Boeing 727's and other older commerical aircrafts with no FMC's

[BryanButler]

Hi, I have a question about the Boeing 727 ( the ones without an fms/fmc/cdu). How did pilots fly these without an fmc? I mean nowadays pilots just put in the route in the fmc and the plane follows and flies itself to its final destination with the a/p engaged. So, how did pilots do it with older commercial aircrafts on those 2-4 hour flights?

[mrzippy]

Wow! Betcha they actually had to do some of that "Pilot Stuff" back in the olden days. They still used an autopilot to help out.

[BryanButler]

thanks for your reply mrzippy. but, what instruments or whatever did they use to have the plane fly the route they wanted?

[mrzippy]

thanks for your reply mrzippy. but, what instruments or whatever did they use to have the plane fly the route they wanted?

 

You mean super-duper electronic whizz-bangs programmed to fly and land the aircraft with no help from the pilots? Non existent in days of yore! My first flight in a commercial aircraft was in 1967 KSFO to KLAX in a PSA 727. I doubt that they wanted a Sperry-Uni vac in the cockpit!

 

They may have used an INS (Inertial Navigation System).

[BryanButler]

haha yep. thanks! :D

[alverthein]

I think everyone here is right...when I first flew the 727 in flight sim I asked a real 727 captain if he used GPS... and he said NO, his plane was the last of the "wooden airplanes" and laughed...and indicated he used the A/P that was installed plus the VFRs etc.

[dnpaul]

Before the INS systems were in these planes, they used VHF and HF radios to fly the airways using VOR stations and NDBs. This is actually pretty fun.

[kingnorris]

How'd us older folks get along without the Internet? Google? Etc?

 

Lol this can start a whole other debate on how technology has changed, for better or worse..

[Rupert]

LMAO!! We managed to get around all over the world then without things people today can't seem to cross the street without!

 

VFR Supplements and road maps were always handy. IFR often stood for I Fly Roads. And if confused as to where you are, you'd just fly around the local water tower and read the name of the town or county you're currently flying over, then find it in your supplement or road map.

 

On a long VFR flight it was always handy to have AAA Road maps with you. I first joined AAA in California in the '60s so I could get Triptiks for long VFR flights. They were hugely handy on ferry trips from Philadelphia to Santa Ana Ca. We tried to vary our routes as often as possible to help stay awake when flying towards the sun for days at a time.

 

VORTAC was handy when available. But there were huge gaps between VOR or TACAN stations back then. ADF based on "Clear Channel" AM radio stations carried many miles further. Often, especially at night, you'd find the Reds, LA Dodgers, or perhaps the Cubs baseball announced live on that "Clear Channel" radio station. Triangulation and live baseball commentary both on the same station! It didn't get much better than that!!:cool:

 

Celestial Navigation also worked if you're weren't in a AAA Triptik coverage area. And in fact still does! Talk about a cool thing to learn!!!! Go down to your local United States Power Squadron or similar organization almost anywhere in the world. They give classes where you can learn to find where you are in the world without any electronics at all. How cool is that.