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Aviation History
1984
1984 - 0650.PDF
WORLD NEWS Satellite retrieval proves difficult HOUSTON Nasa's first attempt to retrieve the ailing Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) satellite was unsuccessful, apparently because of the failure of a tool designed to grasp the satellite's grapple fixture. Astronaut George Nelson, who had used a manned manoeuvring unit (MMU) to reach the craft, reported that he had posi tioned the tool over the grapple-fixture as planned, but that an automatic latch failed to activate. Nasa was planning a further attempt at recovery as we closed for press. Nelson's first attempt to capture SMM induced a wobble into the satellite's regular spin, but did not prevent him trying another approach, grabbing the solar- array wings and using his MMU thrusters to try and "kill" the rotation. This manoeuvre only made matters worse, though nobody is quite sure why at this stage. After Nelson had returned to Chal lenger the crew tried once more to make contact with SMM, this time using the remote manipulator arm. Again they failed, the wobbling satellite proving too elusive for the manipulator. Since then Nasa has managed to stabilise the satellite using the on-board magnetorquer. Engineers are confident of returning" the satellite to its original even spin, and possibly slowing down the rotation. This was to have been followed by another attempt to grasp SMM with the Orhiter's remote manipulator arm. Mission 41C began with an on-time lift-off at 0859hr EST on April 6. Challenger achieved direct-insertion for the first time as planned, and observers in Hawaii were able to confirm that the External Tank splashed down close to the predicted position. Deployment of the long- duration exposure facility 99d The manned manoeuvring unit* worked perfectly during Nasa's attempts to retrieve Solar Maximum Mission, but a tool failure prevented the satellite being grasped as planned (Ldef f) also went smoothly. Ldef 1 is the largest craft to have been deployed by the Orbiter's arm (Flight, April 7, pages 949 and 966). Piper destroyed safety data, says judge WEST PALM BEACH The Piper Aircraft Corp oration destroyed evidence relating to safety of its Cheyenne aircraft, a US Federal judge has ruled. In so doing, the manufacturer forfeited the right to defend itself in a negligence law suit, the judge says. The case had been brought by the families of passengers killed in a 1976 Cheyenne crash in Ireland. A trial to decide the damages that should be awarded will be held on April 16. Judge William Campbell says that Piper repeatedly submitted false statements under oath. Three Federal judges had earlier warned Piper that they were dis satisfied with its performance in providing evidence. The judge says that Piper has a record of document destruction and alteration of flight-test data that might work against it in lawsuits. He cited evidence from former Piper employees that "the policy and practice of destroying detrimental docu ments was still in effect" in 1979, and that it violated the manufacturer's policy of retaining documents. Campbell noted that evidence about a device designed to correct a Cheyenne handling problem had been destroyed or concealed. Photographs of the stability augmentation system certification flights were missing. The pictures could have provided proof that the plaintiffs were entitled to punitive as well as actual damages, said the judge. Cathay buys 747-300 HONG KONG ~ Cathay Pacific Airways has become the first British- owned airline to order the stretched-upper-deck Boeing 747-300. The airline has placed a $90 million-plus order for an aircraft to be delivered in June 1985, and has taken an option on a second for March 1986 delivery. The 747-300 will be powered by Rolls-Royce RB.211s, but it is not yet clear whether it will use -524Cs or the more powerful -524D4 powerplants. Flight under stands that Cathay Pacific is buying -524Cs secondhand for when the new aircraft enters service, but it is not known if Cathay Pacific will fit them to the 747-300 (in which case the aircraft will not have non-stop Hong Kong-London range) or whether it will take the engines from one of its 747-200Bs already fitted with -524D4s. Like Swissair, Cathay Pacific will install 69 economy class seats in the 747-300's upper cabin. The main deck will have 29 First Class, 66 Marco Polo business class, and 266 economy seats. Total seating is 430. Altogether ten airlines have now ordered the 747-300, with sales totalling 36 aircraft. Sales of all 747 variants now total 620. 0 British Airways is to lease two more Boeing 737-200s from the manufacturer. The aircraft will be delivered in April next year and will join BA's existing fleet of 28 737s on its domestic and European services and on British Airtours' charters. Last September BA announced that it would acquire 14 new 737-200S on one-year renewable leases for delivery in 1984 and 1985, and took options on a further 17 for delivery in 1985 and 1986. Sir Arthur Harris Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Arthur Harris, C-in-C of Bomber Command in the Second World War, has died at the age of 91. Sir Arthur masterminded the 1,000-bomber raids on Germany, earning the nick name "Bomber" and severe condemnation from post-war historians. But he vias misrepresented as the author of the saturation-bombing policy, a strategy in fact decided upon at the second international conference of the Allies in Morocco. The bombing accuracy by RAF Bomber Command rose by some 70 per cent in the \ three years of Harris' command, and led to the downfall of the Nazis' indus trial power. FLIGHT International, 14 April 1984
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