ROHR MAGAZINE SUMMER — 1965 Volume 15 Number 2 SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

Published quarterly in Chula Vista, California, by the Public Relations Department of the Rohr Corporation.

EDWARD T. AUSTIN 12 Boeing 707 Public Relations Director 13 McDonnell F4H Phantom LARRY I. PEEPLES 14 Lockheed P3-A Orion Editor 15 Boeing 727 Trijet 16 Lockheed C-141 Star Lifter Staff Writers 17 Douglas DC-9 SAM WESTON, JIMMIE THURMON, 18 210'Antenna for NASA PATRICIA SCHRAUD 19 United Technology Center's Titan lll-C 20 Tracking Radome & Photographers— Radiotelescope GENE LYLE, BOB AXT, HAROLD STONE, FRANK FILECCIA, BOB REED, BRUCE RAVENSCROFT WHAT IS A POWER PACKAGE? A f ENGINE POD? A "power package** is a term used to describe the propulsion unit on the wings of an airplane propelled by a reciprocating, or piston, engine. In building a power package we take the bare engine and to it attach the necessary engine mount, sheet metal cowling, panels, diaphragms, supporting structures, air ducts, fuel and oil lines, and electrical harness. In all, each power package contains from 1,500 to 3,500 Rohr-made parts, depending ROHR upon the type of engine. CORPORATION Jet engine pods are built up in the same way around turbojet and turbofan THE SHAPING AND SHIPPING OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST NOZZLE engines, and contain up to 5,000 Rohr-made parts, again depending on the size and type of engine. V* YEAR This 10-ton solid booster nozzle, temperature and pressure . . . nology and fabrication capabil­ built by Rohr for Thiolcol, gave TABLE OF CONTENTS then hydroclave cured at 350° F ity available to the industry a perfect performance at some under a pressure of 1000 psi. today at Rohr's new "Hall of FRED ROHR'S LETTER 5 The Divisions— 3 million pound thrust during FIRST 25 YEARS 6 ANTENNA DIVISION .44 During the critical fabrication Giants" manufacturing facility. recent test firing at Brunswick, 25 YEARS OF GROWTH 16 ARCHITECTURAL DIVISION ...... 47 process, the orientation of the For complete information rela­ SPACE PRODUCTS DIVISION ....48 Georgia, as a part of the Air GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN ..18 fabric was controlled with tape tive to your requirements, NEW TECHNOLOGY ORBITING TARGET 51 Force's large, solid booster SUCCESS FOR TITAN lll-C 52 angles varying from parallel to please contact Marketing Man­ IN MATERIEL 21 feasibility program. GRUMMAN ANNOUNCES 60° from center line of nozzle ager, Dept. 45, Rohr Corpora­ THE FINANCIAL RECORD .22 GULFSTREAM II 53 using tape widths of 6 to 13'/2". tion, Space Products Division, BOARD OF DIRECTORS 23 AIRCRAFT ORDERS 54 This nozzle, built for Thiolcol The 4-ton exit cone section alone VETERANS ON The Customers— 8200 Arlington Avenue, River­ 'MAHOGANY ROW' 24 DOUGLAS 55 Chemical Corporation and the contains approximately 21 miles side, California. 'SHORT ORDER' ENGINEERING 26 LOCKHEED 56 U.S. Air Force's Space Systems of ablative tape. The giant noz­ THE CRITICAL EYE 28 BOEING —«4-... 58 Division, is the largest ever built UNITED TECHNOLOGY CENTER 60 zle's structural housing employs A CHANGING SCENE 30 THIOKOL 61 ROHR CORPORATION TOOLING TECHNIQUES 32 —168" diameter at exit cone. thick plate weldments of 18% AEROJET-GENERAL 62 Main Plant and Headquarters: Chula The nozzle's tape-wrapped, abla­ nickel ma raging steel in the NO IVORY TOWERS 36 JET PROPULSION Vista, California. Manufacturing Plant: SPACE TAILORING MACHINES 38 tive throat and liner sections heaviest gauge ever fabricated LABORATORY 63 Riverside, California. Assembly Plants, PRODUCTS NUMERICAL LOFTING 41 GRUMMAN 64 Winder. Georgia; Auburn, Washington. consist of carbon, graphite and and welded in the aerospace ELECTRONIC AGE NORTH AMERICAN 65 Architectural Division: Fullerton, Cali­ DIVISION fornia. silica fabric impregnated with industry. MANAGEMENT 42 LOCKHEED PROPULSION 66 phenolic resins. They were wrapped (on a mandrel) under This Rohr-built rocket nozzle is precisely controlled tension, ROHR typical of the advanced tech­ In observing our 25th Anniversary and reviewing the edge to everyday life than in all the previous years accomplishments of a quarter-century in this chang­ of recorded history. ing, challenging industry, I should first like to pay Twenty-five years ago we had no jet airplanes, tribute to the loyalty of a great many people. They no space vehicles, no satellites, no radar, no nuclear include employees, some of whom have been with devices either for peaceful use or warfare, no tele­ us since the beginning; shareholders, who support, vision. Now, all of these devices, and many, many through their financial confidence, the direction of more, we take for granted. the business, and our customers, who are at the What will the next 25 years bring? Since new ideas, heart of all we do. Associations through the years new discoveries, and new inventions invariably set have created many warm friendships, and these I up a chain reaction that multiplies new products in shall always cherish. ever increasing numbers, few of us would attempt World's first space structures "pad" Ordinarily, we do not devote much time to look­ to forecast precisely what the world of 1990 will It's automated ... it's integrated ... it's operating at Rohr ing back; we are too busy looking ahead. But anni­ be like. We know it will be different, we hope it versaries are a time of review, of taking stock, of will be better, and those of us with faith in human This in-line production facility for fabricating very large space frame structures is in full production at Rohr catching our breath, so to speak, and that is the intelligence believe that it will be. featuring aircraft type tooling and optical alignment. It moves raw stock thru a complex of modern machines We take pride in the Company's 25 years of serv­ and processes to final precision pre-assemblies that reduce field erection time and add integrity to the total purpose of this special issue of Rohr Magazine. structure. The "pad" saves us materials handling time and lowers customer cost. And it shortens delivery dates It may be trite to say it, but nevertheless it is true, ice to the aerospace industry, and we begin our for many types of major structures such as antennas, towers, and geodesic radomes. For the full space struc- that we are living and working in the greatest age second quarter-century with utmost confidence in tures story at Rohr write or call: Manager, Antenna Division, Dept. mankind has ever known. More progress has been the future of our Nation and its security, to which Rohr Corporation, Chula Vista, California. —••• — made in the last 25 years in applying scientific knowl­ w e are dedicated. ANTENNA These Rohr antennas demonstrate the scope of manufacturing capability here- 85-foot XV. 30-foot Az/EI. 15-foot radio telescope. 85-foot Az/EI, 210 foot tracking antenna. DIVISION ^pt€^ *)•(• CX*AA Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, # ROHR COR PORATI O IM B. F. RAYNES, President and General Manager, joined Rohr in October, 1940 as chief inspector. He moved up through positions as tooling superintendent, sev­ eral management positions with Interna­ tional Detrola during the time Rohr was a subsidiary, and back at Rohr as chief tool engineer, vice president-manufac­ turing, senior vice president and execu­ tive vice president. In 1961 he was Five diamonds on the service pin elected to the Board of Directors and JACK T. MALONEY, Senior Welding designates the wearer as one who has in December, 1963 to his present posi­ Engineer, Manufacturing Research, join­ served throughout 25 years of the tion. He has held leading positions in ed Rohr on Dec. 17, 1940 and was the Company's history. many professional associations, including first production welder hired by the the Aerospace Industries Association, company. He moved up to welding Society of Automotive Engineers and foreman in due course, a position he California Manufacturers Association, as held for 13 years before assuming Ms well as in civic, political and social or­ present duties. In Ms capacity with ganizations. Born in Indiana, he is a Manufacturing Research, Moloney has mechanical engineering graduate of Rose been involved through the years with Polytechnic College. Mr. and Mrs. the deveolpment of welding techniques Raynes and their son and daughter live and equipment for new or unusually dif­ in a suburban area east of Chula Vista. ficult fobs. Moloney's off hours are spent mainly with his family — three children and five grandchildren — and on a very occasional golf game.

