Aeronautical comp. 2

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LEPAUTE

PROFILE - The French company Société des établissements HENRY-LEPAUTE (11, rue Desnouettes, Paris XVe) was a famous manufacturer of clocks and watches. It produced also numerous electrical and optical materiels.
This compass type was patented in 1910 (no. 407.416). Its characteristical feature is the double pivot. The upper one's length can be adjusted vertically (see image from Patent below).

Compensation airship compass with two pivots

Click on images for enlarged views

Pictures by courtesy of the Conservatoire Régional des Sciences et Techniques (CRST) in Mâcon, France

Detail view of the North marking

Side view

Technical Data
Diameter: 123mm
Height, bowl: 58mm
Height, overall: 96mm

Side view (principle according to patent)

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LUDOLPH

PROFILE - W. LUDOLPH GmbH & Co. KG (Bremerhaven) is a German company manufacturing nautical and aeronautical compasses.
(more information HERE.

Examples of older compasses: FK 6, FK 10, FK 13
(FK = Führerkompass = pilot compass)

Model FK 10/32

(Pictures courtesy www.spitfirespares.com)

Technical Data
- Compass of the Junkers 52

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MAXANT

PROFILE - A flyer tells us that the manufacturer L. MAXANT (loc. 38, rue Belgrand in Paris) built a compass for airplanes and airships (click on link for pic.) probably shortly after WWI. It was available in three sizes (dia.: 55mm, 80mm and 105mm - weight: 700, 900 and 1400 grs).

MONODEP

(go to DEPERDUSSIN)

MOREL (B.B.T.)

PROFILE - The French company MOREL (formerly Ets. Barbier, Bénard et Turenne - located 82, rue Curial, Paris 19e) built these instruments in the 1930's (?).

Description and User Instruction Manual

The instruments can be equipped with additional sighting devices.

(12 p. + 1 oversize fig., photocopies available)

Technical data
Type A (observer) with horizontal card:
- Dim.: 202 x 200 mm
- Card dia.: 120 mm
- Weight: approx. 10 lbs/4850 gr

Type B (pilot) with vertical card:
- Dim.: 140 x 200 mm (approx.)
- Card dia.: 82 mm
- Weight: 6 lbs/3000 gr

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Navigation

Dies ist ein sehr weites Feld und wir möchten hier nur einige Aspekte kurz erwähnen.
So wie auf hoher See ist beim Fliegen der Kompass nur eines der Instrumente, die die Navigation ermöglichen. Zwar konnten frühere Flugzeugnavigatoren wie ein Schiffskapitän ihre Lage (geographische Länge und Breite) mithilfe eines hochgenauen Chronometers und durch Beobachtung der Himmelsgestirne ermitteln. Langstrecken-Flugzeuge waren mit Geräten ausgestattet, die einen Blick auf die Gestirne durch eine Öffnung an der Oberseite der Flugzeugzelle ermöglichten. Wegen der ungleich höheren Geschwindigkeiten jedoch mussten die Berechnungen in viel kürzerer Zeit als auf See erfolgen. Bevor moderne elektronische Navigationsrechner diese Aufgaben übernahmen (vom GPS soll hier gar keine Rede sein), verwendete man hierzu unterschiedliche Hilfsmittel.

Für Überlandflüge dienen künstliche, am Boden installierte Referenzsysteme der Orientierung (Funkbaken, VOR - siehe Wikipedia). Es handelt sich um Funksender, deren Signale mittels Funkkompasse ausgewertet werden (Beispiele: Bendix (USA), UGR-4 (Sowjet-Union).
Wegen der raschen Veränderung der relativen Lage des Magnetfeldes durch die eigene Bewegung und um die Beeinflussung des Anzeigegerätes durch die mitgeführten Metallmassen wie Triebwerk, Bewaffnung usw. zu umgehen, wird das Erdmagnetfeld mittels einer Magnetfeldsonde (flux valve or gate) gemessen und an einen Kurs-Kreiselkompass weitergeleitet (Beispiele: Siemens-Halske, Kearfott). Für den Fall, dass diese elektrotechnischen bzw. elektronischen Hilfsmittel ausfallen, verfügt jedes Luftfahrzeug außerdem über einen konventionellen Notkompass, dessen Genauigkeit jedoch äußerst niedrig ist.

