From: owner-skunk-works-digest@netwrx1.com (skunk-works-digest) To: skunk-works-digest@netwrx1.com Subject: skunk-works-digest V9 #3 Reply-To: skunk-works@netwrx1.com Sender: owner-skunk-works-digest@netwrx1.com Errors-To: owner-skunk-works-digest@netwrx1.com Precedence: bulk skunk-works-digest Monday, January 24 2000 Volume 09 : Number 003 Index of this digest by subject: *************************************************** U-2 and SR-71 web page new url.... Re: FWD The Rest of the A-l0 Story Re: FWD The Rest of the A-l0 Story Re: U-2 and SR-71 web page new url.... Re: Edwards Airshow -- Sunday Re: Edwards Airshow -- Sunday FWD (TLC-Mission) yf12a - new ADC interceptor in mid-1960s FWD (TLC-Mission) Blackbird sonic wave FWD (TLCB) SR71A - #978 "RAPID RABBIT" Re: FWD (TLC-Mission) yf12a - new ADC interceptor in mid-1960s Fwd: CALIFORNIA FIRM SELECTED TO DEVELOP AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGIES *************************************************** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 09:38:10 -0500 From: John Stone Subject: U-2 and SR-71 web page new url.... - --============_-1264002591==_ma============ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" Hello All, My U-2 and SR-71 web page has changed, it now has it's own domain name.... the NEW url is: http://www.blackbirds.net The OLD url was http://www.thepoint.net/~jstone Best, John John Stone blackbirds@iname.com *NEW* U-2 & SR-71 Web page: http://www.blackbirds.net - --============_-1264002591==_ma============ Content-Type: text/enriched; charset="us-ascii" Hello All, My U-2 and SR-71 web page has changed, it now has it's own domain name.... the NEW url is: http://www.blackbirds.net The OLD url was http://www.thepoint.net/~jstone Best, John John Stone blackbirds@iname.com *NEW* U-2 & SR-71 Web page: http://www.blackbirds.net - --============_-1264002591==_ma============-- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Jan 100 19:32:26 GMT From: betnal@ns.net Subject: Re: FWD The Rest of the A-l0 Story On 1/15/00 4:40PM, in message <3881135F.8578D5F4@frontiernet.net>, "Terry W. Colvin" wrote: > Source: Umbra > > The Rest of the A-l0 Story > by Donald M. Ware > > > P.S. I phoned Stevens for his input to this story, and he sent it > priority mail. It arrived seven days after postmarked, beat up, torn > open and damp inside and out. This Proves there was alien intervention. Most times priority mail takes a lot longer than seven days, when it arrives at all! Art ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 19:10:30 -0700 From: "Terry W. Colvin" Subject: Re: FWD The Rest of the A-l0 Story Damn, I must read the whole e-mail before forwarding these "true" stories. BTW, one of my six packages mailed from Kuwait to Arizona arrived 30 days late and beat up, torn open but not damp inside or outside, just a salty residue on the corrugated paper. This proves alien intervention. Most UFOs are based underseas. [[;>))]] Terry no jet lag or Kuwait flashbacks - ------------------- betnal@ns.net wrote: > > On 1/15/00 4:40PM, in message <3881135F.8578D5F4@frontiernet.net>, "Terry W. > Colvin" wrote: > > > Source: Umbra > > > > The Rest of the A-l0 Story > > by Donald M. Ware > > > > > > P.S. I phoned Stevens for his input to this story, and he sent it > > priority mail. It arrived seven days after postmarked, beat up, torn > > open and damp inside and out. > > This Proves there was alien intervention. Most times priority mail takes a > lot longer than seven days, when it arrives at all! > > Art - -- Terry W. Colvin, Sierra Vista, Arizona (USA) < fortean1@frontiernet.net > Home Page: < http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/8958/index.html > Sites: Fortean Times * Northwest Mysteries * Mystic's Cyberpage * TLCB * U.S. Message Text Formatting (USMTF) Program - ------------ Member: Thailand-Laos-Cambodia Brotherhood (TLCB) Mailing List TLCB Web Site: < http://www.tlc-brotherhood.org > Southeast Asia (SEA) service: Vietnam - Theater Telecommunications Center/HHC, 1st Aviation Brigade (Jan 71 - Aug 72) Thailand/Laos - Telecommunications