That's appears to be an original Kaiser Electronics HUD which provided weapon delivery, flight management, and in a subsequent update some nav capability. I developed the weapon delivery algorithms and wrote all the air-to-air/air-to-ground weapon delivery and display software (in assembly language). Spent 9 months at the flight test center in Istres, France supporting the flight test. Our partner in Europe was VDO LUFTFAHRTGERÄTE WERK. This was a great way to begin a career in military avionics development. I wonder of the HUD is still functional and, if so, where is the maintenance capability? I'd be shocked if the original processor was still in service; truly ancient technology by today's standards!
Rick: I had a similar job, untangling the assembly code for the AH-64 after Hughes sold off the business. I was amazed the damn thing flew, let alone fought!
_I'd be shocked if the original processor was still in service;_ I'm a bit-banger too, did some work on the FBW for Mirage 2000, but know zero about HUDs, so what do you mean by "processor", the MCU/CPU? I've got M68k-based devices from the mid-1980s still perking along... I'd think the analog(?) "projector" portion would be what fails/burns out...??
@@MajorCaliber Processor was based on 4 bit Texas Instrument ALU DIPs. I can't remember the logic circuitry for divide and multiply, but late in the game the HW designers informed me that sine and cosine hardware wasn't going to happen so had to implement in SW. Assembler was built using assembly language macros on a time-shared Univac 11xx machine in Sunnyvale, California. One processor was used for Weapon Delivery, the other for HUD symbology, 4Kx16 bits instructions for each of the two functions. This was all done in the mid-late 70's. Functions included air-to-ground weapon delivery (Mauser cannon and various bombs) and an air-to-air mode. Spent 9 months in France at the Istres flight test center refining things using a TTY33 over a 1200 baud modem into that same time share service.
@@MajorCaliber Once the monochrome cathode ray tube went belly up you'd be SOL in any event. A separate Sweep Driver Unit (SDU) converted digital position commands to analog deflection voltages to drive the CRT beam.
we germans had to sell the Alpha Jets...red bull bought 9 of them... ready to fly for 50.000€ !!!! each.....they had to deactivate the ejection seat for civil registration.... bad.... during the registration tests one of then crashed....
As some one who works on civilian alphajets, I think you have that wrong, they should still have the ejection seat, but the canopy frag system likely would be inoperable, obviously the gun would be removed too
@@outbackoverland no, he is right: they deactivated the ejection seats entirely. The only way to get out of the plane is to get rid of the canopy, invert the plane and push the stick. I know because I have not only sat in one of Red Bull‘s Alpha Jets, but also the former chief pilot of the Flying Bulls (Sigi Angerer) was a friend of mine who sadly passed away in 2022.
Yes! Crazy good, you literally look straight over the top of the front seater, you can hardly even tell they’re there! Best visibility from the rear seat of everything I’ve ever flown
Pretty cool! I didn't realize it had so much performance! Nice to be introduced to the owner too. Looking back through my pics from Oshkosh, I see that I have photos of this aircraft going back to 2011.
Yea it’s a pretty peppy little jet! Very maneuverable, as well. One of the cool things Mark demonstrated to me was the “rudder roll,” where you can actually do a full roll either direction using only the rudder! That was pretty fun to do.
Wow! Beautiful jet. Thank you for explaining the pros and cons of ejection seats in the comment section. Very interesting to hear about the differences in the French versus German versions.
Cool plane. Interesting to compare his Air Force type landing with your very proper Navy style, landing the A-4. One request: Please! No loud music during jet sounds!
Yea! He nailed the landing and aero-braking. You can do that with the A4 but it’s not great, A4 really likes the nose to come down not long after mains touch. Yea, always 50/50 on music in videos! I like hearing the engine noise as well!
