tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post4699074864233985687..comments2024-03-29T06:29:15.928-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: Tales From the Ramp - Front Radar ScopesOldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-89658825315199227402015-01-24T10:57:31.518-08:002015-01-24T10:57:31.518-08:00There is a panel in the pilot's office which i...There is a panel in the pilot's office which is called the WRCS control panel. The entire system: radar, gunsight etc was the WCS system.<br /><br />Oddly enough, we didn't maintain the WRCS panel, I think the weapons guys handled that. (The guys who maintained the weapons racks and such.)<br /><br />Then again, it was a long, long (ever so long) time ago.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-1968433071152655562015-01-24T10:55:48.819-08:002015-01-24T10:55:48.819-08:00Oh yeah, that bird in the photo had some issues.
...Oh yeah, that bird in the photo had some issues.<br /><br />But not when it left!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-62118291741604451522015-01-24T10:55:08.980-08:002015-01-24T10:55:08.980-08:00To be honest Russ, I thought it was spelled "...To be honest Russ, I thought it was spelled "zeus" as well. When I went looking for information, lo and behold, "Dzus" fasteners. It's still pronounced "zeus."<br /><br />As Buck liked to say, "I had no ideer."OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-70693335445009849622015-01-24T08:50:18.315-08:002015-01-24T08:50:18.315-08:00And as usual, I learned something new from your po...And as usual, I learned something new from your post. All the years I worked the mighty F4 I never knew it was spelled Dzus. Everyone always pronounced and spelled it - zeus fasteners. And that must have been one broke bird. Missing the sync, power supply, modulator and the cover is off the TIC. Serious stuff!rkinionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05432551832152096206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-88220647010705844362015-01-24T07:23:39.858-08:002015-01-24T07:23:39.858-08:00You're right, the APQ-100/APQ109 systems were ...You're right, the APQ-100/APQ109 systems were maintenance intensive because they were tube based analog systems. Because the 'powers-that-be' wanted the planes back in action as soon as possible, we only fixed them enough to fly the next sortie instead doing it properly. That started in SEA when there weren't enough planes and too many missions. We actually had what they called a "fast turn area" at Phu Cat where if the plane returned with no major write-ups (usually a radar problem) they would reload bombs, fuel and a new aircrew and send them right back out on the next mission.rkinionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05432551832152096206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-46585083409688514572015-01-24T01:18:46.269-08:002015-01-24T01:18:46.269-08:00@Sarge/
Isn't it technically labeled the WRCS...@Sarge/<br /><br />Isn't it technically labeled the WRCS control panel, the "R" standing for "release." because that's all I ever remember it being called.--Says the geezer slowly slipping into dementia (according to my Fearless Leader)virgil xenophonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14577165785872035948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-2453348539479458822015-01-23T20:33:31.382-08:002015-01-23T20:33:31.382-08:00As an Army engineer, I figured you were the recipi...As an Army engineer, I figured you were the recipient of the occasional scrape, bump and/or bruise.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-83476565386816161972015-01-23T20:31:05.247-08:002015-01-23T20:31:05.247-08:00Can't remember if I scraped my hands that time...Can't remember if I scraped my hands that time but you are absolutely correct. Well Seasoned Foolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16670165728759453075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-89547144775244934082015-01-23T20:17:03.849-08:002015-01-23T20:17:03.849-08:00Minot.
Good Lord. I've heard stories.
