September 27, 1965

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Ogden Keeps Minuteman Icbm Unready Rate Below 0.3%

Ogden, Utah—Ogden Air Materiel Area (OOAMA), the home of the Minuteman ICBM, is the hub of one of the most extensive system support efforts ever devised to get and keep a weapon system in an operationally ready state. An impressive measure of the effectiveness of this massive support effort is the 0.1% NORS rate (Not Operationally Ready, Supply—the per cent of total available time missiles are off alert because of supply problems) reported for July and August.

By Michael L. Yaffee19 min

AIR TRANSPORT

Swissair Planning All-jet Fleet in 1968

Zurich—Swissair plans to have an all-jet fleet by the end of 1968, consisting of Douglas DC-9 and DC-8 aircraft, to be supplemented later by several supersonic transports. Commenting on the airline’s equipment policy for the foreseeable future, Swissair executive vice president Armin Baltensweiler told AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY that to achieve a planned fleet standardization, four of the 12 short-range Douglas DC-9s on order will be the stretched version.

By Edith Walford10 min

106

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Rae to Utilize 750-1,000-ft. Antennas

Greenbelt, Md.—Design work on the radio astronomy explorer (RAE) satellite has been completed at the Goddard Space Flight Center here. The 380-lb. payload, which will carry 750-1,000-ft. antennas to measure very low frequency electromagnetic radiation from space, is scheduled for launch early in 1967.

By Donald E. Fink8 min

MANAGEMENT

Vietnam Needs Strain Logistics Pipeline

Washington—U. S. aerospace industry will be called upon to accept an increasing number of incrementally-funded contracts, advance price guarantees on unplaced orders plus shorter production and administrative lead times for spares and weapon systems as the Defense Dept, belatedly gears to meet the growing requirements of the war in Vietnam.

By Cecil Brownlow6 min

AVIONICS

Re-entry Data System Assists X-15 Pilot

St. Petersburg, Fla.—Experimental adaptive energy-management system to be flown aboard the North American X-15 research aircraft early next year will use an advanced airborne digital computer under development at the Aeronautical Div. of Honeywell, Inc.,

By George Alexander6 min

AIR TRANSPORT

Added Cargo Jets Spur Atlantic Activity

New York—New orders and acquisitions are expanding the North Atlantic jet freighter fleet, while construction of cargo terminals is under way or approaching completion on both sides of the ocean. Existing and potential shippers can expect unprecedented activity on the part of airline cargo sales representatives seeking traffic to fill the new aircraft and keep automated terminals busy.

By Joseph W. Carter6 min

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

X-21a Tests Verify Laminar Flow Gains

Los Angeles—Flight tests results achieved in the past year with Northrop Norair Div.’s X-21A flying test bed indicates the feasibility of attaining laminar flow over a high percentage of wing area for increased range, endurance or payload.

By Irving Stone6 min

126

Letters

Re the acronym Laser (AW&ST Aug. 30, p. 21), I am sure that some of the dedicated optimistic Laser scientists would favor the “mynorca” of limitless applications spur extensive research. S. R. HURST, Manager Laser Systems General Electric Co. Philadelphia, Pa.

MANAGEMENT

Dod to Overhaul Internal R&d Policies

Washington—Defense Dept, is launching a sweeping program to overhaul and strengthen its laboratories and other in-house research and development capabilities. Growing congressional dissatisfaction—particularly in House Appropriations and Armed Services Committees—with Defense Dept.’s research and development performance and slowness in introducing new weapons into the operating forces and the policy of turning key technical roles over to nonprofit firms has added steam to the program (AW&ST June 28, p. 74).

By Katherine Johnsen5 min

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September 27, 1965

September 27, 1965