Re: Photos from the NWA Auction
On 10/20/2016 11:59 AM, et...@757.org wrote: According to this article, it sounds like the facility was closed in 2012. http://www.twincities.com/2016/10/07/remnants-of-northwest-airlines-pilot-training-center-up-for-grabs/ Whether or not all the computers were still in use at that time is tough to say, but I was surprised at how clean and orderly most of the equipment was that was left. I would figure the data center rooms and stuff might of had other racks of more modern server equipment that might have been sold off separately or relocated to other sites. Didn't see holes in the floor for cabling but wouldn't be surprised. I didn't see video projection hardware on the auction and usually that is used to project the stuff outside the cockpits no? There were video tubes and testing units for same in the auction. Also if you looked at the simulator cockpits, since most were gutted, some had large 25" or so tubes on their sides in the cockpits. the screens seemed to be set up so that they were front, not rear projected, and the projectors in the cockpits would be below the line of sight out of the cockpits, and may or may have not been there. There were cockpits, and most I looked at were stripped, and there were skids and lots of "avionics". One that was obvious was one for a DC-9 marked as such, and was a bunch of boxes with some amount of steam gauge instruments in the lot. The pages seem to still be up here: https://grafeauction.proxibid.com/asp/catalog.asp?aid=117590&gl=288#288 Unrefreshed page link from my browser, YMMV I don't know if the lots will show up here with th thanks Jim What was left is the interesting stuff :-) -- Ethan O'Toole
Re: Photos from the NWA Auction
On Thu, 20 Oct 2016, et...@757.org wrote: According to this article, it sounds like the facility was closed in 2012. http://www.twincities.com/2016/10/07/remnants-of-northwest-airlines-pilot-training-center-up-for-grabs/ Whether or not all the computers were still in use at that time is tough to say, but I was surprised at how clean and orderly most of the equipment was that was left. I would figure the data center rooms and stuff might of had other racks of more modern server equipment that might have been sold off separately or relocated to other sites. Didn't see holes in the floor for cabling but wouldn't be surprised. I didn't see video projection hardware on the auction and usually that is used to project the stuff outside the cockpits no? What was left is the interesting stuff :-) The computers you guys are frothing :) over were either driving the cockpit avionics or were driving the scene generators. I haven't seen pics of those simulators, but all of that era either use WAC (wide angle collimation) displays or cross-cockpit collimated displays like the one I built a few years ago. The screens (WAC) or projectors (CCC) are mounted directly to the simulator cabs - either on top or for the WACs, one on each window. By splitting up the computers from the sims, they've basically rendered the simulators useless scrap metal. Those simulators are backed by MANY file cabinets full of nothing but wiring diagrams, diagnostic processes, and software listings. I'm pretty sure all of that is either on it's way to being paper pulp or is in a landfill. Had those materials been saved, it _might_ have been possible to use the sims as-is with new computers. Now? Not a chance. Any collector would have to develop wiring diagrams from scratch before the could even begin any kind of restoration. It would be more cost effective to strip it to the frame and create new wiring harnesses from scratch. When I heard about the place going up for auction, I knew exactly what the outcome was going to be and I avoided the auction site completely. :( g. -- Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007 http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind. http://www.diy-cockpits.org/coll - Go Collimated or Go Home. Some people collect things for a hobby. Geeks collect hobbies. ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes. http://scarlet.deltasoft.com - Get it _today_!
RE: Photos from the NWA Auction
Original Message Subject: Re: Photos from the NWA Auction From: et...@757.org Date: Tue, October 18, 2016 6:47 pm To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > Wonder if anyone got the actual simulators/cockpits? Fun toys but > won't fit in your average basement... There were bids on them, hopefully they go to home flight simulator nerds that will entertain us with videos on youtube of them running inside their houses! -- I was at the facility briefly to help out another lister with prepping his lot for shipment. The GP4 is being dismantled for scrap. About half the racks are already empty. With a little bit of cash beer money and some wrench work, the panel you see in IMG_5535 is now in the backseat of my car. It will likely be all gone by EOD on Friday.