Seitenwinde können ein Flugzeug vom Kurs abbringen. Beispiele von Instrumenten zur Berechnung der Drift in Abhängigkeit von Windstärke und -geschwindigkeit: Dreiecksrechner DR3 Tp (Wehrmacht 1943), Gerät xxxx im "Knieplanchet" NPL und yyyyyy (Kreissektorförmig, UdSSR), Rechenschieber (NVA/DDR).

(Wenn nicht anders angegeben, alle Fotos von K. Pätzold - Zum Vergrößern, Bilder anklicken)

Dreiecksrechner Model DR-3 Tp, Wehrmacht (1943)

Hersteller: Dennert & Pape. Ein anderes Modell war das von K. E. Tröger (Foto M. Dick)

Dreiecksrechner Model NPL (UdSSR) im Oberschenkeltablett (Knieplanchet) integriert

Driftberechnungsgerät
(Rote Armee / UdSSR)
mit Bedienungsanleitung

Rechenschieber zur
Driftberechnung
(NVA / DDR) und Bedienungsanleitung

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- P -

Pattern 200, 223, 259 etc.

The British MOD defines its requirements for supply of instruments, weapons, equipment, by the issue of patterns. Any supplier may manufacture and offer such items for sale, but those items will be examined and certified as type-approved, i.e. they comply with the official pattern. A pattern number is purely a mark of compliance to a standard set out by the Ministry of Defence.
In the following examples, the compass Pattern 200 is a mix of the typical aircraft compass featuring a horizontal card (installed in the lower part of the instrument panel and to be read from above) and a prism for observation at eyes' height (system patented by Creagh-Osborne, see marching and wrist compasses, pat, no. 1148/15). This design was continuously used but without the prism until at least the end of WWII on the Air Ministry compasses.
The instrument Pattern 223 is the only British a/c compass that we know featuring quadrantal side spheres for correction of deviation (compare with the French VION compasses).
The compasses Pattern 255, 259 and 261 are displayed in the chapter Creagh-Osborne above.
(See also Nautical Compasses)

Pattern 200
Kelvin & James White Ltd.

Picture courtesy Museum Victoria

Pattern 223 - N° 650 H
(no mfr. name)
Picture P. F. Whitehead
(Click on images for enlarged views)

Pattern 223, rear face
Breadth: 190 mm / c.8"

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PDK / ПДК in cyrillic characters

PROFILE - PDK is (maybe? pls. help us... ) the abbreviation of the Russian words for "Aircraft Directional Compass". These instruments were made by a Russian manufacturer. No other data momentarily available. Your help is needed. Two models are known: PDK-3 and PDK-45. These are master compasses. They deliver an information displayed on large instruments called repeaters. They feature only a small compass inside a round window.
Apparently they deliver a signal for indicators in the cockpit (see PDK-49 below) and elsewhere in the aircraft.

PDK-3
(Pictures courtesy R. Scarpa)

PDK-45

The integrated compass of PDK-3

Technical Data
- Dim. (Dia. x H.) : ? mm.
- Inscriptions in Russian:
датчик ПДК = Sensor PDK
направ полета = Direction of flight (on either side of the white arrow)
- Manufacturer's label and logo:

(Pictures courtesy eBay seller Bokluci)

PDK-49
Technical Data
- Dim.: 100 x 80 mm.
- Inscription on label:

УКАЗАТЕЛЬ ПДК-49 = Indicator PDK-49

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PERCHERON

PROFILE - Maurice Percheron was a French aircraft engineer. He wrote a manual about the use of the map and the compass in aircraft (1917).
The drawing of the compass doesn't seem to represent a specific compass model. Read his biography on the website of the French editor Denoël.

Fig. 4 - Setting the course for a flight from Evreux to Beauvais (50° N-E) taking the declination into account (NM = magn. North)

Fig. 9 - Taking side wind drift into account

(Click on images for enlarged views)

PIONEER

PROFILE - PIONEER Instrument Company was created in 1919. It was acquired by and became a Division of BENDIX Aviation Corporation, New Jersey (N.Y.) in 1928.

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PLATH

PROFILE - C. PLATH was a German manufacturer (more information in Nautical Compasses).
C. Plath built many aeronautical compasses. They featured a counter-clockwise 360 degrees scale on the bowl's rim and were apparently only half-gimballed probably to be mounted in Zeppelin balloons were lateral bank angles are negligeable.

