Virtual cockpit lighting option

[Andiab]

When HOBO is activated all non NVIs compatible interior lights goes off. What panels ir instruments it is depends on the aircraft configuration.

This is from the flight manual:

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[Foghorn]

Hmm, interesting addition.  Must be either fairly new, or not a US thing.

So a couple of "riddle me this, Batman"...

1.  Who is still flying vipers that do not have ALL of their cockpit lighting NVIS compatible?

2.  Why in the holy F would you be in injun-country with your lights on in the first place?  Second step of the FENCE Check, anyone?


 

[tiger-31]

1.  Who is still flying vipers that do not have ALL of their cockpit lighting NVIS compatible?


 

I would hazard to say countries with a much lower budget than the US 

[Rufus]

HOBO switch?

WTF is a HOBO switch?

Hands On Black Out (what I was told).  Its a paddle switch under the grip that transitions to the NVIS lighting?

I think it also kills your exterior lighting...or just does that?

HMmm good question..  I think if it does it would switch them to NVIS settings at the least?  Those are standard switches in most military vehicles.  We even have them in our Police vehicles.  lol  It's tactical to have a switch that instantly cuts all your lighting off.

In the Hornet there is such a switch on the left throttle, but it's a 3 position toggle switch.  Current Hornets also have dual mode formation lights, and I think those also get toggled - went looking for pics of such on Vipers and couldn't really find any.

[Rufus]

Hmm, interesting addition.  Must be either fairly new, or not a US thing.

So a couple of "riddle me this, Batman"...

1.  Who is still flying vipers that do not have ALL of their cockpit lighting NVIS compatible?

2.  Why in the holy F would you be in injun-country with your lights on in the first place?  Second step of the FENCE Check, anyone?


 

Not all Hornets have NVIS lighting, so I wouldn't expect all Vipers to have it either, just as a matter of biz ops...however, most if not all Hornets that are that old are not in operation these days...those would be mostly in the USN Reserves, USMC, and a couple I can think of up at Top Gun...maybe.  I can't remember if the A+ and A++ upgrades included lighting changes (which I should know - because I did some of first of these jets)...but I'd think it did, if that hadn't been incorporated previously.

I got the impression someplace that the HOBO is a part of the MLU update...as such it really depends on the upgrade path and cost as to if an operator chooses to include such.  We had a Block 40 show up on my line for a static display a few years back but I didn't get a chance to look in the office - only reason I ID'd it as a Block 40 was because I could see that it had a WAR HUD...which I also thought might have been out of inventory these days, so that was "unusual" to me.  Had I been able to go up the ladder for a peek the HOBO would have been something I'd have looked for, but expected not to find.

I was once up for a job as an F-16 Configuration Manager...but I turned it down after learning a bit more about how F-16s are produced and sold - they pretty much configure and sell Vipers like airliners, on sort of direct-to-operator basis.  Which is NOT the way the USN does biz.  I made the mistake of not asking for enough money to merit enduring that sort of headache...

[Rufus]

1.  Who is still flying vipers that do not have ALL of their cockpit lighting NVIS compatible?


 

I would hazard to say countries with a much lower budget than the US 

Sometimes it can get even more complicated than that...I've worked with at least one Country that wasn't allowed to maintain an "Attack" posture by Treaty (which was how I first got educated on the reason for the use of the F vs F/A designation) - as such, I'd wager they were also not allowed to maintain a "Night Attack" posture.  But that would all depend on how the Treaty was drafted and signed.

Stuff is always more complex than it may first look.  But that's a guess... .

[Andiab]

Hmm, interesting addition.  Must be either fairly new, or not a US thing.

So a couple of "riddle me this, Batman"...

1.  Who is still flying vipers that do not have ALL of their cockpit lighting NVIS compatible?

2.  Why in the holy F would you be in injun-country with your lights on in the first place?  Second step of the FENCE Check, anyone?


 

I will try assuming the answer to 1 is for countries operating earlier block version with upgrades such as MLU. Not all panels were replace at the same time and there was an interim period with mix of both types of lighting.

I do t know the full answer to this but its at least what i have been told.

[Marvin]

Hmm, interesting addition.  Must be either fairly new, or not a US thing.

So a couple of "riddle me this, Batman"...

1.  Who is still flying vipers that do not have ALL of their cockpit lighting NVIS compatible?

2.  Why in the holy F would you be in injun-country with your lights on in the first place?  Second step of the FENCE Check, anyone?


 

Don't quote me but I believe the MLU's were the first to have the HOBO and I mean from the 90s if I am not mistaken.  I do believe the Greek 52+s have them as well.   I agree with you it would make sense to just set all your lights up during the Fence, but I guess it doesn't hurt to have a switch to instantly transition to more efficient NVIS lighting, like console flood lights off, some external lights etc?  It is probably just an option you can add during the purchase and maybe someone the US never implemented?