[Milsurplus] Norden & the Autopilot

[Gregory W. Moore]

GE fellow milsurplus members...

I have some manuals which I will try and scan in, which I will put up 
once they are scanned and duly digitized, including the maintenance 
manual for
the Norden, the Bombardier's Information File,  the 
Maintenance/Operation for the C-1 autopilot ( which was directly 
connected to the stabilized brush assy), and a few other manuals
of interest in this area.  Some years ago, I had hoped to get a complete 
Norden sight, including the base and stabilizer for restoration, but the 
cost
at the time, proved too prohibitive.   I feel kind of lucky, since being 
only a Vietnam Vet, still got to get some excellent time in both a restored
B-17 and a B-24, and even though getting a long period of left seat 
experience, and a signoff in my logbooks was a plus, getting to make a
"bomb run" using the Norden was a very special experience.... I only 
wish that I could have actually dropped even a dummy to see if I could have
actually hit what I synchronized on --hi----  I just had to imagine the 
rest after the indicia crossed, but the FAA do take a dim view of dropping
even inert stuff these days, and since I no longer hold a medical 
(Imagine that, the FAA holds closed head injuries and spinal injuries a 
disqualifying
matter --hi--), I won't get another chance....

At any rate, I will try to get the stuff scanned in and put it up on my 
website for download as required..

73 de Greg "GW" Moore WA3IVX/NNN0BVN


Mahlon Haunschild wrote:

> And the bombardier's portion of the Pilot Direction Indicator (PDI) 
> you can also see in the picture at:
>
> http://aafradio.org/NASM/Bombardiers_Station.htm.
>
> The round thingie with the tan-colored bar in the middle of it on top 
> of the stabilizer is the PDI "transmitter", it's nothing more than a 
> wirewound pot (The tan part) and a brush (the thing that looks like a 
> pointer).  The brush is connected to the sighthead azimuth pivot; 
> therefore, when the sighthead pivots to sight on an target in azimuth, 
> the PDI moves also.  When the bombsight clutch is engaged (black thumb 
> lever next to the PDI), the sighthead is mechanically connected to the 
> directional gyro in the stabilizer.  As the gyro/sighthead turns, the 
> brush turns also, making the above automatic (unless a change must be 
> made; there are course knobs on the sighthead for that purpose).
>
> The PDI in the cockpit is simply a meter connected to the PDI pot in 
> the stabilizer.  Simple & effective.
>
> When the autopilot clutch is engaged on the stabilizer (silver knob on 
> top of the stabilizer) the autopilot is then connected to the 
> directional gyro too.  Course changes from the bombardier then go to 
> the autopilot as well.
>
> So, the bombardier could steer the aircraft on the bomb run either 
> through the PDI / pilot, or the autopilot.
>
> More than you needed to know, I realize.  But I find the whole Norden 
> bombsight/C-1 autopilot system at the close of WW II fascinating in 
> its complexity, and yet it actually worked.  Sort of...
>
> regards,
>
> Mahlon - K4OQ
>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 8
>> Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2006 09:51:57 -0800
>> From: "ROLYNN PRECHTL   K7DFW" <k7dfw at clatskanie.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Norden & the Autopilot
>> To: <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
>> Message-ID: <007701c64ab4$a6ec23a0$2c4c3ace at pygora>
>> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>>
>>  
>>
>>> And before that was done they had a thing called PDI which allowed the
>>>   
>>
>> <>bomb sight to give instructions to the human pilot.
>> ===================================
>>
>> The MA-7A Bomb Nav system of the B-47E retained the PDI as part of the
>> overall system.
>>
>>
>> Rolynn
>>
>> Bomb/Nav flightline mechanic 32150E
>> 40th Bomb Wing SAC
>>
>>
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>


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