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Aviation History
1977
1977 - 0012.PDF
FLIGHT International, I January 1977 CAA. (They will be reviewed by Flight in a forthcoming issue.) Campbell showed how the proposed system could provide a logical pro gression in training, culminating in a last step towards the Instrument Rating for the pilot so able. Statistics showed, he said, that little or no instrument training was a base ingre dient for a potential accident, especi ally with the prevalence of the modern, well equipped light aircraft which so often encourages a "go" decision. "An aircraft is perfectly safe until the pilot steps aboard. More training is always beneficial, and if you think that a little learning is a dangerous thing, you would never have gone solo." Final speaker of the day was Dick Stratton, chairman of AOPA's Tech nical Committee, who defined his latest addition to aviation language. "The ritual rip-off" is the remorse less stripping of an aircraft that takes place on some C of A renewals, re gardless of condition and utilisation. He said that the new maintenance schedules (previewed in Flight for April 17) should make life simpler for the aircraft owner, and for privately operated aircraft he was optimistic that "we are moving slowly towards the on-condition TBO concept for engines." (See Flight's interview with Dick Stratton in the issue for November 20). Regarding leaded fuel, he pointed out the manufacturers' efforts to alleviate the problem. "Nich- rome valves are now available on some engines, and the two leading air craft manufacturers in America have both decided to raise compression ratios, in a policy of eventually fading out low-compression engines." The by now lively gathering of light-aviation enthusiasts was then joined by more guests for the AOPA Christmas reception, held a short dis tance away at the RAF Club. High light was the presentation of the 1976 John Player Award for Achieve ment in General Aviation. Chief executive Simon Ames said how diffi cult it had been this year to decide the winner from several highly deserving entries. Lionel Ashburner from Sywell, Northampton, was awarded the trophy and a £350 cheque for long service in air traffic control. "Ash" officially retired as an airways controller at Preston in 1963, but then became controller at Sywell, a post he held full-time into his seventies, becoming part-time only this year. He has long been known for an almost magic ability to talk "temporarily uncer tain" pilots into Sywell, aided only by his keen knowledge of Midlands geography. What's new A low-cost radar altimeter for general-aviation use has been developed by Bonzer (90th and Cody, Overland Park, Kansas 66214). Total weight of the Mini-Mark system is less than l-6kg, while the indicator fits a 5cm panel cut-out. An optional decision-height alarm which can be set to any altitude between 100ft and 1,000ft in 100ft stages requires a 19mm hole to accommodate the additional controls and display. A 117mm X 91mm cut-out must be provided on the air craft to house the antenna. Daco Scientific (56 Queens Rd, Basingstoke, Hants RG21 IRE) has designed a two-axis miniature-force joystick for military and industrial use. Constructed mainly from stainless steel, the device is sealed against moisture and dirt. Operating knobs can be varied to suit individual requirements. Who's selling what E-Systems (PO Box 6030, Dallas, Texas 75222) has received a $4-6 million follow-on contract from the USAF to carry out routine main tenance on the US Government's Special Air Mission aircraft fleet based at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Norden (Helen St, Northwalk Conn 06856) is to manufacture modification kits to improve the AN/SPA-66 visual display aboard US carriers, cruisers and destroyers. Deliveries are due to start in August 1977. The company will also update the instruction and maintenance manuals to reflect the modifications. The Canadian Government has placed a $16-5 million order with Lockheed (Box 551, Burbank, Calif 91520) for a Versatile Avionics Shop Test (VAST) system to support the 18 CP-140 Aurora maritime reconnaissance air craft ordered last July. VAST will automatically isolate faults in the Aurora avionic systems, eliminating much time-consuming M v INDUSTRY International manual testing. The system was originally developed for the US Navy to support the Sn3A Viking, A-6 Intruder and F-14 Tomcat. The CP-140 combines much of the S-3A's avionics with a P-3 Orion airframe. Lockheed Electronics (Plainfield, NJ 07060) is to market the Philips Elekronikindustrier 9LV200 fire-con trol system in the USA. This Swedish system can direct and control guns at air and surface targets. The agree ment with Philips also contains an option covering possible manufactur ing of the 9LV200 by the US company (see photograph). People and post Mr George F. Jude, vice-president of engineering for Sperry Flight Sys tems since 1972, succeeds Mr Robert B. Roe, who died on November 27, 1976, as president. Mr A. Byron Elliott, one of the founders of Global Navigation, has been elected president of the company. Mr William M. Agee has been elected president and chief operating officer of Bendix. Mr William L. Miron—formerly executive vice-presi dent—has resigned from the board. Mr E. F. Cvetko has been appointed senior vice-president at Vought. The major compo nents of the Philips 9LV200 weapon- control system in clude (from left to right) the surface- search radar antenna, air-tracking radar antenna with TV cam era, gun-control con sole (top) and tactical display. Lockheed is to market the system in the US (see news story)
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