From: skunk-works-digest-owner@mail.orst.edu To: skunk-works-digest@mail.orst.edu Subject: Skunk Works Digest V5 #725 Reply-To: skunk-works-digest@mail.orst.edu Errors-To: skunk-works-digest-owner@mail.orst.edu Precedence: Skunk Works Digest Friday, 15 November 1996 Volume 05 : Number 725 In this issue: Re: NASA Seeks Industry Proposals for Hypersonic Flight Research Vehicles Auto Reply from Watch_Mail for 9-NOV-1996 01:00 to 18-NOV-1996 08:00 re: Auto Reply from Watch_Mail for 9-NOV-1996 01:00 to 18-NOV-1996 08:00 Longwinged F-16 drones Re: re: Auto Reply from Watch_Mail for 9-NOV-1996 01:00 to 18-NOV-1996 08:00 Complete list of F-117 crashes? re: Groom renderings anow availiable on the web FY 1997 classified programs list now available. U.S. aircraft carriers TU-144 "user witting" re: "user witting" Tailless aircraft seen over western test ranges [none] 'Wittig' mail forwarding US Aircraft Carrier Fleet AW&ST in UK F-15 ACTIVE Achieves First-Ever MACH 2 Thrust-Vectoring 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: phraesius@rfhsm.ac.uk (gilbert blythe) Date: Sat, 09 Nov 1996 01:24:27 +0000 Subject: Re: NASA Seeks Industry Proposals for Hypersonic Flight Research Vehicles >RELEASE: 96-203 > >NASA SEEKS INDUSTRY PROPOSALS FOR HYPERSONIC FLIGHT RESEARCH VEHICLES > > NASA is poised to begin a multi-year hypersonic flight- >test program by requesting proposals from industry for the >fabrication of four unpiloted research aircraft that will fly >up to ten times the speed of sound. The contract award is >scheduled for early 1997. > > The selected contractor will be responsible for >fabrication and flight-test support of the hypersonic >experimental research vehicles to be called "Hyper-X." Each of >the four vehicles will be approximately 12 feet long with a >wing span of about five feet. Hypersonic speed is defined as >above Mach 5, which is equivalent to about one mile-per-second, >or approximately 3,600 miles per hour at sea level. > > The Hyper-X Phase I program -- an agency-wide effort >to address one of the greatest aeronautical research challenges >-- is conducted jointly by NASA's Langley Research Center, >Hampton, VA, and NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, >CA. Program managers hope to demonstrate technology that could >ultimately be applied in vehicle types from hypersonic aircraft >to reusable space launchers. > > "It's time to fly. This exciting, challenging, ground >and flight research program will significantly expand the >boundaries of air-breathing flight for the first time ever, by >flying a scramjet-powered aircraft at hypersonic speeds," said >Vince Rausch, the Hyper-X Phase I program manager. > > The first Hyper-X unpiloted, hypersonic, flight- >research vehicle is scheduled to fly at Mach 7 in 1998. This is >far faster than any air-breathing aircraft have ever flown. >The world's fastest air-breathing aircraft, the SR-71, cruises >slightly above Mach 3. The highest speed attained by NASA's >rocket-powered X-15 was Mach 6.7. A rocket carries its own >oxygen for combustion; an air-breathing aircraft burns oxygen >in air scooped from the atmosphere. Because of this, air- >breathing hypersonic vehicles should carry more cargo/payload >than equivalent rocket-powered systems. > > The goal of the Hyper-X program is to validate key >propulsion and related technologies for air-breathing >hypersonic aircraft. Heading the list is the demonstration of >a ramjet/scramjet engine, followed by validation of design >tools and methods for air-breathing hypersonic vehicles. > > A ramjet operates by subsonic combustion of fuel in a >stream of air compressed by the forward speed of the aircraft >itself; as opposed to a normal jet engine, in which the >compressor section (the fan blades) compresses the air. The >fuel for Hyper-X will be hydrogen. > > A scramjet (supersonic-combustion ramjet) is a ramjet >engine in which the airflow through the whole engine remains >supersonic. Scramjet technology is challenging because only >limited testing can be performed in ground facilities. Long >duration, full-scale testing requires flight test speeds above >Mach 8. Hyper-X will build knowledge, confidence and a >technology bridge to very high Mach number flight. > > Hyper-X will ride on the first stage of a Pegasus >booster rocket, which will be launched by the Dryden B-52 at >about 40,000 feet. For each flight, the booster will >accelerate the Hyper-X research vehicle to the test conditions >(Mach 5, 7 or 10) at approximately 100,000 feet, where it will >separate from the booster and fly under its own power. > > Four flights are planned - one each at Mach 5 and 7 and >two at Mach 10. The flight tests will be conducted within the >Western Test Range off the coast of southern California. > > Vehicle and engine ground tests and analyses will be >performed prior to each flight in order to compare with flight >and ground test results. In addition, the Hyper-X Mach 7 >vehicle will first be tested in Langley's eight-foot High >Temperature Wind Tunnel. The vehicle, with a fully operating >ramjet/scramjet propulsion system, will be put through tests in >the tunnel simulating many, but not all, Mach 7 flight conditions. