Design considerations in aircraft instruments to meet war service

New conditions, imposed by the rapid advancement in aviation, have challenged industry to develop instruments capable of meeting rigid war requirements. This paper describes by general treatment and by reference to examples, how the design features of aircraft instruments have been influenced by wide ranges of operating temperatures, extreme conditions of shock and vibration, extension of altitude ranges, worldwide climatic conditions, adoption of new power supplies for aircraft, standardization of mechanical features necessary because of large-scale use, and the requirements of servicing. The design features discussed are generally applicable to all aircraft instruments.