ATLANTA The busy pace of the National Business Aviation Assn.'s 52nd annual convention held here last week not only underscored the present strength of the business flying community, but reinforced predictions of continued growth. Absence of new product introductions at the convention was more than offset by a high level of enthusiasm demonstrated by the nearly 30,000 attendees and exhibitors who participated in the three-day event.

WASHINGTON The U.S. Air Force is putting to gether plans to ensure it will retain an intercontinental ballistic missile capability even after 2020, when the current missiles reach the end of their projected life. While the primary focus is on retaining a nuclear ICBM arsenal, the Air Force is seriously considering a parallel effort to field for the first time an ICBM with a conventional warhead.