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once these toys have done their job, and we get full-sized beasts in the air, I suppose one could claim that this is the first exclusive evidence of the inevitable next generation of black triangle sightings. And no prizes for guessing who'll be putting their UV manufacturer's stamp on the "cowling". Gil ------------------------------ From: Mark A Buda DTN 381-1969 09-Nov-1996 0114 -0500 Date: Sat, 9 Nov 96 01:12:00 EST Subject: Auto Reply from Watch_Mail for 9-NOV-1996 01:00 to 18-NOV-1996 08:00 I will be out of the office until November 18, 1996. I will respond to your mail when I return. If you have an urgent Digital Equipment Corporation work related need, please contact: OMT Tony Payne star::tpayne HFS/Security Jim Lanciani star::lanciani - mark ------------------------------ From: "Earl Needham, KD5XB, in Clovis, NM" Date: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 07:25:53 -0800 Subject: re: Auto Reply from Watch_Mail for 9-NOV-1996 01:00 to 18-NOV-1996 08:00 Does this mean that EVERY message to the list will generate the below message to everyone on the list for the next ten days? Earl > From: Mark A Buda DTN 381-1969 09-Nov-1996 0114 -0500 , on 11/9/96 1:12 AM: > > I will be out of the office until November 18, 1996. I will respond to > your mail when I return. > > If you have an urgent Digital Equipment Corporation work related need, > please contact: > > OMT Tony Payne star::tpayne > HFS/Security Jim Lanciani star::lanciani > > - mark > > ------------------------------ From: ConsLaw@aol.com Date: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 15:04:07 -0500 Subject: Longwinged F-16 drones I just was at the library browsing the latest Av Leak. There is a proposal to rewing mothballed F-16A fighters with a long almost straight wing and turn them into drones. The goal is to create a high performance aircraft which can loiter near enemy positions and suppress missle fire. There is a schematic drawing pictured. Conslaw ------------------------------ From: ratak (Jason E.J. Manaigre) Date: Sat, 9 Nov 1996 15:15:45 -0600 (CST) Subject: Re: re: Auto Reply from Watch_Mail for 9-NOV-1996 01:00 to 18-NOV-1996 08:00 - -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit To: skunk-works-digest@mail.orst.edu Date: Sat Nov 09 15:13:40 1996 > > Does this mean that EVERY message to the list will generate the below > message to everyone on the list for the next ten days? > > It does....He obviously didn't configure his rules for Mailing Lists... ___________________________________________________________________ GarGoyle Securities - - -Intrusion Assessment Systems - - -Security Consultation/Education/Curriculum Development - - -Project Management/Research/Analysis World Wide... - - -Member of CITDC (Canadian International Trade Development Council) - - -Email: ratak@GargSec.mb.ca (Jason E.J. Manaigre) - - -Web: www.GargSec.mb.ca - - -Email for PGP key with phrase 'Get Public Key' as Subject ___________________________________________________________________ - -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.3i Charset: noconv iQEVAwUBMoT0DfqtmO8M92GRAQFS0wf+K1vyWbrBY0Xv8+OjEdwKIzp+f2xDsTPj +AZL8VnXeqmkdPfNqkzTRS9ZyiwiDCLwcCGTHrrSj9dwpxasATh8Ufy+IqEFYJRt 508+m23Qqsj3mP+7xbpIEq5rxkk1qwu4W13yIlKIYYkV7ugGfjb5bTLzJG2qiAHE lSMAP/XYt6OApNLkuWTdUK9yWIEdtdBM8wZBl+rsKhnfgYTyIKlhVhiBiul6YkYu BNNSpbb84n5c5+cRrGkX3ShMM0mnTFkQ/C+dX7ii4zcH81jRboH4ZsHKrZVo2x6P Uc82lTDyjRCz/hwWAvhbaeq9rmjyR7wVPvfqNU9mRryzh1NWFG/r3g== =H65A - -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ------------------------------ From: Dan Zinngrabe Date: Sun, 10 Nov 1996 02:26:53 -0500 Subject: Complete list of F-117 crashes? I have several books on the F-117 (doesn't everybody? :P), written at different stages of the program's "openness". There are several discrepancies on dates and locations of F-117 crashes, such as one FSD aircraft and the first production aircraft. Does anyone have a complete, reliable listing of F-117 crashes? Thanks