June 5, 1989

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HEADLINE NEWS

Bush Administration Speeds Nasp Review, Spurred By Soviet, German Competition

WASHINGTON An increased interest by the Soviet Union and West Germany in hypersonic aero-space planes is becoming a critical issue in White House assessments of whether to continue the U. S. National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) project. U. S. aeronautics experts said there is growing evidence that the Soviet Union is aggressively developing hypersonic aerospace plane technology important to future military, space and transport vehicles (see story p. 95).

By CRAIG COVAULT5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Cheney and Senior Defense Aides Take Firsthand Look at B-2 Production Facilities

PALMDALE, CALIF Defense Secretary Richard B. Cheney and a group of senior defense officials toured Northrop B-2 production facilities at Pico Rivera and Palmdale, Calif., on May 26 to make a firsthand assessment of the bomber’s preflight status.

By WILLIAM B. SCOTT2 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Beech Approves Starship Color Scheme

WASHINGTON The first production Starship 1 is shown after application of finish paint. The scheme illustrated here will be typical of production aircraft. To minimize the amount of heat absorbed by the composite structure, Beech has approved a series of pastel colors and designs.

SOVIET AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

Propulsion Research Center Focuses on Developing Fuel-efficient Aircraft

MOSCOW The Soviet Union’s aircraft propulsion research is concentrated in the Central Institute for Aviation Motors here in Moscow. The country’s engine design bureaus have limited research staffs and facilities and rely on the institute for fundamental studies and test support.

CONVENTIONAL ARMS REDUCTION

Bush Includes Combat Aircraft Cuts in Nato Arms Proposal

WASHINGTON President Bush’s proposal for reducing NATO and Warsaw Pact conventional forces is expected to bolster the need for next-generation combat aircraft and stifle modernization of existing fighters. Bush’s conventional forces initiative has reversed America’s long-standing resistance to Soviet demands that NATO’s combat aircraft strength be reduced.

By MICHAEL MECHAM,PATRICIA A. GILMARTIN8 min

SOVIET AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

Voronezh Accelerating Il-96 Production; End of Il-86 Program Planned for 1993

VORONEZH, USSR The manufacturing rate for the Ilyushin Il-96 wide-body transport is accelerating at the Voronezh factory here while preparations are made to terminate production of the predecessor Il-86 aircraft. Output for the Il-96 is expected to reach 10-12 aircraft annually by the early 1990s, while the assembly pace for the Il86 is expected to decrease until production is stopped in 1993.

May 291989

June 121989

June 5, 1989

June 5, 1989

Mil Bureau Designing New Medium Transport Helicopter to Replace Mi-8

By DAVID HUGHES7 min

Nasa Langley Expands Flight Envelope of F-106b Equipped with Vortex Flaps

By EDWARD H. PHILLIPS5 min