Aerospace Related Slide Rules (Flight/Rocketry/NASA) |
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These are non-military specimens and images used in the advancement of aviation and Space Science for peaceful purposes, although most have their roots in WWII (like the one used with the German V2 Rocket) and the Dalton Dead Reckoning Computer. As can be expected, these are more modern variations. We've included some slide rules used by persons of notoriety in the rocketry and NASA. Some of these slide rule images are duplicated on their respective manufacturer or country gallery pages. |
 Test Pilot Student and Instructor at TPS School, Edwards AFB c1952-1954 |
 Sir Franck Whittle Turbine |
 Watch In Space! - Breitling Navitimer Chronomat Ad |
 Slide Rule Scenes From the Movie Apollo 13 - Watch for slide rules being used in mission control |
 NASA Display, Astronaut Neil Armstrong's Slide Rule (Apollo 11) |
ChiefDesignerOfSovietSpacecraft.jpg) Sergei Pavlovich Korolev (1906-1965) Chief Designer Of Soviet Spacecraft |
 Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Display, Sergei P. Korolev (Nestler 23R Slide rule) |
 Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Display, Wernher Von Braun (Nestler 23R Slide rule) |
 NASA Ames. Historical Recruiting poster (c1950) of Cleve E Voss holding model of B-47, Douglas D-558-2, 6x6ft w.t. & slide rule NOTE: Poster recovered from Voss's wife. |
 Lockheed Aircraft - Flight Deck Of Constellation, Flight Engineer With Slide Rule. |
 News Release on a "Navigation Computer" in Modern Mechanix, Aug 1937 |
 Air Navigation by Herbert S. Zim, 1943 US Army Pilots Doing Dead Reckoning Flight Planning |
 ISRM - GE Space Propulsion |
GE Space Propulsion Calculator Made in USA - GE Flight propulsion Laboratory Front Scale: Beam Power, Thrust, Propellant consumption, Specific Impulse, Exhaust velocity Rear Scale: Planetary data and constants,  Instructions |
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 REF Aristo 80123 Martin Space Rule 1962 |
Aristo 80123 Martin Space Rule 1962 Made in Germany by Aristo for Martin Marietta Space Systems, Colorado Front Scale λ, K4, K3, K2, K1 [ Ispsec, K0, %Wpr, C ] D, K', %Wd Back Scale (no slide, uses hairline): (ε)ecc, Va, ha,hm, τ,V1, V2, Rj, γBo, TF, Ha, hc Well: Planet, Escape Velocity (fps), Radius(st. mi.) Slide Back: V3, Time of Travel (years), (Ra/Re) Archive - Scan provided by Rod Lovette Collection, UK. |
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 REF - Space Vehicle Pocket Designer for Three Stage Rockets |
Space Vehicle Pocket Designer for Three Stage Rockets Made in USA by the Martin Company (1959) Front Scale: Planetary Orbits, Velocity, Weight Index (Vacumm Specific Impulse) Courtesy Of Paul Ceruzzi, National Air And Space Museum |
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G.Peach System Temperature (TMOON) Slide Rule Made in UK/Australia - Designed and built By Gareth Peach,G7SLL, GSFDE Front Scale Ts °K [ dB Ao-An, db An-Aa ] Ts. To, Tn Construction: Laminated Traffolyte engraving material glued to an off-cut of 1/8" thick aluminium sheet material rough sawn to size. Archive - Scan/history provided by Gareth (Gary) Peach Gary, a British Scientist in Berkshire, designed this custom one-of-a kind slide rule to calculate the Temperature of the Moon (TMOON) during the exciting opening moments of the first lunar soft landing of the NASA spacecraft "Surveyor 3" in 1967. Surveyor 3 was the second spacecraft of the Surveyor series to achieve a lunar soft landing. The sliderule was used on a day to day basis to calibrate the radio telescope. Gary had been employed at the Tidbinbilla Tracking Station, on the Deep Space Instrumentation Facility 42 (DSIF 42, later known as DSN 42), ACT, Australia, as a Space Tracking Technician for the MSN 42 Apollo mission, in 1969. He was employed there from 1964 until 1973. Some of Gary's duties at Tidbinbilla in his own words.
