Jun 9 1975
From The Space Library
The House of Representatives, by voice vote, agreed to the conference report on H.R. 4700, the NASA authorization bill for FY 1976 and the transitional period 1 July through 30 Sept. 1976. [See also 4 June.] The conference committee authorized a total of $3 562 310 000 for FY 1976, an increase of $23 310 000 over the budget request, and $925 150 000 for the transition period, a decrease of $33 750 000 from the budget request. (CR, 9 June 75, H5106-08)
President Ford transmitted to both Houses of Congress proposed legislation to create, within the Executive Office of the President, an Office of Science and Technology Policy headed by a director who would also serve as presidential science and technology advisor.
In his letters of transmittal to Speaker of the House of Representatives Carl Albert and President of the Senate Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller, President Ford said that the new director would "identify new opportunities for using science and technology to improve our understanding of national problems and to contribute to their solution. He will also chair the Federal Council on Science and Technology, and I expect him to provide advice on the scientific and technological considerations in Federal policies, programs, and budgets." The President said that the director and deputy director would be presidential appointees. The office would draw extensively on the nation's scientific and engineering community for advice and assistance, and the director and staff would also call upon Federal agencies for assistance in carrying out their responsibilities. (PD, 16 June 75, 610)
President Ford transmitted to Congress the Aeronautics and Space Report of the President: 1974 Activities. The President said that the "Nation's activities in aeronautics and space continued to produce significant benefits, to experiment with and develop new applications, to increase scientific knowledge, and to advance technology." He cited the continued expansion of international communications satellites; testing of earth-observation satellites for crop surveys, water resource management, and pollution management; completion of the successful Skylab manned space-station missions; continued planetary exploration, with successful missions to Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury; continued development of new aeronautical technology including the reduction of energy requirements, noise, and pollution, and modernization of the traffic-control system; and milestones in military aircraft development, including the rollout of the B-1 bomber and delivery of the F-15 fighter aircraft. (CR, 9 June 75, H5106)
The Paris Air Show [30 May-8 June] reflected the international trends in aerospace with a depth and clarity far beyond what the most intensive study by individual nations could yield, an Aviation Week and Space Technology editorial said. Among trends evident at the 1975 show at LeBourget Airport was the "tremendous resurgence of the helicopter market, particularly in the commercial field where sales were now approaching parity with the traditional military market and promise to outstrip them during the next few years." Helicopters had been found particularly useful in the exploration, development, and production of oil and minerals.
Other expanding markets included the executive jet and short rugged-field transports for both military and civilian duty.
Within the military market, fighter aircraft had moved into a new era of technology with a new emphasis on weapons for both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations. "It is evident that they [fighter aircraft] must serve as platforms for new generations of weapons and advanced delivery systems that can produce a degree of military efficiency commensurate with their high cost." The American presence was strong at LeBourget and the "U.S., through the performance of its new stable of fighters-F-14, F-15, and F-16. . .-and its current generation of advanced technology transports is demonstrating what a truly tough competitor it can be." The Europeans were going to have to streamline their management, better organize their resources, and cut through national bureaucracy if they were to have any hope of keeping pace. "Europe cannot continue at the same glacial development pace of the Concorde and MRCA [multirole combat aircraft] and expect to produce products that are technically competitive in the global market." However, its success with helicopters, tactical missiles, small transports, and the Airbus was indicative of what could be accomplished.
Noteworthy at LeBourget was the evidence of the "slow pace of Soviet civil aviation caused by a series of development difficulties across their whole spectrum of transports and helicopters." The most visible evidence was the Tu-144 supersonic transport, which appeared in the fifth version off the assembly line, only the third such aircraft produced by the Soviet Union in the previous 2 yr. Av Wk quoted an expert as saying there was an estimated 1-yr slippage in Aeroflot plans to begin regular supersonic service. (Hotz, Av Wk, 9 June 75, 7)
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