Aug 18 1968
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R. had begun using new supersonic jet fighter, described by Trud, Soviet trade union paper, as "similar to a triangle, split in two by the fuselage." Aircraft, thought by U.S. sources to be MiG-23 (Foxbat), had reportedly undergone more than 1,000 hr of flight testing. (Reuters, NYT, 8/18/68, 50)
U.S.S.R. celebrated Aviation Day by extolling its supersonic bombers, but no new aircraft had been unveiled-in contrast to 1967 celebration, which featured several new jets and missiles. (W Post, 8/19/68, A13)
DOD attributed May 8 crash in Nevada of USAF F-111A and "possibly" three other F-111A accidents in Southeast Asia between March 28 and April 22 to break in weld holding together two pieces of metal, totaling six inches, in hydraulic fluid control valve in aircraft's tail. In early F-ills part was forged from single piece of high-grade steel but in subsequent models it was made from two pieces welded together. F-111s, grounded after May 8 crash, had resumed flying in mid-June after replacement of two-piece rod end assemblies with original one-piece forging. (DOD Press Off; Welles, NYT, 8/18/68; W Post, 8/19/68, B7)
Soviet economist Dr. Viktor A. Cheprakov had published in Izvestia what appeared to be rebuttal to prognosis by Soviet nuclear physicist Prof. Audrey D. Sakharov of convergence of communism and capitalism by year 2000 [see July 22]. In "Problems of the Last Third of the Century," translated by New York Times, Dr. Cheprakov foresaw sharpening of struggle between the two ideologies and discussed role of science. "Science and technology are endowed with tremendous possibilities. . . . a new achievement . . . is being recorded every 25 sec- onds. We have figures on what and how much can be extracted from the earth, on the benefits to be derived from new methods of food production . . . and on the undoubtedly vast prospects of using the resources of seas and oceans. But the realization of all these potentialities will require the victory of socialism . . . for only socialism makes it possible to funnel vast funds into scientific research and into the practical use of its results in the interest of the peoples." (Anderson, NYT, 8/19/68, 1)
Washington Post editorial called DOT and FAA decision to deal with air traffic congestion "long overdue." Public had become aware that "saturation point had been passed early in July and those who use the air-passengers and pilots alike-have been suffering ever since. This suffering is going to go on for some time unless the FAA and the Department of Transportation move much faster in the future than they have in the last six weeks. The hope . .. that the aviation industry can solve this congestion problem within itself seems to be just wishful thinking. The airlines and the general-aviation people have not shown the slightest sign of producing constructive proposals either jointly or separately." (W Post, 8/18/68, B6)
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