Lockheed MAC-16

[1] One main selling point of the MAC-16 was a dedicated context switching system that completed operations in two machine cycles.

Several improved versions were introduced, including the MAC Jr., Sue, and System III, but the company dropped support for all of these in the late 1970s.

[3] Like any machine based on a 16-bit instruction register, the original MAC-16 was able to address up to 64 kilo-words (kW, 128 kB) of RAM.

[4] One well-known role for the MAC-16 was Lockheed's winning entry for the Federal Aviation Administration's "ARTS II" air-traffic control system.

Lockheed's entry was based on the MAC-16 and a large display system delivered by Plessey, providing on-screen symbology and altitude data for up to 256 aircraft.

Storage (left), MAC-16 (center), paper tape reader (center top) and Plessy display (right) as part of an ARTS II set-up displayed in Rome.