Center/U.S. Army Support Thailand (USARSUPTHAI), Camp Samae San (Jan 73 - Aug 73) - Special Security/Strategic Communications - Thailand (STRATCOM - Thailand), Phu Mu (Pig Mountain) Signal Site (Aug 73 - Jan 74) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 20:58:31 -0500 From: "Martin Hurst" Subject: Re: U-2 and SR-71 web page new url.... This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0033_01BF612D.9C781040 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Thanks so much for keeping us in the loop !!! What about those people who don't sunscibe to this list, will they be = re-directed to the new URL, and/or will the various search engines find the new website ? - -Martin -----Original Message----- From: John Stone To: Skunk Works Date: Monday, January 17, 2000 9:38 AM Subject: U-2 and SR-71 web page new url.... =20 =20 Hello All, =20 My U-2 and SR-71 web page has changed, it now has it's own domain = name.... the NEW url is: http://www.blackbirds.net =20 The OLD url was http://www.thepoint.net/~jstone =20 Best, =20 John =20 =20 John Stone =20 blackbirds@iname.com =20 *NEW* U-2 & SR-71 Web page: http://www.blackbirds.net=20 - ------=_NextPart_000_0033_01BF612D.9C781040 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Thanks so much for keeping us in the loop=20 !!!

What about those people who don't sunscibe to this list, will they = be=20 re-directed to the new

URL, and/or will the various search engines find the new website = ?

-Martin

-----Original = Message-----
From:=20 John Stone <blackbirds@iname.com>
T= o:=20 Skunk Works <skunk-works@netwrx1.com>Date:=20 Monday, January 17, 2000 9:38 AM
Subject: U-2 and = SR-71 web=20 page new url....

Hello All,

My U-2 and = SR-71 web=20 page has changed, it now has it's own domain name.... the NEW = url is:=20 http://www.blackbirds.net

T= he=20 OLD url was=20 = http://www.thepoint.net/~jstone

Best,

John

John = Stone

blackbirds@iname.com

*NEW* U-2 & SR-71 Web = page:=20 http://www.blackbirds.net - ------=_NextPart_000_0033_01BF612D.9C781040-- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 01:06:28 -0500 (EST) From: Mary Shafer Subject: Re: Edwards Airshow -- Sunday On Tue, 12 Oct 1999, Kathy Rages wrote: > I didn't get down to Edwards until Sunday. They seem to have really slacked > off from Saturday. > > No F-22. > No B-2. > And no (!@#%) SR-71. > > The reason given for the SR-71's absence was "fuel leak". One can only > assume this meant it was leaking fuel from a point at which it doesn't > normally leak fuel. I know, I'm really, really late getting back to the mailing list here, but I have to pass along Fast Eddie's comment about this cancellation. He was really upset about it, as it would possibly be the last flight ever and he kind of wanted to have it (his wife told me this later that week). However, the SR was REALLY leaking. If you think it leaks a lot when they pressurize the tanks, you would be astounded at how much more it managed to leak with the actual leak. The aircrew couldn't see the leak and they were kind of coaxing the crew chief into saying it wasn't that bad and it would be OK for a few quick passes in the pattern, but he just couldn't do it. The reason I had to reply about this was because Ed asked me to apologize on the SR-71's behalf to anyone who came down on Sunday hoping to see the SR-71 fly and was disappointed. (I think he was just as disappointed, by the way.) Regards, Mary Mary Shafer DoD #0362 KotFR shafer@ursa-major.spdcc.com "Some days it don't come easy/And some days it don't come hard Some days it don't come at all/And these are the days that never end...." ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 15:27:33 -0600 From: "Albert H. Dobyns" Subject: Re: Edwards Airshow -- Sunday Mary Shafer wrote: > > On Tue, 12 Oct 1999, Kathy Rages wrote: > > > I didn't get down to Edwards until Sunday. They seem to have really slacked > > off from Saturday. > > ... > > And no (!