November 16, 1959

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BUSINESS FLYING

Okanagan Copes with Helicopter Mountain Flights

Vancouver, B. C.—Pioneers in developing the approach, landing and takeoff techniques which made mountain operations feasible with helicopters, Okanagan Group here has grown to the largest rotary winged aircraft owner-operator firm in the world.

By Richard Sweeney21 min

148

SAFETY

Cockpit Inattention Cited in 707 Dive

On Feb. 3, 1959 at 2205 G.M.T., Pan American World Airways Flight 115, a Boeing 707, N 712PA, en route form Paris, France, to New York, N. Y., made an uncontrolled descent of approximately 29.000 ft. Following recovery the aircraft was flown to Gander, Newfoundland, where a safe landing was made.

102

AVIONICS

Parametric Amplifier Types Increasing

Improvements in the performance of radar, communication and radio astronomy systems which were inconceivable only a few short years ago have become possible through the use of parametric amplifiers, a new class of device based on a principle first enunciated nearly 100 years ago.

By Dr. Glen Wade11 min

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Curtiss-wright Demonstrates Vtol

Santa Barbara—Curtiss-Wright will fly its VZ-7AP Army VTOL test vehicle some 30-35 hr. in proving feasibility of the single engine, four-propeller configuration which was designed to requirements calling for a quarterton of freight or cargo or foor-person payload, a speed of 50 mph. and a 30 min. flight duration.

AIR TRANSPORT

Hawaiian Bids for New Pacific Routes

Honolulu—Hawaiian Airlines, buffeted into a request for subsidy by the new competition of Aloha Airlines in the limited inter-island travel market, is striving to regain its competitive foothold by expanding its routes as a regional Pacific carrier.

By L. L. Doty9 min

126

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Advanced Nuclear Space Units Probed

Washington—Detailed study of possible configurations for nuclear rocket space propulsion systems is now expanding well beyond the Kiwi-A type solid-fuel reactor, high-pressure experimental engine under study by the Atomic Energy Commission at Jackass Flats, Nev. (AW Feb. 16, p. 49).

By J. S. Butz, Jr.9 min

122

MANAGEMENT

Job Survey Cites Administration Apathy

Every few months, trade and technical magazines cry about an engineer/ scientist shortage that doesn’t exist. Three years, ago we conducted a comprehensive, nation-wide survey of engineer recruitment practices. Results, published by AVIATION WEEK Jan. 21, 1957 (p. 97), proved the shortage was in personnel practices, not in available engineers.

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Structural Beef Up Distinguishes F-104g

Burbank, Calif.—Lockheed F-104Gs ordered by West Germany will be structurally beefedup versions of the F-104Cs now being used by USAF’s Tactical Air Command. In addition to the structural strengthening, which will permit the aircraft to fulfill the lowlevel part of its multi-mission capability, the F-104G will have a fire control svstem with a wider range of capabilities than the system in the F-104C.

November 91959

November 231959

November 16, 1959

November 16, 1959