07/04/2003

Neon Lights

Dad was a crew chief on B-17, B-29 and B-36.  Seems that they had a "neon"
indicator panel that had an NE-2 like neon light triggered thru a resistor to
the plugs.  So as the engine ran, the flight engineer got a visual readout
about the engine running in flight.  One light per plug.  Thru the fog of
time.

Anyhow, he had a JC Whitney Plug-o-meter that he ran on the Jeep and the early
chryslers before I went into the Navy.  Claimed you could tell when a plug was
fouling, and a bunch of other things observing the pattern.

Said by the B-36 that had in-flight O-scopes tied to the ignition - but you
never could monitor more than a couple of cylinders at a time with them.  Used
the neon thingee's to get a warning and then used the scope.

Any clues on how to make one work and would it be worth it and would it work
with hi voltage ignitions?

Be kinda neat to have flashing neons on the dash that actually meant
something.