the automatic pilot is mounted below the airscrew pitch controls. Pull-up levers, countersunk in the floor between the pilots' seats, actuate ground or parking locks for rudder and elevators (left lever) and tail wheel (right lever). Aileron locking is by a removable pin which anchors the half-wheels secure from movement to the control column. Instrument Layout The instrument panel, or panels, are neatly laid out but the scarcity of dials facing the chief pilot, and the close grouping of dials facing the co-pilot, seem strange to English eyes. The blind-flying panel—which includes a blind-approach indicator in addition to the six normal instruments found on standardised British b.f. panels—is mounted between the two pilots, slightly off-set to the left. Beneath this panel are arranged the four airscrew feather ing knobs. Before the chief pilot are the radio compass and D.R. This sketch shows the latest type tail gun emplacement ; the gunner's bullet-proof optical flat panel and reflector sight may be seen. His entry door is beneath the starboard elevator. n ^ mdmww ii nininiifii1 ii The ball turret gunner in place. The reflector sight ai for the guns are shown. The whole central portion rotated in a vertical plane, the "cheeks" (at each stationary. (By courtesy of " Life ") compass dials, and below them oil and vacuum pressure gauges and the oxygen gauges and indicators for both pilots. By contrast, the co-pilot has on his panel, all the engine instruments— boost, r.p.m., cylinder head temperature, carburettor air intake, fuel pressure, oil pressure and temperature, air tem perature, and fuel gauges. In addition to these, he also has the carburettor air filter switches (the filter is used up to 15,000ft,) and indicator lights; engine starter switches; intercooler temperature control levers and engine primer pump. Should the normal hydraulic power pumps get damaged or go u/s, the co-pilot also has to work the hydraulic emergency hand pump. In the roof, at the apex of the windscreen V, are mounted an 8-day clock, a sphere-type compass and the de-icing pressure indicator. Behind these in the centre of the roof between the pilots are the radio selector controls, etc. Each pilot's seat has a complete back panel of armour plate extending from the seat itself to the level of the top of the pilot's head. Portable Oxygen Systems Behind the pilots' seats are-mounted eight large oxygen bottles—three on starboard side, five on port side—and a further 10 similar bottles beneath the floor. Four separate oxy gen systems are provided, operating at a normal pressure of 350 lb. /sq. in., each system supply ing a portion of the crew; thus damage to one system, in combat for instance, does not affect the others. In addition to the main supply, to enable him to move about, each crew mem ber has his own small emergency oxygen bottle which has a duration of z\ hours at 30,000 feet, and can be refilled from the main system. These type bottles are fitted in the gun turrets. The upper turret is stationed behind the pilots, and the gunner is treated a little more favourably in the Fortress II than he was in previous types, for whereas he used to have to stand in a pair of stirrups-to operate his turret, he now sits more or less comfortably in a padded, webbing sling. The twin .5s are mounted wide apart and their ammunition is fed from six metal boxes, three on each side, mounted beneath the guns, and rotating with, the turret. The guns and reflector sight mov^ unition feed the ball may be side) remaining
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