Couldn’t help but be interested in the Take Off section of the July 22 GAN, “Do you recognize these parts?” I fly out of Sidney Airport (N23) in Sidney, N.Y., home of the Amphenol Aerospace Corp. I asked a friend of mine, Warren Austin, who works at the airport and used to fly P-47s during World War II, if he recognized the picture of the parts. Indeed he did. There are two examples of these in a showcase in the Pilot Lounge dedicated to Scintilla Magneto Co. memorabilia.
Warren said he believes the parts were used in military trainers circa 1935 through 1945. He also believes they were used in the following military airplane designations: the PT-17, the PT-19 and the BT-13. These are the magneto switches. You can clearly see the inscriptions on the photo; R (right), L (left) and BOTH. I’m sure they were used in other airplanes as well.
There are a number of retired people who worked for Bendix Scintilla who still come to the airport and are members of the Fagen Flyers, which supports our local airport. We’re at 1,027 feet with a single paved runway measuring 4,200 feet X 50 feet (25-07).
Thanks for publishing the photos of these parts.
Dick Crocco
Sidney, N.Y.