Dan Z ------------------------------ From: PaulMcG@aol.com Date: Sun, 10 Nov 1996 20:09:15 -0500 Subject: re: Groom renderings anow availiable on the web Brett Davidson (brett@arch.vuw.ac.nz) wrote: >Superb... but, er, aren't they reversed left/right? Dan Zinngrabe fixed this, and I have uploaded Dan 's corrected imagery so users of http://www.frogi.org/danz.html will see the correct images. Paul McGinnis / PaulMcG@aol.com http://www.frogi.org/secrecy.html [military secrecy site] ------------------------------ From: PaulMcG@aol.com Date: Mon, 11 Nov 1996 18:44:14 -0500 Subject: FY 1997 classified programs list now available. I have posted my new, extensive list of classified military programs (and the references I used to find them) in the FY 1997 budget at: http://www.frogi.org/classified-programs.html (NOTE: requires a Web browser with table support) There are some shocking revelations such as 31% of the Air Force's research and development budget is being spent on programs whose purpose -and- cost is classified. Doesn't anyone believe in public accountability for taxpayer money? (I apologize for being slow in answering my e-mail, but I've been rather busy with the list.) Paul McGinnis / PaulMcG@aol.com http://www.frogi.org/secrecy.html [military secrecy site] ------------------------------ From: "Ori" Date: Wed, 13 Nov 1996 10:05:44 MGT-200 Subject: U.S. aircraft carriers What is the aircraft capacity of the largest airctraft carrier in the u.s. fleet? Ori ______________________________________________________________________ Ori Zakin http://www.makash.ac.il/students/2/orihp.htm(temporarily down) oriz@www.makash.ac.il - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ From: habu@why.net (habu) Date: Wed, 13 Nov 1996 08:00:46 -0800 Subject: TU-144 A recent thread referred to TU-144s flying in the States. I found this article on the Air & Space magazine page, it may be from their Oct/Nov '95 issue... it states all flights are planned to be in/over former USSR. http://www.airspacemag.com/Articles/T144_ON95/ASM_T144_ON95.html Greg Fieser ------------------------------ From: chosa@chosa.win.net (Byron Weber) Date: Wed, 13 Nov 1996 19:21:18 Subject: "user witting" Don't know whether or not anyone else has had their skunk works mail readdressed to the military after the statement "user witting undefined," and then sent back to skunk works for posting, but this began with my posts when I resubscribed a few months back. An arduous search through computer texts and numerous telephone calls to "experts" found not a clue as to the definition of "witting." I should have realized the word is intelligence jargon. For anyone else earmarked (incidently, this only happens to posts to skunk works) and I suspect most are, the definition can be found in "Secret Agencies, U.S. Intelligence in a Hostile World" by Loch K. Johnson, Yale University (Vail-Ballou Press, Binghamton, New York), 1996, pages 42-43. The straight definition for those unable to get a copy of the book which reveals the word's subtle implications is, "knowing," as opposed to "unwitting," not knowing. Really quite a creative use of the English language. Byron ------------------------------ From: Earl Needham Date: Wed, 13 Nov 1996 20:29:39 -0800 Subject: re: "user witting" Interesting -- the posts like this that *I* have received mentioned "wittig" without the "N". I had assumed it was a bad E-Mail address. Doesn't matter anyway -- I forwarded some stuff from another list to the commander of the OSI detachment at my AF base today anyway... Earl Needham, KD5XB, in Clovis, NM Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Chi '76 > From: chosa@chosa.win.net (Byron Weber), on 11/13/96 7:21 PM: > Don't know whether or not anyone else has had their skunk works > mail readdressed to the military after the statement "user witting > undefined," and then sent back to skunk works for posting, but > this began with my posts when I resubscribed a few months back. An > arduous search through computer texts and numerous telephone calls > to "experts" found not a clue as to the definition of "witting." > I should have realized the word is intelligence jargon. For anyone > else earmarked (incidently, this only happens to posts to skunk > works) and I suspect most are, the definition can be found in > "Secret Agencies, U.S. Intelligence in a Hostile World" by Loch K. > Johnson, Yale University (Vail-Ballou Press, Binghamton, New > York), 1996, pages 42-43. The straight definition for those unable > to get a copy of the book which reveals the word's subtle > implications is, "knowing," as opposed to "unwitting," not > knowing. Really quite a creative use of the English language. > > Byron > > > > ------------------------------ From: Dan Zinngrabe Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 00:53:01 -0500 Subject: Tailless aircraft seen over western test ranges Last winter a Phantom Works person gave me a heads up on a McDD project flying that seemed to be something several people in California and New Mexico reported seeing previously. After finally getting around to reading the new AvWeek last night I see that the planform of the aircraft is quite a bit like the Lockheed tailless designs. The McDD project was also tailless, supposedly the "black" counterpart of the X-36. There are a few differences between that a/c and the Lockheed designs, but they are nonetheless *quite* similar, raising questions in my mind wether the Phantom Works was taking credit for Skunk Works work. Hmm..... Dan Z ------------------------------ From: "Tom Burnett" Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 20:32:08 +1000 Subject: [none] 'Witting' is a common noun meaning acumen or astueness, discernment, or perception. 'Wittig' however, is a proper or 'Christian' name and unlikely to be an acronym. It is probably a traceable e-mail address although it could easily be an intrusive forwarder on the e-mail net. (There are a couple of Wittigs listed on the web as government communications and networking consultants who might know.) In fact, one reason I am sending this is to see if I can find out who is intercepting it. In any case, do not doubt for a second that everything going in or out of the skunk works is routed to several intelligence organizations and, more than likely, so is every other bit of e-mail that any current or former subscriber sends or receives. There is not much you can do about it unless you want to encrypt your e-mail with a thousand-character key (PGP is a Pretty Good Protection program), or feed it through an anonymous mail server (probably a useless endeavor). The NSA, DIA and whomever else can still break it, and they take the time to do it (1) because they are trained to be paranoid, (2) because it is their job, and (3) because they can. On the other hand, since I don't know any national security secrets and barely remember my own name most of the time, I don't bother trying to encrypt e-mail, scramble my telephone calls (useless with AT&T equipment which is compromised by the manufacturer) or use invisible ink in letters. It seems to me (a la' Paul McGinnis) that most of this big brother business is a waste of time and the taxpayers money. How many countries have the resources to feed themselves much less develop the Aurora, and who is the government trying to fool by denying its existence? It has been operational for awhile now, so what kind of a secret is it supposed to be, and why doesn't someone just come out and say "Since the USAF has only two SR-71s left, it is obvious that we have a replacement for it, but we can't tell you about it because Rwanda or Iraq might try to copy it." How many billions of dollars did we spend trying to keep all of our cryptography, strategic and tactical planning, and submarine technology secret while the Walkers were handing it all out the back door. And that stuff is still secret, even though it has been compromised. What's the point? I believe in maintaining a technological advantage and protecting patents, and I concede the need for strategic secrecy in time of war, but I think our peacetime bureaucratic secrecy system has gone a bit astray. Eventually all of these secrets, especially the 'public' ones do as much damage by insulating the government from the taxpayers as they do to protect national security, and can lead to all sort of conspiracy theories. (For instance, where was the 747-400 Airborne Laser (ABL) being tested when United 800 disintegrated for no apparent reason?) It was probably sitting on the ground somewhere in Arizona, but who can we believe to tell the truth? The sad commentary on the state of the nation is that the citizenry cannot believe what our own government tells us. Every program does not have to be a 'black' program. I get the distinct impression that the majority of military programs are classified to keep the other branches of OUR OWN military services from finding out about them and thinking of something a little better. Tom Burnett ------------------------------ From: "Tom Burnett" Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 07:06:20 +1000 Subject: 'Wittig' mail forwarding OK, the mail is being forwarded to the Defense Systems Information Agency. The web