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flightprep
22nd Aug 2013, 21:41
Two items that turned up in an ebay buy I just made.

For some reason I can't download my photos :ugh: but this is what they look like.

The first is an 11" x 7" x 5" deep 'Control Transmitter' with a sticker hand-written '10L 5895-99 9465125'. Loads of switches and other controls with two small meters near the top marked Z.A. 53005. It has the MoD arrow and indications that it's for LF/HF. Got no maker's name but I just opened it up and it is packed with wiring, mostly pink. On the back there are four connectors - 37-pin 'PL4A', 37-pin 'PL4B', three-pin 'PL4D' and 10-socket SKT4C.

The other one is a Sundstrand 'Controller MEPU' Part number 710051B, serial number 188 and made 2 Q 73. This is 20cm tall, 6cm wide and 32cm deep. It has a round multi-pin connector on the front and at the other end there's another multi-pin connector but this is like a squared 'D' shape facing downwards.

Any thoughts anyone has would be greatly appreciated.

India Four Two
25th Aug 2013, 15:15
flightprep,

Pictures would be a big help.

You can't post pictures directly on PPRuNe. You have to put your picture on a site like Photobucket and then link to them. See here for more details: http://www.pprune.org/spectators-balcony-spotters-corner/203481-image-posting-pprune-guide.html

Lordflasheart
25th Aug 2013, 17:52
The Sundstrand box -

Controller for monofuel (hydrazine) emergency power unit – emergency hydraulic power for high performance jets – originated around 1970. LFH

flightprep
6th Sep 2013, 18:30
Sorry for the delay in responding. I've been in the USA enjoying, amongst other things, flights on the Collings Foundation's B17 and B24.

Many thanks to you both for the comments. I've been told the MEPU control unit could be ex-Concorde. Now I'm going to try the pix again.

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/davidggwilliams/DSCI0217_zps10806bde.jpghttp://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/davidggwilliams/DSCI0235_zpsd409d44a.jpg

This is some of the rest of the stuff I bought -

http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af58/davidggwilliams/DSCI0237_zpsff0c1c2f.jpg

- it's mostly Smith's but there's also a Collins VHF receiver that seems to date back to the 1950s.

wub
6th Sep 2013, 19:27
Flightprep: a few years ago I took command of an Air Cadet squadron and inherited a cupboard full of aircraft instruments, similar to yours. During an inventory check these instruments were declared to HQ Air Cadets. About 3 weeks later I was visited by a young lady from the Health and Safety Executive, who was a specialist in radiation. She measured the radiation from the instruments and immediately impounded the lot as a health hazard. The luminous paint contained tritium in unhealthy doses.

Fareastdriver
6th Sep 2013, 19:39
and I think of all the hours I spent in a cockpit with a wall of them in front of me.

I should be glowing.

flightprep
6th Sep 2013, 21:56
Don't want to seem disrespectful wub but this is the same old BS you hear about K24 camera lenses and old compasses. It's not emitted radiation that's the risk but ingestion of the material. You actually have to break the things open and inhale or swallow the luminous paint to be put at risk, even then the hazards are minimal. And that information came from another aviation enthusiast who is also a expert on the subject.

As for HSE? Don't encourage me to go down that road. If we all had to live by their rules you wouldn't be allowed to wipe your own backside after going to the toilet. :mad:

chevvron
6th Sep 2013, 23:22
It's true though; squadron commanders had to make a regular check and declaration of any lumenised articles kept on the premises. I stirred it up by declaring my Sunnto compasses (which had luminous pointers and which squadrons were officially encouraged to obtain for adventure training) then every other squadron in the wing was bollocked for not declaring theirs!!

lomapaseo
7th Sep 2013, 00:06
a few years ago I took command of an Air Cadet squadron and inherited a cupboard full of aircraft instruments, similar to yours. During an inventory check these instruments were declared to HQ Air Cadets. About 3 weeks later I was visited by a young lady from the Health and Safety Executive, who was a specialist in radiation. She measured the radiation from the instruments and immediately impounded the lot as a health hazard. The luminous paint contained tritium in unhealthy doses.

You don't suppose she put them on E-bay do you?

DaveReidUK
7th Sep 2013, 06:40
I've been told the MEPU control unit could be ex-Concorde.Sundstrand MEPUs were/are also fitted to the F-14/F-15, if that's any help. The Tornado also has one, but I don't know whose.

Oberon 1
11th Sep 2013, 14:22
flightprep,

The Control Transmitter is part of an Airborne Radio Installation that was fitted to the Vulcan and sat directly in front of the Air Electronics Officer in the rear of the cabin.
It is the control unit for the X Band Electronic Countermeasures that were fitted to the aircraft. The aerial for the X-Band can be seen on XH558 fitted to the forward ECM door at the rear of the aircraft. I haven't got a picture of said aerial to hand, but there are enough snaps of 558 on t'interweb that show it clearly.

Obi