Manual Ops Equipment
Ops Room Photos, Notes, etc.


Manual Ops Room at Jacksonville NAS, FL
Richmond AFS, FL. Photos & notes submitted be Mike LaRoche
DRP panel in the Ops Room
O-15 scope camera and AN/GPS-124 PPI console. This unit typically recorded one frame of film per antenna revolution. The resulting film was typically classified "SECRET" and used for mission evaluations.
ARSR-1F console.
Random-Access Plan Position Indicator (RAPPI) and printer.
Inside the 644th Ops Room. Pictured is the contributor, Mike LaRoche.

The "Whiz Wheel"

Contributed by Bob Kendig

Front

Back

The "Whiz Wheel", used by manual Weapons Controllers to compute intercepts. Actual size is about 9" in diameter.

Bob writes:
There was not a vast majority of controllers or WCTs who became proficient in its use. Most WCTs hated it because it took interest and some time to learn.

Those who were proficient were the instructors at 3625th and those who attended the IWS Manual Weapons Instructors Course. There were also the control geeks like me that made a point of learning all of the finer points of intercept geometry and theory. I also attended both of the above courses.

Although I may have forgotten some of the finer points, like the double offset stern and computing odd an angle of bank turn radius, I could still compute any intercepts using all parts of the Whiz Wheel.

F-86 L/D Performance Calculator

Contributed by Larry Clare

The photos above show both sides of the F-86 calculator, and is approximately actual size. This calculator has been graciously donated to the museum by Mr. Clare.

"Picket" 50-1-LDC slide rule intercept computer and case

Contributed by William D. Price


Intercept calculator, above, shown approximately actual size. This calculator has been graciously donated to the museum by Mr. Price.