@#%) SR-71. > > > > The reason given for the SR-71's absence was "fuel leak". One can only > > assume this meant it was leaking fuel from a point at which it doesn't > > normally leak fuel. > > I know, I'm really, really late getting back to the mailing list here, > but I have to pass along Fast Eddie's comment about this cancellation. > He was really upset about it, as it would possibly be the last flight > ever and he kind of wanted to have it (his wife told me this later that > week). > > However, the SR was REALLY leaking. If you think it leaks a lot when > they pressurize the tanks, you would be astounded at how much more it > managed to leak with the actual leak. The aircrew couldn't see the leak > and they were kind of coaxing the crew chief into saying it wasn't that > bad and it would be OK for a few quick passes in the pattern, but he > just couldn't do it. As disappointing as it must have been for the crew (or was this flight just going too have a pilot on board?), I think the crew chief made the right call. > > The reason I had to reply about this was because Ed asked me to > apologize on the SR-71's behalf to anyone who came down on Sunday hoping > to see the SR-71 fly and was disappointed. (I think he was just as > disappointed, by the way.) > > Regards, > Mary > > Mary Shafer DoD #0362 KotFR shafer@ursa-major.spdcc.com > "Some days it don't come easy/And some days it don't come hard > Some days it don't come at all/And these are the days that never end...." Thanks for letting us know more detail. And maybe you can tell him for us that those of us who couldn't attend the event are still disappointed that it couldn't be flown. Al ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 20:08:20 -0700 From: "Terry W. Colvin" Subject: FWD (TLC-Mission) yf12a - new ADC interceptor in mid-1960s In l965 or 66 When i was weapons controller in air defense command we received a TS briefing on the aircraft which test bed was designated yf12a and was being touted as the new interceptor for the ADC. Equally impressive was its fire control system. min requirements was that it be able to fly 1200 miles, engage hostiles for 45min and return. fire control system could lock onto and fire on 12 different targets at different times and altitudes. up to that time each interceptor could only only lock onto and fire on one target at the time. that was the reason for such weapons as the MB1 which was a low yield nuke designed to take out a massed bomber raid. I later heard, when McNamarow deteremined it was too expensive, the fire control system was installed in the F111. not sure if all of this is exact and some of you may know better, but that is what i recall from 35 years ago. - -- Terry W. Colvin, Sierra Vista, Arizona (USA) < fortean1@frontiernet.net > Home Page: < http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/8958/index.html > Sites: Fortean Times * Northwest Mysteries * Mystic's Cyberpage * TLCB * U.S. Message Text Formatting (USMTF) Program - ------------ Member: Thailand-Laos-Cambodia Brotherhood (TLCB) Mailing List TLCB Web Site: < http://www.tlc-brotherhood.org > Southeast Asia (SEA) service: Vietnam - Theater Telecommunications Center/HHC, 1st Aviation Brigade (Jan 71 - Aug 72) Thailand/Laos - Telecommunications Center/U.S. Army Support Thailand (USARSUPTHAI), Camp Samae San (Jan 73 - Aug 73) - Special Security/Strategic Communications - Thailand (STRATCOM - Thailand), Phu Mu (Pig Mountain) Signal Site (Aug 73 - Jan 74) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 20:08:43 -0700 From: "Terry W. Colvin" Subject: FWD (TLC-Mission) Blackbird sonic wave Larry Clum wrote: > I was at Beale in '66-'67 when the Blackbird was still shit hot super > secret. Wouldn't let us within a qtr of a mile of it, but when I pulled > alert at the SAC alert shack at the end of the runway....I got to see > that magnificent beast up close. She would sit with her tail hanging > just over the concrete at the extreme end of the runway.....an F-5 was a > chase plane. It would take off, make a run about 20 miles down wind, > turn and come in on the ass end of the runway at about 250-300 MPH....We > would see the chase plane coming and the SR71 would throw the throttle > to the wall....full