----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Pechter" <pechter_at_pechter.dyndns.org>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2001 5:13 PM
Subject: Re: Singer
> Boeing used Vax systems in their simulators.
Looks like Lockheed did too.
The P3 Orion simulator at RAAF Edinburgh (just out of Adelaide) uses a
herd of large Vaxen (8xxx series I think)
I believe it runs VMS and a custom written software package.
I've driven the simulator itself several times now, but never had a
chance to visit the machine
room, just a glimpse as we went past. I've promised myself that my next
posting there I will make it.
(Probably for a couple of weeks in June or July - depending what courses
we are running there at the time.)
If I do, I will see if I can get permission to take some pics of the
systems in operation, AFAIK, nothing
in there is classified except for the simulator software itself. This
is probably one of the last big Vax farms still
in current use, so some documentation is probably appropriate.
The simulator itself is a P3 cockpit on hydraulic stilts, and is
sufficiently realistic to make you airsick.
The view is night only, but it's very convincing. Only indication of
the systems attached to
it is the VT320 at the sim supervisors station just inside the door on
the left, with a curtain to hide it from the 'pilots'.
OT Background:
Edinburgh is the home of 10 and 11 Squadrons RAAF, which operate P3's in
the maritime surveillance role.
Commander, Maritime Patrol Group is the most senior RAAF officer in
South Australia, and whilst theoretically a Group Captain's position,
(~Full Colonel) it is normally held by an Air Commodore (~1 star
General)
Cheers
(Quick hat change)
FLGOFF (AIRTC) Geoff Roberts
Officer Commanding
No. 14 (City of Port Pirie) Flight
S.A. Squadron
Air Training Corps
geoffrob_at_stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au
ICQ: 1970476
Received on Mon Apr 16 2001 - 19:11:40 BST