FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1959
1959 - 1170.PDF
24 April 1959 565 Kenneth Owen secured this picture of the Las Vegas Convention Center from a Bell 47G; in the rear is the static park U.S. Missile Tour 2—AIRCRAFT, MISSILES AND SATELLITES IN FABULOUS LAS VEGAS FROM KENNETH OWEN OF "FLIGHT," Vandenberg A.F.B., April 16T HE privilege of watching the launch of Discoverer 2 hereat Vandenberg, California, and the experience of visiting the World Congress of Flight at Las Vegas, Nevada, were themain features of the second phase of the British Press tour organized by the U.S. Air Force. Today a third important occasionwas marked—the first launch of a Thor IRBM by a Royal Air Force crew (see p. 579-580). By any standard Las Vegas is a remarkable place. When "themost comprehensive aerospace program ever presented" is added to the town's basic industries of gambling and entertainment theresult is a unique mixture. One thing is certain—Farnborough was never like this. The aims of the World Congress of Flight were nothing if notambitious. "It will bring together," we had been told, "all elements of flight—designers, producers, operators, administrators andusers. It will unite them in a common cause: the advancement of aeronautics and astronautics—the twin sciences of flight." And this was not all. "The symposiums and conferences willexplore flight in terms of international security and human welfare; analyse the social, economic, political and moral problems whichaccompany the progress of flight; present flight in its broadest concept as an instrument for the benefit of all mankind. The projectis dedicated to the belief that greater world knowledge of aircraft, missiles and spacecraft—in realistic perspective—will help bringthe world closer to permanent peace." On to a basic pattern—air displays, static aircraft and missilepark, and exhibition hall—similar to that of the S.B.A.C. Exhibi- tion the organizers had grafted a heavy programme of meetings,symposiums and conferences. The main sponsor of the Congress was the Air Force Association, in co-operation with the Air Trans-port Association of America, Electronic Industries Association, Flight Safety Foundation, National Aeronautic Association,National Business Aircraft Association and the Space Education Foundation. The week's programme included a jet-age conference (spon-sored by the A.F.A.) and a space-age conference (S.E.F.); symposiums on the efficient use of airspace (National Pilots Asso-ciation), aircraft and space communications (E.I .A.), international research (Air Research and Development Command, U.S.A.F.),aerospace education (S.E.F.), flight safety (Flight Safety Founda- The unconventional lifting tackle used to elevate the Atlas and Thor~Able is seen in action above, right •FLIGHT" PHOTOGRAPHS Left, the doorway in the Atlas, which did not form part of the original Weapon System 107 Right, another shot from the Bell, showing Thor-Able, Atlas, X-15, Snark, Bomarc and the Mercury capsule tion), VTOL and STOL aircraft and turbine transport (Societyof Experimental Test Pilots), advanced air traffic control concepts (N.B.A.A.), advanced air navigational aids and systems (N.B.A.A.),safety for private pilots (National Association of State Aviation Officials and F.S.F.) and a missile management conferencesponsored by the Air Force Association. These main meetings were to be accompanied by 87 presenta-tions or briefings by 47 companies on specialized subjects ranging from Re-usable Shipping Containers and In-process Product Pro-tection and Airport Sweeping for the Jet Age to How Small Company Sells $250,000 Aircraft Radio by Direct Mail, SkinningPounds off Missiles by Precision Abrasive Belt Machining, and Fanciful Flight to Wonderful Mexico. The Congress was to runfrom Monday, April 13 to Sunday, April 19, with the general public admitted on the final two days. Sunday, April 12, the Press preview day allowed us our firstglimpse of the exhibits at the Congress. The main location was
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
