Autopilot Control Panel for A-5 Auto Pilot System, Sperry Carvair

Autopilot Control Panel for A-5 Auto Pilot System, Sperry CarvairThe A 5 Automatic Pilot was used primarily in WWII era bomber aircraft of the Air Corps US Army such as the Consolidated B 24 Liberator (see photo of B 24 cockpit showing the location of the A 5 panel). The A 5 system appeared in aircraft manufactured during or before 1943, the year when the Honeywell C 1 system became the standard autopilot system for large multi engine aircraft. Theoretically, the A 5 system may also have appeared in the Boeing B 17

It appears that the lens can be removed and the upper and lower operating limit indicators can be set by sliding the triangular pointers along the scale (we have not attempted this in order to preserve the artifact)

made by Kollsman

as used in US Navy aircraft during WWII

The AN 5771-5 Suction Gage was used across all aircraft of the US Army Air Corps

appear to use a next generation autopilot and not the GR-2

as illustrated in the Airborne Radio Equipment Handbook dated 1943 (see illustrations)

the aircraft is headed in the desired direction

25 inches diameter and ~3

The metal housing hosts some rust which could be removed with care

The Receiver

Here is an article from Flight Magazine Sept 1943 describing the Astrograph

and we are assuming that is the manufacturing date of May 1939