Kodak
Drift Meter, Type B-5, US Army Air Force New Old Stock (DRIFT03)
This unique collectible resides in The Fulford Collection and is on auction on eBay April 22-25, 2021 with bidding some items extended thru May 1. Please visit our eBay Store to place a bid.
This aircraft Drift Meter, type B-5, was used in several US Army Air Force bomber and transport aircraft, including the B-17 and B-24. The B-5 drift meter is used by the navigator to determine the angle of deviation (drift) between the heading of the aircraft and its actual path over the ground due to cross winds, thus used to correct the course of the aircraft. The instrument's viewing port projects from the side of the aircraft. When viewing the ground through the eyepiece while in flight, the navigator observes the travel of fixed objects across the lens. With a pencil mounted in the receptacle on the movable arm, these objects are tracked across the lens and their path transferred in pencil to the recording pad manually by the navigator. Once done, the drift angle is determined and course correction calculated and communicated to the pilot.
With a serial number prefix of 44, it was made in 1944. It is in exceptional condition in its original box with desiccant pouches.
In the Fulford Collection.