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Pickett N600-ES Log Log Duplex - Buzz Aldrin Apollo 11 Made in USA - Flown to to the moon July 20, 1969 Front Scale LL1+.01/-.01, A [ B, ST, T T, S Cos, C ] D, DI, K Back Scale LL2+.1/-.1, DF [ CF, Ln, L, CI, C ] D, LL3+1/-1 This is a scan of the actual slide rule that was taken to the moon by astronaut Buzz Aldrin on July 20, 1969. It was sold at a Heritage Auction Galleries on September 21, 2007 and brought $77,675.00 from a serious collecter. His letter of authentication is shown. |
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 ISRM K&E N4083-3S Log Log Duplex Vector |
K&E 4083-3 Log Log Duplex Vector S/N 485861 Made in U.S.A. Front Scale: Note: 5,10, 20 div/deg L, LL01, LL1, A [ B, T Cot, ST, S Cos ] D, Th, Sh2, Sh1 Back Scale LL02, LL03, DF [ CF, CIF, CI, C ] D, LL3, LL2 Donated by Vernon Estes, Canyon City, Colorado.. Founder of Estes Industries who made the first safe black powder rocket motors in 1958 used by members of the newly formed National Association of Rocketry (NAR) . Vern purchased this slide rule in downtown Denver, Colorado in 1948 when he was in his 3rd year at Westminster Union High School. He used it for advanced math classes in high school, then later at Central College in McPherson, Kansas. He later founded Estes Industries which began his career in model rocketry. He says "my trusty slide rule was an indispensible companion". Based on his own experiences, he offered slide rules (see the Pickett 120) in his sales literature (circa 1964) to help young rocketeers (of which the curator of ISRM was one). Vern engraved his name on the slide rule so it would not get mixed up with his brother Earl Estes' slide rule, who bought his at the same time and later used it in his engineering career at Hughes Aircraft. |
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 REF Post 1462H PostTrig |
Post 1462H - PostTrig Made in Occupied Japan by Hemmi Front Scale LL0, LL00, A [ B, K, L, C ] LL3, LL2, LL1 Back Scale T, DF [ CF, CIF, CI, C ] D, S, T
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 REF V2 Rocket Ballistic Ranging Slide Rule  REF V2 Rocket at Pennemünde Note from ISRM curator, Mike Konshak, who is certified to build and fly high powered rockets: On the V-2 Rocket slide rule, all the scales are a variation of High vertical climb (maximum altitude), maximum range, burn closing speed. The V2 ballistic missile would shut off its motor at some point in its flight (burn closing speed) which was the maximum velocity at that point, which was determined by it s inertial guidance system. This would vary based on the desired range. At that point it went from the boost phase to the coast phase and begin slowing down due to parasitic drag and fell (still very fast) to its intended target. It was was not very accurate as it only went in the compass direction it was told to go. Full cutoff determined the range. This slide rule was not very different from other artillery calculators. |
V2 Rocket Ballistic Ranging Slide Rule - c1942 Made in Germany - Heeresversuchsanstalt Peenemünde (Army Research Center Peenemünde) Scales: Interpretation provided by Dr. Klaus Schug, as follows: From distance from Pennemünde to London is about 950 KM or almost 600 miles. This would be the Maximale Reichweite = 950 KM. Its maximum vertical height was between 50 to 60 miles (80 to 95 KM) for long-range targets. This would be the senkrechte Steighöhe = say 90 KM. I. zur senkr Steighohe - Vertical height in meters. Using 9.0 or 90,000 meters = 90 KM as the heigth for reaching London from Peenemünde to London II. zur Maximale Reichweite - Using 90 KM (9x10*4) on scale I , then scale II would read about 7000 kg/m*2 = Ballistische belastung = 5163.2 lb.ft of load or stress on the rocket III. senkrechte Steighohe - Looks like this scale was only for very short distances up to 80 KM using the top of scale IV as the distance desired and then looking at III to see how high up the rocket had to go to reach the distances on the top of scale IV. IV. Maximale Reichweite - using this scale with III gave the maximum distance for the height in scale III. V. zur max. Reichw. - Using the bottom of the scale, scale V, to hit longer distances, say 950 KM to hit London, yields on scale V. VI. Brennschlussgeschwindigkeit - Yields a end of burn velocity 900 m/sec to reach London or a target at 950 KM. Archive - Image from Pennemünde Museum |
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 REF A4D Skyhawk Computer Mil-C-15794 
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A4D Skyhawk Computer Mil-C-15794 Made in USA - Alegheny Plastics. Owned by Astronaut Paul Weitz B.Sc., Aeronautical Engineering, Pennsylvania State Univ.,1954; M.Sc., Aeronautical Engineering, USN Postgraduate School,1964; Received Naval commission and served a year at sea before entering flight school and receiving pilots wings in 1956. Remained with the USN, serving in various capacities until selected by NASA in 1966. 1973, CMP of the first NASA space station mission where he assisted in the repair of the Skylab Orbital Workshop performing 2 EVA's during his near one month stay. 1983, CDR of the maiden voyage of the Space Shuttle Challenger which featured the first EVA's of the Shuttle program. Following STS-6, named Deputy Director, Johnson Space Center where he remained until retirement from NASA in May 1994. 
