NORTH AMERICAN T-6 TEXAN / HAVARD, FREE AIR TEMP GAUGE

Installed at the lower right of the T-6 Texan’s instrument panel between the aircraft’s Cylinder Head Temperature and Amp gauges and immediately under the Carburettor/Air Mix gauge, the Texan’s Free Air or Outside Air Temperature (OAT) gauge alerted the pilot to the outside air temperature.

Knowing the outside air temperature does not on the face of it, seem all that important but to a pilot, it provides the information necessary to make true airspeed and altitude density calculations essential to flight planning and aircraft fuel consumption.

The OAT gauge also serves as a critical early warning to potential icing conditions. Changes in altitude and passing through cloud or precipitation can cause the rapid formation of ice on the wing surfaces that can have a dramatic effect on flight surfaces and aircraft stability.

At outside temperatures of between zero and minus 10 C, the pilot is likely to encounter ‘clear icing’ where a glossy, thin and transparent layer of ice forms slowly over the wing surfaces reducing clean airflow over the wing which increases drag and reduces lift.

As OAT falls further, Rime ice can form which is a rougher and faster forming ice, trapping air pockets which reduces air flow and increases drag even further. At higher altitudes in extreme conditions, rough Mixed ice can also form which will dangerously impact the aircraft’s aerodynamics.

For larger and more modern aircraft, De-icing systems can be switched on to reduce the impact of ice formation on the aircraft’s flight surfaces but for older and smaller aircraft, the only alternative was to either dramatically reduce altitude or exit cloud/rain formations to regain flight performance.

As ice formation is difficult for the pilot to see from the cockpit, its often called the silent creeper in aviation circles and without keeping an eye on the OAT, the first thing a pilot might experience is significant loss of wing lift resulting in a sudden stall which may be difficult to recover from.

For a trainee T-6 Texan pilot, who has yet to master stall recovery, this could have disasterous consequences for both student and instructor.

Manufactured by Weston Electric Inst Corp this 115412 T-52H, this Free Air Temperature Gauge comes complete with Manufacture’s plate and would look fantastic with its detailed 1/72 or 1/48 scale model perched atop its 100yr old Mango Wood stand. What a great original one-of-a-kind gift for any aviation enthusiast or budding, active or retired pilot.

This North American T-6 Texan Instrument comes complete with detailed Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of instrument in aircraft cockpit.

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