Aerospace Facts and Figures 1979/80 Lunar Landing 1969-1979
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Aerospace Facts and Figures 1979/80 Lunar Landing 1969-1979 This 27th annual edition of Aero space Facts and Figures commem orates the 1Oth anniversary of man's initial landing on the moon, which occurred on July 20, 1969 during the Apollo 11 mission. Neil Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin were the first moonwalkers and their Apollo 11 teammate was Com mand Module Pilot Michael Collins. Shown above is NASA's 1Oth anni versary commemorative logo; created by artist Paull Calle, it de picts astronaut Armstrong pre paring to don his helmet prior to the historic Apollo 11 launch. On the Cover: James J. Fi sher's cover art symboli zes th e Earth/ moon relationship and man's efforts to expl ore Earth 's ancien t sa tellite. Aerospace Facts and Figures m;ji8Q Aerospace Facts and Figures 1979/80 AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. 1725 DeSales Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 Published by Aviation Week & Space Technology A MCGRAW-HILL PUBLICATION 1221 Avenue of the Americas New York, N.Y. 10020 (212) 997-3289 $6.95 Per Copy Copyright, July 1979 by Aerospace Industries Association of America, Inc. Library of Congress Catalog No. 46-25007 Compiled by Economic Data Service Aerospace Research Center Aerospace Industries Association of America, Inc. 1725 De Sales Street, N. W., Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 347-2315 Director Allen H. Skaggs Chief Statistician Sally H. Bath Acknowledgments Air Transport Association Civil Aeronautics Board Export-Import Bank of the United States Federal Trade Commission General Aviation Manufacturers Association International Air Transport Association International Civil Aviation Organization National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Science Foundation U. S. Departments of Commerce (Bureau of the Census) Defense (Comptroller, Public Affairs, Army, Navy, Air Force) Energy Labor (Bureau of Labor Statistics) Transportation (Federal Aviation Administration) Contents Page 6 FOREWORD 8 AEROSPACE SUMMARY 30 AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION 47 MISSILE PROGRAMS 57 SPACE PROGRAMS 73 AIR TRANSPORTATION 90 HELICOPTER TRANSPORTATION 99 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 110 FOREIGN TRADE 124 EMPLOYMENT 134 FINANCE 145 GLOSSARY 152 INDEX Foreword This 27th edition of Aerospace Facts and Figures chronicles, in statistical and highlight fashion, the aerospace industry's performance in 1978, a good year by any standard of measurement. Sales and earnings improved over the previous year, and a sharp growth in backlog indicates continuing high levels of activity in the current year. As has been the case in recent years, the industry again set records in many categories of performance-but records are not what they used to be. It is perhaps superfluous, yet essential to proper perspective, to point out that some records-those involving dollar values-are artificially swol len by the high levels of inflation the nation has been experiencing. When sales figures are converted to constant, or inflation-adjusted dollars, a different picture emerges: the real record year was 1968, and sales in 1978 amount to only 70 percent of the sales record recorded in that peak year. In comparison with earlier years of this decade, however, industry ac tivity-as measured by constant dollar sales volume-was greater than in any year since 1970. Additionally, industry employment topped the one million mark in October 1978, for the first time since 1970. The industry' s earnings as a percentage of sales improved substantially, a welcome gain in a high-technology industry whose capital requirements are of excep- tional order. The industry is particularly proud of its 1978 performance in interna- tional trade. In a year when the nation as a whole experienced its largest trade deficit, aerospace achieved its greatest trade surplus and led all manufacturing industries in contribution to the U.S. balance of trade. The aerospace surplus of $9 billion mitigated the adverse effects of deficits in other areas of trade, stressing anew the importance of aerospace exports to the nation' s economy. Parenthetically, it might be added that this im pressive aerospace trade performance was accomplished at a time when competition from abroad is stronger than ever, satisfying acknowledge- 6 ment that the industry has lost none of its technological and competitive vigor despite several prior years of generally declining activity. Looking ahead, the backlog of orders for new commercial transports indicates high levels of production in that segment of the industry in near future years. The industry anticipates further growth in sales of non-aero space products and services, which have more than doubled over the past five years. Defense sales volume is less susceptible to accurate prediction. The Administration has expressed