Now we are into cars and planes - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

10 Mar 2001

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe &lt;rigdonj(a)intellistar.net&gt;
To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org &lt;classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org&gt;
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 &lt;rigdonj(a)intellistar.net&gt;

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.