Warbird Information Exchange

The wife and I open gifts early, since family comes to visit. She is probably the coolest wife ever in that for Christmas and Birthday, so finds me old airplane parts, military memorabilia, and the like.

The year, the piece de resistance is a B-17F load adjuster. With case. And matching numbers. And it`s in pretty good shape.

Now here is my problem: I don`t know a lot about load adjusters. I thought they were serialized to match the airplane. My slide rule and case are both marked 36183. I was thinking maybe that would correspond to a 42-36183, but the B-17 serial number charts don`t list that s/n as having been used.

Can anybody shed light on this? I would be most appreciative. Thanks and Merry Christmas all!

-17f

Load adjusters were usually serialized from the factory but it was specific to the piece of equipment and didn't have anything to do with a particular airplane. Most were later serialized to a particular airplane as a means of accountability to ensure the load adjuster stayed with the airplane. They were not calibrated to a specific airplane or anything like that. They are neat pieces of equipment. I've probably got a dozen or so. I have used one to do the weight and balance on "FIFI" a time or two in the past.

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Brad

Your wife got you a B-17 Load Adjuster for Christmas...? Excellent...!

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Any chance for some pictures?

Lol, yep, she is definitely a keeper. She understands my aviation "illness" and helps feed it.

I will get some pics taken and posted soon, but with the holidays it could be a bit yet.

Thanks for all the help on the subject guys!

Ha! My wife has also "fed" my "aviation illness" from time to time...

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Photos as promised. Sorry for the delay - the new year has been crazy so far...

EDIT: Please pardon the dog hair on the carpet...