Now we are into cars and planes

From: Mark Gregory <gregorym_at_cadvision.com>
Date: Sat Mar 10 10:20:34 2001

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe <rigdonj_at_intellistar.net>
To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Date: Friday, March 09, 2001 8:12 PM
Subject: Re: Now we are into cars and planes


>At 07:09 PM 3/9/01 -0500, Alison wrote:
>>From: Joe <rigdonj_at_intellistar.net>
>>>>
>>>>The A6 intruders during the Veitnam era were serial based on
>>>>a fixed disk. It was part of the nav and targeting system and
>>>>not fly by wire.
>>>>
>>>>Allison
>>>
>>> I recently had a memory unit for an EA-6. It used core memory. It
>>was
>>>SN 001 and the ICs dated from 1966 if I remember right. Of course, there
>>>was probably more than memory in the EA-6. I sold the unit but I can dig
>>>out the description and pictures if anyone's interested.
>>
>>
>>EA-6 is later and used updated hardware.
>
> It's hard to think of core memory as "updated" hardware. :-) I hate to
>imagine what an *earlier* fixed disk looked like!
>
> Joe
>
I seem to recall Stephen Coonts mentioning the A-6's nav system computers in
"Flight of the Intruder". IIRC, there's a passage where the navigator resets
the computer, and its mentioned that it uses rotating drum memory. That
would make sense for early versions of the A-6, since they were designed in
the late 1950's. Because of the A-6's extraordinarily long service life, it
wouldn't surprise me if it hadn't been fitted with every generation of
computer technology from drums to microchips during its many avionics
overhauls.

Cheers,
Mark.
Received on Sat Mar 10 2001 - 10:20:34 GMT