 Astronaut Paul Weitz on Skylab 2 at the controls of the Apollo Telescope Mount. Notice the circular slide rule mounted at the top of the panel. |
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 B-24 (D,E,G,H,J) Bomber Load Adjuster Slide Rule (1944) ISRM 12.08.05.01 
 Lyle Wells and wife Antoinette in Belgium, 1946 |
B-24 (D,E,G,H,J) Bomber Load Adjuster Slide Rule Made in USA by Cox & Stevens for the U.S. Government. Reference: PB4Y-1. For Aircraft Tail Number 49085 The Consolidated-built heavy bomber was produced in more numbers than any other U. S. World War II combat aircraft. Over 18,000 of these versatile four-engine bombers were built for the U.S. Army Air Corps, Navy, and Allies from 1939-1945 by Consolidated plants in San Diego and Fort Worth, by Henry Ford at Willow Run, MI, and by North American at Dallas. Donated by Lyle Wells of Henderson, Nevada Lyle Wells was born May 26, 1923. He married his wife, Antoinette, in 1946 in Belgium while he was in the Army. They were married for 65 years and have one son. Lyle was drafted on March 12, 1943 and served until 1953 spending most of his time in France, Belgium and Germany as a master sargeant in the 515 engineer outfit. After returning to the United States, Lyle was an operating engineer for over 20 years and also owned two businesses. He was a recreational pilot and remembers needing to have a slide rule in order to obain his pilot's license. Although he was only able to go to school until the 8th grade before having to earn a living. Lyle remembers that his wife, who spoke 5 languages, was always better than him with the slide rule. At 89 years of age as of 2012, Lyle rides his mountain bike an average of 10-15 miles per day and the only pills he takes are vitamins. (Biography contributed by Donna Silva of Wishing Well Glass. |
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 REF B-25J Load Adjuster Slide Rule 
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B-25J Load Adjuster Slide Rule Made in USA - Cox and Stevens Aircraft Co.Mineola, NY Reference PBJ-1J. The North American B-25 was among the famous twin engine medium bombers used during World War II. It was the most widely produced American twin engine combat aircraft, with approximately 10,000 produced, in a total of 8 major models. No doubt, part of its heroic stature derives from its namesake, the outspoken Gen. Billy Mitchell who proved once and for all that bombers could destroy targets, and that wars would nevermore be decided only on land or sea. The B-25 achieved worldwide fame on April 18, 1942. Sixteen B-25's, under the command of Lt. Col. James Doolittle, were launched from the aircraft carrier Hornet in a daring raid on five Japanese cities including Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Nagoya, and Kobe. Archive - Scan donated by Richard Davis, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
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 REF S-42 Sikorsky Pan Am Clipper Ship Load Adjuster Slide Rule |
S-42 Sikorsky Pan Am Clipper Ship Load Adjuster Slide Rule Made in USA - Cox and Stevens Aircraft Co.Mineola, NY The Sikorsky S-42 is regarded as the first truely American seaplane and was described as the "most beautiful aircraft of its time." Manufactured by the Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Division of the United Aircraft Corporation in Stratford, Connecticut.. The aircraft first flew on March 30, 1934. A total of 10 aircraft were built. These were the first of the great Pan American Airways Clipper Flying Boats and the first true over ocean transport. 