administrator's e-mail address is sniderl@ncr.disa.mil. Louis Caplan is also a contact at http://www.disa.mil/intern/caplan.html if you are curious. Listed below are the other DISA points of contact. There is no "Wittig" listed. Perhaps it is just an old address. Lockheed Martin has a representative at DSIA, listed below. DEIS II DISA POINTS OF CONTACT - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Refer to the DEIS II Task Order Guidelines for information on roles and responsibilities of the organizations listed below.) D7 - JOINT REQUIREMENTS ANALYSIS AND INTEGRATION DIRECTORATE Mailing Address: 5201 Leesburg Pike, Suite 1501 Falls Church, VA 22041-3201 Functional Program Manager: Ms. Mary Sloper DISA/D73/DISMO Voice: (703) 681-0151, x101 (DSN 761) Fax: (703) 681-0183 Email: sloperm@ncr.disa.mil Functional Integration Manager (IM): Ms. Sara Borders DISA/D73/DISMO Voice: (703) 681-0151, x138 (DSN 761) Fax: (703) 681-0183 Email: borderss@ncr.disa.mil Associate Functional IM: Ms. Pamela Smith DISA/D73/DISMO Voice: (703) 681-0151, x107 (DSN 761) Fax: (703) 681-0183 Email: smith2p@ncr.disa.mil Technical Liaison: Mr. John Pelszynski DISA/D73 Voice: (703) 681-0151, x171 (DSN 761) Fax: (703) 681-4749 Email: pelszynj@ncr.disa.mil - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ schneidm@ditco.disa.mil - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ D44 - DISA CONTRACT TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION (Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs)) Mailing Address: DISA/D44 5203 Leesburg Pike, Suite 1606 Falls Church, VA 22041-3201 Team Leader Ms. Annette Porter Voice: (703) 681-5433 (DSN 761) Fax: (703) 681-5911 Email: portera@ncr.disa.mil BDM (Contract No. DCA100-96-D-0050) Ms. Michelle Coble Voice: (703) 681-5434 (DSN 761) Fax: (703) 681-5911 Email: coblem@ncr.disa.mil Boeing (Contract No. DCA100-96-D-0047) Ms. Betti Glenmore Voice: (703) 681-5684 (DSN 761) Fax: (703) 681-5911 Email: glenmorb@ncr.disa.mil CSC (Contract No. DCA100-96-D-0051) Mr. David Gordon Voice: (703) 681-5441 (DSN 761) Fax: (703) 681-5911 Email: gordon2d@ncr.disa.mil EDS (Contract No. DCA100-96-D-0052) Ms. Carol McConnelly Voice: (703) 681-5438 (DSN 761) Fax: (703) 681-5911 Email: mcconnec@ncr.disa.mil Mr. Roger Mills Voice: (703) 681-5439 (DSN 761) Fax: (703) 681-5911 Email: millsr@ncr.disa.mil Lockheed Martin (Contract No. DCA100-96-D-0049) Ms. Carol Boyd Voice: (703) 681-5429 (DSN 761) Fax: (703) 681-5911 Email: boydc@ncr.disa.mil Unisys (Contract No. DCA100-96-D-0048) Ms. Annette Porter Voice: (703) 681-5433 (DSN 761) Fax: (703) 681-5911 Email: portera@ncr.disa.mil Tom Burnett ------------------------------ From: "James G. Coraci" Date: Wed, 13 Nov 1996 18:19:16 -0500 Subject: US Aircraft Carrier Fleet Hi all, Could someone please name the entire fleet of aircraft carriers, and, = if possible, some key information about them, such as displacement, age, = capacity, crew, etc..? Thanks. - - Jimmy coracij@nac.net ------------------------------ From: David Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 17:20:52 Subject: AW&ST in UK I mentioned a while ago that AvLeak is no longer available in the UK at newstands. I spoke to them today and found that you can still get it direct by contacting them on 0800 973195. There's a special discount price of US Dollars 80, which is around UK Sterling 52ish for a twelve month subscription. Sounds like very good value to me :) This has been a public service announcement... Best David ------------------------------ From: gregweigold@pmsc.com (GREG WEIGOLD) Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 13:36:33 -0500 Subject: F-15 ACTIVE Achieves First-Ever MACH 2 Thrust-Vectoring Thought this might be interesting to the list, if you haven't already seen it. Note the URL at the end for supporting photos. Greg Weigold Columbia, SC ______________________________ Forward Header __________________________________ Subject: F-15 ACTIVE Achieves First-Ever MACH 2 Thrust-Vectoring Author: NASANews@luna.osf.hq.nasa.gov (NASA HQ Public Affairs Office) at Internet Date: 11/14/96 4:09 PM Don Nolan-Proxmire Headquarters, Washington, DC November 14, 1996 (Phone: 202/358-1983) Fred Brown Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA (Phone: 805/258-2663) RELEASE: 96-239 F-15 ACTIVE ACHIEVES FIRST-EVER MACH 2 THRUST-VECTORING A significant milestone in advancing the capabilities of high-performance aircraft was achieved recently at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA, when a highly-modified F-15 aircraft employed thrust-vectoring of its engine exhausts at speeds of almost