2banaviator
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Post by 2banaviator on Jun 5, 2016 7:31:20 GMT 9
I came across this Fuel Transfer Indicator and I'm guessing it came from some version of the F-106. Any experts out there with some insight? The label on the face "Turn Pump off at 2000" is applied to the glass, but placed over the same statement printed below the glass that limits transfer at 3000 lbs. The indicator is part of a 3 unit system that is calibrated together according to the case label, although I don't have the other units. I've look thru the F-106A&B flight manual but don't see it depicted. It seems to me to be part of a weight-balancing system. It has a date tested label stamped 1957, which I guess would have been very early production. The CV prefix on the part number is what led me to believe that its for a Convair aircraft, so by matching the manufacturer and the vintage and the fuel transferring capacity, my best guess is that it was for an F-106 version (or perhaps the F-102?). Any ideas?
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Post by LBer1568 on Jun 5, 2016 23:59:32 GMT 9
As I remember the F-106 Cockpit, we had two Fuel gauges...A Fuel Quantity Gauge (With a separate Fuel Tank Selector Switch) and a Fuel Flow Meter. They were located just left of center on forward Instrument Panle. The selector switch was further left. The Six had auto tranfer system with no pilot input. I also worked the F-111 and it had a very similar system with no pilot input except for Fuel Dump capability. That would allow for rapid fuel dumping in emergency situations. Pilots would usually "Light up the sky" when dumping. By lighting the afterburner they would set all the dumped fuel on fire in sky. At RAF Upper Heyford UK it happened fairly often and aircraft would have to return shortly after takeoff and were too heavy to safely land. The F-4 had fuel quantity gauge and separate fuel flow gauges for each engine. Many of the early aircraft, fighters, bombers and cargo had elaborate fuel systems which were manually controlled with no automatic system in place. Most small private planes also require pilot control. IMHO it takes a big worry off a pilot already burdened with flying and doing weapons/ Nav etc. We also see many small aircraft crashes because of fuel selector switch in wrong position.
Lorin
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marv2
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Post by marv2 on Jun 6, 2016 0:09:06 GMT 9
I worked instruments on the 6 from 74 until the 5 FIS converted to F-15's. This indicator is not from a F-106, unless it was from some test aircraft that was not part of the front line aircraft.
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Post by pat perry on Jun 6, 2016 2:21:51 GMT 9
I came across this Fuel Transfer Indicator and I'm guessing it came from some version of the F-106. Any experts out there with some insight? The label on the face "Turn Pump off at 2000" is applied to the glass, but placed over the same statement printed below the glass that limits transfer at 3000 lbs. The indicator is part of a 3 unit system that is calibrated together according to the case label, although I don't have the other units. I've look thru the F-106A&B flight manual but don't see it depicted. It seems to me to be part of a weight-balancing system. It has a date tested label stamped 1957, which I guess would have been very early production. The CV prefix on the part number is what led me to believe that its for a Convair aircraft, so by matching the manufacturer and the vintage and the fuel transferring capacity, my best guess is that it was for an F-106 version (or perhaps the F-102?). Any ideas? 2banavigator, this is quite a mystery.
In the T.O. 1F-106A-4 Illustrated Parts Breakdown, the only 2 fuel indicators in the F-106 that Lorin mentioned were manufacturer coded for Minneapolis Honeywell and Pratt Whitney. Avien is not listed among the hundreds of manufacturers of F-106 components and subassemblies that supplied Convair/GD. That doesn't mean that a subassembly supplier didn't source from Avien in building instrument subassemblies for Convair.
So, we are left with what does this indicator fit? Avien does not show up on search engines. They could have closed or been bought out by another manufacturer. The CV might not mean Convair. It might not even be a customer code, but if it is could it have been Consolidated Vultee, Chance Vought, Canadian Vickers, Cavalier, Caproni Vizzola? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_manufacturers_B-C Check out the length of this alpha listing of aircraft manufacturers. I'll bet Orville and Wilber never dreamed of what they started!
Avien made that indicator or rebuilt or tested it in 1957, so it could have been for an earlier aircraft. It looks like in the late 50s that many aircraft began to feature auto CG adjustment controls. Prior to that, it probably would have been a manual pilot or flight engineer function. My guess is that it would be an older, bigger aircraft like a military cargo, bomber, or tanker when they still had flight engineers.
I did find that many old military aircraft instruments are being sold on eBay. Collectors or restorations I would guess.
It's a shame you can't just call up Avien and ask them what you have. I suppose you could list it on eBay and give a discount to a buyer who could prove what aircraft it came from.
Sorry I couldn't help out solving the mystery. Some of our Forum members may pick up on this and connect the dots for you. Keep checking back here.
Thanks, Pat P.
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2banaviator
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Post by 2banaviator on Jun 6, 2016 5:27:24 GMT 9
Many thanks, fellows. I do trade, buy, and sell vintage military aviation items for my collection, including (mostly) instruments from the 40s-70's, and some WW1 vintage. I have seen CV or CVA labeled instruments specifically for Convair aircraft, for example, I have several made by Avien that were only ever used in the B-36. Because of the size of the transfer volume it seemed to me to be the right capacities for a fighter or similar, but it could have been part of the transfer system for a tanker which fueled fighters, possibly.
I will keep on researching, which is part of the fun that I get from this obsessive hobby of mine. For example, imagine my delight when I discovered that I had a B-36 instrument in my collection...
I'm on eBay as 2BanAviator.
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