Warbird Information Exchange

noizeedave,

This is what I thought you might be able to use on the C-47 or maybe the B-25. Though from what I've seen in the photos of the 47 it looks very complete and original.



I'm posting it here to give others an opportunity to offer their knowledge on this piece of equipment.

It is NOS quality with only one wire that needs to be reconnected. Even the bulbs are like new.

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

Curtis,

You have the control head for the C-1 autopilot. The C-1 was used in conjunction with the Norden bomb sight so it isn't applicable to the C-47. It did come in B-25's of course but not all of them had it. It is standard equipment for the B-17, B-24, B-26, A-26, B-32 and other’s equipped for the Norden.

Your control head shows up on eBay regularly and typically sells for $75 to $150 in new condition.

I hope this helps,

Taigh

_________________
To donate to the PV-2D project via PayPal click here http://www.twinbeech.com/84062restoration.htm

We brought her from: to this in 3 months: Help us get her all the way back

All donations are tax deductible as the Stockton Field Aviation Museum is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Tell a friend as the Harpoon needs all the help she can get.

Thank you!

Taigh Ramey
Vintage Aircraft, Stockton, California
http://www.twinbeech.com
'KEEP ‘EM FLYING…FOR HISTORY!'

Thanks Taigh

I knew it was used on the 17s and 24s and knew it could be tied into the Norden.

I remember someone telling me it was common on most of the larger multi engine aircraft of WWII including the transports.

Guess you can't believe everything you hear.

_________________
Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

This is the Army Type A-3/Navy Mark 3 automatic pilot mount with directional and vertical gyro controls found in most C-47, C-46, B-25 and PV-2s, as well as other aircraft that had the installation.


What are the other components of the C-1 autopilot?

The components of the C-1 auto pilot are:

Amplifier
3 Servos, one for each control surface
Vertical gyro (pitch and roll)
Stabilizer (yaw gyro and lower half of the Norden bomb sight)
Directional panel (mounted to the side of the stabilizer)
Dynamotor
Junction box
Control head

Accessories:
Formation stick
Turn control

This auto pilot was also used in the Beechcraft AT-11 bombardier trainer.

I came across a document that said that any aircraft that had the C-1 autopilot could easily be converted into a radio controlled aircraft with simple modifications. It went on to say that tri cycle gear aircraft were easier to take off and land under radio control as compared to conventional gear aircraft.

The latest use in an aircraft of the C-1, that I am aware of, was in Dave Talichet’s B-17G. He had one installed for the trip across the Atlantic for the filming of Memphis Bell.

Anyone else know of other recent uses of C-1 auto pilots?

_________________
To donate to the PV-2D project via PayPal click here http://www.twinbeech.com/84062restoration.htm

We brought her from: to this in 3 months: Help us get her all the way back

All donations are tax deductible as the Stockton Field Aviation Museum is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Tell a friend as the Harpoon needs all the help she can get.

Thank you!

Taigh Ramey
Vintage Aircraft, Stockton, California
http://www.twinbeech.com
'KEEP ‘EM FLYING…FOR HISTORY!'

hey thanks curtis!

the cadet posting has the phot of the autopilotinstaled in the 47. it still has the original all hooked up!

_________________
California Air Heritage Foundation
B-25J / C-47B / And the list goes on....
"Never start a fight with 7 men when all your packin' is a 6-Gun! "

Proud Supporter of....American Aeronautical Foundation 501(c)(3)
http://www.aafgroup.org

I'm in no hurry to get rid of it, and hey, I guess I learned some stuff also.

Hopefully others did as well.

That's the great thing about the WIX.

_________________
Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

One of the B-29s I flew at Randolph in 1954 had one of these panels installed right behind the pilot's aisle stand. The pictured one is capable of being used with a "Formation Stick". On the B-29, the A/C's right armrest was replaced with one which had a control stick type handgrip on the end of it. For 1950's state of the art, it flew quite well and if one had to do a long haul in formation, it would be great since the B-29 was pretty heavy on the controls. It was a little jerky flying but it worked.

I've never (knowingly, in the case of Fifi since it was a Randolph trainer when I was there) been in Fifi or any of the other survivors so I don't know if the Autopilot, etc. is/was still installed in all of them but I would guess it would have been. I only remember seeing the formation stick in one of the trainers at Randolph though.

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It's what you learn after you think you know it all, that counts.