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 REF Pickett Model 100 Douglas Sky Rule |
Pickett Model 100 Douglas Sky Rule Made in USA for Douglas Aircraft - 1952 Front Scale (A side) Dynamic Pres., Temp Rise [ Static Pres., Pres. Alt, Density Alt., C ] D, True Mach. TAIS Back Scale (B side) Impact Pres., Std. Temp., Pres. Alt. [ Temp. Venier, Pres. Alt. ] True Mach No., Dial Airspeed. ] Blank Archive - Herman's SR Catalogue |
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 ISRM AN-5837-1 Alititude Correction Computer - c1943 |
AN-5837-1 Alititude Correction Computer - c1943 Made in USA under a 1943 USAAF contract by G. Felsenthal & sons, Chicago, Illinois. (Mfr's Part No. FAA-9) Note: Other known manufacturers of this device were Cruver Manufacturing Co. (Mfr's Part No. C1920) and J.B. Carroll Company of Chicago (Mfr's Part No. 101) Front Scale: Pressure Altitude at Ground in Feet, Mean Temperature (True Altitude in Feet, Indicated Altitude in Feet ) Back Scale: Instructions Label on box: "If in storage after Aug 15, 1948 this instrument to be tested and re-inspected before issue" Donated By Carlee Heit of Houston, Texas in memory of her late husband Ray Heit. One of many specimens in Ray's collection. 
Carton
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 REF Time Distance Computer Type D-4 USAAF - c1943 |
Time Distance Computer Type D-4 USAAF - c1943 Made in USA under a 1943 USAAF contract by General Luminescant Corp Note: Other known manufacturers of this device were Cruver Manufacturing Co. Front Scale: True Altitude, Air Temp, Press. Alt. (ETA, Air Speed ) Back Scale: Cal. Air Speed, Air Temp, True A.S. (presure Altitude, Density Altitude) 
Carton
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 ISRM Dalton Dead Reckoning Computer Type E6B AN-5835-1 Military Version cWWII |
Dalton Dead Reckoning Computer - Type E6B AN-5835-1 Made in USA by Weems System of Navigation, Annapolis, Maryland, 1932 Invented by Philip Dalton, LTJG (1903 - 1941) United States Military Scientist Patent: 2,097,116  Philip Dalton BiographyFront Scale: Distance Naut Miles, True Air Speed (Time Min, Hrs, Density Altitude, Air Temp ) Back Scale: Wind Correction Angle( True Heading ) Donated by the estate of James Robert Weber, Lafayette, Colorado
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 Maurice Damien AAF40-4 Aviation Flight Computer REF |
Maurice Damien AAF40-4 Aviation Flight Computer Made in France Front Scale (extended): Distance (Time (Minutes), Time (Hours), Temp Air, Altimeter Correction Back scale: Course and Wind Drift Correction Note: Photo printed using 'Photal Process' Scan By Gonzalo Martin Collection, photocalcul.com
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 S217 Soviet-LFAI Aviation Navigator's |
Soviet Aviation Navigator's Made in USSR Scales: The Corrected height, Height and speed on the device, Distance, Radiuses of a turn - distances - heights |
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 S531 Soviet-LFAI Aviation Navigator's |
Soviet-LFAI Aviation Navigator's Made in USSR Scales: The Corrected height, Height and speed on the device, Distance, Radiuses of a turn - distances - heights |
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 ISRM Dalton Dead Reckoning Computer Type E6B Commercial Version Post WWII |
Dalton Dead Reckoning Computer - Type E6B Commercial Version Made in USA by Weems System of Navigation, Annapolis, Maryland, Post WWII Invented by Philip Dalton, LTJG (1903 - 1941) Patent: 2,097,116 Front Scale: Distance Naut Miles, True Air Speed (Time Min, Hrs, Density Altitude, Air Temp ) Back Scale: Wind Correction Angle( True Heading ) Donated By Carlee Heit in memory of her late husband Ray Heit. One of many specimens in Ray's collection 
Instructions (8.51MB PDF)
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 ISRM American Airlines Navigational Computer Type "B" |
American Airlines Navagitional Computer Type "B" Made in USA by American Airlines, Inc. Serial Number B-11139, 1941, rev 1942 Front Scale: Distance Naut Miles, True Air Speed (Time Min, Hrs, Density Altitude, Air Temp ) Back Scale: Wind Correction Angle( True Heading ) Original Owner: Charles H. Eaton (1913 - 1982) used this slide rule from 1949-1972 as a professional pilot and aircraft engineer. He had his first airplane, a Curtis Junior, at 18 years old. Graduated in aeronautical engineering from California Polytechnic Institute in 1932. In the 1930s he flew for Paul Mantz Air Service, among others, and was a flight instructor in WW II, logging 2600 hrs teaching precision aerobatics. After the war he supervised conversion of military aircraft to civilian use, flew for American Airlines, Lockheed Aircraft, and Vinnell Corp, a world-wide heavy construction firm. In retirement he built two experimental airplanes. Donated by Prof. Robert C. Eaton, Univ of Colorado, in memory of his father. 
