Were they using SkyDemon?

[Discorde]

This is a scan of a page in the Feb 65 edition of 'Air Pictorial'. The photo looks contrived but seems to be based on the Comet flight deck. But what is the object in the centre of the glareshield? It doesn't resemble any of the avionics available in the mid-60s. And it hasn't been photoshopped - honest!
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x1043/comet_glareshield_e4362726abdc2cb03520d4d2dc11ee89c75432a8.j pg

[bean]

Decca navigator map display

[Discorde]

Thanks Bean. Would the Comets have featured pilot-operated Decca moving map displays (rather than Decometers)? Maybe the original photo was a generic composite of various cockpits.

Uncanny how the object in question resembles an iPad mini.

[Loose rivets]

We, Mortons, had Decca. Didn't use ink as maps were not that plentiful. One captain carried a soft brass suede brush to burnish round things that may have been Decometers.

Eagle even got a Dove to fly between Dundee and Glasgow. I was sent up there as the Decca operator which pleased me NOT. Our hanger which just covered the nose and engine fronts, got hoiked out of the ground and went off down the river probably unaware of where it was going. :-) Never been so cold in all my life. Used to drive the company car for hours as the Italian football team had hogged all the emergency heaters.

[Herod]

Yep, Decca navigator. It gets the same information as the decometers. Originally designed for ships during the WWII I believe.

We found it useful on helicopters, but the speed of most fixed-wing aircraft made it impracticable.

[Loose rivets]

Luxury. We used to dreeeeeeeeam of speed.

[ancientaviator62]

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1461x968/hercules_bill_co_40a8f196117bb02aa4493e799fcd79520711f460.jp g
We had it on the 'K' for a while . Not liked or used much as I recall.

[sycamore]

AA62,co-pilot looking`enviously` at the FE`s ration box....

[chevvron]

A friend of mine who flew a Grob 109 (G-UILD) was given a Decca navigator with about a 7 inch LCD display to try back in 1986; unfortunately I never saw it in action.
As for the 'rations'; I was allocated an ATCOs jump seat to Palma from Gatwick on a 767 one day. In accordance with the rules, all 3 of us on the flight deck were given different meals but I noticed that while the stewardess gave me a hot meal they only got cereal. I sat behind them tucking onto my tiny portion of egg, a small rasher and an equally tiny sausage while they looked round enviously so I asked how come I got the hot meal; they replied it was a sector length less than 2 hours so they were only entitled to a cold snack.

[ancientaviator62]

Sycamore,
Brian, that co pilot is a very young aa ! When we first got the 'K' the autopilot had not been cleared for use although physically fitted. So manual flying even on long trips. As I had a PPL I was allowed to 'sub' for the co as a relief cruise pilot for up to an hour at a time. Hence the pic !

[DH106]

'K' ? Give us a clue ! :)
Clearly big & 4engines from the cockpit shot.

[Jhieminga]

C-130K I'm guessing...;)

[BEagle]

From The Boys' Book of WORLD AIRLINES (1961):


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x545/bea_3cb5e98c424d6e4553fc3a3e279fc51f8c89259e.jpg

[Self loading bear]

C-130K I'm guessing...;)

Looks like a C130-K to me!
And this is probably the best use for a Decca:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1307/5f82cabc_a6e8_4e28_a847_93e31ed3b8f8_bda3430e451abd8caca9616 349fbbebe54215a27.jpeg

[ancientaviator62]

Apologies to those who did not realise that I was replying to someone who did understand what I meant. The 'K' mentioned
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x676/herc_at_seychelles_5ce96da822b7977e8d99ad8ef205003a6d7fecfb. jpg
When they were new with the best colour scheme IMHO.
is the RAF C130K a version built especially for the RAF, all 66 of them.
Based on the USAF C130E/H but with lots of UK kit fitted.