Any B727's fitted with INS ?
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Planet Earth
Any B727's fitted with INS ?
I flew the lovely B727 for seven years.
Most of our Aircraft had just an ADF, two VOR / ILS and DME.
That was it for navigation. A few had OMEGA and, in the last few years they installed dual GPS receivers.
I am curious to know of any operator, worldwide fitted an Inertial Navigation system of any kind.
Perhaps a VIP operator ?
Most of our Aircraft had just an ADF, two VOR / ILS and DME.
That was it for navigation. A few had OMEGA and, in the last few years they installed dual GPS receivers.
I am curious to know of any operator, worldwide fitted an Inertial Navigation system of any kind.
Perhaps a VIP operator ?
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: USofA
Numerous VIP operators used various INS configurations. LTN-72,92, and various Carousel units. The only operator I know of that had the INS installed as OEM was Singapore when they operated maybe six or more 727 ADV. had the Carousel's installed. At the end of the original INS introduction the Carousel was having a very high degree of failure rates within the airline industry and in some cases it was less than 1000 hours between MTBF on the units. They simply became to expensive to operate thus the newer generation laser units started to take over.
Joined: May 2007
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From: Merriott, Somerset, UK
In the '80's,
Dubai Airwing's 707 and 727s were fitted with dual Litton INS, plus a cold spare on board.
I was once instructed (in flight) by the Swedish Captain, to go down stairs into the lower 41 and change a U/S INS with the spare unit.
My reaction was??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!.....but was told to get on with it.
By the time I returned to the Flight Deck the F/E had given the capt. a short lesson on how an INS functions.
The moral of the story is...........You can always tell a Swede...but you can tell him nothing!!
No, the replacement unit could not be aligned in flight.
Tony
Dubai Airwing's 707 and 727s were fitted with dual Litton INS, plus a cold spare on board.
I was once instructed (in flight) by the Swedish Captain, to go down stairs into the lower 41 and change a U/S INS with the spare unit.
My reaction was??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!.....but was told to get on with it.
By the time I returned to the Flight Deck the F/E had given the capt. a short lesson on how an INS functions.
The moral of the story is...........You can always tell a Swede...but you can tell him nothing!!
No, the replacement unit could not be aligned in flight.
Tony
Fleet Manager
Joined: Apr 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: various places .....
I recall AN/TN sharing the 727 freighter flying for a while in the 80s. Can't recall whether we were flying TN -100 or -200 (although I suspect -100 - perhaps the ex-Nauru RN7 frame ?) after the timespan, but the aircraft had Carousel fitted as best I can recall ?
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Past the rabbit proof fence
TN 727's definately had 1 INU - used to link it to the autopilot through the AUXNAV selection. Waypoints had to be manually input, from memory they could have 10 at a time. 727 was a mighty machine - built like a brick sh!thouse and quick too.
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: USA
I flew VT back in the day, yes it was a Singapore plane until DanAir picked it up. Think it came with Carousel INS with DME updating, airplane also had an Aux tank so was a good long haul 727 with 205000(?)lbs TO weight.
The buttons on power levers 1 and 3 I think were the palm switches for GA input for FD
The buttons on power levers 1 and 3 I think were the palm switches for GA input for FD