Hanging in Duncan Aviation's Calibration Services Lab is a poster about the History of the Egyptian Cubit. It depicts the beginning of tool calibration more than 5,000 years ago. Many similarities to modern calibrations still remain.
It is believed that around 3,000 B.C., the Egyptian unit of length was established. The Royal Egyptian cubit was decreed to be equal to the length of the forearm from the bent elbow to the tip of the extended middle finger plus the width of the palm of the hand of the Pharaoh ruling at the time. The Royal Cubit Master was carved from a block of black granite to endure for all time (the equivalent of today’s primary standard).
Workers building tombs, temples, and pyramids were supplied with cubit sticks made of wood or granite. The Royal Architect or foreman of each construction site was responsible for maintaining and transferring the unit of length to the workers’ cubit sticks (modern tool calibration). It was required that the cubit sticks be brought at each full moon (calibration cycle) for comparison with the Royal Cubit Master to ensure their accuracy. Failure to do so was punishable by death (OK, some things have changed).
The strict accuracy of the cubit is why many magnificent structures, such as the Egyptian pyramids, survive today. Egyptians took their metrology very seriously, and as a result, their measurement accuracy was impressive. Over a distance of 230 meters, measurements typically varied by only 0.05%.
Maintaining tool accuracy through periodic calibrations remains extremely important to ensure that a unit or measure can be transferred from one aircraft to another and from one country to the next.
The next time you reach for that torque wrench or micrometer, ask yourself, “Am I getting the most accurate reading I need? How do I find out?”
Duncan Aviation’s Calibration Services use NIST traceable standards to calibrate M&TE (measuring & test equipment). Bring your tools with you the next time your business aircraft is serviced at one of our full-service maintenance facilities. They will be returned to you when you are ready to leave, properly calibrated and ready for use.
Can’t be long without your tools? Send them to us and request expedited service. Your tools will move to the top of the list.
For a complete list of our calibration capabilities, download the Duncan Aviation Calibrations Fact Sheet.
To schedule service or receive a quote, contact:
Duncan Aviation Calibrations Services at +1 402.479.1698, or via email at: Calibration@DuncanAviation.com
Ship via FedEx (with special FedEx zip code) to:
Duncan Aviation Calibration Services
4001 N Park Rd
Lincoln, NE
68500
All other carriers, ship to:
Duncan Aviation Calibration Services
4001 N Park Rd
Lincoln, NE
68524