Videns From Argentina, joined Mar 2004, 133 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1749 times:
Today I was once again on Reagan's Air Force 1, and in the cockpit, to the left of the flight engineer's seat, is a box labeled "Flight Data Recorder". It has several numbers to punch-in, including Day, Month, and Take-Off Weight. I don't remember the others, but my question is:
Why would they have to enter the Take-Off Weight into the FDR? Is that done in modern aircraft as well? What happens if the number entered is not correct (Either way, under, or overweight)?
Any info appreciated.
v
Travel? Why would i travel if I can watch it on TV?
Oly720man From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 6179 posts, RR: 11 Reply 1, posted (7 years 8 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1722 times:
Presumably so they have a record of the weight should anything happen (? is the FDR a black box or just used to save the data for each flight) and they can relate that to the behaviour of the aircraft.
If the weight is wrong (either entered wrongly or measured wrongly) it would affect any analysis.
Man City p3 w3 d0 l0 f4 a0 P9 - hey it may never happen again!
Avioniker From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 1109 posts, RR: 11 Reply 3, posted (7 years 8 months 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1665 times:
The plane in question had a very rudimentary system called VGH installed for at least a little while which required the crew to enter that information. This was in addition to the later added foil tape drive recorder. You need to find someone with either the last pubs or personal knowledge to find out what you're looking at.
You might just try calling the 89th at Andrews to see if there's any "old heads" left "lying about".
The TO weight would be a parameter to be added in the calculation when the engineers are evaluating airframe stress vs. age.
One may educate the ignorance from the unknowing but stupid is forever. Boswell; ca: 1533
Venus6971 From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 1409 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (7 years 8 months 1 week 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1578 times:
I am an old 89th 707 guy, some of the older systems that were on the jets were simply not used since the 707's got cockpit upgrades. Did you also notice the Loran system on the the navs station which was still operable but useless unless you flying around the Aleutions or the Bering Straight .
Sponsor Message: 
From Argentina, joined Mar 2004, 133 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 6179 posts, 
From India, joined Jan 2001, 31201 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 1109 posts, 
Sponsor Message: 
Printer friendly format
