7 Nov
2000
7 Nov
'00
1:49 p.m.
"Mark Gregory" <gregorym(a)cadvision.com> said:
If the captions on the pictures (very nice, by the
way) are correct, this
Yes, they are terrific. Gene, tell us where this simulator is located.
simulator isn't an analog computer at all by the
definition I'm familiar
with. It uses tubes and relays, which are discrete digital components
Well others here have covered your misconception about tubes. But relays
are also an important part of an analog computer. Relays can be used to
connect and disconnect special circuits like weather, hazards, malfunctions.
Relays are also used on every integrator to set that integrator back to
it's initial conditions when the computer is reset.
What tells me that it's analog is:
* The fact that it has to stablize for 7 days
* The main output is plotting boards
* All of the panel meters I see
* The operator's panel is just switches and knobs
* "relay/tube" modules are just too big to be logic circuits.
* Aircraft simulators need the true parallel processing of an analog computer.
(Up until the early 70's)
* I really don't see anything that suggests digital components anywhere in
these pictures.
Thanks for the pictures Gene. Where I work in Sunnyvale is right on the
approach for NAS Moffett field. P3s fly over all the time.
--Doug
===================================================
Doug Coward dcoward(a)pressstart.com (work)
Sr Software Engineer mranalog(a)home.com (home)
Press Start Inc. http://www.pressstart.com
Sunnyvale,CA
Visit the new Analog Computer Museum and History Center
at http://www.best.com/~dcoward/analog
===================================================
7 Nov
7 Nov
2:22 p.m.
New subject: Electra sim computer (was: Re: "Basics of Analog Computers" book)
"Mark Gregory"
<gregorym(a)cadvision.com> said:
It's at Simulator Training, Inc. in SeaTac. So far, only one of the
listmembers here have found the other jewels in the collection (that I
know of). See http://deltasoft.fife.wa.us/BehindTheScenes.
If the captions on the pictures (very nice, by
the way) are correct, this
Yes, they are terrific. Gene, tell us where this simulator is located.
Thanks for the pictures Gene. Where I work in
Sunnyvale is right on the
approach for NAS Moffett field. P3s fly over all the time.
You're quite welcome. I think I'll take this moment to brag about _my_
baby. :) http://deltasoft.fife.wa.us/f15images.html - parts donations or
offers welcome! :)
g.
8 Nov
8 Nov
2:49 a.m.
New subject: Electra sim computer (was: Re: "Basics of Analog Computers" book)
On Tue, 7 Nov 2000, Gene Buckle wrote:
You're quite welcome. I think I'll take this
moment to brag about _my_
baby. :) http://deltasoft.fife.wa.us/f15images.html - parts donations or
offers welcome! :)
Would anyone know where an intact F14A might be located that would be
accessible by the public? The computer that controlled it contains a
pre-Intel microprocessor (lacking an on-chip program counter :)
I would love to get my hands on one (the computer), or at least see it in
its native environment.
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
4:08 a.m.
New subject: Electra sim computer (was: Re: "Basics of Analog Computers" book)
Would anyone know where an intact F14A might be
located that would be
accessible by the public? The computer that controlled it contains a
pre-Intel microprocessor (lacking an on-chip program counter :)
The Tillamook Naval Air Station Museum in Tillamook, OR has one. I don't
know if they'd let you go poking about in the avionics bays though.
I would love to get my hands on one (the computer), or
at least see it in
its native environment.
The F-15C (and possibly the E) has an ECM computer installed that uses the
Motorola 6800 as the CPU. What sucks is that there is a far more powerful
and sophisticated unit available, but no one wants to pony up the money
for the required test and evaluation programs.
g.
4:56 a.m.
New subject: Electra sim computer (was: Re: "Basics of Analog Computers" book)
On Wed, 8 Nov 2000, Gene Buckle wrote:
The F-15C (and possibly the E) has an ECM computer
installed that uses the
Motorola 6800 as the CPU. What sucks is that there is a far more powerful
and sophisticated unit available, but no one wants to pony up the money
for the required test and evaluation programs.
