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Home > Fact Sheets > Honeywell C-1 Autopilot
HONEYWELL C-1 AUTOPILOT
Posted 3/27/2012
Printable Fact Sheet
The HoneywellC-1 Autopilot was an electronic-mechanical system used to lessen pilot fatigue by automatically flying an airplane in straight and level flight. It could also be used to fly the aircraft through gentle maneuvers. When combined with the Norden bombsight, it created the stability necessary to bomb targets accurately from high altitude.
This autopilot essentially consisted of two spinning gyroscopes located in cases attached to the airplane. One gyroscope, called the Flight Gyro, was located near the aircraft's center of gravity and detected changes in roll and pitch. The Directional Gyro, located in the bombsight stabilizer, detected changes in yaw. Using a series of electrical signals, the C-1 Autopilot controlled the aircraft with servos connected to the control surfaces. Either the pilot or the bombardier could control the aircraft.
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