November 4, 1963

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AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

727 Program Entering Production Phase at Boeing Plant

Renton, Wash.—Rapid pace of Boeing’s 727 three-engine turbofan transport program calls for its production rate to reach one airplane every four working days by next month, when certification of the aircraft is expected. To date, 19 of the 727s have been built, and the first airplanes have been delivered to United Air Lines and Eastern Air Lines for pilot training.

By C. M. Plattner16 min

AVIONICS

Dielectric Rod Produces Radar Echo Gain

Washington — Simple, low-cost method for enhancing the radar echo produced by target drones and small aircraft, using one or more small tapered dielectric rods, has been developed by Naval Research Laboratory. Application to small general aviation aircraft could enable them to make increased use of ground radar facilities and might eliminate the need for a more costly radar transponder.

By Philip J. Klass7 min

AVIONICS

New Avionic Products

Portable CW gas laser, Model 130, uses d.c. excitation technique which eliminates need for RF signal generator, reducing over-all size to ⅛-cu. ft. and weight to 11 lb. Laser generates 0.1 milliwatt beam at each end at wavelength of 6,328 angstroms.

MANAGEMENT

Hope of Increased Dod Space Funds Slim

Baltimore—Key Pentagon space official recently offered little hope for increased Defense Dept, funding of military space programs, but indicated that increased military capabilities could be obtained by more efficient use of the funds which the U.S. now is spending for space research and development.

AVIONICS

Microwave Amplifier Advances Described

Washington—New advances and developments of particular interest in the field of avionics, reported here last week at the Electron Devices Meeting, include the following: Cyclotron wave amplifier, an electronbeam device exhibiting an excess-noise temperature of about 100K which does not require an RE pump source was reported by Robert Adler and George Hrbek of Zenith Radio Corp.

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Tsr.2 in Advanced Stage of Construction

London—First official details of Britain’s new TSR.2 strike reconnaissance aircraft, released by Air Ministry here last week, indicate it to be a highly automated, all-purpose airplane capable of operating from unimproved forward airfields, and with an operational life of 10-15 years.

By Herbert J. Coleman5 min

October 281963

November 111963

November 4, 1963

November 4, 1963