@@JetJerod thank you for replying. Is it the expense of maintaining their operational effectiveness that has led to their deactivation or is it a requirement for civilian operation in the US? Whilst I have no doubt whatsoever that you’re a very skilled pilot I would still think that the higher performance of military jets would warrant maintaining the ability to egress immediately should something catastrophic occur in flight. Either way you’re living the dream of pretty much every young wannabe aviator. Enjoy 😎
Usually it comes down to a series of factors when an owner decides whether or not to keep the seats hot. On something like an Alpha jet (not speaking for the owner of this one, I’m only mentioning considerations) you have 2 engines with all redundant systems, you’re not going on missions in bad weather, you’re not being shot at, and you can control when/where you fly. So the typical reasons for ejection are mostly eliminated. (Having a fire you cannot put out and losing control are the 2 big ones. This jet has fire detection and fire bottles..as for losing control, just not likely unless you have a midair collision) Add in the cost factor, each ejection seat is tedious, expensive, and complex to keep them going. Also add in the factor that you’re taking non-pilot family and friends for flights and the ejection seat can be dangerous for everyone when an amateur makes a mistake, plus you have the option of jettisoning the canopy and bailing with an acro chute on if you really had to. I have my seats hot in the Gnat but I’d be almost just as comfortable flying it without hot seats due to how we fly it. The Alpha is pretty safe, it would be like asking people how they’d feel comfortable flying a Learjet without a parachute.. Thanks for the comments and questions, hope that helps a little. I have a lot to say about this because I do fly different stuff with/without hot seats so I’ve thought about it quite a bit. I’m certainly not saying it’s without risk but long and very well thought out considerations have been made for each application! We will definitely have more videos on this sort of thing coming up!
Yea some love the music, some hate it! Every now and then we make 2 versions of the same video (one with and one without music), believe it or not, the ones without music seem to get hardly any views. Not sure why.
One of the best Jets ever !!!
@@funflyer69 it’s a pretty cool jet!
That's appears to be an original Kaiser Electronics HUD which provided weapon delivery, flight management, and in a subsequent update some nav capability. I developed the weapon delivery algorithms and wrote all the air-to-air/air-to-ground weapon delivery and display software (in assembly language). Spent 9 months at the flight test center in Istres, France supporting the flight test. Our partner in Europe was VDO LUFTFAHRTGERÄTE WERK. This was a great way to begin a career in military avionics development. I wonder of the HUD is still functional and, if so, where is the maintenance capability? I'd be shocked if the original processor was still in service; truly ancient technology by today's standards!
Cool info! I’m not sure the answer to your question but I doubt it’s in use any longer!
Rick: I had a similar job, untangling the assembly code for the AH-64 after Hughes sold off the business. I was amazed the damn thing flew, let alone fought!
_I'd be shocked if the original processor was still in service;_ I'm a bit-banger too, did some work on the FBW for Mirage 2000, but know zero about HUDs, so what do you mean by "processor", the MCU/CPU? I've got M68k-based devices from the mid-1980s still perking along... I'd think the analog(?) "projector" portion would be what fails/burns out...??
@@MajorCaliber Processor was based on 4 bit Texas Instrument ALU DIPs. I can't remember the logic circuitry for divide and multiply, but late in the game the HW designers informed me that sine and cosine hardware wasn't going to happen so had to implement in SW. Assembler was built using assembly language macros on a time-shared Univac 11xx machine in Sunnyvale, California. One processor was used for Weapon Delivery, the other for HUD symbology, 4Kx16 bits instructions for each of the two functions. This was all done in the mid-late 70's. Functions included air-to-ground weapon delivery (Mauser cannon and various bombs) and an air-to-air mode. Spent 9 months in France at the Istres flight test center refining things using a TTY33 over a 1200 baud modem into that same time share service.
@@MajorCaliber Once the monochrome cathode ray tube went belly up you'd be SOL in any event. A separate Sweep Driver Unit (SDU) converted digital position commands to analog deflection voltages to drive the CRT beam.
we germans had to sell the Alpha Jets...red bull bought 9 of them... ready to fly for 50.000€ !!!! each.....they had to deactivate the ejection seat for civil registration.... bad.... during the registration tests one of then crashed....
I’m really happy I got to fly in this one, it’s as a real treat! Great aircraft.
As some one who works on civilian alphajets, I think you have that wrong, they should still have the ejection seat, but the canopy frag system likely would be inoperable, obviously the gun would be removed too
@@outbackoverland no, he is right: they deactivated the ejection seats entirely. The only way to get out of the plane is to get rid of the canopy, invert the plane and push the stick. I know because I have not only sat in one of Red Bull‘s Alpha Jets, but also the former chief pilot of the Flying Bulls (Sigi Angerer) was a friend of mine who sadly passed away in 2022.
