October 3, 1966

October 3, 1966

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AVIONICS

Many Ufos Are Identified as Plasmas

By Philip J. Klass26 min

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

French Company Speeding Development of Aerotrain

By Warren C. Wetmore10 min

AIR TRANSPORT

Boeing Proposes Wide-fuselage Version of Larger Sst

By C. M. Plattner9 min

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More Features
5455
AVIONICS

Many Ufos Are Identified as Plasmas

Washington—Hundreds of “unidentified flying objects” exhibit characteristics that clearly identify them as plasmas. In most cases they are plasmas of ionized air, sometimes containing charged dust particles. A few may be vortices of tiny charged ice particles.

By Philip J. Klass26 min

7879
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

French Company Speeding Development of Aerotrain

Paris—French Aerotrain, based almost entirely on aerospace technology and running on an air cushion instead of wheels, shows promise of revolutionizing public ground transportation over short-to-medium distances. The vehicle, designed in various configurations by Bertin & Co. and being exploited by its subsidiary, Aerotrain Studies Co., is considered also to be an answer to the problem of rapid transportation of passengers from city centers to outlying airports.

By Warren C. Wetmore10 min

3435
AIR TRANSPORT

Boeing Proposes Wide-fuselage Version of Larger Sst

Thicker international SST fuselage design shows more pronounced area ruling, would seat 7 abreast.

By C. M. Plattner9 min

9899
BUSINESS FLYING

Ted Smith Aircraft Rolls Out Aerostar

Northridge, Calif.—First of 14 prototype aircraft to be used for flight test and certification of a wide variety of singleand twin-engine models of the Ted Smith Aircraft Co. Aerostar series is expected to fly for the first time in mid-October.

By C. M. Plattner8 min

2829
SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Eva Problems Spur Space Flight Revision

Inability of astronaut to work in space continues to perplex NASA; final Gemini will be delayed briefly.

By William J. Normyle7 min

4041
AVIONICS

Boac Plans New Navigation System Test

London-British Overseas Airways Corp. plans next month to equip one of its Super VC. 10 jet airliners with a self-contained navigation system for evaluation on 1967 overseas flights. The system combines inertial. Doppler and other sensors tied together by a central digital computer.

By Barry Miller7 min

2627
MANAGEMENT

Military Exports Expected to Remain High

German offset-payment cut decision should not crimp $15-billion, 10-year goal for overseas defense sales.

By Cecil Brownlow6 min

3031
SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Gemini Pilots Cite Eva Training Needs

KC-135 zero-g maneuvers seen inadequate; Gordon notes ‘simple tasks’ made heavy demands on energy.

By Erwin J. Bulban5 min

4445
AIR TRANSPORT

Strike Cost $93 Million Revenue in July

CAB study finds non-struck carriers absorbed only one-third of business lost from shut-down airlines.
102103
BUSINESS FLYING

Annual Business Aircraft Operating Costs—grumman Gulfstream 1

Notes: All figures are derived from responses to questionnaires issued by the Technical Committee of the National Business Aircraft Assn. to operators of Grumman G-159 Gulfstream 1 aircraft. Except as noted, figures are for the latest available 12-month period for each individual operator.
September 261966 October 101966