March 14, 1960

March 14, 1960

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AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

USAF Drops Mach 2 VTOL for STOL

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Tiros I Will Scan Cloud Cover, Earth Temperature

MISSILE ENGINEERING

Minuteman Support Refined to Cut Costs

By Richard Sweeney7 min

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2829
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

USAF Drops Mach 2 VTOL for STOL

Washington—Air Force plan to develop a Mach 2 VTOL fighter (AW Feb. 1, p. 38) is being scrapped and replaced with a requirement for a 3,000-ft. takeoff STOL aircraft at the insistence of Tactical Air Command. Operational VTOL aircraft for the Air Force have been pushed back into the early 1970 period and have re-entered the study phase because TAC does not believe that the Air Staff and Air Research and Development Command plan to develop them for use in the mid-1960s is realistic.
2627
SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Tiros I Will Scan Cloud Cover, Earth Temperature

Washington—First comprehensive scientific weather-eye satellite, Tiros I, specifically designed to probe secrets of cloud cover and earth heat is scheduled to be launched this month from Cape Canaveral. This meteorological platform, with photographic and infrared-scanning capability, will be orbited to evaluate the validity of existing weather theories and prove principles of weather-satellite design.
6465
MISSILE ENGINEERING

Minuteman Support Refined to Cut Costs

Ground support systems and components for the Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile (AW Mar. 7, p. 135) have constantly undergone comprehensive re-evaluation during development. Reasons for improvement studies are: Eliminating a job which requires one man 24 hr. per day saves from $350,000 to $500,000 in capital expenditure.

By Richard Sweeney7 min

8889
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Fuel May Cool Manned Flights at Mach 4

New York—New aviation fuels that absorb large amounts of heat by breaking clown in flight to form two or more other fuels may hold the key to the cooling requirements of manned flight at Mach 4. Called endothermic (heat absorbing) fuels, they are currently the subject of a major Air Force research program.

By Michael Yaffee8 min

3839
AIR TRANSPORT

USAF Plans Expansion of Logair Airlift

New York—Major expansion of Air Force’s Logair operation now under way will force commercial carriers winning large Fiscal 1961 contracts to re-equip their fleets with aircraft capable of hauling “outsized cargo.” Carriers competing for a series of contracts representing about 25% of all Logair scheduled mileage are bargaining with Lockheed Aircraft Corp. for C-130B turboprop transports—the only plane in production capable of meeting all of the performance and design specifications designated by Air Materiel Command.

By David H. Hoffman6 min

3233
MANAGEMENT

New Agency May End STL Controversy

118119

LETTERS

In your recent report on the hearings before the House Committee on Science and Astronautics (AW Feb. 29, p. 30) you stated that I did not take a stand as to where control of the space program should be placed. This is correct as far as the Society’s position is concerned. However, I should like to clarify my own position with further comments.
4243
AIR TRANSPORT

Experience Cuts F-27 Operating Costs

Washington—Value of increased operational experience as a means of realizing extensive cost reductions in F-27 turboprop operations was highlighted in an analysis of four local-service airline operations made by the Fairchild Engine & Airplane Corp.
7879
MISSILE ENGINEERING

British Score High Missile Costs

London—Twelve-fold increases in the estimated costs of missiles were revealed in the House of Commons recently accompanied by allegations that misleading reports had been made by the now defunct Ministry of Supply to the Treasury. Sir Edmund Compton in his report on the civil appropriation accounts for 1958-59 revealed that Britain’s first generation of missiles—estimated to cost S22.4 million—had in fact cost $308 million.
3839
AIR TRANSPORT

Carriers Dispute Board’s Coach Stand

Freedom of the airlines to establish service patterns without interference appears headed for showdown.

By L. L. Doty6 min

March 71960 March 211960