MS 406 instrument

[ClinA-78]

Hello,

On the 4th September 2010, I have recovered the wreckage of the MS 406 Nr.86 (GC II/6) in Vellereille-Les-Brayeux (Belgium). It was piloted by Capitaine Albert GILBERT, 'Mort pour la France' on the 14th May 1940. The dig revealed a lot of most interesting items, buried for 70 years. It was also the first time that a Morane-Saulnier 406 was discovered, buried deeply in Belgium soil since May 1940.
The parts would be displayed in the following months in the 'Fort de La Salmagne' in front of the airfield where Capitaine Gilbert took off for his last flight.

Among the curiosities found, was this part of the dashbord with the variometer indicator. Unfortunately the docs about French instruments are lacking, beside 'THE' Lela Press MS 406 book showing only two cockpit pictures.
Here are my questions:
1°) Was it the 'contrôleur de vol type ACDFK (what is that meaning?)' thus one of the 'PSV' instruments (following a sketch found on internet)?
2°) Why was it 'blackened'?
3°) I research also a good picture of the 'three face' MS 406 dashboard.

I thank you beforehand of your attention.

Best regards

ClinA-78

[wwrsimon]

Hello ClinA-78

In answer to question No.3 - in the Polish book 'Monografie Lotnicze 28 - M.S.406' there is an illustration on the back cover of the cockpit layout, with the instruments labelled underneath (in Polish, but Google can translate it for you).

It clearly shows the instrument you have, it's labelled as the altimeter. It is the lower right of the four dials on the panel directly in front of the pilot, beneath the gun sight.

Regards

Simon

[cammerjeff]

Not exactly what you are looking for, but on this link can be found a pic of a Swiss MS-410 cockpit. It is all I could find at the moment, I hope it is of some help.

http://www.airpic.net/forum/viewtopi...t=136&start=30

[ClinA-78]

Hello,

Thank you for your attention gents.
In fact, the D-3801 - aka the 'Swiss MS406' - was not a MS406 and her dashboard differed quite a bit. However the D-3801 has the 'privilège' to be the very last of the Morane family and display her 'ugly' but elegant shape around Europa.

Best regards

ClinA-78

PS. : Where are you Waroff?

[waroff]

Originally Posted by ClinA-78

1°) Was it the 'contrôleur de vol type ACDFK (what is that meaning?)' thus one of the 'PSV' instruments (following a sketch found on internet)?
2°) Why was it 'blackened'?
3°) I research also a good picture of the 'three face' MS 406 dashboard.

1) : the "contrôleur de vol ACDFK" used for flight in VMC or IMC:
- center : anemometre 700km/h
- left: Vario
- right: clinomètre (trim, angle axis aircraft/horizon)
- below: turn and slip indicator
it had a button on front for adjust a succion for gyroscope of turn indicator

2) ....the glass is... in plexiglas??, if it this, I think that the fire and weather blackened it


3) model MS 405 1/32 Azur and pictures from notice "intruments de bord Arméee de l'Air 1938" and "notice réparation avion MS 406, 1939"
( I sell fac simile of this notice)




below, this controleur is same, anemometer is different (260km/h in place of 700km/h)
originally, the color of number was white or very pale green, but with the years this radioactive paint change for this orange color.

Originally Posted by molki

Vue arrière et référence...

Sorry, sorry, sorry for my poor langage....

[ClinA-78]

Hello Waroff,

There is no plexiglass covering the panel, it is just an aluminum roundel painted black.
Thank you for your drawings.
We stay in touch of course...

Best regards

ClinA-78

[waroff]

Hi ClinA,
On the MS 406 thre are two anemometer, on the "controleur de vol" there is a model 700km/h, but there is another anemometer 200km/h (it's best when landing, so it called "anemometre d'atterrrissage").
I think that the controleur 700km/h was not important as anemometre d'atterrissage..

On the main board there are,
left: anemometer atterrissage/compass
right: altimeter/controleur

[ClinA-78]

Hello Waroff,

Now, it sounds clear as the two instruments show respectively the 'anémomètre d'atterrissage' and the 'Contrôleur ACDFK anémomètre' (up to 500km/h, as the MS406 doesn't reach that speed, except in diving!) which is a part of the 'Contrôleur de Vol' so I was wrong about the 'blackening theory', which was, in fact, the back wall of the instrument. Unfortunately I cannot go further in the cleaning as the decals are so fragile.

Best regards

ClinA-78