From: skunk-works-digest-owner@mail.orst.edu To: skunk-works-digest@mail.orst.edu Subject: Skunk Works Digest V5 #411 Reply-To: skunk-works-digest@mail.orst.edu Errors-To: skunk-works-digest-owner@mail.orst.edu Precedence: bulk Skunk Works Digest Thursday, 7 September 1995 Volume 05 : Number 411 In this issue: Re: Skunk Works Digest V5 #410 Re: Skunk Works Digest V5 #410 F-22 Cost Increases Edwards AFB Open House Crashed U2 in the UK Military Budget Re: Crashed U2 in the UK Aviation questions Re: Broken Arrow See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the skunk-works or skunk-works-digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: dsm@iti-oh.com (dsm@iti-oh.com) Date: Wed, 6 Sep 95 08:36:44 EDT Subject: Re: Skunk Works Digest V5 #410 :: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- :: :: From: dougt@u011.oh.vp.com (Doug Tiffany) :: Date: Tue, 5 Sep 95 16:04:02 EDT :: Subject: F-22 :: :: I found this at http://www.popularmechanics.com today. Justa slight addition to Doug's message ... It's http://www.popularmechanics.com/homepage.html - - Dan ------------------------------ From: Jonathan Butler Date: Wed, 06 Sep 1995 10:03:27 -0400 Subject: Re: Skunk Works Digest V5 #410 >:: From: dougt@u011.oh.vp.com (Doug Tiffany) >:: Date: Tue, 5 Sep 95 16:04:02 EDT >:: Subject: F-22 >:: >:: I found this at http://www.popularmechanics.com today. > >Justa slight addition to Doug's message ... It's >http://www.popularmechanics.com/homepage.html > >- Dan I was only able to access the site as: http://popularmechanics.com/homepage.html Jonathan Butler Home Page http://www.atdesk.com/jon jonbutler@acm.org For PGP finger jonbutler@atdesk.com mushin: Zen term; an extremely clear state of mind; total awareness. ------------------------------ From: "Terry Colvin" Date: Wed, 06 Sep 95 08:13:29 EST Subject: F-22 Cost Increases :F-22 FACES COST OVERRUNS WASHINGTON -- One of the Pentagon's biggest procurement programs, the F-22 fighter, faces more than a half-billion dollars in estimated cost overruns in the design phase alone, the Air Force confirmed Tuesday. A design review by the Air Force showed that the estimated $10.5 billion engineering, manufacturing and development phase of the F-22 program will increase by $572 million or about 5.4 percent over the next seven years. The increase stems from development and production delays, problems with the fighter's engines, and a higher-than-expected total weight of the aircraft. An Air Force official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the problems in an interview Tuesday. They were first detailed in a report Tuesday by "Defense Week," a publication that follows defense issues. Lockheed Martin Corp. is developing the F-22. Eventually the fighter will be built in Marietta, Ga. But major subcontractors such as Pratt & Whitney and Boeing Co. are also involved in the project to build a highly capable and stealthy fighter for the 21st century. The Air Force, and therefore the taxpayers, will bear the brunt of any excess costs in the F-22. "This is a cost-plus contract type," the official said. "The government is responsible for all of the contractor costs associated with this project. We are at risk in terms of having to pay for all of the contractor's allowable costs." But if Lockheed Martin does a poor job managing the F-22 project, its guaranteed 4 percent profit will decline under the cost-plus contract, according to the official. The Air Force is not saying who is at fault for the problems. Some rising costs may stem from added capability the Air Force is seeking in its original design. The Air Force and Pratt struggled to improve an under-performing engine, a problem the service now believes is solved. The weight problem developed when different pieces of the developmental aircraft, which were built by different manufacturers, were put together. The original estimated empty weight of 30,797 pounds came in some 1,300 pounds heavier. The Air Force official said some of that weight may be removed as development continues and some backup structural members are judged to be redundant and removed. "I hate to say somebody is at fault. In my mind, a development contract -- you expect problems to occur," the official said. Of the estimated cost growth, $181 million has already accumulated. The rest of the $572 million total is what the Air Force estimates will pile up through 2002. Although a 5.4 percent cost increase over a decade may not seem extreme, the $572 million figure could provoke opposition in Congress to a weapons program that carries an overall price tag, including production of aircraft, of $73 billion. ------------------------------ From: cogan@cave.arc.nasa.gov (Bruce Cogan) Date: Wed, 6 Sep 1995 08:29:02 -0700 Subject: Edwards AFB Open House Does anyone know if and when the Edwards AFB open house will be held? Thannks Bruce Cogan. ------------------------------ From: adrian mann Date: Wed, 6 Sep 1995 22:06:15 +0000 Subject: Crashed U2 in the UK I recently saw a photo of the U" that crashed in the UK not so long back, and something caught my attention. At the top of the tailfin, there appears to be a pale bar, with four "iron crosses" or "maltese crosses". Do they have anything to do with the squadron/unit/wing that the aircraft belonged to? Or are they something else? Maybe someone out there knows? Adrian Mann ------------------------------ From: chosa@chosa.win.net (Byron Weber) Date: Wed, 06 Sep 1995 17:47:04 Subject: Military Budget N.Y.Times reported today the Senate voted $242 billion military budget that includes the following items of interest: six F-15E cost $311 million six F-16 " 159 " eight C-17 " 2.6 billion seems the real debate between the House and the Senate will be over funding for the B-2, already approved by the House Appropriations Committee for $493 million to resume production. The Senate also wants a third Seawolf at $1.5 billion. There was no mention of black budget items except the possible resumption of Star Wars research. Byron ------------------------------ From: Kathryn & Andreas Gehrs-Pahl Date: Wed, 6 Sep 1995 23:04:07 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Crashed U2 in the UK The band with the 4 Maltese crosses, is the insignia of the 9th SRW (Strategic Reconnaissance Wing), which is based at Beale AFB, CA, and can also be found on their emblem. The U-2R which crashed on 08/29/1995 at RAF Fairford was Article '060', USAF serial '69-10338'. It belonged to OL-UK (Operating Location - United Kingdom) of the 99th SRS, which belongs to the 9th SRW, and was operating in support of 'Operation Deny Flight' since April from RAF Fairford, together with three other U-2s. All USAF U-2R, U-2R(T), U-2S and U-2ST (including the ex-TR-1A and TR-1B) belong to the 9th SRW, 99th SRS (Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron). The aircraft are painted black over all, with red markings. They sport a red band with 4 black Maltese crosses, as well as the letters 'BB' (for Beale AFB) on their fins, together with the small letters 'AF' (for U.S. Air Force) and below it the FY (Fiscal Year) part of their serial number (in this case '69') followed by the last three digits of their serial number (in this case '338'). The markings are standard for ACC, and the T-38As, used for training at Beale AFB by the 99th SRS are also painted black and sport the same markings, also in red. In earlier years, before the retirement of the SR-71 and before SAC was replaced by ACC, the patch of the 1st SRS (which operated the SR-71 under the 9th SRW) showed 13 black Maltese crosses on yellow ground. Also, the then white painted T-38As and the silver/grey KC-135Qs of the 349th ARS and the 350th ARS (Air Refueling Squadrons) showed the yellow band with 4 Maltese crosses on their tail fins. - -- Andreas - --- --- Andreas & Kathryn Gehrs-Pahl E-Mail: schnars@ais.org 313 West Court St. #305 or: gpahl@raptor.csc.flint.umich.edu Flint, MI 48502-1239 Tel: (810) 238-8469 WWW URL: http://www.umcc.umich.edu/~schnars/ - --- --- ------------------------------ From: Wei-Jen Su Date: Wed, 6 Sep 1995 23:34:18 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Aviation questions Hello, 1) Anybody know the status of the two French Mirage pilots shot down in Serbian? Are they rescue yet? Or still hidding in the jungle like the F-16 pilot did... 2) I think the USA has a big "gap" in the missiles technology compare the foreign countries. In aviation week and space technology of this week, there is a report of "Russians offer AA-11s to McDonnel Douglas". I know that they are doing some reserch for the AIM-9X. But they are doing any other air-to-air long range missiles project? Because the F-22 mission tried to shot the enemy in long range... But current USA missiles doesn't have a very long range compare with foreign missiles. The French Matra just had a succesful test of a infrared missiles that has a range of approximately 80 mi. (This is almost twice of the max. range of the AMRAAM!!!). And the R-73E (NATO AA-11) has a scan of 90 degree off the center in any direction include the helmet-mounted sight technology... plus a has a movable paddles that steer its exhaust (this technology will later be use to make a backward missilers)... Plus the Russian is testing the new stealth Mig-1.42 fighter bomber which their designer said that it has a higher performance and more Stealth that the F-22. 3) Anybody know how the anser set work that recently it was install in the NASA F/A-18 at the Dryden Flight Reserch Center for the HARV) ? Live Long and Prosper Su Wei-Jen wsu02@barney.poly.edu ------------------------------ From: "Robin J. Lee" Date: Wed, 6 Sep 1995 22:48:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Broken Arrow On Tue, 5 Sep 1995, Kathryn & Andreas Gehrs-Pahl wrote: > The definitions for the code words 'DULL SWORD', 'FADED GIANT', 'BENT SPEAR', > and 'BROKEN ARROW', as printed in "The Greenpeace Book of the Nuclear Age", > by John May (published by Pantheon books in 1989, ISBN 0-679-72963-1), may > not be entirely correct. <...snip!> > There doesn't seem to be a discernable relation between the severity or the > type of an incident and its classification as 'Broken Arrow' or any of the > other categories. I may have missed the original posting of the BROKEN ARROW series of flagwords, but according to "Managing Nuclear Operations" by Ashton Carter, et. al., at the Brookings Institution, the following were the reporting requirements for nuclear accidents or incidents, US Army Europe. It is noted that identical procedures are in force for all US military commands. 