1977-Continued

22 June The new OV-lOD Bronco series, undergo-

ing test and evaluation at NATe's Strike Aircraft Test

Directorate, Patuxent River, Md., was equipped with a

night vision sensor which allowed the two-man crew

to pinpoint targets in the dark. Called FUR, for

Forward Looking Infrared Radar, the sensor could

detect the thermal radiation from all objects in its field

of view, including individual soldiers. While primarily

designed to provide a "night eyes" capability, FUR

also offered various degrees of vision through camou-

flage, dust, smoke, haze and light fog. It was also to

be used for navigation; terrain avoidance and surveil-

lance; target detection, recognition and tracking; gun

laying; and as a landing aid.

13 July An F-4J Phantom II landed for the first time

using the microwave landing system (MLS) at the FAA

Test Facility at Atlantic City, N.J. A pilot from the Naval

Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Md., was at the con-

trols. The MLS was designed to reach out electronical-

ly, catch the target aircraft, and fly it to a safe landing

without the aircraft's pilot touching the controls.

23 July Rear Admiral Alan B. Shepard, Jr., USN, was

inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame. He was cited

for outstanding contributions to aviation as a Naval

Aviator, instructor and test pilot, and for his contribu-

tions to space technology. He was the first American

launched into space and the fifth to walk on the

moon.

11 August The first CH-46E Sea Knight with newly

developed fiberglass rotor blades was flown by Marine

Corps helicopter pilots. The helicopter was the first of

400 to be retrofitted with new rotor blades which were

less susceptible to corrosion and fatigue damage.

26 August The Navy unveiled its new XFV-12A ver-

tical/short takeoff and landing research aircraft at the

Rockwell International facility in Columbus, Ohio. The

XFV-12A, a single engine, single seat, thrust-augment-

ed wing prototype high-performance fighter aircraft,

was designed to operate from small ships.

29 August The first production model of the P-3C

Orion update II arrived at NATC for technical evalua-

tion. It incorporated the latest in avionics and

weapons systems, including a turret-mounted infrared

detection device to drop out of the nose to identify

targets day or night. The aircraft also had the Harpoon

air-to-surface missile system.

UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

319

1 September The LAMPS MK III helicopter contrac-

tors were selected by the Navy. Sikorsky Aircraft

Division was selected to build the helicopter and

General Electric's aircraft engine group was selected to

provide the engines. The LAMPS helicopter was

intended to carry a crew of three, fly 170 miles an

hour and operate at altitudes up to 10,000 feet.

30 September The Joint Cruise Missile Project Office

was established in the Naval Material Command with

the Navy and Air Force sharing responsibility for devel-

oping a cruise missile. The Cruise Missile Project Office

had been a project of the Naval Air Systems Command.

1 October The Naval Aviation Logistics Center

became fully operational at Patuxent River, Md. The

new center was responsible for the implementation,

coordination and management of Navy-wide depot-

level aviation maintenance programs.

31 October The Department of Defense directed a

significant relocation of the essential mission of the

National Parachute Test Range at El Centro, Calif. The

Range had been responsible for RDT&E for parachute

systems and for providing common airfield support to

aviation units. With this change, the RDT &E mission

was moved to the Naval Weapons Center at China

Lake, Calif. The airfield support mission remained at El

Centro with the existing Naval Air Facility there.

14 November The Chief of Naval Air Training for-

mally accepted the T -34C aircraft manufactured by

Beech Aircraft Corporation. The T-34C, a turboprop,

two-place trainer, was to replace the T-34B and T-28

training aircraft.

1978

2 February The Tomahawk cruise missile was

launched successfully from the submarine Barb (SS

220) and flew a fully guided land attack test flight that

terminated at Edwards AFB, Calif. This was the first

launch of the Tomahawk from a submarine.

9 February The first satellite of the new Navy Fleet

Satellite Communications System was launched. This

system satisfied the need for worldwide tactical com-

mand, control and communications for the entire fleet.

16 February Eleven of the 35 astronaut candidates

selected to participate in NASA's space shuttle pro-

gram were Navy personnel. Eight of the Navy

selectees were in the pilot training program and the

other three were trained as mission specialists.