September 19, 1966

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SAFETY

Engine Failure on Takeoff Leads to Crash of Allegheny Convair

Allegheny Airlines, Inc., Flight 604, a Convair 340/440, N8415H, crashed 5 mi. east-northeast of the WilliamsportLycoming County Airport, Montoursville, Pa., on July 23, 1965. The 36 passengers, 3 crew members, and 1 jumpseat rider survived but received varying degrees of injuries.

AVIONICS

British Show Concorde, Military Avionics at Farnborough

Farnborough-A broad assortment of avionics equipment, including radar, navigation aids, communications, pilot displays and flight controls, was shown by British manufacturers at the recent Farnborough Flying Display and Exhibition.

By Barry Miller9 min

MANAGEMENT

Metal Shortages Forcing Delivery Delays

New York-Supplies of some key metals and metal products needed by the aerospace industry are expected to remain tight or get tighter before new production and fabrication capacity can ease the situation significantly. Although defense and related programs, and commercial transport aircraft efforts, have priority ratings for material deliveries, airframe and engine manufacturers and their subcontractors are encountering lengthening delays in obtaining some raw materials and intermediate products from their suppliers.

By Michael L. Yaffee8 min

EDITORIAL

Pilot Report From Vietnam

(The following letter was written to the Editor of AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY by an Air Force fighter-bomber pilot currently flying McDonnell F-4Cs in Vietnam. We present it to our readers as the unexpurgated views of a pilot on the firing line.

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

P&w Designs Extendible Skirt for Rl20 Rocket Engine

West Palm Beach, Fla.-Pratt & Whitney Aircraft has added a mechanically telescoping nozzle skirt extension to its experimental RL20 high-pressure rocket engine to provide a long, high-area expansion ratio exhaust system within a comparatively small installation space.

By George Alexander7 min

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BUSINESS FLYING

Mooney Sees 50% Increase in Net Billing in Fiscal 1967

Kerrville, Tex.—Mooney Aircraft, Inc., anticipates gross net billings in its 1967 fiscal year to reach $24 million, compared with about $16 million in Fiscal 1966. In Fiscal 1968, it estimates gross net billings of about $32 million. These goals are expected to be attained despite deep management concern over the increasingly “tight money” situation, which probably will cause dealers and customers problems in obtaining money for financing aircraft purchases, difficulty in obtaining additional skilled manpower and difficulty continuing the trend toward increased lead-times in materials.

By Erwin J. Bulban7 min

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Nasa Report to Congress Details Planetary Alternatives for Future

Washington-Possibility of a life form on Venus makes that planet a uniquely challenging scientific goal for space exploration, starting with an unmanned flyby next year. National Aeronautics and Space Administration then hopes to increase attention to Venus with orbiters and atmospheric probes, so far discussed but not authorized.

By William J. Normyle6 min

September 121966

September 261966

September 19, 1966

September 19, 1966

Engine Failure on Takeoff Leads to Crash of Allegheny Convair

Gemini 11 Demonstrates Pilot Capabilities

By Erwin J. Bulban14 min