RE: Photos from the NWA Auction
Original Message Subject: Re: Photos from the NWA Auction From: ethan I would figure the data center rooms and stuff might of had other racks of more modern server equipment that might have been sold off separately or relocated to other sites. Didn't see holes in the floor for cabling but wouldn't be surprised. I didn't see video projection hardware on the auction and usually that is used to project the stuff outside the cockpits no? What was left is the interesting stuff :-) --- There were a number of ex-NWA/Delta employees that were in the building during the inspection phase. Talking to them, the sentiment was that after the merger, Delta took "anything that was worth anything" and sent it down to their facilities in Atlanta. There were a number of simulator bays where the cockpits had been removed, and the attendant server rooms were fairly bare. I saw a bunch of Sun-3 "operator manuals" laying around, but no Suns. One of the guys said they had a bunch of "old" Sun gear at one time, but that all went south. The PDPs and GP4 were part of what was the oldest DC-9 sim in the country up until they walked away from it, so we were told. I agree - the "interesting" stuff was left behind, but maybe not all of it :-) Steve
Re: Photos from the NWA Auction
According to this article, it sounds like the facility was closed in 2012. http://www.twincities.com/2016/10/07/remnants-of-northwest-airlines-pilot-training-center-up-for-grabs/ Whether or not all the computers were still in use at that time is tough to say, but I was surprised at how clean and orderly most of the equipment was that was left. I would figure the data center rooms and stuff might of had other racks of more modern server equipment that might have been sold off separately or relocated to other sites. Didn't see holes in the floor for cabling but wouldn't be surprised. I didn't see video projection hardware on the auction and usually that is used to project the stuff outside the cockpits no? What was left is the interesting stuff :-) -- Ethan O'Toole
Re: Photos from the NWA Auction
On Tue, Oct 18, 2016 at 4:46 PM, Jason T wrote: > On Tue, Oct 18, 2016 at 7:57 AM, Ben Sinclair wrote: > > Great photos! I'm curious as to how long ago this equipment was in > > operation. The photos here and on the auction site almost looked like > > someone just got up and walked away, at least from the desks and office > > supplies, etc. that I saw. > > Perhaps more recently than one would think. It's not like there were > newer systems they could have used to keep their simulators running > (tho I did see some PCs in the room that may have been performing the > tasks of the older machines?) > > I would have loved to have been there at the clean-out. A nice > example of a proper old datacenter, preserved. > > Wonder if anyone got the actual simulators/cockpits? Fun toys but > won't fit in your average basement... > The auction website is a real piece of work, all traces to completed lots disappeared within hours, but I'm pretty sure I caught the final bid on most of the simulators and I didn't see anything that went for over $7k.. and those prices included the massive hydraulic pumps and supporting equipment. According to this article, it sounds like the facility was closed in 2012. http://www.twincities.com/2016/10/07/remnants-of-northwest-airlines-pilot-training-center-up-for-grabs/ Whether or not all the computers were still in use at that time is tough to say, but I was surprised at how clean and orderly most of the equipment was that was left. Has anyone been in to claim their prize(s)? Did anyone happen to catch the final bid on the GP-4?
Re: Photos from the NWA Auction
I posted a link to it on a cockpit builder forum I visit. I don't do that any more, otherwise I might have a 747 cockpit in my garage right now! The prices were so low (at least when I checked), that I hoped someone would grab them and build a nice sim. On Tue, Oct 18, 2016 at 6:47 PM, wrote: > Wonder if anyone got the actual simulators/cockpits? Fun toys but >> won't fit in your average basement... >> > > There were bids on them, hopefully they go to home flight simulator nerds > that will entertain us with videos on youtube of them running inside their > houses! > > > > > -- > Ethan O'Toole > > -- Ben Sinclair b...@bensinclair.com
Re: Photos from the NWA Auction
Wonder if anyone got the actual simulators/cockpits? Fun toys but won't fit in your average basement... There were bids on them, hopefully they go to home flight simulator nerds that will entertain us with videos on youtube of them running inside their houses! -- Ethan O'Toole
Re: Photos from the NWA Auction
On Tue, Oct 18, 2016 at 7:57 AM, Ben Sinclair wrote: > Great photos! I'm curious as to how long ago this equipment was in > operation. The photos here and on the auction site almost looked like > someone just got up and walked away, at least from the desks and office > supplies, etc. that I saw. Perhaps more recently than one would think. It's not like there were newer systems they could have used to keep their simulators running (tho I did see some PCs in the room that may have been performing the tasks of the older machines?) I would have loved to have been there at the clean-out. A nice example of a proper old datacenter, preserved. Wonder if anyone got the actual simulators/cockpits? Fun toys but won't fit in your average basement...