its determination to strengthen our national defenses and that intent is reflected in the new budget before Congress. The budget suggests higher levels of industry defense work in the imme diate future, but the long term view is clouded by the fact that such workload is dependent upon future appropriation levels in an uncertain economic climate. Similarly, the forthcoming debut of NASA's Space Shuttle, and the programs envisioned for it, might be expected to generate increased in dustry activity in fabrication of space equipment. But the new budget, although it adquately supports continuing Shuttle development, allows no new starts in other areas of NASA's space program. Whether future fund ing considerations will permit realization of the Shuttle's promise remains to be seen. Summing up, the aerospace industry is experiencing an upturn after years of decline. Indications point to continuing high levels of activity in the immediate future. Given no further declines in the world economy, the outlook for the U.S. aerospace industry in the coming decade is substantially better than it was at the start of this decade. Karl G. Harr, Jr. President Aerospace Industries Association 7 Aerospace Summary The year 1978 was characteri~ed by p~oduction of commercial transport substantial improvement m the aircraft. Additionally, there were aerospace industry's sales, earn substantial increases in defense and ings, backlog, export performance non-aerospace sales. nd contribution to the U.S. bal Here is a breakdown of the in :nce of trade. Statistically, it was a dustry's 1978 performance by major record year, with all-time p~aks re category: ported in all maj.or categones, but Sales. Total sales amounted to the figures are distorted by the ef $37.4 billion, an increase of more fects of inflation. However, even than $5 billion over 1977 sales the when the statistics are adjusted for previous peak. The gain was d~e to inflation, the industry's 1978 perfor significant increases in two of the mance was encouraging; using sales four industry product groups: air as a yardstick of industry activity, craft and non-aerospace. Missile 1978 was the best year since 1970. sales remained at the previous The main reason for the activity year's level and sales of space upturn was increased workload in equipment declined. Aerospace in- 8 AEROSPACE SUMMARY dustry sales as a percentage of the shipments amounted to $6.5 billion, Gross National Product increased which compares with $4.7 billion in from 1. 7 percent in 1977 to 1.8 per 1977. cent in 1978; the figures compare The bulk of the dollar value of with an average of two percent for 1978 shipments was in commercial the prior years of the 1970s. In re transports-$4.3 billion, or two lation to total sales of all U.S. man thirds of the total; the amount rep ufacturing industries, aerospace resents an increase of $1.4 billion sales increased from 2.4 to 2.5 per over the previous year. In terms of cent. numbers, the industry delivered 244 Profit. The industry's net profit transports,· 69 more than in 1977. Due to the lead time involved, these after taxes as a percentage of sales deliveries reflect orders placed in was 4.8 percent, which compares 1977 and prior years. The surge of with 4.2 percent in 1977. Industry new orders received in 1978 indi profit edged closer to, but remained cates even higher l~vels of transport below, the average profit for all U.S. manufacturing industries-5.4 per production activity in 1978 and later cent. years. Manufacture of general aviation Backlog. The industry's backlog planes increased again, both nu climbed sharply during 1978 and at merically and in dollar value. Ship year-end reached $57.8 billion, an ments totaled 17,817 units, which increase of more than $12 billion compares with 16,910 in 1977. Dol above the previous year's level. Air lar vlaue was $1.8 billion, up about line orders for new commercial $270 million. Both numbers and transports constituted the major value were the highest ever re component of the increase; the corded. number of transports on order in Civil helicopter production also creased from 465 at year-end 1977 set new records. The rotary wing to 702 at the end of 1978 and the segment of the industry delivered dollar value of orders on the books 904 helicopters, 56 more than in the climbed about $7 billion, to almost previous year and 40 more than in $16 billion. Major increases were the former record year of 1975. Dol also recorded in U.S. government lar value of helicopters delivered in orders for aircraft, in missile and 1978 was $326 million, up from $251 space equipment backlog, and in million in 1977 and more than $40 orders for non-aerospace products. million above the earlier high of Civil Aircraft Production. Civil $285 million in 1976. aircraft shipments of all types to Military Aircraft Production. Be taled 18,965 in 1978, up more than cause the bulk of airplanes deliv 1,000 over the previous year's ship ered to the military services in 1978 ments.