Altimeter & TAS Indicator

Elliott
Height & T.A.S. Display
Type No. 3D390
Ref. No. 6A/5407
Ser. No. 172/66
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Mod. No.
A.D.S. Nos: 10, 22, 53, 61, 66, 78, 87, 108

The MoD Operational Requirement (OR946) of the 1960’s had a requirement for vertical tape instruments following the US fashion and Elliotts made a range of these. These instruments were designed by Markowski and Stafford Ellis.
The principle proved to be wrong and they were not as good as round instruments dynamically. Only one of the Elliott units remained in service, the TAS/Height which was used on the Buccaneer and the Concorde prototypes were also fitted with vertical tape instruments. However the production version of Concorde ordered by BOAC reverted to conventional dials.
The reasons for the reluctance to go for linear presentations (despite the fact that space is saved) were mainly based on the fact that linear displays can be difficult to read accurately and can give difficulty in comparing readings. Tape displays provide a less informative rate of change of the parameter than does a rotating pointer and the pilot does not have that same sense of for example the change in speed or altitude..

This item was in the original Elliott Collection Ref: 2052