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Jeppesen Sanderson prostar by Texas Instruments

Date of introduction:

 1982

Display technology:  LCD
New price:   Display size:  8
Size:  5.8" x 3.1" x 0.90"
 147 x 79 x 23 mm3
   
Weight:  3.7 ounces, 106 grams Serial No:  8765830
Batteries:  2*LR44 Date of manufacture:  wk 46 year 1983
AC-Adapter:   Origin of manufacture:  USA (ATD)
Precision:  11 Integrated circuits:  TP0456/CD4575, CD4576
Memories:  2    
Program steps:   Courtesy of:  Bill Wood
    Download manual:   (US: 20.8M Bytes)

This Flight computer developed between the Aviation specialist Jeppesen Sanderson and calculator manufacturer Texas Instruments is based on the TI-55-II model introduced in the year 1981.

 
Prostar_1.jpg (150734 Byte)The colorful keyboard of this Flight computer makes it easy to understand the functions.

Alt/AS: Calibrated, True Airspeed, Pressure, Density Altitude
WIND: Wind Speed, Direction, Course and Heading 
TSD: Time-Speed-Distance, Distance and fuel consumption
CMP: Computes in the above modes the different values
CNV: Convert between US and SI-units
T: Time calculations

Compared to the earlier avstar based on a simple TI-35 the prostar added some features:

LAT/LONG: Latitude and Logitude mode solves great circle bearing
WT/BAL: Weight and Balance mode calculates center of gravity

Dismantling this Jeppesen Sanderson prostar manufactured in October 1983 reveals a well known design similiar to the TI-55-II with two TP0456 calculator chips.

In 1985 Texas Instruments canceled production of the TI-55-II due to problems with the keyboard and introduced the new TI-55-III. As a result even this prostar was upgraded, view the second edition here.

Later Flight computers sold by Jeppesen Sanderson like the Techstar based on a non-TI design.

The Illinois based company Specialized Electronics Corporation (SEC) intoduced one year later the sophisticated Navtronic Explorer.



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If you have additions to the above article please email: joerg@datamath.org.

© Joerg Woerner, December 5, 2001. No reprints without written permission.