It doesn't surprise me for two reasons: 1) it would probably cost a lot of
time and money to do so and 2) if it is not broken, please do not attempt
repairs.
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
6:30 a.m.
New subject: Electra sim computer (was: Re: "Basics of Analog Computers" book)
The F-15C (and
possibly the E) has an ECM computer installed that uses the
Motorola 6800 as the CPU. What sucks is that there is a far more powerful
and sophisticated unit available, but no one wants to pony up the money
for the required test and evaluation programs.
It doesn't surprise me for two reasons: 1) it would probably cost a lot of
time and money to do so and 2) if it is not broken, please do not attempt
repairs.
7:05 a.m.
New subject: Electra sim computer (was: Re: "Basics of Analog Computers" book)
On Wed, 8 Nov 2000, Gene Buckle wrote:
The test & eval program was guessed at $600,000 to perform. I think what
bugs me is that the proposed new computer would give the TEWS gear an
order of magnitude jump in capability. It's a COTS design as well so the
per unit cost wouldn't be that much.
$600,000 for complete testing, including real-world flight testing?
$600,000 seems way too low for testing a complete new computer design in a
fighter jet. Maybe that was just for the software?
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
The F-15C (and possibly the E) has an ECM computer
installed that uses the
Motorola 6800 as the CPU. What sucks is that there is a far more powerful
and sophisticated unit available, but no one wants to pony up the money
for the required test and evaluation programs.
It doesn't surprise me for two reasons: 1) it would probably cost a lot of
time and money to do so and 2) if it is not broken, please do not attempt
repairs.
9:42 a.m.
New subject: Electra sim computer (was: Re: "Basics of Analog Computers" book)
$600,000 for complete testing, including real-world
flight testing?
$600,000 seems way too low for testing a complete new computer design in a
fighter jet. Maybe that was just for the software?
I think it was just for the computer itself, and not installed in the
aircraft.
g.
5:08 p.m.
New subject: Electra sim computer (was: Re: "Basics of Analog Computers" book)
On Wed, 8 Nov 2000, Gene Buckle wrote:
The actual testing required to implement a new control computer would
probably run into the millions. And if it ain't broke, nobody will
authorize millions to fix it :)
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
$600,000 for
complete testing, including real-world flight testing?
$600,000 seems way too low for testing a complete new computer design in a
fighter jet. Maybe that was just for the software?
I think it was just for the computer itself, and not installed in the
aircraft. 
8:20 a.m.
New subject: Electra sim computer (was: Re: "Basics of Analog Computers" book)
On Tue, 7 Nov 2000, Gene Buckle wrote:
> You're quite welcome. I think I'll take this moment to brag about _my_
> baby. :) http://deltasoft.fife.wa.us/f15images.html - parts donations or
> offers welcome! :)
Gene,
Damm, That's cool! It's quite a contrast to the old wagon sitting behind
it. One of the local surplus company had the cockpit section of a AH-64
helicopter on a stand like that. Unfortunatly it was out behind their place
and I missed it. I helped the buyer load it, he took it home to his kids.
He said they really got a kick out of it. It's about 8 feet high and 12
feet long and it's now sitting in his driveway. I hate to imagine what the
neighbors think!
Take a look at
"http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=492551831&ed=4925518
31". That's something you don't see everyday. It's a core memory unit
out
of an EA6B Wild Weasel.
Joe
7:31 a.m.
New subject: Electra sim computer (was: Re: "Basics of Analog Computers" book)
Damm, That's cool! It's quite a contrast to
the old wagon sitting behind
it. One of the local surplus company had the cockpit section of a AH-64
helicopter on a stand like that. Unfortunatly it was out behind their place
and I missed it. I helped the buyer load it, he took it home to his kids.
He said they really got a kick out of it. It's about 8 feet high and 12
feet long and it's now sitting in his driveway. I hate to imagine what the
neighbors think!
HEhehee. Tell him he needs to head over to http://www.simpits.org and
join the mailing list. We'll show him how to make it work. :)
g.
8809
days inactive
8811
days old
10 comments
4 participants
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dcoward＠pressstart.com -
foo＠siconic.com -
geneb＠deltasoft.com -
rigdonj＠intellistar.net