Does anyone know where this control panel comes from?
Discussion
Looks like a Doppler-Corrected Navigation Computer control panel. The top displays show the lateral and longitudinal distance from your initial reference position which the navigator or pilot would typically set before departure. Allows you to use the distances to plot your position on a chart. You can use it to fairly accurately follow planned waypoints.
They were used extensively in old Soviet aircraft designed up to the 70s before GPS and INS for navigation without radio aids across the vast nothingness of Russia. This looks like a western designed unit - probably military.
They were used extensively in old Soviet aircraft designed up to the 70s before GPS and INS for navigation without radio aids across the vast nothingness of Russia. This looks like a western designed unit - probably military.
As nobody seems to have a confirmed ID, some ramblings.
Curious bit of kit, not really like any navigation control unit I've used/seen in the air (at least in fixed wing). Unusual colour and design around the edge.
Probably civvie as no obvious NATO/MoD markings or numbering.
The Nav and Algn would suggest an IN involvement, unusual to see a dedicated Heater button.
But at the bottom it appears to be able to operate with the full gamut of map datums - including WGS84 - so it is not exactly "that" old. That impressive multi-datum capability in itself makes it a pretty niche unit with some form of map/chart interface functionality IMHO. That may also fit with the selectable calibrate mode. Moving map controller?
Possibly the "Svy Pt" - Survey Point? - may be a clue. Not something like a survey theodolite controller is it? Not that I have ever seen one.
Curious bit of kit, not really like any navigation control unit I've used/seen in the air (at least in fixed wing). Unusual colour and design around the edge.
Probably civvie as no obvious NATO/MoD markings or numbering.
The Nav and Algn would suggest an IN involvement, unusual to see a dedicated Heater button.
But at the bottom it appears to be able to operate with the full gamut of map datums - including WGS84 - so it is not exactly "that" old. That impressive multi-datum capability in itself makes it a pretty niche unit with some form of map/chart interface functionality IMHO. That may also fit with the selectable calibrate mode. Moving map controller?
Possibly the "Svy Pt" - Survey Point? - may be a clue. Not something like a survey theodolite controller is it? Not that I have ever seen one.
I dunno what it is but here’s one for sale for over £1k:
https://www.thexmod.com/item_detail.asp?id=18900
https://www.thexmod.com/item_detail.asp?id=18900
With control panels the colour Green tends to be Army Land based kit and Black/Grey tends to be used for Aircraft/Heli's so, as we know it's a Navigation Control Panel, I would guess it's from something like a Challenger 1 or maybe self propelled artillery etc (but not MLRS)? My guess is based on -
Colour - Likely a UK Army Land vehicle.
Manufacturer - Ferranti Scotland which closed in 1990 so no newer than that.
Control Panel - Buttons indicate it's a for Navigation unit (Align, Nav etc) which means it's almost a certainty that it's the Control Unit for some kind of an Inertial Navigation Unit.
NSN - The NSN on the older control unit found by SteveC72 lumps it into the "Fire Control" section so probably fitted into an vehicle which fires a weapon.
Pretty much it'll only be someone who has used it will recognise it, as it's age means you're unlikely to find much on the internet specifically about this unit.
Colour - Likely a UK Army Land vehicle.
Manufacturer - Ferranti Scotland which closed in 1990 so no newer than that.
Control Panel - Buttons indicate it's a for Navigation unit (Align, Nav etc) which means it's almost a certainty that it's the Control Unit for some kind of an Inertial Navigation Unit.
NSN - The NSN on the older control unit found by SteveC72 lumps it into the "Fire Control" section so probably fitted into an vehicle which fires a weapon.
Pretty much it'll only be someone who has used it will recognise it, as it's age means you're unlikely to find much on the internet specifically about this unit.
An email with pics to the tank museum at bovigdon in dorest might get you some results OP
https://tankmuseum.org/
https://tankmuseum.org/
Muckleburgh has a fine selection of tanks too: https://www.muckleburgh.co.uk/
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