OSHKOSH, WIS. The Experimental Aircraft Assn.’s AirVenture 2000 held here last week showcased a bevy of new, advanced designs bristling with technologies spawned by close cooperation between NASA and the general aviation industry. EAA’s annual event, hailed as the world’s largest air show and exhibition of small aircraft, also underscored the industry’s vibrant health that has seen record sales of both kit and production aircraft as well as a surge in availability of sophisticated electronics and avionics systems.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER The new 1l6-fit.-long International Space Station configuration is completing a major computer and data system reconfiguration this week following a flawless automatic docking between the ISS and the Russian Zvezda Service Module.

New York British Airways last week temporarily grounded its Concorde “Alpha Echo” after an ultrasonic check detected a growing crack in the the left rear wing spar. Cracks averaging 60 mm. long were discovered several months ago in all seven British Airways’ Concordes in the same wing area outboard the engines during standard ultrasonic testing, according to an airline spokesperson.

WASHINGTON It’s too early to assess whether Lockheed Martin’s decision to sell its Sanders affiliate to pay down its indebtedness from its prior acquisitions and the decision of Britain’s BAE Systems to bid $1.67 billion will prove beneficial to both in the near-term and beyond.