Rohr's First 25 Years AND THE MEN WHO SAW IT ALL HAPPEN "Fred used to go out days and concentrated on the production of get orders, then come into the plant power packages for the B-24, the at night and show us how to make PBY series, and modification work By EDWARD T. AUSTIN At ten o'clock loading was com­ No airframe manufacturer, until them," one old-timer recalls. on some of the PB4Ys. Employ­ Director of Public Relations pleted. Fred Rohr, accompanied by then, had let the important power Employment gradually increased ment moved up to keep pace with executives, supervisors and guards, unit out on subcontract. with the volume of orders Rohr the building program, and by 1944, jumped aboard and drove into the The power package idea came to brought in, and late in 1941 he de­ the plant area was 600,000 square Consolidated plant with their Val­ Rohr while he was employed at cided the Company was ready to feet, and sales for the fiscal year entine greeting more than an hour Boeing, in Seattle, in the early '30s. begin putting his original idea into ended July 31, 1944, were $70,- ahead of schedule. Shortly thereafter he returned to effect on a broader scale. Land was 658,893. At the peak of wartime That was the beginning of the San Diego as Factory Manager at obtained on the Chula Vista water­ production employment reached type of production for which Rohr Ryan Aeronautical Company, but front for the first factory and the 9,800. Net earnings that year were Aircraft Corporation became fa­ the idea of a "feeder" plant per­ Company began a growth that, ex­ $1,825,703, substantially more than mous. Since then the Company has sisted. In 1940, when it appeared cept for a brief post-war period, has the total sales of the Company three produced more than 70,000 piston to be only a matter of time until we continued. years before. G. F. BRUST, Production Superintend­ and jet engine power packages, entered World War II, then raging ent, Rohr-Winder, joined Rohr in De­ The first unit of the Chula Vista Through the war, the new Com­ cember, 1940 as a sheet metal worker more than any other company in in Europe, and that the demand for pany established several records. the world, along with scores of other plant consisted of one 30,000 square and progressed to leadman, foreman, military aircraft would increase, he foot building, now a small part of For one, it was the first industrial general foreman, factory superintendent, components and assemblies for the resigned and founded the Company project superintendent, to his present HE night of February 14, 1942, Building 1, and a rented barn on plant in the United States to sign up nation's multi-engine aircraft, both that ever since has borne his name. 100 percent of its employees in the position. Active in Winder community Twas cool and clear, but around military and commercial. adjoining property which was used affairs and a member of the South west­ the loading platform at Rohr-Chula The Company's beginning was temporarily for offices. When the War Bond drive. This was accom­ ern Yacht Club of San Diego, Ms wife, Late in 1941, Fred Rohr con­ modest. With five employees, Rohr new building was completed, it now plished in less than 24 hours, which and daughter enjoy boating and fishing. Vista the air was tense with excite­ vinced Consolidated management ment Four power packages—the set up drawing boards in his garage is recalled by some of the pioneers, also set a record. It produced that he could produce power pack­ and began planning a factory. He 31,761 power packages for the first ever subcontracted—were being ages faster and at less cost than they they wondered if perhaps the new loaded onto a big flat-bed truck. leased a three story building in San company hadn't overbuilt. They B-24, at times reaching a peak rate could produce them. Demand then Diego's industrial district and began of 56 units a day, and became the Midnight was the deadline for their was heavy for the B-24 and the also recall that the temporary offices delivery to Consolidated-Vultee production of small parts, including leaked badly during the wet winter world's largest producer of airplane Consolidated management broke cowling for Lockheed's Hudson propulsion units, a distinction it still (now Convair) 10 miles away, precedent and gave Rohr an order. of 1941-42. bomber. During the war the Company holds.

ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 his management team planned for production at Chula Vista because to handle the overload from Chula the lull they knew would come with the aircraft industry began a more Vista. By December the first unit the cessation of hostilities. As a rapid comeback than had been ex­ of the plant was completed on land result of this planning, when pro­ pected. The Company's production that since the war had reverted to a duction contracts on virtually every record during the war had been wheat field. One of the army bar­ major project were cancelled, they noted by the major airframe manu­ racks, in which production of small were able to close down department facturers, so when the airlines began parts began shortly after its pur­ after department in an orderly man­ ordering to replace worn out or ob­ chase, was converted to offices and ner. Employment dropped to 675 solete commercial transports, the a warehouse. The first power pack­ ages for the KC-97, one of the pro­ HUGH M. RUSH, Jr., Chief of Manu­ F. E. McCREERY, Senior Vice Presi­ GUY M. HARRINGTON, Treasurer, and a number of buildings were airframe makers turned to Rohr for facturing, started with Rohr on Oct. 9, dent, started at Rohr on Aug. 26, 1940 Member of the Board of Directors, closed entirely. power packages. By 1949 sales had grams moved from Chula Vista, 1940 as a layout man, subsequently rose as assistant chief engineer, was subse­ joined Rohr on Oct. 1, 1940 as an ac­ Proof that the earlier planning moved up to $24,674,488, which were shipped from the new plant to jig design engineer, project engineer, quently promoted to executive chief en­ countant. He advanced from accountant produced net earnings of $1,233,- on January 10, 1953. Thus, from assistant chief engineer, manager of the gineer, to vice president-engineering, vice to controller to treasurer and member paid off is the fact that despite its laboratory, and then to chief of mfg. drastically curtailed production the 709. wheat field to producing factory in president-manufacturing, then to senior of the Board of Directors. Harrington six months set another record. research. Majoring in mechanical engi­ vice president of the corporation. Mc is treasurer and a director of the San Company continued to earn a profit, When it became evident that air­ neering, and working as a pilot and Creery is a member and officer in several Diego County Association for Retarded in contrast to many others in the craft production would continue on One of the policies that has flight instructor before coming to Rohr, engineering and aeronautical societies, Children, and an active member of the industry during that period. Al­ a scale sufficient to provide the guided the Company throughout its Rush's favorite topics include sailing and and active in the Boy Scouts of America. tax committee of the California Manu­ the old days of flying. He and his wife He and his wife have three young boys. facturers Association. For many years though sales dropped from a high Company with a substantial share 25 years has been its superior serv­ are both ardent sailors. Weekends and a small boat sailor, Harrington now de­ of $70,658,893 for fiscal 1944 to of business, Rohr and a group com­ ice to its customers. To augment vacations may find them on their 30- votes most of his spare time to golf. $6,069,100 in 1946, die latter year prised largely of those in active this service an assembly plant was foot schooner, "Miss Prim." showed a net of $390,043. management organized a new cor­ established in 1954 at Winder, Anticipating a drastic reduction poration and purchased the assets Georgia, to better serve Lockheed, in military production and a post­ of the Chula Vista plant from New­ at that company's plant at Marietta, war demand for commercial prod­ port Steel Corporation. Since then about 35 miles away. age, and then shipped back to the same service to Boeing. Throughout the war years the ucts, Rohr in 1945 joined and be­ no other company has owned any The assembly plant idea not only came a subsidiary of International part of Rohr Corporation. Georgia. Instead, the parts, manu­ In addition to serving Lockheed, Company had little time to devote improved service to one of the Com­ factured at the two California plants the Winder plant also enabled the to engineering and research. Mili­ •'-'•- • I •— Detrola Corporation, which later With the outbreak of the Korean pany's major customers, but it re­ • became Newport Steel Corporation. are shipped to Winder, where the Company to obtain contracts from tary models of aircraft were pretty war in 1951, the Company began sulted in a considerable saving in engine manufacturer sends the en­ well frozen, and production to the International Detrola had several an expansion program reminiscent freight costs. Engines for Lockheed Giumman Aircraft Engineering plants in the middle west producing gines. There, the power packages Corporation, Bethpage, Long Is­ limit of the Company's capabilities of the early *40s. The old war time airplanes built at Marietta no longer was demanded. radios, washing machines, refriger­ Camp Anza Army post at River­ have to be shipped from the east are assembled and sent to Marietta. land, New York, and two years ago ation equipment, furniture and steel. side, California, was purchased in coast engine manufacturer to Cali­ The system worked so well that a new facility was built to replace But when production of commer­ Rohr experimented with several 1952 and in July of that year fornia to be fitted with some 3,000 in 1956 another assembly plant was the old. This now provides Rohr cial aircraft—and later on, military products, but none ever went into ground was broken for a new plant parts that comprise a power pack- opened at Auburn, Washington, with the capability to participate in —picked up after the war, Rohr ex­ near Seattle and Renton, to provide eastern subcontracting programs. panded its engineering facilities.

JOE PFLIMLIN, HL — Storekeeper for PAUL K, WILTON, Foreman C-141 JOSEPH M. OHLSON, General Super­ LESLIE W. GUE, Project Superintend­ honeycomb scheduling, began at Rohr exhaust nozzle assembly, began his ca­ DON E. WEST, General Foreman 727\ JOSEPH J. JABLONSKI, Foreman C- visor, Master Scheduling, with Rohr ent, hired in at Rohr Nov. 18, 1940 as on Dec. 20, 1940 in the tool crib at reer at Rohr in the cutting department Processing C-141 thrust reverser doors. 141 exhaust nozzle assembly, began at since Nov. 13, 1940, originally hired as riveter-assembler. He subsequently was 8th and J. At that time they had a on December 10, 1940. His hobbies are Started working at Rohr on Dec. 16, Rohr bucking rivets in the B-24 panels shop foreman. His present assignment promoted to leadman, assistant foreman, combination tool crib, stock room and varied and include golf, hunting, base­ 1940 doing sheet metal assembly work on Dec. 16, 1940. His rivet partner also includes scheduling, detail ordering, as­ foreman, general foreman, assistant first aid station. Most of his spare time ball, softball, and bowling. In two years in what is now trim and drill. He had is still with the company. Be and Alt sembly ordering and change coordina­ superintendent, superintendent, and at is taken in working In his yard, mod­ of war time service he was in the In­ tion. He has a wife and four children. spent two years in Alaska with a gold family, wife and one daughter, tike to ernizing his home, and making things present, project superintendent on sec­ fantry artillery, and Air Force. Family and church work, he's the church dredging outfit, and it was there that travel and occasionally go surf fishing. in his home workshop. ond shift. In his 25 years of service, treasurer and a Sunday School teacher, he received a telegram to come to work approximately 17 years of Ms time has take up most of his spare time. for Rohr. He came out of Alaska in been on second shift* Gtte and his wife, record time, travelling by dog team, Jean, enjoy deep sea and surf fishing. boat, and airplane.

ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 Airframe manufacturers were im­ pressed with the Company's record and sought aid in the design and engineering of power packages and other components. Before long they HARRY GOODELL, Administrative LANGFORD L. BROWN, Chief Inspec­ JAMES L. HOBEL, Vice President-In­ KERMIT W. "Bud" MAYNARD, Proj­ S. B. HOUSER, Director of Facilities, were relying upon Rohr engineers Services Manager, began work at Rohr tor with Rohr since Dec. 16, 1940, His dustrial Relations — joined Rohr on ect Superintendent, Hi-Temp Sandwich with Rohr since Sept. 6, 1940, hired in for both design and production en­ Dec. 26, 1940 as a riveter. Commis­ first fob with the company was installing Dec. 11, 1940 as clerk in the control­ Structure and Core Manufacturing, and as plant engineer. He made the installa­ gineering. sioned in the U. S. Army in 1944, re­ Sperry bombsight and doing mod work ler's office. He advanced to secretary one of the original five employees on the tion at the Rohr plant at 8th and J This became particularly impor­ turned to Rohr in 1947 in Tool Liaison on the LB-30 the English version of the to the controller, to office manager, to company payroll, hiring in Aug. 26, street, then came to Chula Vista where — tool control and scheduling. Recalled B-24. He subsequently transferred to labor relations manager, to director of 1940. Began as maintenance superintend­ he completed the original building and tant as the jet engines began re­ in 1951, Goodell spent another 16 inspection and has since been associated personnel, to industrial relations mana­ ent and helped work with Fred Rohr in Installations on Jan. 15, 1951. In 1955 placing the old piston engines. In months in the service during the Korean with all phases of fabrication and assem­ ger and then to Vice President-Industrial the design and building of the dropham­ he was promoted to Director of Facili­ the so-called "hot" areas of the jet action. Returning to Rohr as a purchas­ bly inspection, laboratory and X-ray in­ Relations. Active in many civic organi­ mer equipment. Factory manager during ties, responsible for site selection and engine pods, as contrasted to the ing supervisor in 1952, was subsequently spection. In 1952 was appointed chief zations, and a member of the Governor's World War II, "Bud" now works with acquisition of all plant facilities. Presi­ promoted to Riverside purchasing super­ inspector. His outside interests revolve committee of several states, Hobel origi­ the production of all types of Hi-Temp dent of the Chula Vista Chamber of piston engine power packages, an visor, purchasing agent, and production around his family, various community nated the, nationally accepted Idea of welded honeycomb core, and the devel­ Commerce in 1952, he also served en entirely new concept of design, manager. Transferred to the Auburn, and civic activities and several profes­ supervised Halloween programs. Com­ opment of core machines and related the advisory committee of the Chula engineering and manufacture was Washington plant in 1959 as manufac­ sional societies. His main hobby, travel­ bining a love for golf and trailering, equipment. In 1933 "Bud" rode in the Vista public schools. He has served as required. turing services manager, was promoted ling, has taken them to Europe and the Hobel manages to play on a number of director of the Boys' Club of America, Indianapolis 500-mile race as a me­ The jets also brought about an­ in 1964 to administrative services man­ Orient a number of times. courses throughout the nation. When chanic. He now navigates for his son-in- Chula Vista, since its inception, and is ager, Chula Vista. He is active in com­ he's not travelling or golfing, malting law driver in sports car rallyes. currently education chairman of the other change in aircraft manu­ munity projects, member of several pro­ furniture in his home workshop takes up Chula Vista Cancer Society. facture. Because of the greatly fessional societies. his spare time. increased speed of jets over piston power — about double — and the larger seating capacity of commer­ cial jet airliners, fewer airplanes were needed to meet the require­ ments of the airlines. To a great ex­ tent, the same situation was true with the military. To fill the gap in production dur­ ing the period of readjustment to changed conditions, Rohr acceler­ ated its program of diversification. At the same time, the Company ALFRED M. HARTOETT, Molder A GEORGE B. LACEV, Conservation, HAROLD E. ALTIG, Foreman Foundry W. B. LEE, Assembler, C-141, with Rohr management took a long, hard look Foundry with the company since Nov. started working for Rohr on October WILLIAM J. BERGGREN, Assembler, 9, 1940, began working with lead plates began at Rohr on October 5, 1940 in­ joined Rohr on Dee. 20, 1940. His first since Dec. 10, 1940 has spent the last 13 at the many routes some of the 25, 1940 as a drophammer operator. He stalling drophammer equipment. He and other companies were taking. Hav­ in the foundry, and has continued in and his wife have two daughters and job was assembling and riveting on At years at Riverside. His first job was run­ the same department ever since. He has his wife lave to camp in the rough nose ring of the old Hudson bomber. He ning a uni-shear or hand shear, cutting ing made its reputation as a manu­ three grandchildren, and spends most of country in Arizona, where he enjoys a workshop at home where he does his spare time hunting and fishing. spent 17 years working on the motor Una. both aluminum and steel. He loves to facturer of structural components, woodworking and cabinet work. hunting for deer, elk and javellna. He He and his wife and two boys, ages 20 bowl, and is especially proud of kis seven has a daughter and two grandchildren. children and 15 grandchildren. it decided to stick to those things and 22, love to travel. which it best knew how to build and leave for others some of the more glamorous avenues of manu­ facture. The Company's first major ven­ ture beyond the aircraft field was the creation of a department to build large tracking antennas. This decision was based upon its proven ability as a structural manufacturer which, when teamed up with its now greatly expanded engineering facil­ CARLOS A. "Chock" MARTINEZ, Tool C 1. PFRUNDER, Foreman Assembly, ities, seemed to make it a natural and Manufacturing Engineer, first began R. C. BLEDSOE, General Foreman In LLOYD E. ANDERSON, General Fare- MATTHEW J. MOSCHETTI, Foreman, work on the punch press on Ian. 6,1941 Riverside, first began working at Rohr line of endeavor. doing resistance welding on Dec. 11, Assembly, Riverside, on the C-141 aft man, Weldments, began working at Rohr drophammer and punch press, began his During the years he has worked as as­ cowl panels, nose cowls, and wing to career at Rohr degreasing and hand The first antenna, a tracking unit sistant foreman in resistant welding, in 1940. Since then most of his work has on Nov. 28, 1940, in the drophammer been In resistance welding and assembly body fairings, and the 320 and 720B department. After the war, in 1946, he washing parts on Dec. 6, 1940. He km 60 feet in diameter, was erected in the hangar on conversion, in production nose cowls, first began work at Rohr on spent 22 of Ms 23 years at Rons in the control, as a tooling planner, a tool engi­ work. His wife, two boys, and two girls went Into weldments on engine mounts Alaska, and was successful. Then Nov. 4, 1940, as a riveter on the Hudson and has been with the department ever same area. He has three children, a neer, and as tool and manufacturing share his hobbles of photography, camp­ bomber. One grandchild, fishing, hunting followed other contracts for various engineer. * ing and fishing. since. He has three children, all of daughter and two sons, and two grand- for elk In Montana and playing golf take whom are married, and 10 grandchildren. children. His youngest boy is in Viet types of 85-foot tracking and com- up most of his spare time. Nam in the Marines*