 12.1MB PDF |
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 ISRM Jeppesen Computer Model R-1 |
Jeppesen Computer Model R-1 Made in USA by Jeppesen, Denver Colorado, 1955 Copyright 1955 by Ray Lahr, Patent # 2,528,518 Front Scale: Distance Naut Miles, Gal.True Air Speed (Time Min, Hrs, Density Altitude, Air Temp, True Altitude, Pressure Altidue) Back Scale: Wind Correction Angle( True Heading ) Donated by the estate of James Robert Weber, Lafayette, Colorado |
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 ISRM Whitehead Holding Pattern Computer |
Whitehead Holding Pattern Computer Made in USA by Whithead, 2900 N. Keystone ST., Burbank, California Front Scale: Inbound Holding Course, Outbound Course Back Scale: Inbound Holding Course, Outbound Course Original Owner: Charles H. Eaton (1913 - 1982) Donated by Prof. Robert C. Eaton, Univ of Colorado, in memory of his father. |
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 ISRM Safetech E6-B Flight Computer Model FDF-60 |
Safetech E6-B Flight Computer Model FDF-60 Made in USA by Safetech, Newtown, PA, c1977-1986 Front Scale Distance Naut Miles, True Air Speed (Time Min, Hrs, Density Altitude, Air Temp ) Back Scale Wind Correction Angle( True Heading ) Slide: Sectional ands Wide Area Chart Scales Owner: Mike Konshak, Private Pilot with Instrument Rating 
 3.39MB PDF |
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 ISRM Air Force Type MB-2A Air Navigation Computer |
Air Force Type MB-2A Air Navigation Computer Made in USA by JB Carroll Co. Chicago, c1949-1956 4.25 inch Diameter, Patent USA 2,528,518 (1950) and 2,767,919 (1956) Front Scale Cal. Air Speed, True Air Speed, Temp Rise, Mach Number (Pressure Altitude, Indicated Air Temp ) Back Scale Course, Reative Wind ( wind , Corrected alt, Minutes, Hours, Wind, Drift, altitude ) Original Owner Stationed at Souix City Air Base, Iowa. Donated by Jason McHenry, Tucson, Arizona 
 5.91MB PDFIncludes insert on atomic bomb survival. |
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 ISRM Aero Products Research CR-6 (Aviation) Computer |
Aero Products Research CR-6 (Aviation) Computer Made in USA by Aero Products Research, Los Angeles, CA. 6 inch Diameter, 5 disks + Cursor. Copyright 1974 Front Scale Cal. Air Speed, True Air Speed, Temp Rise, Mach Number, TAS Knots, Speed/Fuel Conversions (Indicated Air Speed, CAS, Pressure Altitude, Indicated Air Temp ) Back Scale True Air Speed Index, Magnetic Course, Relative Wind( True Course ( Wind Drift )) Donated by Carlee Heit, Houston, Texas, in memory of Ray Heit. Ray Heit Collection.  8.4MB PDF |
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 REF - Felsenthal PT-3 Aviation Computer |
Felsenthal PT-3 Aviation Computer Made in Chigao, IL (1970) Front Scale - Flight scales Back Scale - - Flight scales Archive - Scan donated by Bob Denny |
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 REF W&G Aerial Dead Reckoning Computer R.A.A.F. Mk 1 |
W&G Aerial Dead Reckoning Computer R.A.A.F. Mk 1 Made in Australia by White & Gillespie Front Scale: Distance Naut Miles, True Air Speed (Time Min, Hrs, Density Altitude, Air Temp ) Back Scale: Wind Correction Angle( True Heading ) Scan provided by Cyril Catt. Australia |
