WHAT, WHERE and HOW
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
WHAT, WHERE and HOW
The photograph below shows an item that is or was directly involved with aviation.
It has a central core of solid brass rod; this can move reasonably freely inside a brass tube, this first tube can move inside a further brass tube. Therefore the whole system of rod and tubes can be extended, rather like a car radio aerial. There is a screw tapped into the outer tube that when tightened locks the tubes and rod in either the shortened or extended position. In the closed position the item is approximately 20 inches (50cm) long and when extended approximately 40 inches (100cm).
A ‘Bulldog’ clip is soldered onto the end of the brass rod, and, at the other end of the item, a turned wooden handle is fixed to the outer tube.
My questions are what is it, where was it used, and how?
I realise there will be some Prooners who know the answer, but I would ask them to hold off for a few days in order that those that do not have a chance to have some fun having educated guesses!
It has a central core of solid brass rod; this can move reasonably freely inside a brass tube, this first tube can move inside a further brass tube. Therefore the whole system of rod and tubes can be extended, rather like a car radio aerial. There is a screw tapped into the outer tube that when tightened locks the tubes and rod in either the shortened or extended position. In the closed position the item is approximately 20 inches (50cm) long and when extended approximately 40 inches (100cm).
A ‘Bulldog’ clip is soldered onto the end of the brass rod, and, at the other end of the item, a turned wooden handle is fixed to the outer tube.
My questions are what is it, where was it used, and how?
I realise there will be some Prooners who know the answer, but I would ask them to hold off for a few days in order that those that do not have a chance to have some fun having educated guesses!
My guess is that it was used for passing messages/paperwork up to the cockpit window/dv panel when the engines were running and the doors had been closed.
Likewise, completed paperwork like tech log pages and load sheets could be attached and passed back down to the ground crew.
The other possibility is that it was used for passing messages to crew members situated behind the mainspar.
One of my old squadrons was equipped with the first Blenheim IVs. There was no intercom so they came up with a pulley system with twine and a bulldog clip so that the captain could communicate with the air gunner who sat in glorious isolation behind the spar.
Likewise, completed paperwork like tech log pages and load sheets could be attached and passed back down to the ground crew.
The other possibility is that it was used for passing messages to crew members situated behind the mainspar.
One of my old squadrons was equipped with the first Blenheim IVs. There was no intercom so they came up with a pulley system with twine and a bulldog clip so that the captain could communicate with the air gunner who sat in glorious isolation behind the spar.
Worldstratospherecitizen
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: UUEE & LFPB
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi ,
I would say as JW411 , for Pilots and FE to communicate when the cockpit was to lound back in the days and they had to write down what they wanted to say to the other crew .
I would say as JW411 , for Pilots and FE to communicate when the cockpit was to lound back in the days and they had to write down what they wanted to say to the other crew .
Many people are pretty much there with these guesses. It's a GAPCI, designed and built in Bahrain in 1971 to satisfy the CAA's requirement that Gulf Aviation's new Skyvans should have some way to communicate information and instructions from the single pilot to the passengers, there being no cabin staff or PA system. The system worked well; the pilot used a pad (GA Form GAPCI 1046.A.Eng) to write down the message, and would then rap on the door behind him. A passenger would then open the door, the pilot would poke the GAPCI at him, he would take the message and pass it round.
All sorts of useful messages were sent; "We are halfway, landing in 30 minutes", "I know 1 engine has stopped, but the other one should hold out", "Both engines have stopped. Don your lifejackets", "Please stop making curry on the primus, the smell is bad", and so on. Many pilots learned Arabic to ensure full comprehension among their passengers.
Its use was discontinued in 1974, either because a steward began to be carried on most flights, or a PA was fitted. My records don't show which.
PS
Parabellum: It could never have been a hook earthing device...it hasn't got the long piece of wire that you gave the newest recruit (or any officer) to hold while you stood on the load and touched the hook with the other end; it was a kind of rite of passage really, usually not fatal.
I'm wondering if you remember the GAPCI, though. (GA Pilot - Cabin Interface, in case you had forgotten.)
All sorts of useful messages were sent; "We are halfway, landing in 30 minutes", "I know 1 engine has stopped, but the other one should hold out", "Both engines have stopped. Don your lifejackets", "Please stop making curry on the primus, the smell is bad", and so on. Many pilots learned Arabic to ensure full comprehension among their passengers.
Its use was discontinued in 1974, either because a steward began to be carried on most flights, or a PA was fitted. My records don't show which.
