Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. Manufactured by the International Business Machines (IBM) the Sperry S-1 bombsight was designed by Elmer Sperry, Carl Norden's former employer. It had several distinctions from the Norden, and some advantages. The Sperry gyroscopes spun at 24,000 rpm, compared to the Norden gyros which ran at approximately 8,000 rpm. This higher rate of rotation overcame the tendency to precess, so there was no leveling mechanism needed, or a requirement for leveling bubbles. In addition, the gyros ran off of induction rather than brushes; the carbon brushes in the Norden gyros tended to produce dust which fouled the bearings.
The Sperry ran off of 110V AC current compared to the 26V DC current used by the Norden. Whereas the Norden had all of its controls mounted on the right, the Sperry had the knobs for range located on the left and for azimuth located on the right, so that the bombardier could use both hands to adjust them simultaneously. The Norden used a manual geared system to correct for crosswind and drift, but the Sperry did this electromechanically.
The Navy would not allow the Norden to be exported, but did allow the Sperry to go to other countries such as England. The B-24 Liberator was being sent overseas (as the LB-30), and the Sperry was allowed to go with it. This led to a natural pairing of the S-1 and B-24, so almost all of the Sperry S-1's were in B-24 's. Approximately 5,000 S-1's were made, but the Norden dominated the bombsight market, and production of the S-1 ceased in 1943.
The Sperry S-1 Precision Bombsigh was designated as standard equipment for bomber planes in the armed services in March of 1941. It was used primarily in the U.S. Army Air Force bombers during WWII. However, after millions of dollars had been invested in the Sperry, and placing it in all the planes, the contracts were suspended and canceled. The military had found a better and more efficient bombsight; the Norden M-1 bombsight. The Norden was tauted to be a war-winning secret weapon. Because of its short life-span in military use, the Sperry bombsight is a rare and prized collectible among war enthusiasts. Early tests with the Sperry sight revealed that it had many problems, such as poor optics and long data calculation times. Ironically, Norden was a former employee of Sperry, and he had to go around an extensive number of patents which Sperry possessed. This lot features a Sperry sight in pristine condition.
This example appears to come complete with all its parts, including the very hard to find shipping container and in excellent condition. This short lived piece of aviation history would make an entertaining and interesting collection centerpiece for any hobbyist!
The Sperry ran off of 110V AC current compared to the 26V DC current used by the Norden. Whereas the Norden had all of its controls mounted on the right, the Sperry had the knobs for range located on the left and for azimuth located on the right, so that the bombardier could use both hands to adjust them simultaneously. The Norden used a manual geared system to correct for crosswind and drift, but the Sperry did this electromechanically.
The Navy would not allow the Norden to be exported, but did allow the Sperry to go to other countries such as England. The B-24 Liberator was being sent overseas (as the LB-30), and the Sperry was allowed to go with it. This led to a natural pairing of the S-1 and B-24, so almost all of the Sperry S-1's were in B-24 's. Approximately 5,000 S-1's were made, but the Norden dominated the bombsight market, and production of the S-1 ceased in 1943.
The Sperry S-1 Precision Bombsigh was designated as standard equipment for bomber planes in the armed services in March of 1941. It was used primarily in the U.S. Army Air Force bombers during WWII. However, after millions of dollars had been invested in the Sperry, and placing it in all the planes, the contracts were suspended and canceled. The military had found a better and more efficient bombsight; the Norden M-1 bombsight. The Norden was tauted to be a war-winning secret weapon. Because of its short life-span in military use, the Sperry bombsight is a rare and prized collectible among war enthusiasts. Early tests with the Sperry sight revealed that it had many problems, such as poor optics and long data calculation times. Ironically, Norden was a former employee of Sperry, and he had to go around an extensive number of patents which Sperry possessed. This lot features a Sperry sight in pristine condition.
This example appears to come complete with all its parts, including the very hard to find shipping container and in excellent condition. This short lived piece of aviation history would make an entertaining and interesting collection centerpiece for any hobbyist!
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
