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HUD Video Camera Assembly (space model)

Technical Information

Catalogue No: C0814
Category: Head-Up Display [HUD]
Object Type: Model
Object Name: HUD Video Camera Assembly (space model)
Part No: 6062-4A
Serial No: P001
Manufacturer: W Vinten
Division: Unknown
Platform(s):
Year of Manufacture: 1996
Dimensions: Width (mm): 84
Height (mm): 160
Depth (mm): 69
Weight (g): 587
Location: Rack RAA12 (collection part) [Mezzanine Store]
Inscription(s):

Vinten
W Vinten Ltd. England. (K0233)
VCA Space Model
Part No. 6062-4A
Serial No. P001
Spec. No.
Construction Date May 96
N.S. No.
Mod Record -

Notes:

This is a model of solid state HUD Camera. The weight includes the 1.14m cable.

The RAA contains a number of models of equipment and aircraft. The equipment models were used as a marketing aid and often to ensure that the production unit will fit in the space; this was particularly true for Head Up Displays. Such equipment models will have minimal or no functionality. Models might  just be used as weighted units or as cockpit lighting evaluation units. The HUD used on the YF-16 was of the correct weight and envelope but only mounted the Spin 'chute button (a feature only required for the early test flights). Many of these models were made by professional model makers from the original drawings and could be quite expensive; alternatively the real hardware would be used.

The aircraft models range from the simple small scale kits to quite large display items. The large model aircraft were often a marketing tool from places like Airbus or Boeing but may be found in Boardrooms or Reception areas wheras the small models may be given as a visitor handout. Those models made from kits have largely been brought in from home but are useful to illustrate the platform alongside the equipment. The large models will be hugely expensive.

A Camera is used with a Head Up Display to view the symbology overlaid on the outside world as close as possible to the view that the pilot has through the Combiner Glass. The Camera is a training aid to show how accurately the fighter aircraft engages with the target and ultimately can verify the result of a real engagement.

The Camera assembly is usually mounted on top of the HUD, above the Control Panel, directly aft of the Combiner Glass.

The earliest Cameras used film strip with a replaceable film module and these were quite large and obstructive to the pilot.  However with the advent of diffractive and waveguide optical systems the Combiner acts as part of the optical collimation and is not just a reflector so that the symbology is not focused at the normal location used.  A new solution had to be found and the Camera is instead located forward of the Combiner and the HUD symbology is scan converted and accurately mixed with the Camera video.

Fortunately solid state Cameras were developed, using a CCD chip which converts the optical image into electrical video signals for output to an on-board video recorder or transmitter. Solid state Cameras are also considerably smaller and more reliable.

The camera electronics incorporate extensive filtering to provide exceptional, noise-free, image quality. 

Click to enlarge