CABLE TO DIRECTOR FROM [DELETED] RE OBJECTIVE WAS TO REACH HIGHER SPEEDS AND MA

Created: 5/18/1962

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

MTO ' )

DCD

9 MAY 62

IMMEDIATE

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OXCART

ESSRSEERLI AND PARANG OS KY FROMI

FLIGHT MADE THIS MORNING.OUR AND THE OBJECTIVE HAS TO REACH HIGHER SPEEDS ANDUSUAL STABILITY AND FLUTTER CHECKS AT THESE SPEEDS. REACHEDN CLIMB AND AFTEREET REACHED THEY HAVE NOW REACHEDSPEED FOR THIS ALTITUDENOTS EAS AND 4IAS. SPEED POWER POINTS WERE TAKEN BOTH SUPERSONIC THE TERTIARY NACELLE DOORS HERE CLOSED FOR THEWHICH REDUCED DRAG AND PERMITED THE HIGHER SPEED TO DURINGAS REACHEDNOTS.

THE TAKE OFF WAS MADE0 LBS. POSITION2 PERCENT.

SECOND FLIGHT WAS SCHEDULED BUT DURING THE POSTIT WAS FOUND THAT THE THIN SKIN AT THE TRAILING

DATE:7

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EDGE OF DOTH VERTICAL FINS WAS CRACK INC AND PULLING AWAY FROM THEOWS OF RIVETS OVER APPROXIMATELYERCENT OF THE SPAN. THIS WILLMALL REDESIGN AND MODIFICATION. THE FINS HAVE BEEN SHIPPED TO LAC FOR REPAIR THIS WEEKEND AND THE NEXT FLIGHT Is SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAYAY. KELLY SAYS THAT THEY WILL START TO MOVE UP IN ALTITUDE IN ORDER TO INCREASE TRUE SPEED NEXT WEEK.

LAC WILL SHUT DOWN FLIGHT OPERATIONS THURSDAYAY FOB APPROXIMATELYAYS FOR RE SEALING OFNDHE RUNWAY SHOULDERS WILL BE SLURRIED AT THIS TIME.

THERE WERE FOUR UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT IN THE FLIGHT TEST AREA TODAY. HOWEVER, WE DO NOT FEEL THAT ANY OF THEM WERE NEAR ENOUGH TO COMPROMISE SECURITY. THEY WERE APPARENTLY ALL

TRANSIENTS NONE

5. MB FRED PAYNE OF DOD AND HOUSER WILSON VISITED

TODAY. MR PAYNE BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION OF CONTRAILS As DID GENERAL THOMAS POWER LAST WEEK. HE FURTHER SUGGESTED THE POSSIBILITYTUDY AND TEST PROGRAM ON THIS PROBLEM UNDER DIRECTION OF DR DALE CORSON. DEAN OF ENGINEERING. CORNELL UNIVERSITY. UTILIZING THE TULLAHOMA FACILITIES. ALL OF THIS UNDER THE GUISE AND FUNDING OF0 PROGRAM. MR PAYNE SAID THAT HE WILL DISCUSS THISECURITY MATTER WITH DR SCOVILLE AND MR KIEFER ONE DAY NEXT WEEK.

1 CALLED TO STATE6 MAINTENANCE

6.

AND SPARES PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN PLAGUING THE DROP PROGRAM,

INTHREE

UCCESSFUL DROPS VERE MADE VITH THE NEWNCH FIRST STAGE CHUTE LAST VEEK ANDESULT HE HAS DECIDED TO CO "LIVE" NEXT VEEK. THEY HAVE NOVOLE IN THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OI6 VHICH MAY DELAY THINGS FURTHER FOR A

FEW DAYS BUT HE ARE SENDING THE JUMPER,DOWN

TO BE READY TO GO MONDAY. THE FIRST JUMPS WILL BE MADE0 FEET OPENING FOR HE FIRST STAGE0 FEET OPENING FOR THE

MAIN CHUTE.HAS VISITED LAC TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEMS

OF INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE PARACHUTE PACK AND THE PRESSURE SUIT. HE STATES THATEW MINOR MODIFICATIONS THE PROBLEM WILL BE ELIMINATED.

7. tE DISCUSSED THE ACQUISITION OF SUPPORT AIRCRAFT SPARES PROBLEM WITH HOUsER WILSON WHO FEELs THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN USING THE AUTHORIZED "RED LINE* PRIORITY ON OUR REQUESTS. HE WILL BE OVER TO HEADQUARTERS TO DISCUSS THIS. WE FURTHER GOT INTO THE FUEL FILTER PROBLEM AGAIN WITH NO RESOLUTION. WE NEED SOMEONE IN THE ACT WHO KNOWS MORE ABOUT FUEL FILTERING AND

PUMPING THAN ANYONEWE CAN re5olve

THIS ONE. (SEE MYAY).

6. ANY REF TO THIS MESSAGE SHOULD BE "EYES ONLY

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Original document.

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