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S&M-ASM-131 December 31, 1968
            M. L. Beil                              4830                        Space             Huntsville

            J. E. Vaughn                            4831                        Spac              Huntsville

            Report of Trip to Central Engineering, Highland Park, Michigan





             The purpose of this trip was to deliver to the Air Conditioning and Aerodynamics
             Laboratory of Central Engineering Huntsville's input to the final report describing
             the results of 3/8 scale wind tunnel tests at Wichita State University. These write­
             ups and technical graphs were discussed Thursday, December 12, 1968, with
            Mr. Dick Lajoie and Mr. Bob Marcell. The overall outline of the report was
            also reviewed and discussions held on various sections of the report. Mr. Marcell
             was appreciative of our participation in this program and expressed his thanks for
             our work. He could not offer any definite hopes for follow-on work, but indicated
             that if several events occurred over the next few weeks then our assistance would
             be required on more aerodynamic endeavors.


             On Friday, I pursued a led on finding the availability of a Vanguard film analysor
             within Chrysler. I located two such machines in the office of Mr. Jim Hannika.
             Huntsville would require the use of said machines should we be successful in
             bidding on a Navy and Air Force contract which involves data reduction of 16mm
             film. At present the machines are used 100 percent of the time from 8 a. m. to
             5 p. m. Should we need the use of the machine, time could be scheduled for after
             hours use.


             Later that morning I met with Mr. Vernon Miller of the Gas Turbine Development
             Laboratory. We discussed the application of gas turbine engines to light aircraft
             (4 to 6 place capacity). His group had investigated this possibility sometime pre­
             viously and concluded it was not feasible at that time. The frontal area was larger,
             for one thing, and the use of cast iron in some areas of the engine made it heavier
             than a comparable piston engine. For these reasons they dropped the idea. These
             comments are in contrast to ones received by W. P. Wright from another source
             within the same lab where a more optimistic picture was presented for the turbine
             use. Possibly closer scrutiny should be given this item.





                                                                   // John E. Vaughn /


             JEV:ec

             cc:    W. P« Wright
                    E. E. Zimmerman
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