August 20, 1962

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MISSILE ENGINEERING

Sparrow Keeps Pace with Target and Aircraft Performance

Bedford, Mass.—Raytheon Sparrow 3b, latest version in this long line of Navy air-to-air missiles, now is being tested and flown by company and Navy technicians and pilots. The 3b version, officially designated AAM-N-6b, was designed to show performance improvement over the 3a missiles now on the McDonnell F4H-1 as primary armament.

By David A. Anderton21 min

AVIONICS

First Syncom to Test Synchronous Orbit Feasibility

Culver City, Calif.—Initial try at placing an American satellite into a 24-hr. orbit around the earth will be made this January with the launch from Cape Canaveral of the first of three Syncom communications satellites. The Syncom spacecraft are entering the final stages of development and fabrication here at Hughes Aircraft Co., contractor for the satellites to National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

By Barry Miller15 min

MANAGEMENT

New Air Warfare Lessons Evolve From Figh in Vietnam

Saigon—Air power, in its most flexible form, is giving South Vietnam civilian self-defense forces, the regular Vietnamese army and the 8,000 U. S. military advisers the edge that is making the difference in the fight to block Communist expansion in Southeast Asia.

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Vostoks 3 and 4 Rendezvous, Dock in Orbit; U.s. Re-evaluating Military Space Needs

Washington—U. S. evidence that Vostoks 3 and 4 rendezvoused and docked in earth orbit is forcing the nation to make an extensive re-evaluation of military and civilian roles in the space program. Neither the U. S. nor the Soviet government had reported the docking by late last week, although Russia said the two Vostoks had been in visual contact.

AIR TRANSPORT

U.s. Urged to Avoid Capacity Restriction

Is the main objective of the U. S. in developing an international aviation policy to own and operate the most comprehensive system of air services compatible with sound economics? That would be reasonable on all counts. Or is it to dominate world air transport?

By John W. S. Brancker11 min

AVIONICS

Interest Growing in Phased-array Radar

Washington—Vastly increased volume of space which now must be kept under surveillance to detect and track unknown satellites is focusing attention on phased-array radar, also known as electronically steerable array radar (ESAR). Bendix Aviation, under a Rome Air Development Center contract, is building a full-scale phased-array radar, scheduled for installation and test near Eglin AFB, Fla., which will become a key sensor in the Air Defense Command’s Space Tracking and Detection System (Spadats).

By Philip J. Klass8 min

106

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Nord Pushes Super Broussard Production

Paris—Nord Super Broussard, a no-frills twin-turboprop transport aimed at the Douglas DC-3 replacement market, has a high degree of performance—particularly in single engine operations—in no way compromised by a design aim of simplicity and low cost.

By Herbert J. Coleman8 min

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Vz-11 Component Production Flow Begins

San Diego, Calif.— Major components manufacturing for the General Electric-Ryan fan-in-wing VZ-11 V/STOL research aircraft for Army has begun, and a full-scale mock-up has been built at the Ryan Aeronautical Co. plant, here. First flight is scheduled for mid-June, 1963.

By Russell Hawkes7 min

114

Letters

Market Expansion In answer to your editorial on “Expanding the Airline Market” (AW July 30, p. 11), there are a few comments I would like to make. The article looks at two sources of business. One is the businessman or technical man; he does not have to be sold on airline transportation.

August 131962

August 271962

August 20, 1962

August 20, 1962