Data cartridge, what's the real thing(tm) like?

[Shake3000]

So I was wondering, what does the data cartridge used to load data from the flight planner look like in real life? And where does it go in the a-10? Is there a slot somewhere in the pit? Behind the seat?

 

Just curious.

[HemingwayFE]

So I was wondering, what does the data cartridge used to load data from the flight planner look like in real life? And where does it go in the a-10? Is there a slot somewhere in the pit? Behind the seat?

 

Just curious.

 

It's a like a memory card you pick up at Best Buy. I forget what exactly it is. Similar to compactflash.

[Eddie]

Don't know about the A-10 specifically, but in every jet I've worked with the DTC slots into a slot on one of the side panels to the left or right of the seat.

 

Data Transfer Cartridges/Pilots Data Stores or whatever you want to call them depending on what aircraft/airforce you're in are nothing more than flash drives contained in the square (or sometimes rectangular) metal case. They are much smaller in capacity than any memory card you'd put into your camera etc, for example the Typhoon PDS has a only a couple of Mbs worth of flash memory.

[Check6]

DTC

 

It is about the size of a small hard drive in the F-15 and F-16 , we simply did all our flight planning in the squadron. Our DTCs are not like flashcards they are quite a big bigger and have a handle on the face.

 

Hard to find a good picture but this gives you an idea, not sure about the DTC in the HOG, I only ever dealt with A models.

 

http://www.skilledsystems.com/f16_DTU.php

[mvsgas]

So I was wondering, what does the data cartridge used to load data from the flight planner look like in real life? And where does it go in the a-10? Is there a slot somewhere in the pit? Behind the seat?

 

Just curious.

 

AFAIK, right side of the cockpit, all the way back is the DTU, which is where the DTC gets inserted.

[159th_Viper]

AFAIK, right side of the cockpit, all the way back is the DTU, which is where the DTC gets inserted.

 

Just above the slot labelled 'Insert Coin Here' :P

[Shake3000]

Just above the slot labelled 'Insert Coin Here' :P

 

 

/me fires Gau8..

 

*TILT*TILT*TILT*

 

Seriously, good info guys thanks.

[andysim]

I keep a stash of 10p peices for that exact reason :megalol:

[Ells228]

I've got a pretty good image of the Typhoon one, I'll post that up tomorrow