VARIOUS ITEMS 1
We would like to randomly show here (supposed to be :-) interesting old and new items related to Swiss AF pilot equipment not commonly seen. Enjoy!
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CIRCULAR SLIDE RULES
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Based on trials, test flights and calculations performed by specific tasked squadrons, a number of circular slide rules (take-off and landing data, altitudes needed to reach the different air bases on specific glide parameters, etc.) were provided to the pilots.
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Pictured with a Venom and Mirage slide rule is the bound summary of the resulting figures, after 590 flight hours and 1'481 landings on DH-100, made by "Ueberwachungsgeschwader, Staffel 11" in 1950.
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RANK BADGES
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Plastic rank badges still in use today , worn inserted into the dedicated pockets applied to flight suits and jackets of Swiss AF pilots.
Depending on the manufacturers they exist in blue or black with the rank symbols in different sizes.
These classic badges are being replaced by new velcroed fabric models.
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MANUALS AND CHECKLISTS
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Due to militia personnel flying or working on Swiss AF aircraft, corresponding flight manuals, maintenance documentation, checklists, workorders etc, were printed and available in German, French and if required, Italian.
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Not long time ago it was decided to switch to English for all system's documentation.
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NOTEPADS - MEWA 1941
Made of aluminium and felt-padded on the back it attached to the pilot’s thigh by means of a leather strap. A pencil can be stored in a small tube leading across the interior of the kneepad. A small clamp prevents the stored pencil from sliding off the tube.
The use of wooden pencils strongly recommended as loose metal or plastic pens dropped to the cockpit floor could permanently block rudder, elevator or aileron controls, while a wooden pencil would break into pieces when enough power applied in an attempt to free the controls.
A roll of thin paper of approx. 2 meters length attached to two turning screws provides enough space for flight planning or flight recording data.
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NOTEPADS -
BOLLETER/ SF (RUAG)
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Manufactured by various contractors, this notepad came into use in the late 1940's.
It has the correct dimensions for the standard pilot checklist.
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NOTEPADS -
KN-3 & MXU-163/P
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NAVIGATION KIT
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Before GPS...
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HUNTER NAVIGATION AND GROUND ATTACK RULER KIT
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Set of rulers provided to Hunter pilots. It was to be used specifically to plan navigation and ground attack patterns codenamed as "Salto" or "Segmento".
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NIGHT FLIGHT TRAINING GOGGLES
In the late 1950's night flying was practised in two-seat DH-115 Vampire trainers.
The student pilot was wearing Polaroid M-1944 goggles with blue lenses and the aircraft was fitted with an orange colored canopy.
This combination prevented the view to the exterior while the aircraft instruments were still visible.
The goggles were stored in a solid "Sportex" cardboard box.
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Another type of goggles that saw use for the same purpose was the USN 1-F-4B.