On rather less exotic machinery: last week I was privileged to drive a beautifully restored 1942 ex-RAF Bedford QL, the 4x4 three-tonner which played a major transport role for all three Services as it whined down the world's highways, for in the QL's day Britain still owned quite a few of them. As well as the transmission howl it featured all the QL tricks, such as the angry spitting back through the carburettor when cold causing sharp jolts which fired all the occupants to the front, and the vague steering which in fact wasn't bad for its day -- fortunately the speed limit was 20 mph.
Remember the trafficator, the little yellow arm in the side pillar which was occasionally raised by a solenoid to indicate the direction of turn? If it didn't project, a thump on the pillar usually did the trick or one could wind down the window and stick one's hand out. The eight-inch arm would have been lost on the bulky QL, which has instead an 18-inch metal arm painted white and operated by a wire along the back of the passenger seat. To signal left, pull the wire and loop it over the hook provided, while double-declutching down and preparing to haul the non-power steering wheel. Self-cancelling it is not, but a lift of the finger releases the wire and the arm falls with a satisfying clatter. These vintage machines, be they earthbound or airborne, were hard work!