10 ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 11 mimications antennas. The engi­ neering department was further ex­ panded to include outstanding ex­ perts in the antenna field, with the RAYMOND R. PARKES, Zero Defects JOHN K. PETTTT, Supervisor, Shipping FRANK VIRGIL, Assembler, now work­ ELWYN S. OPPENHEIMER, Super­ result that in less than five years JEROME L. GUDDE. Assember A, first Project Coordinator and Discrepancy An­ ing on the Boeing 727, hired in at Rohr began work at Rohr on Dec. 17, 1940, in and Spares, with Rohr since Oct. 4, 1940. visor, Assembly Ordering, began working the Company has become one of alyst, first started to work at Rohr on Dec. on Dec. 17, 1940, and began building at Rohr on Oct. 24,1940, in timekeeping, the nation's largest antenna builders. the Trim and Drill Department. He spent Pettit's first job was to build a fence 16, 1940, doing fitting, trim and drill and countersinking nose cowl rings for five years in tooling and three years in around the 8th and J building. In the picking up time on various projects. Be As the antenna volume grew to work, and final assembly on the skirt the Hudson bomber. Through the years says one of his prime interests through conversion. He now works on the P-3A Shipping Department he helped to estab­ panels of the Lockheed Hudson bomber. he has been leadman, and foreman. include radio telescopes, troposcat- assembly line. Two of his five children the years has been watching this company lish the Spares Department. Photography Interim responsibilities include assembly Once he had a crew of 1 man and 25 grow. He and his wife have four boys ter antennas, microwave relay horn work at Rohr, one son does experimental and horseback riding are his hobbies. His foreman, Manufacturing Methods and women working on the P-38. work, and another is a design engineer. and a girl, find that working in the yard antennas for commercial communi­ wife, four children and three grandchil­ Planning. He is Past Master of the Chula and adding to their home in Bonita takes Eleven grandchildren and his hobby of dren love to ride horses up in the moun­ Vista Masonic Lodge, and he and his wife cations, observatory domes, and the automotive mechanics keep him occupied up most of their spare time. tains when time permits, and at their both take an active part in lodge activities. largest of all deep space tracking in his spare time. home in Bonita between times. antenna, a $12 million, 210-foot diameter unit being erected at Gold- stone, California, the Company placed this activity into a separate Antenna Division. This shortened controlled machines has been de­ components. It has fabricated sev­ at Fullerton, California, where lim­ lines of communication and respon­ veloped to an extensive degree at eral rocket nozzles, all of which ited production got under way sev­ sibility and made for more econom­ Rohr. As rapidly as was practicable have successfully been fired. One eral months ago. ical operation, and as one result the boring and milling machines, skin of the nozzles for a 156-inch solid The period of research and de­ Antenna Division now accounts for mills and Drivmatic riveters were fuel Thiokol space booster, was velopment has reached the point about 10 per cent of the Com­ converted to tape control and to­ test fired in February, 1965. The where plant facilities are capable pany's sales and earnings. day, in mid-1965, there are 18 engine to which it was attached of increased production, and it is produced more than 3 million The development of supersonic units in operation. This conversion anticipated that further write-offs is in line with the Company's policy pounds of thrust. In 19 test firings, of developmental costs will become aircraft created a demand for more no Rohr-built part has failed. heat resistant metals, not only in LESLIE E. BORDWELL, presently in OTIS BEATTY, Foreman, Hydro press, of keeping abreast of modern man­ unnecessary by the end of the year. the "hot" areas of the engines but Tool Liaison on the JetStar, began work­ joined Rohr Dec. 30, 1940, starting in ufacturing developments. The Uni­ With the demand for space com­ In 25 years the Company that for wing and fuselage coverings ing at Rohr on Dec. 18,1940. He started the foundry and drophammer depart­ ted States Chamber of Commerce ponents increasing, Rohr next estab­ started with one man's idea and a making templates for the Lockheed Hud­ ment. Most of his career at Rohr has a year ago said Rohr was the na­ lished the Space Products Division determination to serve one of the where high speeds and the result­ son bomber and worked on the LB 30 been with the hammers and the presses, ant air friction with skin surfaces and Sperry Gyroscope contracts. He has first as a leadman, then as assistant fore­ tion's outstanding user of numer­ for the same reasons that led to nation's most important and fastest elevated the temperature of alum­ been in tooling work ever since. He and man, then foreman. He met his wife, a ically controlled machines. the successful creation of the An­ growing industries, has come a long his family, consisting of wife and three Rohr employee, during the war. Golf and tenna Division, and Company fore­ way. From a beginning, when a inum to near the melting point. girls, like camping. For several years Rohr manage­ Steel was better, but it was too orchids keep his spare time occupied. ment watched the rapid approach sight in building the Hall of Giants, few small parts were made by hand heavy. of the space age and, consistent as the facility is known, has been for the aircraft of that day, it has more than justified. grown to become one of the in­ Several companies had experi­ method. A machine was designed into supersonic aircraft now in de­ with its policy of diversification in mented with steel honeycomb, a areas of manufacture best suited As the Company's diversification dustry's largest subcontracting firms. which formed six cells at a single velopment. Except for the bare engines them­ process whereby thin ribbons of stroke and also made complete core While the Chula Vista plant was to its capabilities, moved into the program broadened, it was decided steel were formed into a honeycomb in 1961 to drop "aircraft'* from the selves, it is capable of manufactur­ panels to any desired size instead of developing stainless steel honey­ missile and rocket field. One of ing any structural part or assembly pattern, each cell welded to the "tacking," or welding the strips to­ comb, the Riverside plant added its earlier challenges was the fabri­ corporate name, and henceforth be other, the core then faced with thin known as Rohr Corporation. This for any airplane or space vehicle, gether. metal bonding to its long list of cation of filament-wound rocket en­ either commercial or military. sheets of steel and the entire assem­ The machine was built by Rohr accomplishments. The bonding of gine and fuel cases. After a few in no way meant that there would bly brazed into a single panel. These technicians and became so success­ dissimilar metals together with non- pilot runs with conventional fila­ be a slackening of efforts in the Progressive leadership enabled panels reduced weight, provided ful that others were added until metallic adhesives, then baking the ment winding machines, Company aircraft industry which still accounts the Company to make the transi­ sufficient strength, and withstood there are 17 of these machines in unit in an autoclave, under pres­ engineers and technicians devised a for approximately 88 percent of tion from the now obsolete piston vibration better than steel sheets. the Chula Vista plant making core sure, provided a material of great machine to be operated by numer­ our total sales volume. Rather, it engine aircraft to the modern jets But they were expensive, the earlier not only for the Company, but for strength with a significant weight ical or tape control, the first of meant that in view of the larger and on into the space field. By al­ panels costing about $1,000 per others as well. reduction. Demand for metal bond­ its kind in the industry. area covered by the Company's ways looking ahead, anticipating activities in the entire areospace what the industry will need next square foot. The Company has become a ing in the industry became so great Moving rapidly into the manufac­ One cause of the heavy expense leader in the manufacture of brazed that three autoclaves were added, field the word "aircraft** might be year, five, ten, or more years ahead, ture of space products, the Com­ construed as limiting its objectives. and preparing with capable man­ was the slow process available for stainless steel honeycomb panels, one of which has inside working pany followed the policy that has making the "core." Machines then some of which have been used on dimensions of 15 by 35 feet, mak­ The Company last year created power and the modern facilities, enabled it to be prepared to man­ Rohr has proved that there's always in use formed the honeycomb, one supersonic airplanes, such as the ing it one of the largest in the ufacture anything the industry re­ the Architectural Division to take cell at a time, in narrow strips Convair B-58 Hustler, the McDon­ nation. In it is processed the petal over research, development and a reward for those who keep busy quires. It built a 70-foot high struc­ and do not waste time listening to which had to be "tacked" or welded nell F4H, and the North American cargo door for Lockheed's C-141 ture at the Riverside plant and in­ production in the field of home together to make a panel. Fred B-70. Honeycomb panels also have StarLifter, the largest metal bonded building, which began on an ex­ the pessimists who loudly proclaim stalled large boring mills, curing that it can't be done. Rohr was convinced that there been used on some space vehicle component ever made. ovens, hydroclaves, capable of han­ perimental scale three years earlier could be a faster, more economical at Riverside. A plant was acquired components, and are being designed The use of numerical or tape dling the largest rocket and missile

12 ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 13 DC-9 JET PODS AND ~ THRUST REVERSERS ARE BUILT BY ROHR KtJNHARD W. ELSNER. Foreman, MAYNARD A. JOSEPH, Tooi and A. L. "Buff" BUFFINGTON, General Hand Forming, tkwtad working in the Methods Uaison, began kit career at Foreman. Spot Wtlding and Processing, foundry and in At planish departments Rohr mt Dm. 10, 1940, working to pro­ first started working at Rohr on Dm. 19, at Ht*hr m $W. &$ 9§40. Hit entire duction on the Hudson bomber. Hit Rohr 1940, m a bench assembler. His outside time tpent at Rohr km been to related fob was the second permanent fob he had interests are diversified, but ht especially departments, Ht Is especially proud of held. Ht and m* family, wife, bay, and likes to listen to jazz music. two great-grandsons. girt, met m travel in the Northwest.