PS
Parabellum: It could never have been a hook earthing device...it hasn't got the long piece of wire that you gave the newest recruit (or any officer) to hold while you stood on the load and touched the hook with the other end; it was a kind of rite of passage really, usually not fatal.
I'm wondering if you remember the GAPCI, though. (GA Pilot - Cabin Interface, in case you had forgotten.)
Last edited by old,not bold; 13th Dec 2008 at 16:03.
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: sussex
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've heard of a similar device.........a long stick but instead of the bulldog clip, it was fitted with a 3 inch length of circular rod about half-inch in diameter at 90 degrees to the long stick. Function ?
The Isopropyl-Nitrate starter motor of the Bristol Belvedere engine had a tendency to explode from time-to-time. This was rather disconcerting for the pilot who sat above the remotely located starter motor. A local modification was submitted consisting of a sheet of armour plating being fitted between the pilot's seat and the starter motor but this was rejected as further reducing the limited payload the aircraft could carry - particularly in Aden.
The Technical Department of the Ministry Of Supply (as it then was) introduced a much lighter and safer "Engine Starting Procedure".
The pilot would complete all his cockpit pre-starting checks and then get out of his seat and stand in the gang-way in the centre of the aircraft. He would then use his stick to press the starter button which was outboard of his seat.
If the start was successful he would resume his seated position ........if the starter exploded he would be in a far less vulnerable position - or at least some very important bits of his anatomy would be less liable to be damaged.
There was some discussion on how a starter-assisted airborne start would be made but since the Belvedere hardly ever flew high enough to make it an option, it was never resolved.
I must emphasise this is the story as related to me by a colleague who was there at the time - I was on the other side of the airfield flying AEROPLANES !
Can anyone confirm the facts ?
The Isopropyl-Nitrate starter motor of the Bristol Belvedere engine had a tendency to explode from time-to-time. This was rather disconcerting for the pilot who sat above the remotely located starter motor. A local modification was submitted consisting of a sheet of armour plating being fitted between the pilot's seat and the starter motor but this was rejected as further reducing the limited payload the aircraft could carry - particularly in Aden.
The Technical Department of the Ministry Of Supply (as it then was) introduced a much lighter and safer "Engine Starting Procedure".
The pilot would complete all his cockpit pre-starting checks and then get out of his seat and stand in the gang-way in the centre of the aircraft. He would then use his stick to press the starter button which was outboard of his seat.
If the start was successful he would resume his seated position ........if the starter exploded he would be in a far less vulnerable position - or at least some very important bits of his anatomy would be less liable to be damaged.
There was some discussion on how a starter-assisted airborne start would be made but since the Belvedere hardly ever flew high enough to make it an option, it was never resolved.
I must emphasise this is the story as related to me by a colleague who was there at the time - I was on the other side of the airfield flying AEROPLANES !
Can anyone confirm the facts ?
Virgo
Yes, sort of. One of my old helo mates did some time on the Khormaksar Belvederes and his version was that they were started with the driver standing on the step - half in and half out of the cockpit. Bristol's rotary wing beasts were nothing if not unusual. The Sycamore's 'fondness' for self-destructing ground resonance (among other things) made for concentration during the start!
Avpin starts on the Wessi were good for some adrenaline pumping also.
All this electric starter motor stuff is for wimps, really. ( should be an appropriate smiley here but they don't seem to be working)
PS how's life after Sir Dick's Classics?
Yes, sort of. One of my old helo mates did some time on the Khormaksar Belvederes and his version was that they were started with the driver standing on the step - half in and half out of the cockpit. Bristol's rotary wing beasts were nothing if not unusual. The Sycamore's 'fondness' for self-destructing ground resonance (among other things) made for concentration during the start!
Avpin starts on the Wessi were good for some adrenaline pumping also.
All this electric starter motor stuff is for wimps, really. ( should be an appropriate smiley here but they don't seem to be working)
PS how's life after Sir Dick's Classics?
Virgo
There's no reason it couldn't be a GAPCI adapted for another use. The Belvedere starting aid would be a plausible answer, except for
It's the words "instead of the bulldog clip" that count; surely you can't press a starter button with a bulldog clip?
There's no reason it couldn't be a GAPCI adapted for another use. The Belvedere starting aid would be a plausible answer, except for
instead of the bulldog clip, it was fitted with a 3 inch length of circular rod about half-inch in diameter at 90 degrees to the long stick. Function ?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can I just point out that is not a bit of 'adapted kit'. It was specifically manufactured for its intended use. In fact (another clue coming up) twenty three, or possibly even twenty four, were made.