17.06.2008, 23:42
Regarding the red/green lights:
After consulting Operating Instructions AN 01-65BC-1A (P-47D-25 through -35 models) from January 1945, it seems that the red and green lamps were a new feature starting with the P-47D-30 model. I don't know what kind of indicators were used for mid-production 'D' model aircraft. The panel diagram for D-25 through D-28 models makes no reference to landing gear lights.
Of course the B, C and early D models had a glass-faced gage that graphically show the position of the landing gear, tailwheel and flaps. I can't pinpoint when this style of indicator was phased out, but evidence supports that it wasn't because the red/green lights were immediately adopted instead. It just seems that the later razorbacks and many of the bubbletops didn't have a gear indicator or warning light of any kind--at least not on the instrument panel.
The color photos from the restored P-47M in my opening post show it as green on the left, red on the right. The P-47D-30RA color photos only show one bulb and and empty hole to the right of that where a second bulb probably should be. I can't be sure what color the sole bulb is.
I think it is time to pull out the movie "Thunderbolt!"
After consulting Operating Instructions AN 01-65BC-1A (P-47D-25 through -35 models) from January 1945, it seems that the red and green lamps were a new feature starting with the P-47D-30 model. I don't know what kind of indicators were used for mid-production 'D' model aircraft. The panel diagram for D-25 through D-28 models makes no reference to landing gear lights.
Of course the B, C and early D models had a glass-faced gage that graphically show the position of the landing gear, tailwheel and flaps. I can't pinpoint when this style of indicator was phased out, but evidence supports that it wasn't because the red/green lights were immediately adopted instead. It just seems that the later razorbacks and many of the bubbletops didn't have a gear indicator or warning light of any kind--at least not on the instrument panel.
The color photos from the restored P-47M in my opening post show it as green on the left, red on the right. The P-47D-30RA color photos only show one bulb and and empty hole to the right of that where a second bulb probably should be. I can't be sure what color the sole bulb is.
I think it is time to pull out the movie "Thunderbolt!"