On Thu, 20 Oct 2016, et...@757.org wrote:
According to this article, it sounds like the facility was closed in 2012.
http://www.twincities.com/2016/10/07/remnants-of-northwest-airlines-pilot-training-center-up-for-grabs/
Whether or not all the computers were still in use at that time is tough to
say, but I was surprised at how clean and orderly most of the equipment was
that was left.
I would figure the data center rooms and stuff might of had other racks of
more modern server equipment that might have been sold off separately or
relocated to other sites. Didn't see holes in the floor for cabling but
wouldn't be surprised. I didn't see video projection hardware on the auction
and usually that is used to project the stuff outside the cockpits no?
What was left is the interesting stuff :-)
The computers you guys are frothing :) over were either driving the
cockpit avionics or were driving the scene generators. I haven't seen
pics of those simulators, but all of that era either use WAC (wide angle
collimation) displays or cross-cockpit collimated displays like the one I
built a few years ago. The screens (WAC) or projectors (CCC) are mounted
directly to the simulator cabs - either on top or for the WACs, one on
each window.
By splitting up the computers from the sims, they've basically rendered
the simulators useless scrap metal. Those simulators are backed by MANY
file cabinets full of nothing but wiring diagrams, diagnostic processes,
and software listings. I'm pretty sure all of that is either on it's way
to being paper pulp or is in a landfill. Had those materials been saved,
it _might_ have been possible to use the sims as-is with new computers.
Now? Not a chance. Any collector would have to develop wiring diagrams
from scratch before the could even begin any kind of restoration. It
would be more cost effective to strip it to the frame and create new
wiring harnesses from scratch.
When I heard about the place going up for auction, I knew exactly what the
outcome was going to be and I avoided the auction site completely. :(
g.
--
Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
http://www.diy-cockpits.org/coll - Go Collimated or Go Home.
Some people collect things for a hobby. Geeks collect hobbies.
ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
http://scarlet.deltasoft.com - Get it _today_!
