May 31 1971
From The Space Library
Since Tu-144 had been exposed to Western inspection at Paris Air Show, Soviet press had been "slowly coming to grips with problems of supersonic flight long passed over in silence," New York Times reported. Sovetskaya Rossiya had quoted Western comments that Tu-144's engines were quieter and produced less pollution than those of Concorde, "Extensive discussion" of possible environmental and health problems caused by supersonic transport had not been reported in U.S.S.R. previously. (Shabad, NYT, 5/31/71)
Communist China was preparing to test-fire its first liquid-fuel ICBM beyond its borders, probably into Indian Ocean, New York Times quoted U.S. China experts as saying. Preparations for ICBM launch included outfitting of tracking ship and extension of missile range tracking stations in Sinkiang Province, but political consideration might cause deferment of testing for several months. It was estimated it would take at least three years after initial testing for China to move its first group of operational ICBMs. (Beecher, NYT, 5/31/71)
Igor I. Sikorsky, founder of Sikorsky Aircraft Div. of United Aircraft Corp., had been named 1971 recipient of USAF Academy's Thomas D. White National Defense Award, presented annually for contributions "to the national defense and security of the United States," Aviation Week & Space Technology reported. (Av Wk, 5/31/71, 23)
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