What a beautiful looking jet! Great viz from the rear seat too
Yes! Crazy good, you literally look straight over the top of the front seater, you can hardly even tell they’re there! Best visibility from the rear seat of everything I’ve ever flown
Great work! Thank you Jerod for taking us along on your incredible passion and adventures in aviation!
Thank you! Same to you! Loving your channel!
Pretty cool! I didn't realize it had so much performance! Nice to be introduced to the owner too. Looking back through my pics from Oshkosh, I see that I have photos of this aircraft going back to 2011.
Yea it’s a pretty peppy little jet! Very maneuverable, as well. One of the cool things Mark demonstrated to me was the “rudder roll,” where you can actually do a full roll either direction using only the rudder! That was pretty fun to do.
Alphajets are pretty cool looking
Yea! Great flying machine!
Wow! Beautiful jet. Thank you for explaining the pros and cons of ejection seats in the comment section. Very interesting to hear about the differences in the French versus German versions.
@@pakkelly thanks for watching!
Pretty sure Ive seen that one at Arlington, I remember that scheme
May have been this one! Not sure.
You dudes make it look easy!
Mark is a fantastic pilot! He does make it look easy!
SO COOL!!!✈️
It really was! What a great little jet!
So rad!
Thanks! So fun!
Cool plane. Interesting to compare his Air Force type landing with your very proper Navy style, landing the A-4.
One request: Please! No loud music during jet sounds!
Yea! He nailed the landing and aero-braking. You can do that with the A4 but it’s not great, A4 really likes the nose to come down not long after mains touch. Yea, always 50/50 on music in videos! I like hearing the engine noise as well!
very small chance my older brother flew that plane before he transitioned to the Tornado IDS
Oh wow, that’s pretty cool! I don’t know the BuNo of this jet but we should find out!
1981 alpha costs approx 980k USD...how is it cf to L39 albatross?
The Alpha is much closer in performance to an A4 than an L39, if I had to compare.
dream
Are the ejection seats fully functioning or have they been deactivated?
They’ve been deactivated in this AlphaJet.
@@JetJerod thank you for replying. Is it the expense of maintaining their operational effectiveness that has led to their deactivation or is it a requirement for civilian operation in the US? Whilst I have no doubt whatsoever that you’re a very skilled pilot I would still think that the higher performance of military jets would warrant maintaining the ability to egress immediately should something catastrophic occur in flight. Either way you’re living the dream of pretty much every young wannabe aviator. Enjoy 😎
Usually it comes down to a series of factors when an owner decides whether or not to keep the seats hot. On something like an Alpha jet (not speaking for the owner of this one, I’m only mentioning considerations) you have 2 engines with all redundant systems, you’re not going on missions in bad weather, you’re not being shot at, and you can control when/where you fly. So the typical reasons for ejection are mostly eliminated. (Having a fire you cannot put out and losing control are the 2 big ones. This jet has fire detection and fire bottles..as for losing control, just not likely unless you have a midair collision) Add in the cost factor, each ejection seat is tedious, expensive, and complex to keep them going. Also add in the factor that you’re taking non-pilot family and friends for flights and the ejection seat can be dangerous for everyone when an amateur makes a mistake, plus you have the option of jettisoning the canopy and bailing with an acro chute on if you really had to. I have my seats hot in the Gnat but I’d be almost just as comfortable flying it without hot seats due to how we fly it. The Alpha is pretty safe, it would be like asking people how they’d feel comfortable flying a Learjet without a parachute.. Thanks for the comments and questions, hope that helps a little. I have a lot to say about this because I do fly different stuff with/without hot seats so I’ve thought about it quite a bit. I’m certainly not saying it’s without risk but long and very well thought out considerations have been made for each application! We will definitely have more videos on this sort of thing coming up!
no music please
Yea some love the music, some hate it! Every now and then we make 2 versions of the same video (one with and one without music), believe it or not, the ones without music seem to get hardly any views. Not sure why.