GILES H. COOK, Foreman, hydro I. DAGAN, Director of Quality Assur­ ARLAND V. PHELPS, Project Sched­ press, began his career at Rohr on Nov. ance was hired as a sheet metal Inspec- uler, with Rohr since Dm. 13, 1940, 23, §940, as a drophammer operator. tor on Jan. 2, 1941. Ht progressively started in as a timekeeper, soon moved to With the exception of I to years spent engaged 1st oil functions of the inspec­ production control and has been in that m honeycomb core manufacturing oper­ tion Department through various super­ department ever since. Ht, hit wife and ations, he has spent At greatest portion visory ranks. Appointed Quality Man­ two teenage sons spend most of their of his time in the drophammer and hy­ ager in 1931, he was later promoted spare time swimming and scuba diving dro press departments. to his present position. Holding mem­ off tht coast of Mexico, near Ensenada. bership and offices in a variety of pro­ fessional societies, golfing in the low BO'S, and trying to keep up with the activities of two young sons, Dagan finds his spare time is well occupied.

A. F. KJTCHIN, Vice President-Admin­ MERLIN L. KUHLE, Foreman, Cut­ DAYTON L. ROBERTSON, Supervisor Rohr has built more jet pods istration, with Rohr since December 5, ting, started at Rohr on Nov. 12, 1940, Plant Engineering, Planning and Sched­ 1940, Kite bin was first employed as a to the cutting department, working with uling, hired in on December 18, 1940, buyer in the Purchasing Department, shears. Most of his time at Rohr ht has and immediately started helping the wm subsequently promoted to produc­ spent in the cutting and stringer area, electricians install conduit in the origi­ and thrust reversers than tion coordinator, assistant production with some time as foreman ht urn Punch nal part of Building 1 preparatory to manager, production manager, and then Press Department. Ht has worked con­ moving urn plant to the Chula Vista MMI PtAMI Ht*WJ«*W»t- CM to Vice President-Administration. A tinuously at Rohr except during a short location. Ht recalls it rained 27 Inches vtst*. e*u«u/*t*»** Mini member of several civic and professional time whan he was with the Army's First that year and sometimes there was wattr any other company CAUf, /AUtM«i.V fMMMk organizations, he is a director of the Infantry Division in Germany. Ht was S feet deep. Robertson has worked as Sheltered Workshops of San Diego, His injured to tht service, spent some time maintenance foreman, supervisor of family consists of hit wife, two girls mm to tht hospital, then returned to Rohr « boy. Outside interests are listening again in 1946. plant layout and plant engineering. He in the world. to hi-fi, playing golf and fishing. lova to bowl, play golf, and visit with hit five children and 10 grandchildren. For full information concerning aerospace engineering and production capabilities at Rohr write: Marketing Manager. 14 Dept. 38. Rohr Corporation. Chula Vista, California. side, and Fullerton, in California; Winder, Georgia, and Auburn, Washington. The five plants occupy a total of 67 buildings, floor space of 2,300,421 square feet under roof, plus 220,000 square feet of outdoor man­ ufacturing space used by the Antenna Division. These plants are situated on 459 acres of Company owned land, and 36 acres under lease. Most of the leased land is used for parking space. One of our interesting buildings is the Hall of Giants, home of the Space Products Division, at Riv­ erside. This structure, completed in 1964, is seven stories in height, but with a single floor. The height is necessary to accommodate the large machines and the products we make there. More detailed descriptions of our facilities are con­ tained in other articles in this issue of Rohr Magazine. Many of the machines we now use were undreamed of 25 years ago. Such machines as those operated by numerical, or tape, control; large forming presses; autoclaves, hydroclaves, filament winding machines, all have become commonplace in this rapidly changing industry. But none of us imagined, a quarter century ago, when we looked over that first small building, that in a few years the aircraft industry would be so com­ pletely transformed. Because the management of Rohr Corporation has kept pace, even a bit ahead, of the industry's needs, however, we have achieved our posi­ tion as the nation's leading aircraft subcontractor. D Rohr-Chula Vista, Calif Rohr-Winder, Georgia

By S. B. HOUSER Director of Facilities 25 rears of Growth MEETING INDUSTRY DEMANDS IS CONSTANT CHALLENGE

The initial Rohr plant in San Diego.

WENTY-FIVE years ago Rohr Corporation came San Diego Bay, in Chula Vista, and we built our first Tinto being in a rented, three-story building which building, now a part of one of the main plant structures. contained 15,000 square feet of floor space. The new building had an area of 37,500 square The building was in San Diego's wholesale district, feet, and when we moved in on January 15, 1941, a location that made everything easier because when and saw the vast expanse of floor space, several of us Rohr-Ri we needed tools and metal supplies to fill our first were certain that we never would need additional space. orders, we simply walked over to Western Metals Company, bought what we needed and carried our But a steady influx of orders dispelled that notion in a hurry. An expansion program began that saw Rohr-FuUertotu purchases back to the plant. If an order was too heavy, California we hired a truck. building after building erected, and in three years we were occupying 600,000 square feet. But business increased, right from the start, and With few interruptions, the expansion program has right away it became apparent that we would need continued and now, 25 years after our first steps, the more room. Land was acquired at the lower end of Company operates in five plants — Chula Vista, River­