Went t...Minot.<br /><br />Good Lord. I've heard stories.<br /><br />Went there once, in early June. Short three day TDY, which reminds me of a story. (Of course.)<br /><br />How was the sortie rate when the radar was maintained exactly as the T.O. required? I recall the AN/APQ-109 being kind of maintenance intensive. Even when it was working.<br /><br />Then again, that was a long, long time ago.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-57007949589789086532015-01-23T20:13:20.257-08:002015-01-23T20:13:20.257-08:00Wow...Wow...OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-89001825363154651342015-01-23T19:20:43.674-08:002015-01-23T19:20:43.674-08:00I don't think there's any place colder tha...I don't think there's any place colder than the flight line during the winter in a cold climate. When I left Kadena, I had an assignment for a special research project for Westinghouse. Apparently Westinghouse was offended that WCS always planned on one radar write-up per sortie. They talked the Air Force into providing them with 6 F4D's at Tyndall AFB in Florida so that they could prove that if the radar was maintained exactly as the T.O.'s required, the failure rate would drop dramatically. And it did. We went from an average of one write-up per sortie to one per 15 sorties. <br /><br />Westinghouse then decided that for proper testing, we needed to fly sorties in a cold climate so two of the F4's and two of us WCS types were sent TDY to Minot AFB in February. Three weeks in North Dakota with daytime temps not getting above 10 degrees and winds averaging 15 to 30 mph almost every day really makes you appreciate the Florida climate!! I think it took a month back in the Florida climate till I could find my nads! :-] But extremely happy that they didn't decide to send us to Thule!!!! (The failure rate did go up in such extreme cold but it was still only one write-up per 9 - 10 sorties)rkinionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05432551832152096206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-39332563722138717242015-01-23T18:45:54.044-08:002015-01-23T18:45:54.044-08:00OCT 1966 - At the incoming briefing at Fort Devens...OCT 1966 - At the incoming briefing at Fort Devens, the Colonel would meet and greet all new arrivals. I remember him as an imposing figure . . . tall, white-haired, handle-bar mustache, carrying a large Irish shillelagh. He told us that he expected us to be and act like soldiers. He told us that the U.S. Army had awarded him every medal on the books but the Good Conduct Medal . . . and he was most proud of that fact. Don't be afraid to admit to getting in trouble. Accept the punishment, then get on with serving. He was always a soldier first.snuffynyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12843569994073955970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-76116433816510839852015-01-23T17:23:57.677-08:002015-01-23T17:23:57.677-08:00Indeed!Indeed!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-47251198377251057872015-01-23T17:23:35.248-08:002015-01-23T17:23:35.248-08:00Why gee, no thank you. Thule, it's where naugh...Why gee, no thank you. Thule, it's where naughty airmen go to repent their sins. That or Shemya in the Aleutians. Brrrrrrrr.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-51843040993530474522015-01-23T16:43:29.363-08:002015-01-23T16:43:29.363-08:00Not bad... not bad... :-) Try a prop change on a P...Not bad... not bad... :-) Try a prop change on a P-3 in Thule in March... Ambient -60, windchill -105... THAT was chilly... Old NFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404197287935017147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-11336202428048821242015-01-23T16:11:19.484-08:002015-01-23T16:11:19.484-08:00Nor mine, but if it's routine, you kinda know ...Nor mine, but if it's routine, you kinda know what's next.(not necessarily your) Uncle Skiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705753220273516841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-88848927964272483452015-01-23T11:42:12.325-08:002015-01-23T11:42:12.325-08:00That would be my guess too Freddy.That would be my guess too Freddy.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-78113799211366804122015-01-23T11:40:46.021-08:002015-01-23T11:40:46.021-08:00I will sleep better tonight.
As long as my nads a...I will sleep better tonight.<br /><br />As long as my nads are warm.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-10263345813781681662015-01-23T11:20:03.895-08:002015-01-23T11:20:03.895-08:00I would postulate that the maintainer probably ord...I would postulate that the maintainer probably ordered the correct cannon plug and supply furnished the incorrect canon plug. When the maintainer discovered the error, he probably was more interested in getting the bird into an "up" status than getting the cannon plug with the wings.<br />freddyboomboomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835568456556169296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-19475038744455187322015-01-23T11:12:00.193-08:002015-01-23T11:12:00.193-08:00Colei Glacialis- Latin for frozen testicles. I...Colei Glacialis- Latin for frozen testicles. I'm helpful that way.Tunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04930237104692982421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-79843982935334639362015-01-23T10:49:44.807-08:002015-01-23T10:49:44.807-08:00One more note, "routine" is not always &...One more note, "routine" is not always "normal." At least not in my world.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-37070810532082844832015-01-23T10:48:38.119-08:002015-01-23T10:48:38.119-08:00Ooh, ooh, do tell!Ooh, ooh, do tell!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-243421918929662162015-01-23T10:45:27.707-08:002015-01-23T10:45:27.707-08:00And that is pretty awesome Brad.And that is pretty awesome Brad.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-88915427350068498712015-01-23T10:44:51.564-08:002015-01-23T10:44:51.564-08:00I remember those days.
Yes, ironic indeed. (I'...I remember those days.<br /><br />Yes, ironic indeed. (I'm sure it's a case of <em>Great Minds</em> thinking alike and all that.)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-37936311760242068432015-01-23T10:40:41.952-08:002015-01-23T10:40:41.952-08:00The wife is from Wisconsin, married her a couple o...The wife is from Wisconsin, married her a couple of years after the Kun. Went to visit her family the Christmas after the wedding, and it was cold. Cold enough to have ice on the inside windshield of the Rental Car. Cold enough to remind me of Kunsan, but not AS cold as Kunsan! Which reminds me of a story.....(Monday)juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.com