September 1970
From The Space Library
Scientists at FRC, LaRC, ARC, and MSFC were conducting flight-test programs and studies into ways to alleviate trailing vortex hazards from large transport aircraft, NASA reported. Research was concentrating on understanding trailing-vortex-system movement and attenuation for different aircraft, operation modes, and meteorological conditions; developing remote monitoring technique for trailing-vortex position and wind intensity; and discouraging formation of high-density vortices by aircraft design or artificially induced impedances. Theoretical descriptions of trailing-vortex-system behavior would be developed from flight-test programs at FRC and LaRC. ARC was experimenting with wing design to reduce trailing-vortex intensity and with effects of induced impedances near aircraft path. MSFC was attempting to adapt laser Doppler technology to flight research programs and to development of remote monitor for trailing vortices in airport areas. (NASA Aviation Fact Sheet, 9/70)
Twenty-fifth anniversary of AFCRL was noted in AFSC Newsreview with historical summary. Formed after World War II to retain research teams employed at MIT Radiation Laboratory, AFCRL had amassed "a record of contributions that few research institutions, . .can equal" and had become leading USAF center for research in environmental and physical sciences. "With a budget of $55 million in FY70 AFCRL continued to conduct experiments and research through. . .flying laboratories, rocket launches, and balloon programs," with 140 balloons launched annually from permanent launch sites at Holloman AFB, N. Mex., and Chico, Calif. Basic components of space environmental forecasting system had been put into operation during June to enable USAF to predict more accurately the anticipated degradations in performance of electronic systems and to provide knowledge about effects of sun on earth. Research was also being conducted on air pollution in connection with SST program to discover specific dangers, effect on solar radiation reading earth, and general make-up of "atmospheric aerosols" that would also provide valuable information on ecology of earth. (AFSC Newsreview, 9/70, 6)
Transition of World War II aircraft industry into 1970 aerospace industry was traced in Air Force magazine by Karl G. Harr, Jr., AIA President. Increased performance had increased complexity. Aver age 1944 combat aircraft had carried 454 kg (1/2 ton) of avionic gear; 1948-1950 counterpart needed three to five times as much. Weapon revolution did not signify end of manned aircraft era; it brought forth "new family of aircraft. of substantially improved capability." First operational "barely supersonic" 1954 fighter had been followed by succession of more advanced fighters. "The complexity curve took a sharp upward turn, taking the cost curve with it, with corollary decline in numbers of aircraft produced. Fewer aircraft were needed because of individual aircraft's superior performance. With advent of supersonic aircraft production, guided missile output became significant portion of industry workload. Big push had come in 1954 when missile procurement topped billion-dollar level for first time. "Undoubtedly, the space program was the dominant influence in history's most explosive decade of technological advance. There were two primary contributing factors; breadth and acceleration." Breadth of program required continual probing of new research frontiers across spectrum of almost every scientific and technological discipline. "The acceleration of effort imposed by the lunar landing timetable necessitated a forcing of technology, compressing into one decade the normal advance of several." (AF, 9/70, 84-8)
VTOL aircraft linking new Tokyo International Airport at Narita, Japan, with downtown Tokyo were scheduled for 1975 service and would make 59.6 km (37-mi) flight in 20 min, Air Force and Space Digest said. Aircraft, seating 150 passengers, would also link Tokyo's old and new airports. Aeronautical and Space Technological Research Institute of Japanese Science and Technology Agency was testing to develop domestic VTOL. Experimental aircraft was powered by two JR 100F lift-jet engines with 1243-kg (1.4-ton) thrust each. (Golden, AF/SD, 9/70, 31)
Boeing Magazine suspended publication with September issue after 40 yrs of covering Boeing Co. products, people, skills, and history. (Boeing, 9/70)
Naval Air Development Center (NADC) had refined laser beam so that contents of large city library could be inscribed on salt crystal, Ordnance reported. Center had also developed system by which pilot could eject from. crippled aircraft in seat capable of carrying him 80 km (50 mi) and had developed system analysis for complicated weapons that could be adapted to provide complete traffic control system for highway. Center, near Philadelphia, was developing more than 800 projects to keep "Navy's air arm abreast of the latest technological innovations." (Clark, Ordnance, 9-10/70, 181-3)
Sales of military and civilian aircraft in 1970 would drop to $14 billion, down $3.4 billion from 1968 peak, Dan Cordtz wrote in Fortune. Employment was off 15% from 1969, "with further substantial lay offs already announced." Evidence was mounting "that future volume simply will not support the present number of competitors." Outlook was "ruinous scramble for a permanently shrunken market, with some companies squeezed out of aircraft production and even the survivors forced to subsist on meager rations. A decade ago, a dozen airframe manufacturers were able to thrive; a few years hence, its is difficult to see profitable business for more than three or four." (Fortune, 9/70, 114-7, 199-201)
NSF published Federal Funds for Research, Development, and Other Scientific Activities, Fiscal Years 1969, 1970, and 1971 (NSF 70-36). Federal funds for R&D reached peak $16.5 billion in 1967, $15.6 billion in 1969, and were expected to remain same in 1970 and 1971. In terms of constant dollars, 1970 estimate was 17% decrease from 1967. Of Federal total, $1.4 billion was provided to universities and colleges in 1969 for support of academic research, with $1.5 billion expected in 1971. Basic research obligations had leveled off since 1967, remaining at $2.1 billion to $2.2 billion. NASA was leading basic research supporter, accounting for 35% of 1970 total. Applied research obligations remained at about $3.3-billion funding level from 1967 through 1970, with rise to $3.7 billion projected for 1971 subject to congressional actions. In constant dollars, funding decreased 11% from 1967 to 1970. DOD, HEW, and NASA accounted for 79% of Federal agency total in 1970. From 1964 to 1970 only HEW among these agencies showed growth. (Text)
NSF released Graduate Student Support and Manpower Resources in Graduate Science Education, Fall 1969 (NSF 70-40): Graduate enrollment in 2894 science doctorate departments of 224 reporting universities and colleges in fall 1969 totaled 184 845, with 28% in engineering. Enrollment was 2.8% higher than in fall 1968. (Text)
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