16 17 be recruited and trained so quickly? airplanes were turned out, compared dining ratio to the total. A steady of 20 or 25 years ago are today's They came from everywhere. with 46,865 the previous year. search for talented personnel now commonplace requirements in the From the farms, the little shops, the Workers were laid off by thousands, marks the recruiting efforts of aircraft and aerospace industry, and stores, the offices. They caught on whole sections of plants were closed, Rohr's Industrial Relations teams. a high school diploma is about the quickly and became drop hammer and only two companies in the in­ IX no longer is enough that a man minimum educational requirement operators, assemblers, dispatchers, dustry—Rohr was one of them— can handle a drill gun or smash out enabling a young man to get a job. and tool makers. They became tech­ continued to show a profit. parts on a drop hammer; he must College or trade school training is a nicians and soon were talking glibly Many of the war time workers have some knowledge of material must in many areas. It is not enough of heat exchangers and boosters. went back to their farms, stores, stresses, creep, metal fatigue, and that the applicant had training a few They filled the highways from the offices, and shops, but the increased the oven temperatures required years ago but has not kept it up; he rural middle west, traveling in any orders for civilian aircraft to take when hot-forming parts. must continue to study and learn. type of conveyance they could find, the place of obsolete and worn-out In brief, the young man with only As an example, the spotwelder of carefully conserving precious, ra­ units, many of which had been a desire to work—admirable as that today must have a good working tioned gasoline. taken over by the military, enabled may be—but with no special train- knowledge of materials and proces­ 89$ ses. The laboratory technician must have either the education or training in, for instance, the use of cobalt as an inspection tool. A top tool designer, in addition to knowing the manufacturing processes in detail, is required to perform the stress analyses of his designs, and the en­ gineer we seek will have a broad knowledge of the engineering dis­ ciplines in general and a specialty, such as dynamics, acoustics, or in fuel technology for the supersonic By J. L. Hobel airplane. Today's milling machine Vice President-Industrial Relations operator, as another example, is ex­ pected to know feeds and speeds, The supply of men ran out be­ gear ratios, and the approved meth­ cause millions were in the armed ods for milling titanium, magne­ services, and still more factory sium, and full-hard stainless steel workers were needed. The women — the so-called esoteric materials then moved in and took places in of even ten years ago. the plants and, after a brief training Where will Rohr find these trained period learned to sink rivets and men? From the colleges and univer­ assemble small parts. Rosie the sities, from the vocational or trade Riveter became a collective name schools, and by continuing to lend Sheer manpower—and womanpower—were applied to reach production quotasfo r the industry's heroines, and with during the critical wartime build-up. Saddle shoes, blue jeans and "page boy" Today's power plant assemblies move down the line on monorails. Modern pro­ its top technical personnel to these hairstyles mark the era along with the B-24 bomber assembly on the line. each rivet they drove went a prayer duction methods, as on these Douglas DC-9 pods, demand fewer workmen and schools to instruct in modern man­ for the safety of a son, a husband, a higher level of technology. ufacturing processes and techniques. a father or a sweetheart who would So, while the days of Rosie the HEN President Roosevelt in and finally the attack on Pearl Har­ pilot the planes, or serve the nation Riveter and the boy from the farm, 1940 called for the production on land or sea. the major companies to retain the ing, cannot hope to go far in the W bor, the industry dropped its ques­ aerospace industry, if he can get with no previous training, are gone, of 60,000 military airplanes a year, tions and went to work. In 1941, it best of their trained and experienced the opportunities for reward and It was a period when production employees. This also enabled the into it at all. Nor is it enough, if the figure caused many a veteran in produced 19,445 military aircraft, was the single objective of plant advancement in the aerospace in­ the industry to gasp. Hadn't they industry, of which Rohr had be­ he succeeds in getting on the pay­ in 1942 the figure went up to managers and workers alike. Quotas roll, to be content with the meager dustry still are here in even greater stepped up military production from 47,675, and the year after reached come an important unit, to rebuild numbers than during those hectic 437 aircraft in 1934 to 6,028 in were set, and passed. And the air­ their personnel around the nucleus knowledge that enabled him to get 85,433, far beyond the President's planes rolled out and filled the skies, a mediocre job. He must keep war years. But they're not here for 1940? Wasn't the President being figure, but still short of the indus­ they had retained. the high school "drop out," the lad unrealistic in demanding another to the consternation of our enemies Progress in the development of abreast of new methods and mate­ try's capacity, for the next year the who again had guessed wrong; who rials. Rohr, along with most other who doesn't prepare himself. His ten-fold increase? Where would the count moved up to 95,272. Bomb­ civilian aircraft was rapid. New de­ kind is doomed to a life of mediocre engineers, the mechanics, the crafts­ had believed that the Americans signs, the development of new met­ companies in the industry, offers ers, fighters, reconnaissance air­ were too soft, too complacent, too training courses and opportunties jobs, if he is able to get one at all, men come from? Airplanes couldn't planes, and transports rolled from als, new manufacturing technology because this is the age of skill and be produced on an assembly line, as proud to fight. for employees. To the extent that the nation's plants in steady streams. combined to change the type of these courses are studied and mas­ an eagerness to learn. This is an in the automobile and other indus­ Where had the people who At last the war ended and aircraft qualifications sought in recruiting production dropped toward the van­ tered, to that degree does the new exciting, challenging, rapidly pro­ tries; they had to be made by hand. manned the factories come from? employees. The number of unskilled gressing industry — for those who But with war clouds darkening, ishing point. The year after the war employee advance. Who would have thought they could men required in various shop areas The mastery of skills undreamed can progress with it. ended, in 1946, only 1,417 military declined, and continues at a de-

18 ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 ADVANCED PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES AT ROHR

In addition to the above, the pro­ New Technology in Materiel gram mechanically provides previous procurement and quotation history, scans open purchase orders and ELECTRONICS REFINE PURCHASING OPERATIONS notifies purchasing of vendor delin­ quencies and generates many of the performed manually. Programs in internal and external reports cur­ various stages of development and rently being manually prepared, implementation include: such as Small Business Adminis­ Mechanically Scheduled Require­ tration and Depressed Labor Area ments — The establishment of pro­ reports. duction parts/materials listings by Corporate Annual Agreements— mechanically computing bills of Considerable emphasis has been material in relation to production placed upon the benefits to be de­ schedule in such a manner as to rived from a program to evaluate provide "exact-need" material re­ repetitively ordered materials for quirements, thus reducing inventory negotiation of annual procurement By C. R. CAMPBELL investment and clerical effort previ­ contracts with vendors. Price ad­ vantages are achieved due to the Director of Materiel ously required to schedule parts and material. An annual inven­ negotiating lever provided by a one- tory investment savings in excess of year volume of requirements and N LINE with the ever advancing $500,000 will be realized from this our overhead costs are reduced as I "state of the art" predominant program alone. a result of the minimal paperwork throughout all aspects of the Aero­ Cost Lot Allocation—A program required to process requests for de­ space Industry, the Rohr Materiel which mechanizes a complex and livery against such orders. Department is applying a contin­ tedious accounting function relative To support this program, an uous effort on many fronts to in­ to the allocation of material issues IBM 1001 Data-Phone has been crease the quality and efficiency of to the proper work order, thereby installed, providing us with the our materials scheduling, procure­ reducing considerable clerical effort. ability to transmit requests for de­ ment and handling techniques. Recap and Order Program — A livery to our vendors, via punched- Some of the more significant pro­ program which utilizes previously card media. grams in work at this time are as established magnetic tape records In addition to the above, pro­ follows: relative to requirements, inventory grams relative to price analysis, Value Analysis — This may be and on-order position to mechani­ price targeting, vendor liaison ac­ defined as an organized approach cally compute material status and tivities and improved materials han­ to the objective appraisal of each generate purchase requisitions as dling techniques, are also in work element of design, procurement, in­ required. in an effort to achieve procurement stallation and use of a product in Purchase Order Preparation and benefits wherever they may exist order to achieve only the necessary Status—A program which mechani­ In the coming year we will continue parts function and reliability at cally produces purchase orders sub­ along this vein in order to maintain minimal cost. An average yearly sav­ sequent to award by buyer and our position of support to this com­ ings of $250,000 has been achieved simultaneously provides for punched pany's high reputation for quality through the use of improved card processing of receiving data. and performance. D manufacturing methods, facilities utilization, economic material sub­ Punched cards go into the reader for rapid transmission of stitutions, secondary source estab­ information via the Dataphone link direct to the vendor. Modern machines in experienced hands lishment, etc. Computer Application — During Advanced production techniques at Rohr are solving serious advanced manufacturing men and machines can help solve manufacturing problems for customers every day... techniques production problems you may have. We'd appreciate the chance. the past year, a full-scale effort was developed through a thoughtful, thorough blending of skilled Contact our Marketing Manager, Dept.78, Rohr Corporation, initiated relative to the application Rohr metals craftsmen and modern automated machines. Rohr Chula Vista, California. of data processing to all functions study and skill in the art of metal working have been widely in Material. Objectives of this pro­ known for years. During the past decade these experiences gram were to eliminate as much of have been used as a base for building a battery of heavy, MAIN PLANT HEADQUARTERS; CHULA the routine clerical effort and an­ automatic machines that today turn out major aerospace com­ VISTA. CALIF./PLANTl RIVERSIDE, CALIF./ASSEMBLY PLANTS) WINDER, alysis as possible and to provide ponents and structures better and faster at lower cost. Vital C.A.; AUBURN, WASH. to the many manufacturing successes here have been advanced action information selectively, me­ numerical control techniques applied to lofting, tooling and chanically performing laborious fabrication operations ... and advanced manufacturing equip­ problem search effort previously ment and the newest processes such as numerically controlled six-spindle drill presses, milling and filament winding machines ... high-speed drivmatic riveting, automatic spot welding, elec­ ROHR tron beam welding and high energy forming. Perhaps our CORPORATION ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965

