Dec 16 1969
From The Space Library
NASA announced appointment of Robert N. Lindley, Vice President Program General Manager of McDonnell Douglas Corp., as Special Assistant to NASA Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight. (NASA Ann)
Senate Committee on Appropriations voted in closed session to cut approximately $16 million from House-recommended allocation of $96 million for SST development under H.R. 14794, DOD FY 1970 appropriations bill. (Reuters, B Sun, 12/17/69, A9)
Man Will Never Fly Memorial Society held 10th annual meeting at Kitty Hawk, N.C. on eve of 66th anniversary of Wright brothers, first airplane flight. Society's highest honor, National Anti-aviation Citation Presentation, was awarded in absentia to President Nixon for his decision to spend $1.3 billion on two prototype SSTs. "Since Britain, France and Russia have already built SST prototypes," citation said, "an all-American SST will . . . give the United States a smashing aviation fourth." Julian Scheer, NASA Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs and founding member of society, narrated films showing simulations of lunar surface used by NASA for training. They indicated "that you can really fake things on the ground-almost to the point of deception." Society's 600 members included aviation pioneers, military pilots, airline executives, and aerospace newswriters. (Wilford, NYT, 12/18/69, 30)
Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe announced selection of Robert P. Selfridge, Director of Greater Rockford (II) Airport, to receive FAA Award for Distinguished Service for his "contribution in developing and promoting the cause of General Aviation" and for his "constructive suggestions, imagination, dedication and service to the aviation users, above and beyond the role of an Airport Director." (FAA Release 69-67)
December 16-17: USNS Vanguard, which provided only sea-going link in NASA tracking and communications network during Apollo flights, was on display at Port of Baltimore, Md. (W Post, 12/15/69, B8; NASA PAO)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