1. NUCFLASH (report heading PINNACLE/NUCFLASH) Nuclear Weapon War Risk Accident Routed to National Military Command Center (NMCC) FLASH precedence (exempt from Minimize) "An event resulting in an accidental, unauthorized, or any other unexplained nuclear detonation; or the accidental or unauthorized launch of a nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable missile in the direction of, or having the capability of, reaching the USSR or another Warsaw Pact country." 2. BROKEN ARROW (report heading PINNACLE/BROKEN ARROW) Nuclear Weapon Accident Routed to NMCC FLASH precedence (initial reports only) "An unexpected event involving nuclear weapons or components that results in a nonnuclear detonation or burning of a nuclear weapon; radioactive contamination; seizure, theft, or loss of a nuclear weapon or component; or an actual or implied public hazard." 3. BENT SPEAR (report heading BENT SPEAR) Significant Nuclear Weapon Incident. Routed to Army Operations. IMMEDIATE precedence "An unexpected event involving nuclear weapons or components (not in the accident category) that results in any of the following: - damage occurs requiring major repair or replacement - a nuclear weapon or associated equipment is struck by lightning or is suspected to have been struck. - a nuclear weapon has been partially or fully armed (known or suspected) - an incident occurs that could result in adverse publicity. - there is an attempted or actual penetration or unexpected degradation of the security of nuclear weapons storage sites, activities, or logistics movements. - there is an actual or implied threat to seize a nuclear weapon or to attack or inflict damage on a nuclear weapons storage site, nuclear weapons, or nuclear weapons security forces." 4. DULL SWORD (report heading DULL SWORD) Minor Nuclear Weapon Incident Routed to US Army, Europe Command Center PRIORITY precedence "An unexpected event involving nuclear weapons or nuclear weapons systems (not reportable as a nuclear accident or significant incident) that results in any of the following: - damage to the warhead section or warhead that Army organizations are authorized to repair or malfunctions of associated equipment that could damage the warhead or warhead section. - damage, loss, or destruction of a nuclear-type training weapon. - unauthorized acts that degrade the safety, security, or reliability of a nuclear weapon or trainer unless reportable as accidents or significant incidents. - the failure to unlock or lock or other inoperable condition of a permissive action link when installed or attached to a nuclear weapon. - a nuclear-capable missile system accident in flight that does not meet the NUCFLASH definition or while it is being transported or stored. - any other condition considered reportable by a commander or custodian." > * 8/5/1950, a B-29 crashed at Fairfield-Suisun (now Travis) AFB, CA... the > (nuclear ?) weapons and the aircraft burnt out. No radioactivity reported. > (Not a 'Broken Arrow' incident). I was just having a conversation with a friend of mine today about various 'Broken Arrows', and a B-29 incident at Fairfield-Suisun in 1950 came up as "the worst of them all". I'm simply relaying it as heard, details not verified, etc., etc.: Apparently one civilian who bought land adjacent to today's Travis AFB complex had all three of his children come up with leukemia (one of whom died). Suspicious of what was going on, he did a little research, found out about the B-29 crash that killed General Travis and supposedly had no nuclear material aboard (hence no 'Broken Arrow'), and, suspicious of the story, bombarded with Air Force with FOIAs. They stonewalled for years, until finally (my friend says in the last two years) the Air Force admitted that there was nuclear material aboard that particular B-29 and that at least some fissionable material was tossed about. This case becomes especially interesting when one notes the timeframe (and what was going on in Korea in August, 1950). There is a report that no atomic weapons had been released from the controlling authorities at that time, and Truman certainly had made it clear enough that he wasn't thinking about it...so the big question for some people is where exactly that B-29 was headed with the bomb. Its flightplan terminated in Okinawa, I believe, but details get a little fuzzy here. The possibility of a secret nuclear alert seems real -- although what's odd is that the records of controlling authorities and Truman's private papers give no hint of anything like that. There's supposedly another FOIA court battle over this issue, yet to be resolved. Anybody heard of anything like this? Accuracy not guaranteed -- I'm just reporting an interesting story I heard this afternoon. :) - -Robin. ____________________________________________________________________________ Robin J. Lee amraam@netcom.com Vulture's Row Worldwide Web Page URL: http://webcom.com/~amraam/ ------------------------------ End of Skunk Works Digest V5 #411 ********************************* To subscribe to skunk-works-digest, send the command: subscribe skunk-works-digest in the body of a message to "majordomo@mail.orst.edu". If you want to subscribe something other than the account the mail is coming from, such as a local redistribution list, then append that address to the "subscribe" command; for example, to subscribe "local-skunk-works": subscribe skunk-works-digest local-skunk-works@your.domain.net To unsubscribe, send mail to the same address, with the command: unsubscribe skunk-works-digest in the body. 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