October 11, 1982

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Aviation Week Pilot Report

Advanced Technology in Airbus A310 Cuts Workload, Fuel Use

Toulouse, France—Significant cockpit workload reduction, improved man/machine dialogue, and better than anticipated fuel economics are being demonstrated in the Airbus Industrie A310 wide-body transport as the aircraft proceeds through development flight testing toward certification in the first quarter of 1983.

By Robert R. Ropelewski23 min

Space Technology

Crew Preparing for First Shuttle Eva

Houston—Space shuttle Mission 5 extravehicular activity by astronauts Joseph P. Allen and William B. Lenoir has the objective of verifying basic shuttle EVA capabilities using newly designed space suit hardware. The crew will perform tasks requiring the manipulation of more tools and small components than did most work outside orbiting spacecraft during the Gemini, Apollo and Skylab programs.

By Craig Covault18 min

112

Missile Engineering

Administration Pushes Icbm Defense

Washington—Reagan Administration’s proposed $7-billion funding increase for ballistic missile defense in its new five-year defense plan reflects an urgency to accelerate research and development to support a rapid-deployment capability for an active defense system.

By Clarence A. Robinson9 min

Space Technology

Spacelab, Eureca Groomed for Shuttle

Paris—Europe’s Spacelab program is entering a new phase of activity as preparations are being made for the initial Spacelab mission in September, 1983, and the first flight of the Eureca recoverable carrier in April, 1987. Payload positions on board the U. S.

By Jeffrey M. Lenorovitz6 min

120

Aeronautical Engineering

F-16xl Flight Tests Resume at Edwards

Edwards AFB—General Dynamics Corp. F-16XL flight demonstrator aircraft has returned to Edwards AFB from the company’s Ft. Worth, Tex., plant after a three-week scheduled downtime that included ground vibration tests with heavyload weapon pylons fitted to the aircraft as well as the installation of a spin chute in preparation for high angle of attack tests.

Management

Interim Defense Funding Set Near Senate Figure

Washington—Interim defense funding between now and Dec. 17 will continue at an annual rate of $228.7 billion, a level nearly equal to that recommended by the Senate Appropriations Committee for Fiscal 1983. No new programs will be allowed.

By Alton K. Marsh4 min

Editorial

The Cockpit Revolution

Watching from the jump seat in Boeing’s new 757 transport as it approaches London Heathrow Airport, the kibitzer sees a magenta racetrack holding pattern flash onto an electronic horizontal situation indicator screen. A white dashed line traces the airplane’s circular path inside the oval as the 757 automatically executes a procedural delay before entering the final approach phase of the landing.

By William H. Gregory4 min

October 41982

October 181982

October 11, 1982

October 11, 1982