January 10, 1955

View Full Issue Table of Contents

Headline News

United to Spend $50 Million for Dc-8 Jets

Expects delivery will start in 1960, possibly 1959, depending on Douglas commitment for USAF transport. Jet liners to use J57s; UAL chief calls turboprop talk ‘shadowboxing,’ says engines are unavailable.

By William J. Coughlin3 min

Headline News

Design Changes Make F-102 Supersonic

Half-a-dozen design changes, built around more power, less drag and lower weight, make Convair’s YF-102A deltawinged interceptor supersonic in level flight. On its second flight, made at Edwards AFB Dec. 21, the big plane passed through the Mach 1 mark in a climb to 35,000 ft.

AVIATION SAFETY

Parts Catalog Not for Maintenance

At approximately 08401, Mar. 16, 1954, a Continental Air Lines Convair 340, N 90853, made an emergency wheels-up landing in a barren field about two and onehalf miles northeast of the Midland Air Terminal, Midland, Tex. The accident occurred immediately following takeoff.

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Bell Builds Rocket Engine Knowhow

Buffalo, N. Y.—An aluminum-alloy rocket motor, which can be built quickly and cheaply from standard alloys, is a current high-water mark of Bell Aircraft Corp.’s extensive rocket motor development program. Experimental aluminum-alloy units have been fired with acid-JP-4 propellant combination for continuous runs of almost 10 minutes duration; individual motors have logged more than one hour—a long life under the rigorous conditions of rocket combustion.

By David A. Anderton8 min

January 31955

January 171955

January 10, 1955

January 10, 1955

U.s. to Try Dutch Approach Lights

Army Aviation Buying Fight Looms

By Claude Witze5 min