400 MPH aircraft

daveT · Jul 10, 2020

Which American Fighter planes used 400 MPH gauges?
I own a few 400 miles per hour gauges and I want to know what fighter planes could have used them?
I know I can rule out late war P-51and F4U Corsair both were over 400MPH top speed.
What about early war fighter planes? or which American planes would have most likely used these?

FLYBOYJ · Jul 10, 2020

Just because these show the maximum end at 400 knots, it doesn't mean these were installed in aircraft that went that fast. More than likely they were installed on aircraft either during WW2 or in the post war era. They are lacking the standard color markings that came about in the post war years. Here's an F-2 airspeed indicator that was installed on several twin and multi-engine combat aircraft (B-17, B-24), it's obvious that those aircraft did not fly as fast as the top end of the instrument. Are there any numbers on the rear of these instruments?

daveT · Jul 10, 2020

The top speed of the aircraft must be less than 400 mph. I'm thinking maybe early war aircraft?

pbehn · Jul 10, 2020

daveT said:
The top speed of the aircraft must be less than 400 mph. I'm thinking maybe early war aircraft?

They are all in Knots not MPH, a nautical mile is longer than a statutory mile.

FLYBOYJ · Jul 10, 2020

daveT said:
The top speed of the aircraft must be less than 400 mph. I'm thinking maybe early war aircraft?

Possibly - or a post war civil aircraft certified before CAR 3 was replaced by current FAA regulations.

The two on the right have tighter graduations between 100 and 150 knots, which may indicate an operating range. The one on the left has consistent graduations, test units use similar instruments. Anything on the rear of the instruments?

Shortround6 · Jul 10, 2020

one on the right has a red zone starting at about 155kts so I doubt the plane was supposed to fly much faster than that.

FLYBOYJ · Jul 10, 2020

Shortround6 said:
one on the right has a red zone starting at about 155kts so I doubt the plane was supposed to fly much faster than that.

I think that's a reflection on the glass

DarrenW · Jul 10, 2020

It was normal for many types of US aircraft to have identical airspeed indicators, as they were supplied by the military branch which operated them. They often failed and had to be replaced, so an aircraft could easily see many variations of indicators throughout it's service life.

Here are two variations of ASIs found in WWII USN aircraft such as the F4U and F6F, both with similar graduations. The max reading is 430 knots, which equates to approximately 495 mph. If it belonged to a US Naval aircraft it would have markings stamped on the face and body denoting it as such (including an anchor and USN symbology):

daveT · Jul 11, 2020

This is the kind of info I'm looking for, the Bell P-39 Airacobra Maximum Speed: 390 mph (628 km/h) @ 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
The P-40F had a top speed of 364 mph ,
so would the P-39 or the P-40 have used a 400 gauge or would it use a higher range gauge?
what American planes used the 400 gauge?

FLYBOYJ · Jul 11, 2020

daveT said:
This is the kind of info I'm looking for, the Bell P-39 Airacobra Maximum Speed: 390 mph (628 km/h) @ 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
so would the P-39 have used a 400 gauge or would if of used a higher range gauge?
what American planes used the 400 gauge?

The P-39 would use a similar gauge like the ones posted by Darren and would have a higher range, it would go around one complete revolution before going into the higher range.

This one is from a Spitfire

I can bet dollars to donuts the instruments you're posting are not from a higher performing aircraft. Again, are there any numbers or placards on the reverse side of those instruments?

FLYBOYJ · Jul 11, 2020

BTW - P-38, P-39 and P-40 airspeed indicators topped out at 500 or 700 mph

DarrenW · Jul 11, 2020

FLYBOYJ said:
BTW - P-38, P-39 and P-40 airspeed indicators topped out at 500 or 700 mph

In total agreement here. And later USAAF fighters like the P-51 and P-47 had airspeed indicators that topped out at 700 mph, thus higher than what was found in US Navy fighters of the day. Doesn't mean they could actually reach those speeds however, even in a dive.

DarrenW · Jul 11, 2020

Here's a link to what would normally be found in earlier US Army fighters and bombers. Notice it's graduated in mph, unlike your instruments which are in knots:

Airspeed Indicator, 500MPH, Army Type D-7, US Army Air Corps, WWII

FLYBOYJ · Jul 11, 2020

From an EC-121. The only difference is the airspeed indicator has been crudely marked.

daveT · Jul 13, 2020

BACK, they are all the same
Indicator; Airspeed, pitot static 40-400 knots
AN 5861T2
Navy stock number R8810494-010-000
Mfg's part number AW-2 3/4-16 B17
contract No. N383S-75939
U.S. Gauge NP-9-BK-18

FLYBOYJ · Jul 13, 2020

daveT said:
BACK, they are all the same
Indicator; Airspeed, pitot static 40-400 knots
AN 5861T2
Navy stock number R8810494-010-000
Mfg's part number AW-2 3/4-16 B17
contract No. N383S-75939
U.S. Gauge NP-9-BK-18

This carries an "AN" number so this is manufactured to a production standard. It's obvious it was used on the EC-121, my guess this was used on a multitude of aircraft that had a Vne of under 400 knots. It seems these can be found on the internet in serviceable condition.

daveT · Jul 15, 2020

FLYBOYJ you are correct, the gauge was used in EC-121. Thank You
EC-121 instrument panel image

jmcalli2 · Jul 16, 2020

daveT said:
Which American Fighter planes used 400 MPH gauges?
I own a few 400 miles per hour gauges and I want to know what fighter planes could have used them?
I know I can rule out late war P-51and F4U Corsair both were over 400MPH top speed.
What about early war fighter planes? or which American planes would have most likely used these?
View attachment 587607

All aircraft have a "never exceed" speed. So, the speedometers will go far above the level flight maximum speed so the pilot knows when diving if he's safe or about to disassemble his aircraft. I could see manufacturers equipping their planes with 'off-the-shelf' gauges that go far beyond any possible speed for that aircraft.

MACHIA · Jul 16, 2020

The Curtiss P-40 could easily exceed 400 in a dive.

gomwolf · Jul 16, 2020

You know, there are no ww2 pilots can see those needle go over 400mhp in level flight, cuz no aircraft can fly over 400mph in IAS hehe.

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