Forum: F-16 Design & Construction

guardbaby wrote:

The modified FLIR/LANA A-7D/K had coupled ATF - but wasn't it down to 200'? Any return that broke the E2 template caused a fly-up.

I got a ride in the backseat of a LANA K on a day off in Viper school. The guy coupled it up to the selectable 200 foot clearance plane on a few legs between a couple of waypoints which, for the desert, cut thru variably hilly terrain. Don’t remember all the details, but it was a reasonably smooth and precise ride. I recall the coupled recoveries back to 200 feet on the backside of small ridges were suitably aggressive.

I was just glad it was daylight. Shocked

OL

F-16.net Sponsor

The FLIR/LANA system on the A-7D/K was an accurate and reliable system. Gums, the autopilot was coupled to the radar set clearance for Auto TF. I worked in the Crystal Palace (Avionics) east of the 162nd Pizza Hut, in the old WCS shop. We took care of most of the new digital systems. The ATF coupler though was handled by the AFCS/Inst shop. It was an easy system to maintain and calibrate - it would have done well in the first Gulf war. I remember one of the O'lab pilots would brag about having a hands-off snack at 200' while in Auto TF at night. Talk like that would keep me honest in doing LRU calibrations. That was a good bunch of folks working at the O'Lab. Thumb

Forum: F-16 Design & Construction

Radar Altimeter