tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post2934542362546234332..comments2024-03-29T02:32:07.583-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: Tales from The Dark Side (of the Ramp)OldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-17920129707095661562014-07-19T12:40:10.900-07:002014-07-19T12:40:10.900-07:00Radar not transmitting in Standby - check.
My fav...Radar not transmitting in Standby - check.<br /><br />My favorite? Radar will not transmit in O.F.F. mode. Seriously.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-53337011994522751072014-07-17T14:54:30.097-07:002014-07-17T14:54:30.097-07:00You guys used WUCs (Work Unit Code) and JCNs (Job ...You guys used WUCs (Work Unit Code) and JCNs (Job Control Number), too? Coolness.<br /><br />Did you ever get the "RADAR will not transmit in standby" gripe? Or any of a hundred other ones that were fixed with "well, yeah, did you read the manual on how to operate that aircraft before you took it out for a spin?"<br /><br />When The Wife and I toured the Old Grey Lady (aka USS Midway CV-41) I ducked under the chain so I could visit my old rack (aka bunk). B36 in compartment A-107-1L if you're interested. Still had the chewing gum I'd left on the light fixture. I got nabbed by one of the museum folks on my way back out, and only got a "you're not supposed to be back here".freddyboomboomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835568456556169296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-36265864931332703672014-07-10T08:10:19.447-07:002014-07-10T08:10:19.447-07:00Heh.Heh.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-16374333414029776542014-07-10T07:47:01.560-07:002014-07-10T07:47:01.560-07:00I just tried the Ctrl + and sure enough, the margi...I just tried the Ctrl + and sure enough, the margins don't stay within the confines of the monitor.<br /><br />I think part of the problem is that I have a much wider layout than some (most?) other blogs. Quite honestly I set things up for my monitor at home and for my laptop. Things seem to be okay on my smart phone as well.<br /><br />I think it's the wide layout I use. I went to your place, started zooming in and the font got pretty big and your margins were still visible.<br /><br />I may experiment in the near future with a modified layout. Particularly using a larger font as my default. We shall see.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-47536287963761582332014-07-10T00:16:45.265-07:002014-07-10T00:16:45.265-07:00I don't get it. We use the same tool for blogg...I don't get it. We use the same tool for blogging. Everywhere else lets me CTRL+ to increase the size of the font and retains the page image while expanding the print. This one is unique. It doesn't. When I embiggen, the margins go all the way to Maine.<br /><br />It has always been thus and if it's just me, well, that's life. Up with that we can put.HMS Defianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10024721130102173694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-71111703337056147982014-07-09T18:31:04.059-07:002014-07-09T18:31:04.059-07:00LOL, 'I' only did debriefs in air-conditio...LOL, 'I' only did debriefs in air-conditioned spaces... :-)Old NFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404197287935017147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-64547462234734734952014-07-09T16:22:25.882-07:002014-07-09T16:22:25.882-07:00I knew he was a freaking alien!
(I'd heard hi...I knew he was a freaking alien!<br /><br />(I'd heard his wife was NFL ready.)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-25828615583133457362014-07-09T16:21:43.462-07:002014-07-09T16:21:43.462-07:00Sounds about right.
You remember a lot of that st...Sounds about right.<br /><br />You remember a lot of that stuff Russ! I did remember the 7-level torque the radome thing. I even remember what it sounded like. Odd that.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-44368789162887340592014-07-09T15:52:03.516-07:002014-07-09T15:52:03.516-07:00I used to butt heads with the Drapire at Luke AFB ...I used to butt heads with the Drapire at Luke AFB in '72. He ran mids and used to line up his troops at the beginning of the shift for full inspection. Uniforms had to be clean and freshly pressed, boots polished and hair better be exactly within 35-10 standards. I then had the privilege of facing him again at Kadena. I always wondered why he practically lived at the shop and then one day I saw him at the BX with his wife. She looked like Dick Butkus only she was bigger and had a better mustache!!rkinionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05432551832152096206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-61972147039892070142014-07-09T15:46:54.020-07:002014-07-09T15:46:54.020-07:00We used a 3/8" ratchet with a 3/8" to 1/...We used a 3/8" ratchet with a 3/8" to 1/4" adapter. The 1/4" fit the bolt heads for opening and closing the radome and the adapter was switched to a torque wrench to torque the bolts to spec. If you remember, only a 7-level could torque a radome!<br /><br />rkinionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05432551832152096206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-65190440048365234172014-07-09T15:12:50.618-07:002014-07-09T15:12:50.618-07:00Yup, I definitely had you in mind.Yup, I definitely had you in mind.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-63033174840148449952014-07-09T14:37:16.047-07:002014-07-09T14:37:16.047-07:00Ok, now that's just funny! Especially the rud...Ok, now that's just funny! Especially the rudder and Holloman connections!juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-19312315170398461072014-07-09T10:40:39.289-07:002014-07-09T10:40:39.289-07:00Oh, definitely re-blog that. Sounds like a fantast...Oh, definitely re-blog that. Sounds like a fantastic story!<br /><br />You sound like a old-timey kind of American, the kind that wants to know how everything works. Sadly there seem to be too few of those around now-a-days.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-83062442616384757942014-07-09T10:21:24.306-07:002014-07-09T10:21:24.306-07:00I should probably re-blog the story about the time...I should probably re-blog the story about the time that I got thrown out of Wright-Patterson AF Museum back when I was younger. And about half of the ship museums that I've ever been on. And a mine tour. And yes, there's a pattern there.Murphy's Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-83699348490147566352014-07-09T09:39:12.067-07:002014-07-09T09:39:12.067-07:00I found this info out there on the web -
