These d.c. accelerometers will be used to study aircraft structural characteristics during the engineering manufacturing development phase of the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E/F. The Model 7290AM46 Microtron is a variable capacitance accelerometer with a full-scale range of 10-100g and internal temperature compensation of -65-250F. It can withstand shocks of 10,000g. The piezoresistive Model 7264AM16 accelerometer covers the full-scale ranges of 250-1,000g. It incorporates an undamped monolithic silicon sensor.
Roderick M. Sherwood, 3rd, has been appointed corporate vice president/treasurer of the Hughes Electronics Corp. of Los Angeles. He was assistant treasurer of the Chrysler Corp.
U.S. and British negotiators have taken the first step in forging a new bilateral agreement by granting United Airlines access to Heathrow Airport from Chicago in exchange for increased penetration of U.S. markets by British Airways. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines officials, however, were frustrated that no progress was made toward broader liberalization. Delta in particular was disappointed that it has not been given any opportunity to operate flights to Heathrow.
Bombardier's de Havilland unit is pursuing an aggressive Dash 8 product improvement program, while the Canadair unit is flight testing the Flight Dynamics head-up-display on the Regional Jet.
Kevin Diamonti has been named manager of cargo services for American Airlines at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport. He was manager of international cargo services at Miami.
Scott Nordhaus has been named vice president-sales of DirecTV Inc. of Los Angeles. He was head of marketing and sales for Hughes' Commercial New Business Div.
Camera Configurator is a software package designed to ease integration of nonstandard video cameras into vision systems. The system, when equipped with the proper cable, eases the process of getting video signals from a camera to a frame grabber. The Microsoft Windows-compatible utility automatically senses the characteristics of the installed frame-grabber and acquisition interface. Imaging Technology Inc., 55 Middlesex Turnpike, Bedford, Mass. 01730-1421.
John R. Garel has been named senior vice president-marketing and sales of America West Airlines. He was chief executive officer of Cadmus Journal Services. W. Douglas Parker has been named senior vice president/chief financial officer. He was vice president/assistant treasurer of Northwest Airlines.
CRITICS OF U.S. MILITARY acquisition policies say the fact that U.S. Air Force Capt. Scott O'Grady's F-16, shot down June 2 over Bosnia, was not equipped with an up-to-date electronics countermeasures system to foil enemy surface-to-air missiles is not an isolated or unusual circumstance (see p. 37). U.S.
Jon E. Wohler has been named executive vice president-technical operations for Pratt&Whitney, East Hartford, Conn. He was president of Norden Systems. Wohler succeeds Karl M. Thomas, who is retiring.
The Temp-Plate Model 240 irreversible temperature recorder is a self-adhering, miniature temperature decal. It can be used to monitor equipment for potentially damaging overheat conditions. The recorder is only 0.01 in. thick and will stick to most surfaces. It is resistant to solvents, fuels, grease, water and steam. The decal has four temperature gradients that change color permanently at their rated temperatures. The recorders are available in ranges of 90-500F. They are guaranteed accurate to 1%. Wahl Instruments Inc., 5750 Hannum Ave., Culver City, Calif. 90231.
THE U.S. AIR FORCE'S new Milstar Operations Center is up and running at Falcon AFB, Colo. A 154-person unit--the 4th Space Operations Squadron--is handling day-to-day satellite operations and support for the joint-service Milstar satellite system. Although only one spacecraft is in orbit now, the center is able to control the buses and payloads of a four-satellite constellation to deliver high-priority encrypted voice, data, teletype or facsimile communications to field units.
THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS Commission has ruled that the French government's involvement in Starsys Global Positioning Inc. is not an impediment to licensing the ``little LEO'' communications system. Hughes STX of Lanham, Md., has exclusive management responsibility but owns only 5% of Starsys, while French organizations own the other 95%. Starsys competitor Orbcomm, which won the first little LEO license, had been arguing before the FCC for some time about whether that violated U.S. law. On Apr. 20, Starsys said it would reduce French holdings to no more than 25%.
French weapons system avionics are integrated into both the nose and cockpit of this Russian Rostvertol-Mil Mi-35M, a new export version of the Hind attack helicopter on display at the Paris air show. Sextant Avionique is leading a team that includes several Thomson-CSF units to provide the Mi-35M with night and adverse weather capability. A forward looking infrared (Flir) system hangs from the nose (lower right), and a Sextant display for the unit is integrated into the cockpit.
This dual-axis, transportable satellite tracking system uses proven low-wind load FLAPS technology. The patented 20-X-20-ft. antenna allows continuous tracking in winds up to 90 mph. Features include circular polarization, multiple-beam C-band Cassegrain and L-band prime focus configurations. Wind loading is less than 5 lb./sq. ft. at 60 mph. The system folds and unfolds easily for shipment by C-130 aircraft and can be deployed in less than 4 hr. Malibu Research, 26670 Agoura Road, Calabasas, Calif. 91302-1974.
The USN 52 portable ultrasonic flaw detector features a radio frequency display mode and 40 dB. dynamic distance amplitude correction/time control gain (DAC/TCG). It also has a selectable pulse repetition rate, selectable damping and frequency controls and analog output for time and amplitude. The device can be used on composite materials and for course grain inspection as well as for crack detection and sizing. It features optimal signal-to-noise display and transducer matching for a broad range of materials.
The Advance 100 System is a microprocessor-based fire protection communication control system for the industrial marketplace. It is approved by Underwriters Laboratory and the National Fire Protection Assn. The system offers prioritized integration of operational communications, process alarms and emergency notification. Full electrical supervision and approvals for fire protective signaling and hazardous environments are available. GAI-Tronics Corp., P.O. Box 31, Reading, Pa. 19603.
Raymond W. Godman has been appointed vice president/general manager of TRW Government Information Services Div., Fairfax, Va. He succeeds Peter H. Janak, who is now chief information officer. Godman was vice president/assistant general manager for program integration for TRW Environmental Safety Systems Inc., Vienna, Va.
European regional aircraft manufacturers are flight testing and certifying derivative aircraft and working on a wide variety of product improvement programs using the latest in computer and simulation technology. At Fokker Aircraft in Amsterdam, the flight test department, led by chief test pilot Wim Huson, plans a six-month program to certify the Fokker 60 twin-turboprop by mid-1996. First flight is scheduled for Oct. 2.
The Series 3130 rocker switch/circuit breaker is available in single, two and three-pole versions. The trip-free overcurrent circuit breakers are available for systems rated up to 16 amps. Combining the switch and circuit breaker reduces the number of components and connections. The Series 3130-F11 single-pole version snaps into an industry standard panel cutout of 0.57 X 1.34 in. Rockers are available in red, white, black or green. Illumination is available with white filament bulbs or green, red or yellow LEDs.
The FI1500-S series with an optional flow switch is designed for permanent installation in high-pressure hydraulic, lubrication and water lines. The switches are field adjustable and provide a contact closure at high or low flow. A 2.5-in.-dia. gauge calibrated in both gal./min. and liters/min. displays flow rate. The switches can operate on 110 v. a.c. or 200 v. d.c. and have a power rating of 50 w. Flow rates can vary from 0.25-100 gal./min., and the devices can withstand pressures to 6,000 psi. Webster Instruments, 1290 E. Waterford Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. 53235.
