gums, tlb and all Fj- guys,
we had some kind of auto throttle as well, computed in our brain by reference to speed and attitude (present and desired) and implemented in our left elbow and hand.
Or did either of us need to do any kind of lengthy computing what kind of thrust setting would be suitable, aside from the first hours in the respective aircraft? How did we close formation takeoffs/ landings and WX penetration, how air refueling and AG bomb runs partly in single seat aircraft while navigating, comunicating and in bad days watching not to get shot down?
Now in the days of automation and magenta line training this ability to correlate speed and attitude to the thrust necessary has been lost, and a few (as i hope only a few) occupants of the front office ( i dare to name those pilots) even don't know anymore, what a AS indication is good for and what keeps an aircraft flying. Too many accidents happened that way.