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The "Flightray" system was developed by Francis L. Moseley with the goal of providing a single instrument to display all flight related information. As aircraft were growing more complex, pilot work load was increasing. The pilot was required to manage more systems, aircraft speeds were increasing and all weather, day/night flying was expected. As with modern "glass cockpits", Moseleys approach would use a

cathode-ray tube as is primary display. The "Flightray" system used sensors attached to standard fully functional flight instruments, there by providing "back up" instruments should the "Flightray" system fail. The monitored instruments included, the artificial horizon, the directional gyro, the altimeter, the airspeed indicator and the instrument landing system radio (Early CAA glide path and localizer). These inputs were combined and displayed for the pilot on the screen of the cathode-ray tube (see images).

First integrated flight instrumentation system ("Glass cockpit") flown.

Design and prototype by Francis L. Moseley in the summer of 1936.

Patent filed September 17, 1936 (#Re 22,704)

Presented to management at Sperry and engineering project established, Winter '36

Flight tested in the summer of 1937 ("In a Stinson aircraft")

Project abandoned as "too far ahead of its time"

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type INSTRUMENTS-Flight Management Manufacturer The Sperry Gyroscope Co.
 Physical Description Cathode-ray tube display unit for "Flightray" multiple instrument display system; crt; black; 3 marker lights; t&b The "Flightray" system was developed by Francis L. Moseley with the goal of providing a single instrument to display all flight related information. As aircraft were growing more complex, pilot work load was increasing. The pilot was required to manage more systems, aircraft speeds were increasing and all weather, day/night flying was expected. As with modern "glass cockpits", Moseleys approach would use a cathode-ray tube as is primary display. The "Flightray" system used sensors attached to standard fully functional flight instruments, there by providing "back up" instruments should the "Flightray" system fail. The monitored instruments included, the artificial horizon, the directional gyro, the altimeter, the airspeed indicator and the instrument landing system radio (Early CAA glide path and localizer). These inputs were combined and displayed for the pilot on the screen of the cathode-ray tube (see images). First integrated flight instrumentation system ("Glass cockpit") flown. Design and prototype by Francis L. Moseley in the summer of 1936. Patent filed September 17, 1936 (#Re 22,704) Presented to management at Sperry and engineering project established, Winter '36 Flight tested in the summer of 1937 ("In a Stinson aircraft") Project abandoned as "too far ahead of its time" Dimensions 3-D: 33 × 11.4 × 15.6cm (1 ft. 1 in. × 4 1/2 in. × 6 1/8 in.)
 Materials HAZMAT: Cadmium Plating
Aluminum
Steel
Copper Alloy
Glass
Plastic
Coating
 Inventory Number A19860102000 Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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