July 23, 1962

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SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Lunar Orbital Rendezvous Poses Biggest Technical Challenge to Nasa

Washington — Technical challenge posed by lunar orbit rendezvous dwarfs the already significant achievements of the U. S. in manned space flight. Decision to employ this technique for Project Apollo (AW July 9, p. 25), means that the safe return of the first U. S. astronauts to explore the lunar surface will hinge on the precise execution of a rendezvous maneuver 240,000 mi. from earth.

By David H. Hoffman16 min

MANAGEMENT

Antonov Criticizes Soviet ‘quota’ System

What stimuli make Soviet man work —and work well? It seems to me that all stimuli—both moral and material— should, on the basis of their effects, be divided into three main groups. The most important stimuli must, in my opinion, relate to the first group.

AVIONICS

Dod Group Studies Emitter Interference

Annapolis, Md. — Little-publicized problem with potentially grave consequences for the nation’s military forces, resulting from the mushrooming numbers of radar and radio equipments now in use, is under attack here by the recently formed Defense Department Electromagnetic Compatibility Analysis Center (ECAC).

By Philip J. Klass8 min

BUSINESS FLYING

Dh-125 Faces U. S., French Competition

London—De Havilland Aircraft, facing intense competition in the world’s executive jet market, rolled out its DH-125 aft-mounted twin-jet transport July 23, the first of an initial batch of 30. The airplane has been primarily designed for simplicity and robustness.

By Herbert J. Coleman6 min

BUSINESS FLYING

Private Aircraft Sales Show Spotty Rise

Dallas, Tex.—Business aircraft industry’s experience in the first half of Calendar 1962 bears out earlier indications (AW Mar. 12, p. 257) that unit deliveries and total dollar volumes are likely to exceed those of last year, but the situation presently looks spotty for some companies and all may not share in this increase.

By Erwin J. Bulban6 min

FINANCIAL

Aerospace Industry Financial Results -1961

Three-year comparative financial results are shown for major aerospace companies. Those in the avionics and aerospace equipment categories are only a small portion of those included in the industry, but are chosen in an effort to show a useful cross-section.

AVIONICS

Power Interruption Slashes Gyro Drift

Minneapolis-Honeywell has cut the drift rate of its integrating gyros over a ratio range from 10:1 to as much as 40:1 by the simple technique of interrupting power flow to the spin motor periodically in a precisely controlled cycle. The new approach, called spin motor interruption technique (SMIT), will be employed in Honeywell gyros used in the Dyna-Soar (now called the X-20), Gemini, Centaur and the SD-5 drone.

July 161962

July 301962

July 23, 1962

July 23, 1962