AN/APQ-7...I found this info out there on the web -<br /><br /><b>AN/APQ-72</b><br />Initial model, designed for the US Navy F-4A/B Phantom II. The 19th aircraft built replaced the AN/APQ-50 radar set with the evolved AN/APQ-72, which had a larger antenna that required fit of a new and bigger nose.<br /><br /><b>AN/APQ-100</b><br />Improved AN/APQ-72, designed for the US Air Force F-4C Phantom II.<br /><br /><b>AN/APQ-109</b><br />Radar based on the AN/APQ-100, but with enhanced air-to-ground modes. Used in F-4C/D/E Phantom II. The AN/APQ-109 was an improved, more reliable "hybrid" version of the AN/APQ-100 with solid-state components in the low-voltage sections.<br /><br />I worked on both the APQ-100 and APQ-109 radar sets.<br /><br />Wind catching the radome is a problem on land. The same thing on a carrier is what I'd call a MAJOR problem. Holy Crap! I can imagine that a change of skivvies was in order.<br /><br />I hadn't thought of the need to lug those heavy units around a ship. It's not like you could put them on a truck and drive them to the shop is it? Damn but that must have been a "thrill" (like you said).<br /><br />The 1/4" speed handle. Thanks for reminding me! One of the big deals for us was when you were made a 7-level (usually around the time you made E-5) which meant that you were pretty much fully trained. Which gave you the privilege of torquing those radome bolts and clearing the forms.<br /><br />It's great to hear from a Navy guy who had essentially the same job as myself. Stop by anytime Dick!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-80715148605374368722014-07-09T09:11:53.391-07:002014-07-09T09:11:53.391-07:00Worked on these for years in the USN. Our radar w...Worked on these for years in the USN. Our radar was the APQ-72, older than this one. F-4B.<br />Used a 1/4" speed handle to open and close the radome fasteners. Had a radome come off in<br />flight and we realized that the fasteners needed to be torqued. I damn near got knocked off the<br />flight deck opening one of these at the bow. Night time, underway and as I started to fold back<br />the radome, the wind caught it and slammed it around, with me hanging on to it. Swung my feed<br />off the deck. Time to change my skivvies. Carrying the transmitter or power supply section up<br />and down steep ladders was always a thrill. Lots of memories, not all good, but most are good.Dickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05286464602579225993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-86932518641535905332014-07-09T08:56:54.024-07:002014-07-09T08:56:54.024-07:00Interesting. It might just be you, or it could be ...Interesting. It might just be you, or it could be that Blogger put some "special" characters in the post that I can't see.<br /><br />I take it this is the first time you've seen this problem Cap'n?<br /><br />I've looked at the post on two separate computers and a smart phone and noticed nothing out of the ordinary. I will investigate further.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-60605334851711930602014-07-09T08:50:04.539-07:002014-07-09T08:50:04.539-07:00Any
chance
you
could
use
word
wrap
so
the text
doe...Any<br />chance<br />you<br />could<br />use<br />word<br />wrap<br />so<br />the text<br />doesn't<br />go<br />beyond the<br />limit<br />of<br />the<br />screen?<br />Just<br />curious.<br />OTOH,<br />could<br />just<br />be me.<br />In<br />which<br />case<br />never<br />mind.HMS Defianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10024721130102173694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-48743591632417407272014-07-09T08:11:16.115-07:002014-07-09T08:11:16.115-07:00Good point.
You'd be amazed at the stuff we u...Good point.<br /><br />You'd be amazed at the stuff we used to "play with" on the jet. We managed to figure out how to get the radios up and would listen to the tower freq (and others) when we were running a long test. Someone may have mentioned to us "don't do that" and here's how you're not supposed to do that. Believe me, I understand the curiosity angle. Mostly because I've "been there, done that."OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-37503679513595970212014-07-09T07:42:04.796-07:002014-07-09T07:42:04.796-07:00If not them, then someone else eventually. What ca...If not them, then someone else eventually. What can I say? I'm curious. But if they didn't want me touching stuff, they'd encase 'em in glass or something.Murphy's Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-14805651518955334322014-07-09T07:35:25.712-07:002014-07-09T07:35:25.712-07:00I'm guessing that I will probably regret telli...I'm guessing that I will probably regret telling you this, but...<br /><br />Here goes -<br /><br />There are four bolts holding the radome closed. If you stand facing the aircraft, those bolts are on radome nearest the fuselage at roughly the 2, 4, 8 and 10 o'clock positions. These are a female type receptacle, the size and shape of which I cannot remember clearly. A fella with a standard English system tool box would probably have the right tools to open the radome.<br /><br />On the right side of the aircraft, there is a small door, which if opened will reveal a cable which one attaches to the radome to hold it open. Extend that cable and plug it into the proper hole in the radome.<br /><br />If anyone asks, you didn't get this from me.<br /><br />(Will I be getting complaints from the docents on the <em>Midway</em>?)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-35364678621478036352014-07-09T07:08:12.164-07:002014-07-09T07:08:12.164-07:00So where's the button to swing open a Phantom&...So where's the button to swing open a Phantom's nose like that?Murphy's Lawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com