Here is some interesting history and overview of mechanical flight computers. A 200-page english language free pdf download. Written by collector and retired captain and Interflug Tu-134 instructor Klaus Petzold.
Air Navigation Computers
ABOUT THE BOOK
This is not a reading material in the conventional sense, but rather a reference work. It is also not a textbook, but is aimed at readers who already have basic knowledge of flight navigation. In many thousands of flying hours I have gained practical experience, so that I can judge such products regarding their suitability in practice. Regardless of my personal evaluation I wanted to set a monument to the numerous inventors. Unfortunately, I do not know all their names. I am always grateful for hints at necessary additions, errors or mistakes.
It is due to the nature of the task that the calculation methods are sometimes the same or at least similar, which does not necessarily mean that the inventors have been sloppy with intellectual property. With obvious solutions it is not unlikely that they have been found several times and that the creators have worked independently of each other.
To make the descriptions as simple and intelligible as possible, I almost always work with examples. These are chosen arbitrarily, which is not explicitly mentioned in the text. In order to be able to estimate the accuracy of the calculation method, the analytically found exact results are also given. These are indicated by decimal places.
The methods are primarily described without comment and the judgement about their utility value, originality and suitability in practice is left to the reader. Rare exceptions to this rule have been necessary for scientific reasons. The order of the individual chapters is purely arbitrary and in no way an expression of my appreciation.
I am fully aware that many readers who are interested in such a special topic may want to know more about the inventors, how the various inventions are linked to each other and what the influence of technical progress was on the design of these computing devices. Unfortunately, I have to disappoint these readers. Since I am no science historian, it was neither my intention nor am I able to write about it. Therefore, no historical details about individual products and their manufacturers can be found here, nor information about distribution and production figures or biographical information about their creators. For readers who want to learn more about the the very interesting history of navigation computers, I recommend a forthcoming book by Prof. Alexander Piel, whom I would like to thank for his encouragements and valuable hints for this work.