May 11, 1987

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AVIONICS

Automated Flight Engineer Functions Ease Crew Workload in MD-11 Cockpit

Long Beach, Calif.—McDonnell Douglas’ cockpit design approach for the MD-11 derivative of the DC-10 transport is to automate many of the functions performed by the DC-10 flight engineer. Additionally, a six-tube electronic instrument system and full-time stability augmentation have been added to ease the piloting and navigation tasks.

By Michael A. Dornheim11 min

NATIONAL SPACE LEADERSHIP

Moon Base Gaining Support As New U. S. Space Goal

Washington—Development of a U. S. base on the Moon as the next national space goal is gaining support as an option that would assert U. S. space leadership earlier than a Mars initiative while building the technology necessary to commit later to manned Mars operations.

By Craig Covault7 min

116

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Grumman Refining Naval Multimission RPV Concept

Bethpage, N. Y.—Grumman Corp. is continuing development of a shipborne, vertical takeoff and landing remotely piloted vehicle that could provide surface action groups with independent defensive surveillance in weather up to sea state 7.

By Stanley W. Kandebo6 min

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

ITT Uses Process Control Methods To Increase Plant Productivity

Nutley, N. J.—ITT has doubled its production output, reduced defects by more than 50% and saved $60 million in the past 18 months using techniques that potentially can benefit the entire aerospace industry. ITT Avionics Div., a leading producer of active electronic warfare systems, applied statistical process control and Taguchi methods to the Pave Mint electronic countermeasures system for the USAF /Boeing B-52G/H as the company transitioned into production, and cut failure rates in half, according to D. Travis Engen, president and general manager of ITT Avionics (AW&ST Feb. 16, p. 98).

By Bruce D. Nordwall5 min

126

MANAGEMENT

House, Senate Panels Support Navy Plan to Replace Carriers

Washington—The U. S. Navy has garnered initial support for its proposal to accelerate procurement of two nuclearpowered Nimitz-class replacement aircraft carriers with votes from the Senate and House Armed Services committees. The Navy’s object in advancing the procurement dates for the two replacement aircraft carriers is to invest the minimum amount possible and still deliver the ships to the fleet in time to sustain a force of 15 deployable carriers (AW&ST May 4, P17).

By Brendan M. Greeley5 min

May 41987

May 181987

May 11, 1987

May 11, 1987