Spindrift Cockpit

Aside from the typical assortment of surplus instrument panels found in all Irwin Allen spacecraft, the "Spindrift" featured an unusual dual flight control arrangement.  The purpose is not clear but each crewman had a sliding yoke type control, similar to those found in commercial transports, and a panel mounted control stick such as the type found in fighter.  The only conclusion we can draw is that one set of controls was meant for atmospheric flight and the other is for space flight operations.  The yoke was designed and built by the studio but the stick is military surplus.  These sticks, which were also used in the "Flying Sub" (Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea), are actually the input control for auto-pilots which were installed in late model WWII B-17s and other bombers of that era.

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