afterburners....shaking the ground everywhere > (jackrabbits scattered to the four winds)....This bitch would hurtle > down the runway, chase plane in persuit, rotate and shoot almost > straight up and disappear....poor little F-5 Talon in AB, trying to > catch up.... > This was the most awesome aircraft I eve saw.....Pure Power. It was > almost an orgasmic experience, seeing this bird perform. > > Larry My only significant encounter with the Blackbird. I've probably told this one a couple of times before. - -- John A. (Amos) Parker Member "Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association"-RRVFPA Phormer Reccie Puke-Used FighterGator-Phormer Phantom Phlyer Proud Life Member Udorn VFW Memorial Post #10249 Life Member Air Force Association-Member Tailhook Association Member National Rifle Association-Member The Retired Officers Association Member Air Force Sargents Association View my album at http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=120469&a=887326 ICQ # 11612891-Owner "SAC Sucks Sign"-Proud Member of The CASBAR Firetalk # 41109 About February of 1968 I was assigned from the reccon lead in course at Mather AFB in California to the 7th TRS squadron at Mt. Home AFB Idaho. The 7th was an RTU (Replacement Training Unit) for RF-4Cs and was part of the pipeline to S.E.A and either Tan San Nhut [South Vietnam] or Udorn [Thailand]. About half way through RTU at Mt. Home, I was going from the flight planning room to the latrine and in the process, passing the duty desk. The duty hogan was an IP by the name of Ted Corbalis. Ted was a great guy, a good stick and very sensible. As I was passing the duty desk Ted called me over. "Here's your Mach 2 Pin Amos". "I haven't flown Mach 2, Ted. Whats this for?" "We don't give navs a Mach 2 ride." "Then take the pin a stick it up your A--!" Ted being the gentleman he was, asked me if I really wanted a Mach 2 ride and I told him I did. With that he called maintenance and rustled up a clean bird. We suited up, and an hour later were airborne. There was a bombing range South East of Mt. Home where we dropped photo flash carts and made supersonic runs. We climbed to 33,000ft, went full AB and slipped through Mach one. There was a very minor burble when we went through the mach and I kept my Eyes on the mach meter. As you know, Mach 1 is a physical barrier, but Mach 2 is just a number and there should be no physical sensation when going through it. Also the chances of a successful ejection go down as your speed goes up, and above Mach 2 the chances of getting out of the bird unharmed are nil. Straight up and down on the needle was Mach 2. As the needle reached the vertical, the plane shuddered. The only time I ever felt any thing like it was a year later when we were hit with a 37mm over Sam Nuea[Laos]. The silence was deafening and the throttles literally flew to idle. Neither of us so much as spoke until we slipped back under the Mach. Then we both said at the same time "What was that?" Ted thought we had lost an engine mount, and got a chase plane to look us over. No visible damage, and when we landed the maintenance folks could find nothing. Ted gave me my Mach 2 pin and a couple of hours later called me over to the duty desk. "You remember what happened to us earlier? "Yea (How could I forget?)". "Well after we got back, I called Base ops and asked if there had been any other traffic in the area when IT happened. Base Ops just called back and told me that an SR 71 was transiting the area at 100,000ft and Mach 4 about the same time we were hitting Mach 2. We must have hit their sonic wave." All I could say was "Here Ted, take this Mach 2 pin and stick it up your A--". - -- Terry W. Colvin, Sierra Vista, Arizona (USA) < fortean1@frontiernet.net > Home Page: < http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/8958/index.html > Sites: Fortean Times * Northwest Mysteries * Mystic's Cyberpage * TLCB * U.S. Message Text Formatting (USMTF) Program - ------------ Member: Thailand-Laos-Cambodia Brotherhood (TLCB) Mailing List TLCB Web Site: < http://www.tlc-brotherhood.org > Southeast