Pic. at r. courtesy McMillan

Pictures courtesy Jürgen Plesse
(Click on the images for enlarged views)

Inscriptions on both sides of the NORTH mark :
Pfadfinder*
Armee-Kompass III
(* pathfinder)
On the opposite side of the disk:
C. PLATH HAMBURG

Technical Data
- Dimensions (dia. x height) : 120 x 90 mm.
- S/N: 17160
- Divisions: 360° clockwise every 10° both on the disk and the chapter ring of the bearing setting hand
- Lighting device: side lamp

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- R -

Radiation hazard, radioactivity

The self luminescent paint used for markings between the years 1915 and 1950 contained Radium. Click HERE for more details.

Radio compass

See: BENDIX (USA), UGR-4 (Soviet-Union)

ROSENFELD

Portrait : Compas réalisé par Henri Rosenfeld, 38, rue de Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth (aucune autre information disponible).
Il prétendait dans son prospectus (certains en présentation luxueuse, photo du milieu) que les compas à amortissement liquide avaient des inconvénients par rapport aux compas secs. La suite de l'Histoire ne lui donna pas raison. La photo de l'avion de type (? - 191..) donne une indication quant à la période de fabrication.

Fiche technique
- Dimensions : ?
- Poids : ?
- Date de fabrication : env. 1ère G.M.

La dérive (calculée - et accessoirement la déclinaison magnétique) pouvait être prise en compte grâce à un index rotatif.

Prospectus originaux disponibles

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SIEMENS & HALSKE

PROFILE - Siemens Halske was the name of a German company established in 1847 by Werner von Siemens and Johann Georg Halske called Telegraphen-Bauanstalt von Siemens & Halske an located in Berlin. (...)
...
The Online Compass Museum doesn't possess any further information about this Company. Your help is welcome. This company (or its successor) is kindly invited to contact the museum's curator.

Gyro-magnetic compass (Kurskreisel) Lku4, Siemens-Halske, built 1943-1945. This equipment was installed in the instrument panel of the German Junkers aircraft Ju 52 and Ju 88.
The center picture shows a JU 88 cockpit. The Lku4 appears (in red) at the top in the middle of the instrument panel.
Excerpt from the original notice "D.(Luft)T.5404", issued January 1943: "The upper scale is the course setting rose. The desired course is set by means of a motor activated by a flux valve. The lower scale shows the actual course indicated by the inertial navigation system (gyro)."

Technical Data
- Dimensions: 160 x 130 x 120mm
- Weight: 2.6 kg.

(Click on picture for detailled view of front and rear side)

Flight deck and instrument panel of the Junkers Ju 88. The Lku (in red) was located at the top, center.

(Click on picture for an enlarged view)

Technical Data
(original in German
dated March 1940)

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SPERRY

PROFILE - SPERRY GYROSCOPE (no data momentarily available)

Standby Compass

(Click on the image for an enlarged view)

Technical Data
- Dimensions: 70 x 60 x 60 mm.
- Weight: 8 ozs./240 gr
- Manufacturer: AIRPATH
- Type: C2300
- Date stamp: APR 82.

The deviation can be rectified by turning the screws concealed behind the plate at the lower front part:
- the left hand screw is for the north-south axis
and
- the right one for the east-west axis.

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UGR-4 (YГP-4 in cyrillic letters)

PROFILE - Russian-made (USSR) radio compass. Unknown manufacturer

Pictures courtesy K. Pätzold

Inscription on dial:
KURS - RP

Label reads:
UGR-4Uk Seria 3

(Click for enlarged view)

Technical Data
- Diameter: ? mm
- Weight : ? kg

Drawing below courtesy the Russian website (read there a comprehensive descr.): www.aerokubinka.ru/graph/s/1/668_nav03.doc

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VION

PROFILE - Former French company (for more information click HERE).

