At first the Germans did not feel there was
any need for crowding a cockpit with unnecessary things such as instruments. A compass,
fuel and RPM gauges and the odd pressure measuring devices were deemed to
suffice. Upon capturing some well-equipped allied aircraft envy seemed to have
kicked in and perhaps the loss of the odd pilot contributed as well.
ASI mounted on outer strut of Albatros DVa – G-WAHT
The Airspeed Indicator
Whereas the British and the French decided to
use pitot tubes and air pressure measuring devices with good aerodynamic
properties…. . The Germans decided to start to put their engineering prowess
to work and came up with the Anemometer, a rather bulky and fragile device with
the aerodynamic properties of a brick. Unfortunately, it turned out that
mounting this lump anywhere near the cockpit resulted in interesting readings
to which such nuisances as the propeller somewhat contributed. After some test
runs minus a propeller and the associated engine blow ups it became clear that
a mount far away ie on the outer strut might be feasible, but the pilot needed a
rather keen eyesight. Needless to say, after 3 years of stubborn insistence the
Germans grudgingly copied a system that is still in use.
