Abstract: A system for displaying information obtained along the direction of flight of an aircraft is provided. The system includes a vane assembly pivotally mounted to the aircraft having a sensor mounted thereto. The vane comprises a pointing axis configured to continuously align with the direction of the flight path of the aircraft. A display device is operatively connected to the output of the sensor for providing a display along the actual flight path of the aircraft.

Abstract: A system for displaying information obtained along the direction of flight of an aircraft is provided. The system includes a vane assembly pivotally mounted to the aircraft having a sensor mounted thereto. The vane comprises a pointing axis configured to continuously align with the direction of the flight path of the aircraft. A display device is operatively connected to the output of the sensor for providing a display along the actual flight path of the aircraft.

Abstract: A system for displaying information obtained along the direction of flight of an aircraft is provided. The system includes a vane assembly pivotally mounted to the aircraft having a sensor mounted thereto. The vane comprises a pointing axis configured to continuously align with the direction of the flight path of the aircraft. A display device is operatively connected to the output of the sensor for providing a display along the actual flight path of the aircraft.

Abstract: A system for displaying information obtained along the direction of flight of an aircraft is provided. The system includes a vane assembly pivotally mounted to the aircraft having a sensor mounted thereto. The vane comprises a pointing axis configured to continuously align with the direction of the flight path of the aircraft. A display device is operatively connected to the output of the sensor for providing a display along the actual flight path of the aircraft.

Abstract: The angle of attack of an airfoil moving through the air can be detected and a display provided electronically through use of an all-solid-state system powered by a D.C. source. A wind vane mounted on one end of a shaft is exposed to the airflow while a windowed mask is provided at the other end of the shaft. By providing an appropriate array of openings in the mask, and a series of associated optical transmitters and receivers on opposed sides of the mask, extremely fine sensitivity can be provided in detection of angle of rotation of the mask and thus in the angle of rotation of the vane. The angle of the vane is directly established by the angle of attack. The detected angle of attack is then displayed on a vertically oriented light bar on the instrument panel, for instance in a light aircraft.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for determining the location of an arc or corona as occurring in a high voltage power supply. The technique utilizes sheets of sensitive photographic film which are placed between printed circuit boards of the supply or between high voltage components and the metallic chassis walls of the power supply. During supply operation if an arc or corona occurs the film becomes exposed. The amount of exposure is determinative of the magnitude of the arc as well as indicative of the location of the arc or corona discharge which location and magnitude is determined by developing the film after supply operation. In this manner a comparative analysis of the amount of corona or arc as a function of time can be made by comparing the film density after photographic chemical development. The technique enables one to, therefore, accurately determine not only the magnitude of the arc or corona discharge but the exact location of the same.

Abstract: An enclosure includes a closed housing having a wall dividing the housing into a first compartment containing a high voltage portion of the power supply and a second compartment containing a low voltage portion of the power supply. A dielectric fluid fills the first compartment and partially fills the second compartment. A first check valve disposed in the wall enables fluid to flow from the first compartment to the second compartment during a temperature increase to compensate for expansion of the fluid in the first compartment. A second check valve disposed in the wall, in communication with the fluid in the second compartment, enables the fluid to flow from the second compartment to the first compartment during a temperature decrease to maintain the first compartment full of the fluid.

Abstract: There is disclosed an annunciator for verbalizing altitude-related messages during the descent of an aircraft. Announcements such as "nine hundred," "eight hundred," etc. are made as the aircraft descends through respective "hundreds" levels; such announcements are not made during an ascent. In addition, the word "terrain" is heard when the aircraft descends through the 2,000-foot and 1,000-foot levels, and the word "minimum" is heard when the aircraft drops below a "decision height" selected by the pilot. Lastly, the word "glideslope" is out-putted in response to the detection of a glideslope deviation, the frequency of this announcement as well as its volume being a function of the magnitude of the deviation.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved annunciator for verbalizing altitude-related messages during the descent of an aircraft. In the past, announcements such as "nine hundred," "eight hundred," etc. were made when the aircraft crossed a respective "hundreds" level. During circle-to-land maneuvers multiple announcements of the same level sometimes occurred, primarily due to small terrain variations which in effect caused the aircraft altitude to vary above and below a "hundreds" level. In accordance with the invention, the annunciator is enabled following a previous announcement only if the aircraft first passes through a mid-"hundreds" level, e.g., 750 feet. Terrain variations are usually no more than twenty feet or so; thus multiple announcements of the same level are inhibited.