In a manual for compasses with vertical rose of winds (1930's?) we find a list of the VION compasses available:
- Type V.31 (dia. 60mm) for fighters and T.31 for tourism aircraft,
- Type Q.S.C.V.29 (dia. 85mm) for reconnaissance aircraft, bombers and also for medium-size airmail and commercial aircraft
- Type G.N.R.V.30 (dia. 120mm) for large-size commercial and freight aircraft and heavy bombers.
Compasses with Horizontal rose of winds:
- Orientation : Q.S.C. 25 Pilote (Navigation)
- Navigation : Q.S.C. 27 Pilote et Relèvement (pilot and bearing compass)
- Grande Navigation et Grand Raid : Q.S.C. 27 Pilote et Relèvement.

See also the models V. 47 and V.A. 82 shown in a catalogue for ship compasses.
Visit also the sections nautical and survey compasses.

Model NAVIGATION A.M.1 - Flotteur V7 Rose of wind is identical to model Q.S.C. 27	Side view of compass bowl with the prism fitting (half gimbal suspension)	Technical Data - Dia.: ? mm - Height: ? mm - Manufacture date : c. mid 1920s
Model ORIENTATION A.M. 2 - Type 3 Compass for aircraft or airship?	Pictures courtesy Schröder	Technical Data - Dia.: ? mm - Height: ? mm - Manufactured in 19..? - Markings: Label in Polish language Remove air bubbles by turning the compass around its axis of suspension
Aircraft compass - model name and date unknown Click on pictures for enlarged views.		Technical Data - Diameter: 105mm - Height: 60mm - Gimbal structure:155mm wide (screw heads ), 100mm high. - Weight: 2 pounds, 12 ounces - Markings: VION PARIS et AÉRONAUTIQUE MILITAIRE
Aircraft compass patent (1928) Click on the drawing above to enlarge the simple view or in the center column for detailed original patent illustrations.	Patent - Figures (pdf files) Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 4 Figures 3 & 6	VION MANUALS (photocopies available)
Compass type T.31 Pictures: VION Manual (Click for enlarged view)	Compass type V.31	Technical Data The compass parts
Compass type Q.S.C.V. 29 (Click for enlarged views)	Compass type G.N.R.V. 30 ( Grande Navigation Rose Verticale)	Technical Data (see cell above) Photocopies availabe
Compass type F 37 B (Click on the picture for an enlarged view)	Side view	Technical Data Marking: Aéronautique militaire (Pictures courtesy MOGLIA - priv. coll.)
Compass type Q.S.C. 25 and 27 Pic. left: QSC 25 (eglantine 38 - Private coll.)	Link to a pic. of the Q.S.C. 27 with prism and suspension equipment (excerpt of User Instr.)	Technical Data Compensation magnets (Photo Houcke - priv. coll.)
Compass type PBA 60 Click on the picture for a view of the front face without the cover plate	Side view Pictures courtesy bieber231 - priv. coll.	Technical Data Divisions: ...
Compass type H.A. 83	...	Technical Data This model existed also in a 82 mm diam. version (Pictures Jaypee - priv- coll.)

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Land vehicles

These two instruments (Type 14 and 143) were installed in UV's driven by French geologists of the French Nuclear Energy Authority (CEA) in the 70's in Africa (Niger). Information and pictures communicated by P. C. Guiollard, Ph.D. in History of Science and Techniques and collector of mine compasses.
Type 143 featured an integrated red-light illumination.

Type 14

Scale seen from below

Pics courtesy P.C. Guiollard

Type 14

The compensation mechanism (on top)

Type 143

Technical data - Type 143
Dia. (incl. screws): approx. 2 in. / 50 mm
Height (incl. lighting tube): 2 ²⁄₃ in. / 65 mm
Built: 1970's
Integrated lighting device in tube below
(link to pic. dismantled)

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- W -

W.D. 32

The abbreviation W.D. stands for WAR DEPARTMENT. We don't know on which vehicles and during which period this instr. was used. Thank you for helping us.

Pictures courtesy Bernie

Technical Data
Dia.: 80 mm
Period: Probably WWII

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Unknown Aircraft Compasses

The following pictures show compasses with no manufacturer's name.

Pictures courtesy A. Picker
Pictures courtesy G. Rooney	View of the compass card, the 1-2-3-0 cross and the scale for adjustment of declination	Technical Data Dim. (height x dia.): 700 x 500 mm No external marking Above the compass card is a cross made of four thin rods bearing each a mirrored figure with luminous paint: 1, 2, 3 and 0. They are attached to a central post on top of which is a broad white arrow (for flight direction?).