What are these NOS navigation astrodomes C47 ? B29 ?

carlisle1926 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2011 3:47 pm

I found several of these old navigation domes and I hope that you can help me identify them. The smaller clear dome looks to be off of a C47. I have three of the attachment rings that are still wrapped in paper. They are covered in a tar-like preservative. I think the clear dome is the mate to these rings, but I'm unsure. The clear dome measures about 22" max diameter and about 19" internal diameter.
The large 29" astrodome has me puzzled. It has a yellow tint applied to it. It has a few cracks and chips in it, but I still like it. I just wish I could figure out what it came off of. My first thought was a B-29, but I have no real clue. What do you think?

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2011 4:28 pm

The larger is a blister from a B-29 and the rings are for the C-47 astrodome.

carlisle1926 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2011 4:48 pm

Thank you for the response and solving this. Wow, I can't believe that I guessed correctly.

carlisle1926 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:37 pm

What is this dome for? It measures 22" in diameter, has a very high dome, and has a radius along the bottom for the contour of the fuselage. It is made out of much thinner plexyglass than the other two domes. What is this one?

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:46 pm

Punch bowl? :mrgreen:

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:58 pm

Without a flange on it I am not sure. The Canadian Expeditor used a larger dome similar in shape but without the contour and it had a flange. Could be B-29 upper or CFC blister but it looks too tall. The B-29 is one of the few aircraft I know of that uses the flange-less type of dome. It relied on the compression of the rubber seal as seen on your yellowed side blister. They had trouble with blisters popping or breaking under pressurization.

Any part numbers?

It also comes real close to the shape of the astrodome we use on the harpoon but it also did not have the contour and had a straight flange. My best guess especially if you found it with the side blister is that it is B-29/B-50 CFC. Or as Fouga23 said: Punch bowl!

carlisle1926 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:40 pm

There are no numbers on this one. It is only about 1/8" thick. It seems a bit whimpy in comparison to the other domes that I have here. I just noticed that the radius on the bottom side is exactly the same radius as the radius on the C47 flange. Could this have been some weird dome that was used on a C47? It also resembles one of those hair dryers that old ladies used to get there hair dried with in beauty shops.

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What are these NOS navigation astrodomes C47 ? B29 ?

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