Something a little different, and not often seen, arrived in the workshop today. Much scratching of heads from the Engineering lads with comments that included: "Wots that?"... "Funny - looking Typhoon throttle box"... "Might it be from a Tornado?"... "No, it's a Hurricane."
'Er... not even close. After much research it turned out that it is actually the internals of a Hawker Tempest V Hobson Throttle Quadrant; and a fairly early one judging by the square knob on the Supercharger control lever.
The Throttle lever handle appears to be made from Paxoline, rather than the standard metal example which included the gun sight ranging control disc. The quadrant body is missing its side castings but seeing as these were of a high magnesium content; and rotted like mid-Seventies Italian cars; that's really not too surprising.
Unlike the Typhoon quadrant; the Tempest V never had a Landing lights lever... (Hence only one slot in the aft plate, and only one friction knob)... because the Tempest landing light was retractable and located in the Port outer wing plane; being controlled by a rotary switch on the port Undercarriage and Engine Services Panel, and located above the Beam Approach switch.
'Er... not even close. After much research it turned out that it is actually the internals of a Hawker Tempest V Hobson Throttle Quadrant; and a fairly early one judging by the square knob on the Supercharger control lever.
The Throttle lever handle appears to be made from Paxoline, rather than the standard metal example which included the gun sight ranging control disc. The quadrant body is missing its side castings but seeing as these were of a high magnesium content; and rotted like mid-Seventies Italian cars; that's really not too surprising.
Unlike the Typhoon quadrant; the Tempest V never had a Landing lights lever... (Hence only one slot in the aft plate, and only one friction knob)... because the Tempest landing light was retractable and located in the Port outer wing plane; being controlled by a rotary switch on the port Undercarriage and Engine Services Panel, and located above the Beam Approach switch.