Asia (SEA) service: Vietnam - Theater Telecommunications Center/HHC, 1st Aviation Brigade (Jan 71 - Aug 72) Thailand/Laos - Telecommunications Center/U.S. Army Support Thailand (USARSUPTHAI), Camp Samae San (Jan 73 - Aug 73) - Special Security/Strategic Communications - Thailand (STRATCOM - Thailand), Phu Mu (Pig Mountain) Signal Site (Aug 73 - Jan 74) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 20:09:22 -0700 From: "Terry W. Colvin" Subject: FWD (TLCB) SR71A - #978 "RAPID RABBIT" I saw one too, took what MAYBE one of the "LAST" pics of the "RAPID RABBIT" SR71A - #978, after an emergency landing at UDORN while on a photo recon of Hanoi 15 May, 1972. (I've MAY have to correct the ERROR = 2 months after my photo #978 crashed TO READ - "1 year after" my photo, or else there is a conflict between "John Stone's Blackbird Timeline, 1970's" (problem is I can not log onto this page which I had printed a year ago listing this URL): Thanks for the NEW URL for John Stone's "BLACKBIRD TIMELINE of EVENTS, 1970's" < http://www.blackbirds.net/srtl70.html > which states that #978 "Rapid Rabbit" crashed at Kadena on 20 July 1972 - ???). I've posted this before, but for any FNG's check out the photo at the "bottom" of my webpage below: < http://members.aol.com/udorn7274/vnsp-1.htm > PS: Yup, there were SP's (armed w/ M-16's) guarding this bird, but I didn't know that I could have been in BIG TROUBLE for taking this pic - just saw it as a COOL BIRD !!! This references the OTHER date that #978 "Rapid Rabbit" crashed at Kadena - ??? This bird crashed landed at Kadena AFB in May 1973 during a typhoon. QUOTE from the book: "SR-71 REVEALED the Inside Story" by Richard H. Graham, Col. USAF (Ret) In May 1973, aircraft 978 departed runway SR at Kadena and collapsed the landing gear. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. At the time I was flying F-4's at Kadena and a typhoon pushed the crosswinds out of our limits, and we canceled flying for the day. As I pulled into my driveway, I heard the roar of an SR-71 trying to land. I watched him disappear on final approach and thought to myself, "Good luck in these winds." Suddenly, I heard another roar of his engines as I observed him trying for a second approach at landing. The next day I went to my F-4 squadron and heard all the pilots talking about an SR-71 that crashed on landing. - - R. Graham collection end of QUOTE Here's a URL w/ an Interview w/ Wing Commander Richard Graham (lists a few stats too = EX. 50 built, 20 lost): < http://www.combatsim.com/sr71_int.htm > Here's a URL listing the "BLACKBIRD TIMELINE of EVENTS, 1970's" (you'll see the 15 May 1972 date listing the emergency landing at UDORN RTAFB). < http://www.thepoint.net/~jstone/srtl70.html > BLACKBIRD web sites: < http://www.wvi.com/~lelandh/sr-71~1.htm > Jim -"GED" - ----------------- I followed the Habu (SR-71) for 8 years. 5 as a "Q" model tanker pilot and 3 as 9th Recon Wing staff officer and SR chase pilot. The landings at UT [U-Tapao AB], [Thailand] [and] Takhli [AB, Thailand] and so on were because of mechanical problems. Took three tankers full of people and equipment to turn one around. I followed the damn thing all over the world and at any time. I remember one particularly cold and snowy night before Christmas at Hill AFB - landing with one under the wing at UT in 71-72? Really a great and exciting time. Mike Crawford ACA AL China Post # 1 MOPH - -- Terry W. Colvin, Sierra Vista, Arizona (USA) < fortean1@frontiernet.net > Home Page: < http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/8958/index.html > Sites: Fortean Times * Northwest Mysteries * Mystic's Cyberpage * TLCB * U.S. Message Text Formatting (USMTF) Program - ------------ Member: Thailand-Laos-Cambodia Brotherhood (TLCB) Mailing List TLCB Web Site: < http://www.tlc-brotherhood.org > Southeast Asia (SEA) service: Vietnam - Theater Telecommunications Center/HHC, 1st Aviation Brigade (Jan 71 - Aug 72) Thailand/Laos - Telecommunications Center/U.S. Army Support Thailand (USARSUPTHAI), Camp Samae San (Jan 73 - Aug 73) - Special Security/Strategic Communications - Thailand (STRATCOM - Thailand), Phu Mu (Pig Mountain) Signal Site (Aug 73 - Jan 74) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 15:24:45 -0600 From: "Albert H. Dobyns" Subject: Re: FWD (TLC-Mission) yf12a - new ADC interceptor in mid-1960s Terry W. Colvin wrote: > > In l965 or 66 When i was weapons controller in air defense command we > received a TS briefing on the aircraft which test bed was designated yf12a > and was being touted as the new interceptor for the ADC. Equally impressive > was its fire control system. min requirements was that it be able to fly > 1200 miles, engage hostiles for 45min and return. fire control system could > lock onto and fire on 12 different targets at different times and > altitudes. up to that time each interceptor could only only lock onto and > fire on one target at the time. that was the reason for such weapons as the > MB1 which was a low yield nuke designed to take out a massed bomber raid. I > later heard, when McNamarow deteremined it was too expensive, the fire > control system was installed in the F111. not sure if all of this is exact > and some of you may know better, but that is what i recall from 35 years ago. "12 different targets..."? I thought the YF-12A had room for 3 missiles initially but could be changed to hold 4 of them. Was the number 12 the maximum number that the fire control system could handle even in the plane carried fewer than 12? Al ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 15:48:36 PST From: "wayne binkley" Subject: Fwd: CALIFORNIA FIRM SELECTED TO DEVELOP AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGIES >From: NASANews@hq.nasa.gov >To: undisclosed-recipients:; >Subject: CALIFORNIA FIRM SELECTED TO DEVELOP AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGIES >Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 16:10:13 -0500 (EST) > >Michael Braukus >Headquarters, Washington, DC January 24, 2000 >(Phone: 202/358-1979) > >Alan Brown >Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA >(Phone: 661/258-2665) > >RELEASE: 00-11 > >CALIFORNIA FIRM SELECTED TO DEVELOP AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGIES > > In an effort to increase the research capabilities of high- >altitude Earth science missions, NASA's Dryden Flight Research >Center, Edwards, CA, has selected General Atomics Aeronautical >Systems, Inc., (GA-ASI) San Diego, CA, to begin negotiations to >demonstrate technologies expanding the capabilities of uninhabited >aerial vehicles. > > The task under NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and >Sensor Technology (ERAST) program jointly sponsored research >agreement is to expand technical performance to meet the >scientific requirements and to demonstrate operational >capabilities required by the emerging uninhabited aerial vehicle >(UAV) industry. GA-ASI will develop the new Predator B� series of >UAV, including an enlarged and upgraded version, to meet these >requirements. As joint partners in the project, GA-ASI will >contribute $8 million and NASA's Office of Aero-Space Technology >will invest more than $10 million. > > The ERAST program has operated for approximately six years >with a number of industry partners to develop UAV capabilities. >The program has concentrated on developing aerodynamic propulsion >and control system technologies for future high-altitude, long- >endurance UAVs designed for government or commercial uses. > > GA-ASI was selected from a field of three member firms of the >ERAST Alliance submitting proposals in response to a research >announcement. The other firms included Aurora Flight Sciences of >Manassas, VA and Fairmont, W. Va., and Scaled Composites of >Mojave, CA. > > "Each of the competing company teams had very strong >technical proposals, though with very different approaches," said >Dwain Deets, director of aeronautics research and technology >programs at Dryden. "The quality of these proposals is evidence >of the success of the ERAST Alliance as a mechanism for mutual >support and technical interchange." > > UAV capabilities have grown tremendously