January 21, 1980

January 21, 1980

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Japan’s Growing Strategic Role

Soviet Moves Spark Defense Support

By Clarence A. Robinson17 min

Aviation Week Pilot Reports

Rockwell Stresses Turboprop Advances

By David M. North15 min

Space Technology

First Shuttle Flight Plan Held to Basics

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Japan’s Growing Strategic Role

Soviet Moves Spark Defense Support

Tokyo—Introduction of the Tupolev Backfire bomber by the Soviet Union in northeast Asia, increased naval activity in the waters around Japan and positioning of Mil Mi-24 Hind D attack helicopters and heavy artillery usually associated with a field army in the Kuril Islands have molded public opinion here in favor of expanding Japan’s military capability.

By Clarence A. Robinson17 min

4041
Aviation Week Pilot Reports

Rockwell Stresses Turboprop Advances

Bethany, Okla.—Rockwell International’s Jetprop Commanders mark the beginning of a family of quieter, higher-performance and more fuel-efficient turboprops for the 1980s, while signaling the demise of the company’s piston-powered products.

By David M. North15 min

6061
Space Technology

First Shuttle Flight Plan Held to Basics

Houston—In-orbit crew activity plan for astronauts John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen on the first space shuttle orbital flight test is geared almost entirely toward the most basic tasks that will verify that the orbiter can be maintained in space safely and perform a successful reentry.
1617
Space Technology

Chinese Technology Gains Found Extensive

AIAA tour group surprised and impressed by advances being made for applications to spacecraft, launchers
9495
Avionics

Soviets Press Antijamming Training

Soviet radars, missile guidance and military communications are expected to become increasingly more difficult to jam and disrupt as a result of a major effort to provide graduate level training in the USSR in electronic countermeasures (ECM) and electronic counter-counter-measures (ECCM).

By Philip J. Klass9 min

3435
Air Transport

Difficulties in Obtaining Ad Hoc Charters May Intensify

Trends away from ad hoc charter business by U.S. airlines, reflected in difficulties encountered by groups in obtaining charter service last year, may accelerate in 1980. Such trunk carriers as Pan American World Airways and American Airlines are planning to eliminate or reduce their Boeing 707 fleets, which have been the mainstay of ad hoc operations, a sign of change in this segment of the industry.

By James Ott7 min

5051
Space Technology

Oceanic, Gamma Ray Plans Approved

Washington—Operational oceanic satellite system development now approved by the Carter Administration for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Fiscal 1981 budget (AW&ST Jan. 14, p. 21) will lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in new business for hardware and data products and will open to commercial and scientific users an entirely new dimension in the ability to monitor earth from space.

By Craig Covault7 min

2021
Aeronautical Engineering

Usaf Companion Trainer May Find Other Missions

Washington—Jet-powered business aircraft picked for the U.S. Air Force’s companion trainer aircraft (CTA) program holds the potential to satisfy further Air Force procurements during the 1980s in numbers that could exceed 400 aircraft (AW&ST July 23, 1979, p. 14).
2627
Air Transport

Larger Aircraft Use Cuts Extra Sections on Shuttle

Washington—Retirement of the McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s from Eastern Airlines’ Air-Shuttle service and their replacement with the larger-capacity Boeing 727s eliminated the need for 276 extra sections in December shuttle operations, but anticipated fuel savings have not yet materialized.
2829
Air Transport

Airport Noise Controls at Issue in Trial

Burbank, Calif.—Complicated legal issue of what rights an airport operator possesses to control aircraft noise is being addressed in a trial here that stems from a lawsuit filed by the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority against Hughes Airwest.

By Jeffrey M. Lenorovitz5 min

January 141980 January 281980