February 23, 1959

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Aeronautical Engineering

H-43a Possesses ‘stick and Rudder’ Qualities

Bloomfield, Conn.—Kaman Aircraft’s piston-powered H-43A is a “stick and rudder” helicopter embracing an intermeshing rotor system and servo-flap control. It has no tail rotor. Its adaptability to its search and crash-rescue and firefighting role can be keyed to its maneuverability, slow-flight characteristics and flight-safety features.

By Robert I. Stanfield14 min

116

FINANCIAL

Defense Lists 100 Prime Contractors

Washington—Department of Defense has tabulated net awards to the 100 companies and their 130 affiliates that received the largest volume of military prime contracts in Fiscal 1958. Procurement of aircraft and missiles accounted for 50% of all military prime contract awards of $10,000 or more, an increase of 11 % over the previous year.

AVIONICS

Industry Awaits‘tough’ Wage Act Ruling

Washington-Question of whether producers of missiles and manufacturers of avionic equipment must pay the same Walsh-Healey Act minimum wage as aircraft manufacturers, now up for Department of Labor decision, could have a major impact on all three groups, regardless of the outcome.

By Philip J. Klass10 min

Convair Tests Electric Flight Controls

San Diego—Exploitation of electric primary flight controls, considered to have several advantages over hydromechanical units for high performance aircraft, has made a substantial advance with development of an appropriate emergency backup system.

By Richard Sweeney8 min

142

Letters

Aviation Week welcomes the opinions of its readers on the issues raised in the magazine’s editorial columns. Address letters to the Editor, Aviation Week, 330 W. 42nd St., New York 36, N. Y. Try to keep letters under 500 words and give a genuine identification.

100

BUSINESS FLYING

Business Planes Gain Despite Recession

A substantial increase in number of units and dollar value marked deliveries by U. S. business aircraft manufacturers in 1958 compared with 1957, despite last year’s much-publicized industrial recession. Business plane airframe manufacturers delivered 6,416 units last year having a total net billing value of $101.527,000, compared with 6,118 aircraft valued at some $99.6 million in 1957.

By Erwin J. Bulban6 min

Space Technology

Clustered Rockets May Boost Reliability

Washington—Clusters of rocket engines that will be capable of completing a mission after one or more engines have failed may become the most reliable and economic boosters for large space vehicles. Using the engine-out safety concept employed for years on multi-engined aircraft, the aggregate reliability of clustered space propulsion systems may be theoretically raised well above the reliability of any single rocket engine.

By J. S. Butz5 min

February 161959

March 21959

February 23, 1959

February 23, 1959