under the ERAST >program and all the competitors have demonstrated capabilities to >meet the growing UAV market from both government and industry. >The specific scientific needs now being pursued represent a set of >requirements that significantly expands the demonstrated >performance levels. The required investment in new vehicle >platforms drove the decision to down select to a single company. > > GA-ASI's proposal was selected as being best suited to meet a >stringent set of requirements established by NASA's Office of >Earth Science for the conventionally powered, remotely or >autonomously operated aircraft. Among these requirements was a >mission endurance of 24 to 48 hours at a primary altitude range of >40,000 to 65,000 feet with a payload of at least 300 kg (660 >lbs.). > > The selected aircraft will serve as a testbed to demonstrate >technologies required by the UAV industry to support a broad range >of potential science, government and commercial missions. A key >requirement is to develop capabilities and operational procedures >to allow operations from conventional airports without conflict >with piloted aircraft. In addition, the program will have to >demonstrate "over-the-horizon" command and control beyond line-of- >sight radio capability via a satellite link, "see-and-avoid" >operation in unrestricted airspace and be able to communicate with >Federal Aviation Administration controllers. > > To meet those requirements, GA-ASI proposed development of an >"enhanced" Predator B, a 7,000-lb. gross weight aircraft capable >of carrying a 700 lb. payload at altitudes of 40,000 to 52,000 >feet for up to 32 hours. The aircraft is an enlarged, turboprop- >powered version of the Predator surveillance UAV now operated by >the U.S. Air Force. > > GA-ASI plans to use three versions of the Predator B in the >development program. The first aircraft, currently in >development, will be the turboprop-powered baseline Predator B >design. This version will be capable of operation in the 40,000 >to 50,000-ft. altitude range for up to 25 hours. > > A second aircraft, modified with a Williams FJ44-2A turbofan >engine, will validate an expanded flight envelope and is scheduled >to begin flight testing in 2001. This jet version is expected to >have a flight endurance of more than 12 hours in the 50,000 to >60,000-ft. altitude range. > > A third flight-test Predator B, powered by the Allied Signal >TPE-331-10T turboprop engine, will perform flight tests of >advanced subsystems beginning in 2002. These systems would >include over-the-horizon satellite communication-based command and >control, a redundant flight control system to improve operational >reliability, "see and avoid" capability, and voice relay so air >traffic controllers can communicate directly with the ground-based >pilot at extreme ranges. > > - end - > > * * * > >NASA press releases and other information are available automatically >by sending an Internet electronic mail message to domo@hq.nasa.gov. >In the body of the message (not the subject line) users should type >the words "subscribe press-release" (no quotes). The system will >reply with a confirmation via E-mail of each subscription. A second >automatic message will include additional information on the service. >NASA releases also are available via CompuServe using the command >GO NASA. To unsubscribe from this mailing list, address an E-mail >message to domo@hq.nasa.gov, leave the subject blank, and type only >"unsubscribe press-release" (no quotes) in the body of the message. > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ End of skunk-works-digest V9 #3 ******************************* To subscribe to skunk-works-digest, send the command: subscribe in the body of a message to "majordomo@netwrx1.com". 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 local-skunk-works@your.domain.net To unsubscribe, send mail to the same address, with the command: unsubscribe in the body. Administrative requests, problems, and other non-list mail can be sent to georgek@netwrx1.com. 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