General Information

Serial #

1961/40

Part Number

1

Total Parts

5

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Metal and glass scope.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

31.1 cm

Width

13.0 cm

Height

9.2 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Aviation

Category

Aircraft instruments

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Cooke Troughton Simms

Country

England

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

England

State/Province

Unknown

Period

ca. 1940-1945

Canada

This model device was used by navigators serving in the RAF and the RCAF in the Avro Lancaster and other fighter bombers during the Second World War. (Ref 2)

Function

Navigators used this device to keep aircraft on course. Using fixed objects on the ground, they used the drift sight to measure the angle between the heading and the current flightpath. Based on that reading, navigators would calculate course corrections and transmit them to the pilot of the aircraft. Drift sight indicators were also used to calculate the trajectory of bombs. (Ref 2)

Technical

The device was developed during First World War. It made the use of stopwatches to calculate wind impact and pilot error unnecessary and improved the ability of pilots to stay on course. (Ref 3)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Engraved on the barrel: "1961/40"

Missing

Appears complete

Finish

Predominantly black scope with brass-coloured metal edges, silver-coloured metal knobs and indicator, and clear glass lenses.

Decoration

N/A