Dec 22 1964
From The Space Library
X-15 No. 3 was flown by Maj. Robert A. Rushworth (SAF) to 81,000-ft. altitude at maximum speed of 3,545 (mach 5.37) mph to test X-15's skin friction at relatively high speeds and low angles of attack, and to obtain information on ablative materials. The 10-min. flight was one of a series to study heat buildup and air-flow patterns resulting from friction. (NASA X-15 Proj. Off.; AP, NYT, 12/24/64)
United Technology Center successfully test-fired its 120-inch-dia., 1-million-lb.-thrust solid propellant rocket motor for nearly two minutes at Edwards AFB, Calif. The firing was the fourth static test within two months. The 250-ton rockets were being developed for the first stage of the Air Force's Titan III-C standard space launch vehicle, under con-tract to the AF's Space Systems Div. The Titan III-C was scheduled to orbit a variety of manned and unmanned payloads, including the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL). (M&R, 1/4/65, 26)
USAF's new strategic reconnaissance plane, the SR-71, made its maiden flight at Palmdale, Calif., exceeding an altitude of 45,000 ft. and a speed of 1,000 mph. The one-hour flight was reported to have been very successful; all test objectives were met. Powered by two J-58 jet engines, the SR-71 would eventually fly at more than 2,000 mph and above 80,000 ft. The Lockheed-built plane was flown by civilian test pilot Bob Gilliland. In 1965, the SR-71 would be assigned to Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Beale AFB, Marysville, Calif. (DOD Release 902-64; Sehlstedt, Balt. Sun, 12/24/64)
Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara announced that President Johnson had ordered development of the world's largest airplane-a giant military subsonic jet transport able to carry 600 troops or 250 tons of cargo nonstop for 7,000 mi. at 550 mph. The CX (Cargo Experimental) military jet transport was predicted to be ready far the Air Force by later 1968. Development costs would total $750 million. According to McNamara the CX would "maximize the effec-tiveness" of eight combat-ready divisions stationed in the U.S. and reduce "reaction time in meeting global crisis." It would also "have potential commercial use for both passenger and cargo purposes." In addition the CX would be able to carry any piece of divisional equip-ment used by an Army division, which present aircraft cannot do. (Mohr, NYT, 12/23/64, 1; Glass, N.Y. Her. Trib., 12/23/64)
It was announced that an advanced experimental radar system, built close to the ground and designed to detect, track, and identify missile war-heads and to assign targets to antimissile sites, was undergoing tests at White Sands Missile Range, N. Mex. The radar system had no moving parts and no moving antennas; energy would be transmitted directly from the many elements of the antenna array and would be steered electronically by shifting the electrical phase of the individual antenna elements. (NYT, 12/22/64, 45)
During a background briefing for news representatives on NASA elec-tronics and control research activities, Francis J. Sullivan, Acting Di-rector, Electronics and Control Division, Office of Advanced Research and Technology of NASA Hq., said: "Past analyses of the NASA R&D funds indicate that approximately 40 per cent of our R&D dollars that are utilized in launch vehicle work go into the electronics industry. The same applies to 70 per cent of the spacecraft funds, and 90 per cent of the tracking and data acquisition funds. If you sum up these factors, it will indicate that approximately 50 per cent of NASA's R&D dollars in any one fiscal year find their way into the electronic and control type industries." (Transcript)
A subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee recommended that the Department of Defense move ahead with a pro-gram to develop fighter planes capable of vertical and short takeoffs and landings (V/STOL). The subcommittee urged that the military services "not over commit themselves to the helicopter to the detri-ment and interests of V/Stol transport aircraft when they become avail-able." Furthermore, it was the judgment of the subcommittee "that none of these programs presently being supported by the Department of Defense are adequate to determine the operational suitability 'of a V/Stol fighter aircraft for close tactical support." (Balt. Sun, 12/23/64)
In spite of the successful maiden flight of the F-111, Sen. John L. McClel-lan (D.-Ark.) said, in a telephone interview, that the Senate investi-gations subcommittee would not discontinue plans to try to determine whether the $6-billion General Dynamics Corp. contract for production of the F-111 was actually awarded to the high bidder on the basis of an inferior design, and if so, whether influence was involved. No specific date was mentioned for resumption of the investigations. (AP, NYT, 12/23/64, 15 ; AP, Balt. Sun, 12/23/64)
USAF announced it had built the T-27 space flight simulator-a $5,500,000, 15-ton machine which would be used for astronaut training at the Aero-space Research Pilot School at Edwards AFB, Calif. The simulator was built under a contract with the Link Group of General Precision, Inc. (Sehlstedt, Balt. Sun, 12/23/64, 24)
Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) announced that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had reserved two delivery positions for the U.S. super-sonic transport plane bringing the total of reserved positions for the SST to 93 and the number of airlines holding positions to 21 (14 foreign flag and seven U.S. flag airlines) . (FAA Release 64-110)
USAF successfully fired an Atlas-F ICBM down the WTR from Vandenberg AFB-the third major launching from the base in two days. (m, NYT, 12/23/64, 28)
SN launched a Polaris A-3-the 13th consecutive success-from the sub-merged submarine Von. Steuben off Cape Kennedy. (M&R, 1/4/65, 11)
Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara announced that Gen. John Paul McConnell would be nominated to replace Gen. Curtis E. LeMay, who would retire as Air Force Chief of Staff on Jan. 31, 1965, after 35 years in the armed forces. Gen. McConnell would assume his new position Feb. 1. (NYT, 12/23/64, 11; Barrett, HTNS, Wash. Post, 12/23/64, 2)
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