Recent content by EAIAnalog

As I remember from reading information about the A-12, the SR-71 precursor, some effort was expended in trying to reduce the radar cross section of its contrails by seeding the fuel with sodium or potassium or cesium. Cesium was selected, but I don't know if any flight testing was done. I...

Here are two ECM antennas installed on T Square 54 at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. They are representative of the AT-38A/APT antenna. From left to right you have the antennas, the aft bomb bay, and the radome.

Using the tail number from the 3rd photo, 2-6323, Joe Baugher's s/n database shows it was a tanker flying the Hump from India to China. Which explains the background of the photo. The nose art on the other photos all have camels, which I assume are indications of a Hump run. The position of...

OK, the 74-1174 missed the transfer for some reason.

Here are 2 B-17 engineering drawings relating to the pilot's compass. The 1-21911 drawing calls out the B-17 compass spec and shows a used on drawing of 74-1174. The 74-1174 drawing shows a small panel that has a clock, the compass, and a thermometer indicator mounted to it. Flag note 9 calls...

And what's going on with all the antennae? especially the forest underneath the nose. Plus, immediately aft of the cockpit is a circular projection that I think might be a cap on a gas tank.

This is an interesting photograph. Ol' Battlin Bitch II has no armament, no radar, and what looks like 3 windows in the forward bomb bay. Is this an unretouched photograph? Is there any information on what types of missions she was used for?

Here's some additional info on the elevator. The elevator hinge is about 1/3 of the way down from the its nose to its tail. So when the elevator is moved up, 2/3 is above the tailplane and 1/3 is below the tailplane. The below part should unload the pilot effort somewhat. The areas of the...

I suspect that the Guam B-29 is a much earlier version than FiFi. FiFi's serial number is 44-62070. So between the Guam build and FiFi's build, the elevator design was modified for some reason. Here is a 360 degree view from the tail gun compartment in the B-29 at the Museum of Flight MSVR.US...

Here are two diagrams from the B-29 engineering drawings for the elevator setup and the elevator tab setup. Bear in mind that all control surfaces on the B-29 were covered with fabric. So they would be somewhat easier to move than metal clad units.

Boeing's drawing system seems to be similar to Douglas'. The following information is taken from Boeing document D-2706, "Drafting Room Manual", revision 44, dated 14 January 1944. Drawing Prefix...........Size .....1-......................8.5" x 11" ** .....2-......................11" x 17"...

Note also that the meter is a later version, measuring an unknown quantity. And that the Aerial B connector has been replaced by a switch(?) with a more modern knob.

Note that there are 16 divisions between each full unit marker. Maybe 8/16 is a visual mnemonic, which shows that you are at the 1/2 point, but that each tic mark on the scale is 1/16 (of whatever).

OK, I consulted with the Museum of Flight's Archives, and we found this manual: Air Forces Manual 20, August 1944, Harmonization in the B-29, Supplement to the Gunner's Information File. The Manual is about 50 pages long, and one page covers the boresight tools. It's attached. Note that the...

Thanks Delmarvelous. I was thinking this might be a tool for aligning production jigs, but now I go along with it being part of the Harmonizing tool set. Looking at the B-29 engineering drawings, there is one drawing of decals for "Harmonizing Tools". There are 3 decals: one for Sight Rod...