Aeronautical Compass Query (x-post from Airborne forum)

[Guinness12]

Any aeronautical bods out there able to help me track down which aircraft this radio compass is likely to be from? British, 40/50s?

[big ned]

The 10Q radio compass dates from 1956. It's not a compass in the sense of the word rather it is coupled to one and is used to calculate the magnetic variation that is noted on maps and aeronautical charts which allows the pilot or navigator to correct for this variation as the aeroplane proceeds from one location to another.

The magnetic variation is different all over the world and can also change. The most noticable declination is always found in an East-West direction. Basically it fine tunes the navigation compass to ensure you get where you want to go accurately.

Amelia Earhart had a very primitive version in her Lockheed Electra, but appears (or perhaps that should be prefixed with 'Dis') to have encountered problems with it not working correctly, as we all know......

You can take your pick for aircraft type of the mid 50's onwards for using this type of instrument, but the V-Bombers, Beverley and Hastings would all have used it, plus many other service types. Can't be more specific than that i'm afraid.

Regards, Ned.