Early British canard aircraft?

[mantog]

Hi

Can anyone suggest what on earth this might be off?? It was found in an ex-MOD box dated 1961 labelled ' Indicator Forplane Position'. Struggling to think of any British canard aircraft from that era. Or maybe it's off a sub?!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y276/thebobwalker/Foreplane.jpg

[Noah Zark.]

The Miles Libellula. But at circa 1942-ish, probably not!
Or possibly the Lockspeiser LDA (Goggle Immijez are your friend!) but that was a bit later than the early 60's.

[Fareastdriver]

It is NOT a Valiant Tailplane Incidence Indicator; I cannot think of anything else that would move the forward part of a wing or tailplane. May well be a submarine.

[mantog]

Update: It has an MOD 6A reference number, which (I've been told) relates only to aircraft instrumentation so my sub theory has sunk!

[McGoonagall]

ISTR the indicators on an O Class boat were 25 deg either way.

[mantog]

Right, more info!

MOD REF: 6A/6575
Indicator Foreplane Position
Dial White on Black
PPQ 1
Serial: AN 27208


Made by Sangamo Weston LTD
CON KJ/A/0845/CB.16(A)
Pack date: 27th Jan 1961


Rear of instrument has 1x 3 pin electrical male connector. Standard aircraft instrument size connector.

[BEagle]

At a guess, perhaps it's something from a Blue Steel V-bomber? That's about the only British foreplane-equipped flying machine of the period I can think of. It would make sense to know that the missile's foreplanes weren't stuck at a significant degree of upness before releasing the beast....:uhoh:

I don't know whether Blue Steel V-bombers were fitted with this indicator - perhaps it was only fitted for trials?

[mantog]

Interesting idea BEagle, thanks! Time to do some more Google work...

[Fareastdriver]

Maybe that's why it's still in a box.

[Sir George Cayley]

Maybe you've stumbled on a previously black project never before revealed to the public:)

SGC

[mantog]

I'll put the kettle on for when the black Omega pulls up outside!

[SteveCox]

Couple of interesting websites that might illustrate the instrument you're after:

A Pictorial History Of The British Aviation Industry From 1900 to 1970 (http://www.aviationancestry.com/)

Aviation History - Browse the History of Flight from 1909 (http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/index.html)

I've been through a few of the pictures but there are a load to look at.

For those of you that are photographers you will know the Weston name from their light meters.

One of the adverts mentions that they supplied the instruments for the SRN5 hovercraft, is it possible that the instrument might be related to that mode of transport in some way? The SR-N1 was built in 1959 but I'd be surprised if the MOD would have an interest that quickly.