Where can I find the AN/AIC-18 Intercom System in the F-5 cockpit?

[Lino_Germany]

If I read it correctly at page 132 of the PDF-manual for the F-5E (see screenshot), the bird is equipped with an AN/AIC-18 Intercommunications System.

 

 

That should be something like this:

 

 

 

Where can I find it? Is it not implemented? Will it come in the future? Is this an unintentional disinformation?

[tom_19d]

Hi Lino,

 

I have never seen an intercom/audio panel in the F5. Consulting USAF TO 1F-5E-1, the AIC-18 and AIC-25 are listed as intercom options on page 1-84. Under "control location", it states that the pedestal is the location in the 2 seat F models and there are pictures showing a simple intercom volume knob on the front and rear pedestals on page 1-85. For the E models, however, the "control location" is "none" (this is not to say the equipment isn't installed, I think it is just saying there are no accessible controls).

 

Would it be possible that that intercom on the F5E's was a blind install? What I mean is that besides communication with the ground crew through an external headset jack, all of the other audio sources (UHF, TACAN, AIM-9, ect) have their own dedicated volume controls. Clearly a good audio panel/intercom interface is beneficial in aircraft flown by two crewmen, but would it be anything more than another point of failure in a single place airplane? (And before someone jumps on me with pointing out that the A10C has a fully featured audio panel, bear in mind that is an airplane with 3 comm radios and 2 nav radios. And I stand by assertion that having two controls with an identical function (ie two FM volume knobs) is adding a possibly unneeded point of failure).

 

And just out of curiosity Lino, is there something you wanted to be able to do with the intercom?

[Lino_Germany]

Hi Tom,

first of all I want to thank you for your kind research and your efforts answering my questions. What you have said corresponds exactly with my ideas. For me it was hard to imagine that, considering the rather complex startup process, there shall not be an intercom system of any kind for interaction with the ground crew. I now belive that the mentioning of the AN/AIC-18 in the flight manual for the DCS F-5E is a misinformation. Communications with the ground crew seems to be done exclusively via hand signals (see video link

).

 

${1}

 

 

And just out of curiosity Lino, is there something you wanted to be able to do with the intercom?

 

There are several reasons why I want to learn more about that kind of avionic systems:

 

1. Even more than performing bombing runs or dogfights, I am interested in knowing the precise function of the certain avionic system at the specific DCS aircraft, in particular the fields of navigation and radio management.

 

2. I fundamentally believe that, with mentioning a specific intercommunication system by the developers of the F-5E module, I can expect that this system actually exist. As a translator of such kind of aircraft manuals, it is a matter of personal concern to me to have documents almost free from faults.

 

3. Currently I am working on a clear presentation of the specific DCS aircraft radio avionics and navigational equipment. I want to improve my "Beacon map" on the basis of data collected (see screenshots).

 

 

Edited December 13, 2016 by Lino_Germany

[tom_19d]

Hi Lino,

 

Right on, I understand and respect the pursuit of knowledge you are talking about- and I have used your beacon map in the past so thank you for your work on that.

 

I did just a little more digging on this intercom question for this reason- even if there is no in cockpit interface for the intercom, I believe there has to be a piece of equipment on the aircraft to blend the audio from each audio source (UHF/TACAN/AIM9) into a signal that can be run to the pilot helmet jack. In this case an "audio panel" or "amplifier" might be a more apt name for this device. Of course, if this is a true blind installation with no pilot interaction, it might not be of any consequence to you.

 

So, here are the two pages in question from the USAF aircraft manual. The first page describes the "intercom" system and the second page has the table showing the AIC-18 and the AIC-25 as installed.

 

 

 

 

Here is a datasheet for the AIC-25 from the same company that made/is making the AIC-18. As I read it, it is basically an amplifier that would be capable of blending multiple audio sources.

 

http://www.andreasystems.com/specs/AM1965F_Spec.pdf

 

Also thank you for the video, that was interesting. I agree hand signals appear to be the only form of communication being used. However, that might just mean that hand signals are more efficient for everyday operations, particularly with a multiple person ground crew.

 

I promise I am not trying to argue with you, I am just sharing all of the information I can find. It is my belief that there is a device on the aircraft that is combining the audio sources into a usable signal- whether or not this device rises to the level of "intercom" that would be worth mentioning for your purposes is surely debatable.

 

Best of luck, the screenshots of your latest project in progress look great.

[tom_19d]

I would also add for the purposes of the DCS manual, this device, whatever it is, should probably be left out. I don't see why it should be mentioned by name if there is no way for the player to interface with it and its function is completely autonomous.

[tom_19d]

This is is the last one, I promise- ran across it today looking for something else. Item #38 is the ground crew interphone receptacle.

[Lino_Germany]

So you finally found the opportunity to voice interact with the ground crew, quite remarkable. Nevertheless I can´t see any reference to build-in components like an AN/AIC-18.