This so-called Photo Panel was used to test fighters and other small jet aircraft. It contained a duplicate set of cockpit instruments, and was installed in the craft's nose. A 16 mm camera recorded the readings on these instruments as the test flight progressed. Afterwards, on the ground, the film would be developed and the data reduced and plotted on graph paper. The results gave an indication of how well the jet performed during an actual flight, compared to its predicted performance.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
United States of America
EQUIPMENT-Test
Grumman Aerospace Corporation
Instrument boxes and 16mm camera installed on an orange painted metal frame.
3-D (Overall): 80 × 58.4 × 49.5cm (2 ft. 7 1/2 in. × 1 ft. 11 in. × 1 ft. 7 1/2 in.)
HAZMAT: Cadmium
Non-Magnetic Metals
Ferrous Alloy
Paints
Electrical Wiring
Glass
Plastics
Rubber
Anodized Aluminum
Adhesive Stickers
Ink
Possible Radium Paint
A19880373000
Gift of Grumman Aerospace Corp.
National Air and Space Museum
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