Gunsight The Collection

A Gunsight is an optical device used to assist the pilot in weapon aiming. Initially they would have little more than an illuminated aiming cross for more accurate air to air combat. There is a mechanical means for making offset adjustments to allow for the target track and range. The device is similar to the later Head Up Display in that the image is collimated and projected onto a Combiner Glass such that it appears at infinity. The Gyro Gunsight is a particularly successful display and is still fitted to many aircraft. The most complex of these even calculate air to ground modes of weapon release and can show quite complex aircraft data. However they do not have the benefit of a programmable display surface as used in the HUD and thus their capability is limited.