Mach 2. Don Gatlin, Project Manager of the F-15 Advanced Control Technology for Integrated Vehicles (ACTIVE) program at Dryden, said the four flights Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 marked the first time that vectoring -- or deflecting -- of engine thrust had been accomplished at such speeds. The tests were carried out in restricted airspace at an altitude of about 45,000 feet. "We did both pitch (up-and-down) and yaw (side-to-side) vectoring at more than Mach 1.95, and to our knowledge, that's the first time in history it's been done," he added. "That's given us the ability to do thrust vectoring anywhere in the (flight) envelope of this aircraft." The F-15 being flown in the ACTIVE research program is a highly-modified two-seat "B" model of the Air Force tactical fighter. It employs a digital flight control system, active canards mounted ahead of the wings and prototype Pitch-Yaw Balance Beam Nozzles developed by engine manufacturer Pratt and Whitney which are mounted on the aircraft's F100-PW-229 engines. ACTIVE is a joint program between Dryden, the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory, Pratt and Whitney and the McDonnell Aircraft Division of McDonnell-Douglas Aerospace. It seeks to improve performance of both commercial and military aircraft by integrating a variety of advanced propulsion, aerodynamic and control system technologies. "The intent is to look at not only performance and maneuvering benefits, but to look at safety improvements," said ACTIVE Chief Engineer Gerard Schkolnik. "These are things which hadn't really been addressed by previous thrust- vectoring programs such as the X-31, the F-18 High-Angle-of-Attack Vehicle or the F-16 multi-axis thrust-vectoring programs." Although significant improvements in maneuvering capability due to thrust vectoring were demonstrated in those programs, speeds were limited to about Mach 1.2, or slightly above the speed of sound, Schkolnik noted. The current program is designed to explore the technology across the entire flight regime of the F-15, which is capable of speeds in excess of Mach 2 for short periods. Dryden Research Pilot Jim Smolka, who flew two of the four milestone flights in the ACTIVE F-15, pointed out that thrust-vectoring technology has applications for commercial as well as military aircraft. "In the commercial arena, it will improve the cruise performance of future supersonic transports by reducing the aerodynamic drag on the airplane and will allow the engines to pick up some of the control," he said. "In the tactical arena, we're hoping that aircraft will be able to sustain higher load factors and better maneuverability due to thrust- vectoring capabilities," Smolka added. Gatlin noted that thrust vectoring nozzles also have the potential for reducing noise at takeoff and landing, a critical design consideration in development of next- generation supersonic airliners. The thrust-vectoring nozzles are capable of swiveling up to 20 degrees in any direction. The aircraft's engine mounts, as well as the engine cases themselves, were modified to withstand the higher dynamic forces resulting from thrust vectoring. The nozzles were designed by Pratt and Whitney to be adaptable to current or future aircraft employing the same engine with only minor changes. The ACTIVE F-15 engines produce about 29,000 lbs. of thrust each at full power. With a maximum takeoff weight of 47,000 lbs., the research aircraft has a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than one to one. The aircraft is 64 feet long, excluding its flight-test nose probe, and has a wingspan of about 43 feet. -end- NOTE TO EDITORS: A number of still photos are avilable to support this release. Photos are also available on the Internet under "NASA Dryden Research Aircraft Photo Archive, Dryden News and Feature Photos," URL: http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/PhotoServer/photoserver.html. ------------------------------ End of Skunk Works Digest V5 #725 ********************************* 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. Administrative requests, problems, and other non-list mail can be sent to either "skunk-works-digest-owner@mail.orst.edu" or, if you don't like to type a lot, "prm@mail.orst.edu A non-digest (direct mail) version of this list is also available; to subscribe to that instead, replace all instances of "skunk-works-digest" in the commands above with "skunk-works". Back issues are available for anonymous FTP from mail.orst.edu, in /pub/skunk-works/digest/vNN.nMMM (where "NN" is the volume number, and "MMM" is the issue number).