May 19, 1969

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Aeronautical Engineering

Boeing Modifies 737 for Operations From Short Airfields

Seattle—Boeing Co. has demonstrated to the airlines a short-field version of its twin-engine 737 transport capable of operating into 4,000-ft. runways to determine the demand for a jet transport of this type. Airline evaluation of the modified company-owned 737-100 began in April and was nearing completion early this month.

By C. M. Plattner13 min

Aeronautical Engineering

Experts Struggled to Control 2707 Weight

San Francisco—Industry weight engineers were told here recently that their best efforts were insufficient when it came to estimating the weight of the Boeing supersonic transport early in the design process. USAF Maj. Gen. J. C. Maxwell, director of the Federal Aviation Administration’s supersonic transport effort, said the serious structural weight problems that forced redesign of the aircraft provide a lesson “in the area of estimating the weight of an airplane during preliminary design."

By Richard G. O'Lone6 min

Management

Nixon User Tax Plan Drops Trust Fund

Washington—Compromise approach by the Nixon Administration to airport/airways development funding will link user taxes directly to improvements, but without establishment of a trust fund. An Administration bill is being re-written by Transportation Dept, officials to meet Budget Bureau and Treasury Dept, objections to the trust fund concept which they rejected earlier (AW&ST May 5, p. 21).

By Donald C. Winston6 min

Aeronautical Engineering

Rockets Bolster Dc-9 Payload Capability

New York—Standby rocket power enables Overseas National Airways (ONA) to increase the payloads of each of its four McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32Fs by as much as four tons. The supplemental airline is the first carrier to install such rockets on a turbofan transport, according to ONA Capt. L. R. Furlong, who had a major role in obtaining Federal Aviation Administration certification for this installation.

Air Transport

New Radar Landing Technique Explored

Washington—New type airborne radar to give jet transport crews an independent monitor during instrument landings under poor weather conditions appears to be one of the most promising techniques discussed here at the recent Air Transport Assn. visibility enhancement symposium.

By Philip J. Klass5 min

May 121969

May 261969

May 19, 1969

May 19, 1969

Atc Procedure Called Crash Factor

Plans Detailed for Lunar Landing

By William J. Normyle15 min