Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 4, 2020 23:14:01 GMT 12
This is from the Evening Port dated 3rd of July 1944. The IRS was part of No. 1 Repair Depot and was situated in what is today the Meteor Theatre in Hamilton, but before the RNZAF took it over it was the Innes Tartan soft drink factory.
DELICATE WORK
INSTRUMENT REPAIRS
R.N.Z.A.F. SERVICE
Without the normal flying instruments, both pilot and navigator of a modern aircraft would be at a loss, and those instruments must not lie. The R.N.Z.A.E. has spared no pains in equipping and staffing its instrument repair section, which is situated in the Waikato district. To this section come all suspect instruments for diagnosis and repair, and they receive an overhaul which could scarcely be bettered by the makers themselves.
Like most R.N.Z.A.F. repair sections, the I.R.S. is divided into sub-sections or 'bays" which handle only one type of instrument. This system allows the men to specialise in their work and facilitates the chain system of overhaul and reassembly.
All electrical instruments, for instance, are handled in a separate bay. Synchroscopes which show whether or not twin motors of an aircraft are synchronised, radio steering indicators, indicators to show the number of bombs which nave been released, and the remote indicating compass, which may be mounted in the tail of an aircraft, for example, away from magnetic attraction, and yet show the direction of flight on the navigator's and pilot's panels, are some of the instruments handled here. Electrical testing apparatus is at present being made in this bay to send out to units, so that they can carry out a certain amount of testing of their own instruments.
Navigational instruments are handled in the navigation bay, and such advanced work as the optical side of cine-camera guns, binoculars, and bomb sights is also carried out in it.
Any time-piece in the Service can be overhauled in the watch repair shop, which undertakes such, delicate jobs as the repair of chronometers and barographs. If spare parts are not available, the staff, formerly watchmakers by trade, are quite capable of making the parts themselves and recently completed some very fine gear-cutting work.
The handling of mercury and alcohol-filled instruments is carried out in the general instruments bay, which is remarkable in that most of the equipment used has been designed and made on the spot. A machine for the refilling of transmitter type oil pressure gauges is one of the prize exhibits; other machines constructed locally include a vacuum tank for testing altimeters (which can take the instruments to a "height" of 55,000 feet, if necessary), an arrangement of varying air pressures for testing airspeed indicators, and an oil pressure system for testing pressure indicators up to 3000lb.
Probably some of the most delicate work in the R.N.Z.A.F. is carried out in the gyroscopic section which handles major repairs to all gyroscopic equipment, including "George," the famous auto pilot. Here perfect balance and finish are necessary; a speck of dust is a bitter enemy, and all loose parts are kept under glass covers.
In yet another section, indicators of all sorts are engraved, painted, and luminised, later being tested in the luminosity testing room, where the dials and indicators must pass a stiff visual test. The luminous painting work is undertaken by W.A.A.F.s, who have to view the article on which they are working through a glass shield, because the luminous paint contains a proportion of radium, which is most harmful to the eyes.
In the compass room, compasses are refilled and overhauled, including the transmitting part of the remote compass.
Still another section cares for the welfare of all the Link trainers in New Zealand and the Pacific. Here instruments and parts are tested and sent out again as new, while members of the staff travel round Air Force stations periodically to check on Link trainer equipment.
DELICATE WORK
INSTRUMENT REPAIRS
R.N.Z.A.F. SERVICE
Without the normal flying instruments, both pilot and navigator of a modern aircraft would be at a loss, and those instruments must not lie. The R.N.Z.A.E. has spared no pains in equipping and staffing its instrument repair section, which is situated in the Waikato district. To this section come all suspect instruments for diagnosis and repair, and they receive an overhaul which could scarcely be bettered by the makers themselves.
Like most R.N.Z.A.F. repair sections, the I.R.S. is divided into sub-sections or 'bays" which handle only one type of instrument. This system allows the men to specialise in their work and facilitates the chain system of overhaul and reassembly.
All electrical instruments, for instance, are handled in a separate bay. Synchroscopes which show whether or not twin motors of an aircraft are synchronised, radio steering indicators, indicators to show the number of bombs which nave been released, and the remote indicating compass, which may be mounted in the tail of an aircraft, for example, away from magnetic attraction, and yet show the direction of flight on the navigator's and pilot's panels, are some of the instruments handled here. Electrical testing apparatus is at present being made in this bay to send out to units, so that they can carry out a certain amount of testing of their own instruments.
Navigational instruments are handled in the navigation bay, and such advanced work as the optical side of cine-camera guns, binoculars, and bomb sights is also carried out in it.
Any time-piece in the Service can be overhauled in the watch repair shop, which undertakes such, delicate jobs as the repair of chronometers and barographs. If spare parts are not available, the staff, formerly watchmakers by trade, are quite capable of making the parts themselves and recently completed some very fine gear-cutting work.
The handling of mercury and alcohol-filled instruments is carried out in the general instruments bay, which is remarkable in that most of the equipment used has been designed and made on the spot. A machine for the refilling of transmitter type oil pressure gauges is one of the prize exhibits; other machines constructed locally include a vacuum tank for testing altimeters (which can take the instruments to a "height" of 55,000 feet, if necessary), an arrangement of varying air pressures for testing airspeed indicators, and an oil pressure system for testing pressure indicators up to 3000lb.
Probably some of the most delicate work in the R.N.Z.A.F. is carried out in the gyroscopic section which handles major repairs to all gyroscopic equipment, including "George," the famous auto pilot. Here perfect balance and finish are necessary; a speck of dust is a bitter enemy, and all loose parts are kept under glass covers.
In yet another section, indicators of all sorts are engraved, painted, and luminised, later being tested in the luminosity testing room, where the dials and indicators must pass a stiff visual test. The luminous painting work is undertaken by W.A.A.F.s, who have to view the article on which they are working through a glass shield, because the luminous paint contains a proportion of radium, which is most harmful to the eyes.
In the compass room, compasses are refilled and overhauled, including the transmitting part of the remote compass.
Still another section cares for the welfare of all the Link trainers in New Zealand and the Pacific. Here instruments and parts are tested and sent out again as new, while members of the staff travel round Air Force stations periodically to check on Link trainer equipment.