Re: Photos from the NWA Auction
Great photos! I'm curious as to how long ago this equipment was in operation. The photos here and on the auction site almost looked like someone just got up and walked away, at least from the desks and office supplies, etc. that I saw. On Mon, Oct 17, 2016 at 7:07 PM, Cory Heisterkamp wrote: > For those curious about the equipment that sold last week, I put together > an album from my brief stop on Saturday. Let me know if you have trouble > viewing it. > https://goo.gl/photos/yb83SJSj67gS96n39 > > On closer inspection it appears the documentation for that GP-4, as well > as some of the other computers, sold to different parties (the value being > in the shelving and cabinets). > > I'm still losing sleep over that GP-4. From all appearances it was a > turn-key setup (in theory). Unfortunately, the auction site immediately > removes closed lots from their webpage so no idea what it sold for, or if > it went to a scrapper. I suspect it was billed as 'cabinets of aviation > equipment'. Being 3 hours away I can't exactly run over there and pin a > note on it. > > Some further digging on the net revealed a photo in the Motorola Annual > Report 1965 featuring the machine touting Moto's new ECL logic. Apparently > it was designed for aviation simulation but included facilities for being a > general purpose machine. -C -- Ben Sinclair b...@bensinclair.com
Re: Photos from the NWA Auction
On Mon, Oct 17, 2016 at 11:37 PM, Josh Dersch wrote: > On 10/17/16 5:07 PM, Cory Heisterkamp wrote: > > For those curious about the equipment that sold last week, I put together >> an album from my brief stop on Saturday. Let me know if you have trouble >> viewing it. >> https://goo.gl/photos/yb83SJSj67gS96n39 >> >> On closer inspection it appears the documentation for that GP-4, as well >> as some of the other computers, sold to different parties (the value being >> in the shelving and cabinets). >> >> I'm still losing sleep over that GP-4. From all appearances it was a >> turn-key setup (in theory). Unfortunately, the auction site immediately >> removes closed lots from their webpage so no idea what it sold for, or if >> it went to a scrapper. I suspect it was billed as 'cabinets of aviation >> equipment'. Being 3 hours away I can't exactly run over there and pin a >> note on it. >> >> Some further digging on the net revealed a photo in the Motorola Annual >> Report 1965 featuring the machine touting Moto's new ECL logic. Apparently >> it was designed for aviation simulation but included facilities for being a >> general purpose machine. -C >> > > Thanks for taking the pictures! Now that I can see a clear picture of the > front panel on those SEL/Gould machines, I *really* wish I'd bid on one... > > Thanks for getting a picture of the TI-980 -- do you recall if photo > IMG_5542 is from the same rack as the TI? I'm curious what was behind that > door on the top and I can't wait until it gets here to find out :). > > I hope that most of this stuff will end up in the hands of people who > won't shred it for gold content, but... > > - Josh > Hey Josh, I'm pretty sure you're right about IMG_5542 being the TI. One nice thing about that outboard display unit is that you've got some great I/O to play with. Is someone picking the unit up for you? To Jason's question, I noticed one or two bidders put a low bid (a few cents) in on EVERY lot, so if it had a sticker, it probably sold. That said, there were lots of (computer related) manuals and paperwork strewn about and the contents of the cabinets will likely get tossed, so I'm sure that's fair game. Looked like all the hardware had been claimed, one way or another. -C
Re: Photos from the NWA Auction
On 10/17/16 5:07 PM, Cory Heisterkamp wrote: For those curious about the equipment that sold last week, I put together an album from my brief stop on Saturday. Let me know if you have trouble viewing it. https://goo.gl/photos/yb83SJSj67gS96n39 On closer inspection it appears the documentation for that GP-4, as well as some of the other computers, sold to different parties (the value being in the shelving and cabinets). I'm still losing sleep over that GP-4. From all appearances it was a turn-key setup (in theory). Unfortunately, the auction site immediately removes closed lots from their webpage so no idea what it sold for, or if it went to a scrapper. I suspect it was billed as 'cabinets of aviation equipment'. Being 3 hours away I can't exactly run over there and pin a note on it. Some further digging on the net revealed a photo in the Motorola Annual Report 1965 featuring the machine touting Moto's new ECL logic. Apparently it was designed for aviation simulation but included facilities for being a general purpose machine. -C Thanks for taking the pictures! Now that I can see a clear picture of the front panel on those SEL/Gould machines, I *really* wish I'd bid on one... Thanks for getting a picture of the TI-980 -- do you recall if photo IMG_5542 is from the same rack as the TI? I'm curious what was behind that door on the top and I can't wait until it gets here to find out :). I hope that most of this stuff will end up in the hands of people who won't shred it for gold content, but... - Josh
Re: Photos from the NWA Auction
On Mon, Oct 17, 2016 at 7:07 PM, Cory Heisterkamp wrote: > For those curious about the equipment that sold last week, I put together an > album from my brief stop on Saturday. Let me know if you have trouble viewing > it. > https://goo.gl/photos/yb83SJSj67gS96n39 > > On closer inspection it appears the documentation for that GP-4, as well as > some of the other computers, sold to different parties (the value being in > the shelving and cabinets). :( Do you think there's any chance to save unsold items from being scrapped?
Photos from the NWA Auction
For those curious about the equipment that sold last week, I put together an album from my brief stop on Saturday. Let me know if you have trouble viewing it. https://goo.gl/photos/yb83SJSj67gS96n39 On closer inspection it appears the documentation for that GP-4, as well as some of the other computers, sold to different parties (the value being in the shelving and cabinets). I'm still losing sleep over that GP-4. From all appearances it was a turn-key setup (in theory). Unfortunately, the auction site immediately removes closed lots from their webpage so no idea what it sold for, or if it went to a scrapper. I suspect it was billed as 'cabinets of aviation equipment'. Being 3 hours away I can't exactly run over there and pin a note on it. Some further digging on the net revealed a photo in the Motorola Annual Report 1965 featuring the machine touting Moto's new ECL logic. Apparently it was designed for aviation simulation but included facilities for being a general purpose machine. -C
