Type Aircraft E2A Air Ministry RAF Emergency Compass 6B/2754 In Its Transit Case

A small,  vintage, Type Aircraft E2A Air Ministry RAF Emergency Compass 6B/2754 In Its Transit Case 6B/2756. 

New Old Stock, it was made by the famous instrument makers Kelvin Hughes (part of Smiths Industries). Both the compass and transit case are in very good cosmetic condition, with a few surface blemishes commensurate with age and use. 

Approximate Size:-

• Compass
• Max. diameter: 4.4 cm
• Height: 5cm
• Case (WHD):  10.5 x 8.8 x 8.8 cm

The compass bowl is usually suspended in Silicone fluid, as its viscosity has a lower degree of change over a reasonable temperature range compared with non-silicone fluids.

The compass is marked as follows:-

• 6B/405 (where 6B is the RAF stores number for 6B = Aircraft Navigation Equipment, Accessories and Spares)
• Type E2A (illuminated by a cockpit light unlike the E2B which is internally lit)
• MOD No. INST T.B/136
• B/R/7/58
• No. 4226/B/53
• ↑ (military arrow)

The transit case is marked with the following reference numbers:-

• Compass 6B/2754
• Transit Case 6B/2756

This type of emergency Gyrocompass was purportedly carried in many RAF Aircraft from the 1950s onwards including the English Electric Lightning, De Havilland Venom and Vampire, Gloster Meteor, and the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. A lovely piece of RAF history!

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