February 27, 1984

February 27, 1984

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Manufacturing Technology

Alcoa Producing Lighter Lithium Alloy

By Jay C. Lowndes10 min

Aeronautical Engineering

B-1/stealth Competition Emerges

By Clarence A. Robinson9 min

Safety

Usaf, Navy Accident Rates Continue to Improve

By David M. North7 min

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6869
Manufacturing Technology

Alcoa Producing Lighter Lithium Alloy

Pittsburgh—Aluminum Co. of America is producing sheets of aluminum at the company’s Davenport, Iowa, rolling mill that contain lithium, an alloy constituent that decreases material density up to 10% for aircraft applications. Airframe designs that take advantage of a 10% increase in stiffness offered by the alloy Alcoa calls Alithalite can achieve weight savings of up to 18%, according to company estimates, or lithium alloy can be substituted directly for conventional aluminum in existing part designs.

By Jay C. Lowndes10 min

1617
Aeronautical Engineering

B-1/stealth Competition Emerges

Despite the beneficial effects on costs, schedules, Defense secretary cautions USAF leaders that plans call for both

By Clarence A. Robinson9 min

6465
Safety

Usaf, Navy Accident Rates Continue to Improve

By David M. North7 min

8081
Avionics

Usaf Studying Future Cockpit Displays

Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio—The Air Force Aeronautical Systems Div. Flight Dynamics Laboratory is developing a simulator cockpit that combines advanced display and control technologies, including pictorial format, touch-sensitive switches, voice activation and programmable switches that could be incorporated in the next-generation fighter in the mid-1990s.

By Eugene Kozicharow6 min

2223
Space Technology

Propellant Leaks Disrupt Orbiter Work

Washington—The Orbiter Processing Facility bay housing the shuttle orbiter Challenger at the Kennedy Space Center had to be evacuated Feb. 17 and Feb. 20 when hazardous nitrogen tetroxide leaked from ground servicing equipment draining propellant from the spacecraft.

By Craig Covault6 min

4041
Space Technology

Jpl Set to Integrate Galileo Jupiter Probe with Orbiter

Los Angeles—National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Galileo Jupiter exploratory probe, the first interplanetary vehicle scheduled for launch from the space shuttle, has been delivered by Hughes Aircraft Co. Space & Communications Group to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for integration with the Galileo orbiter and joint systems testing.

By Anne Randolph6 min

7273
Business Flying

Gulfstream Plans Peregrine Production

Washington—Gulfstream Aerospace plans to develop and produce the single-turbofan-powered Peregrine business aircraft for deliveries to begin in early 1987, following approval by the company’s board of directors. The sixor seven-place corporate aircraft is to be powered by a Garrett TFE731-2 turbofan engine rated at 3,500 lb. of thrust.
2829
Air Transport

Ntsb Upgrades Landing Incident

Continental hard landing now classified as accident; striking pilots, ALPA allege safety deterioration

By James Ott5 min

4445
Space Technology

Venus Project Team Finds Extensive Volcanic Activity

Moffett Field, Calif.—An eruption 10 times as powerful as the recent El Chichón eruption in Mexico may have occurred shortly before the Pioneer Venus Orbiter was injected into its orbit about Venus in 1978, scientists said here. Evidence has been accumulating for five years that Venus is far more active volcanically than Earth and may experience massive eruptions—possibly rivaling that of Indonesia’s Krakatoa in 1883—as often as once in 10 years.

By Benjamin M. Elson5 min

5657
Aeronautical Engineering

B-1b Cockpit to Be Fitted with Nuclear Flash Shield

Edwards AFB, Calif.—Future U. S. Air Force/Rockwell International B-1B strategic bomber crews will be shielded from thermonuclear flashblindness with cockpit-darkening panels and protective portholes capable of reducing incoming light to 0.003% of original intensity.
February 201984 March 51984