Sep 28 1968
From The Space Library
U.S.S.R.'s Zond V automatic research station had apparently suffered series of errors during reentry that could have been fatal if men had been on board, John Lannan reported in Washington Evening Star. According to one unidentified U.S. source, Zond V had entered atmosphere and "skipped" back out as planned, but then skipped along top of atmosphere and reentered "at a peculiar angle." Reentry caused g forces and heat loads that would have been fatal to crews if aboard, and spacecraft landed thousands of miles short of its intended landing area, which was probably on land in Soviet territory. Chicago Tribune later supported theory that Zond V's reentry was a disaster and reported that U.S. sources said evidence indicated spacecraft had: (1) failed to circle as close to moon as intended, and was thus unable to obtain useful photos of possible landing sites; (2) reentered earth's atmosphere at angle much steeper than planned, causing friction temperatures that would have killed cosmonauts; and (3) landed in water accidentally instead of in Soviet territory as planned. (W Star, 9/28/68, Al; C Trib, 10/1/68)
Civilian pilot Bernie J. Dvorscak flew USAF's XV-4B Hummingbird H VTOL research aircraft on maiden flight from Dobbins AFB, Ga., for 28 min at 7,600-ft altitude and 240 mph with conventional takeoff and landing. First Hummingbird II vertical flight was scheduled for early November. Aircraft had four J85-19 lift engines mounted vertically in center fuselage and two i85-19 cruise engines mounted in nacelles, providing total thrust of 18,000 lb. (AFSC Newsreview, 10/68, 3)
Senate Committee on Armed Services' Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee called for rapid development of new strategic bomber to supplement "obvious and admitted shortcomings" of F-111 aircraft. Report, U.S. Tactical Air Power Program, said: "During the past decade the Soviet Union has introduced at least one new type operational fighter every 2 years-a total of six, with 11 models. . . . United States does not have a single STOL airplane even in contract definition, [while] the Soviets are now flying three supersonic STOL models and also one VTOL." New U.S. fighter "designed to achieve air superiority is a vital and urgent requirement, should be optimized for its prime mission, not compromised by assigning it multipurpose roles," and should receive "highest priority." (Text; UPI, W Star, 9/29/68, i2)
DOD had approved purchase by Lockheed Aircraft Corp. of $113,886,000 Government plant at Marietta, Ga., world's largest aircraft assembly area under one roof. USAF had declared it in "excess" of its needs and would sell it only to Lockheed, which had been using facility to produce C-5A cargo transports under $1.4-billion USAF contract. Lockheed would continue work on the huge aircraft and could be required to produce an additional 172 on priority basis under USAF agreement. (Wilson, W Post, 9/28/68, 1)
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