^SJW FISCAL GROSS NET FEDERAL CASH YEAR SALES EARNINGS TAXES DIVIDENDS 1941 $ 1,493,488 $ 295.471 $ 256,885 JH 22,500 1942 6.665.913 429,867 700,926 326.Z5U 1943 39,099,742 883,826 3,073,886 435,000 1944 70,658.893 1,825,703 3,443,483 435,000 1945 53,081,803 1,066,837 3,289,889 435,000 521,748 1946 6,069,100 390,043 * 372,563 214,221 * 1947 7,163,483 281,000 * 1948 7,828,581 503,571 1,233,709 742,000 * 1194 f\ A 9f\ 24,674,488 1950 27,869,112 1,455,155 909,000 84,323 FRED H. ROHR B. F. RAYNES 1951 26,233,548 968,108 1,442,000 454,707 I. M. LADDON P. LESTER GUY M. HARRINGTON 1952 41,322,184 1,151,811 2,600,000 600,000 Chairman of the Board President and Director Director Treasurer and General Manager 1953 63,005,624 1,533,285 3,573,000 600,000 1954 101,604,448 3,510.811 5,175,000 750,000 Chief Executive Officer 1955 82,407.804 3,269,009 3,535,000 990,000 1956 90.027,159 3,144,634 3,500,000 1,260,000 1957 115,765,922 3,727,737 4,000,000 1,260,058 1958 147,538.056 4,022,474 3,930,000 1,310,881 The Board ol Directors 1959 191,703,998 2,586,300 2,509,154 1,649,454 1960 193,249,182 (2,604,375) (2,476,720) 1,854,405 JUDGEMENT AT THE TOP 1961 168,170,217 5,350,678 5,824,712 1,899,878 1962 151,010,265 4,975,500 5,402,994 1,979,737 1963 104,164,095 2,033,287 1,745,861 1,993,731 1964 128,537,039 2,615,632 2,832,235 1,996,975 FRED H. ROHR B. F. RAYNES 1965(9mo.)f 116,822,906 3,293,782 3,207,967 1,504,766 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER, joined the Company in $1,966,167,050 $48,035,418 $60,234,241 $21,842,665 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, found­ ed the Company in August, 1940, after October, 1940, as chief inspector. He * Rohr became a subsidiary of international Detrola Corporation (Newport 15 years in executive positions with Boe­ moved up through positions as tooling Steel Corporation) split off to again become independent entity in 1950. ing, in Seattle, Solar, and Ryan com­ superintendent, several management po­ sitions with International Detrola dur­ t Rohr's fiscal year ends July 31. At press time for this issue, latest panies in San Diego. Born in Hoboken, available figures were for the 9-months ended April 30. N. J., he moved with his parents to San ing the time Rohr was a subsidiary, and Francisco, where he attended school. back at Rohr as chief tool engineer, vice After serving in the Navy in World War president-manufacturing, senior vice I, he joined his father in the sheet metal president. In 1961 he was elected to the business at Fresno, and later formed his Board of Directors and in December, own sheet metal works in San Diego. 1963, to his present position. He has He is a Director of the Security-First held leading positions in many profes­ National Bank of Los Angeles, belongs sional associations, including the Aero­ to numerous technical organizations, and space Industries Association, Society of Automotive Engineers and California The Financial Record 25 YEARS OF PROFITABILITY is active in civic and cultural activities Manufacturers Association, as well as in San Diego. He and his wife, Shirley, in civic, political and social organiza­ live at 555 San Fernando St. They have tions. Born in Clinton, Indiana, he is N ITS first 24 years and nine aries. The payroll now is approxi­ a son, Frederick Jr., a Vice President months Rohr Corporation's net a mechanical engineering graduate of I mately $5,000,000 a month. of the Company, and a daughter, Mrs. Rose Polytechnic College. Mr. and Mrs. earnings were $48,035,418, on sales Cash dividends have been paid Keith Hollenbeck. His hobbies are golf Raynes and their son and daughter live of $1,966,167,050. It paid $60,- every year except four (1946 and deep sea fishing. in a suburban area east of Chula Vista. 234,241 in federal income taxes, through 1949) when the Company and $52,800,000 in state, local and was a subsidiary of International GUY M. HARRINGTON payroll taxes. In the same period Detrola Corporation (later Newport I. M. LADDON B. P. LESTER shareholders received $21,842,665 DIRECTOR, joined Consolidated Air­ DIRECTOR, senior partner of Lester, TREASURER, Member of the Board Steel Corporation). It has earned of Directors, joined Rohr on Oct. 1, in cash dividends, one 100% and craft (now Convair) in 1927, after 10 Ryons & Co., investment bankers, first a profit every year except in 1961, became a director of Rohr Corporation 1940 as an accountant. He advanced two 50% stock splits, and two 4% years as chief of Design Branch, Mc- when tooling and pre-production Cook Field. Designed famous PBY in 1942, and in 1944 was elected Vict from accountant to controller to treas­ stock dividends. Catalina, the B-24, and other Consoli­ President and Chief Financial Officer. urer and member of the Board of Direc­ costs on a new transport program tors. Harrington is treasurer and a di­ The final quarter of the 25th fis­ dated airplanes. Became vice president He resigned in 1945 when Rohr became exceeded estimates and caused a a subsidiary of International Detrola rector of the San Diego County Associa­ cal year ends July 31, and figures BY W. I. MATHEWS and director of Convair in 1935, and loss of $2,604,375. Corporation (later Newport Steel), but tion for Retarded Children, and an ac­ for the fourth quarter were not Vice President-Finance from 1941 to 1948 was executive vice Despite the loss, however, the president. He is a graduate of McGill again became a director in 1950, after tive member of the tax committee of the California Manufacturers Associa­ available when this issue of the Company continued dividends of 25 University, Montreal, in 1915, received Rohr again became an independent cor­ poration. He is a member of the New tion. For many years a competitive Magazine went to press. dividends. cents a share per quarter, and the a Doctor's degree in 1957. He also is a director of General Dynamics, Servel, York Stock Exchange, and the Pacific small boat sailor, Harrington now de­ The adjoining table gives a year- In addition, the Company has following year net earnings bounced First National Bank of San Diego, Lang- Coast Exchange. He has two sons, and votes most of his spare time to golf. by-year record of the sales, net paid, during the same period, a total back to $5,350,678, highest in cor­ ley Corporation, He has two sons and lives with his wife in Pasadena, Calif. He earnings, federal taxes, and cash of $908,840,982 in wages and sal­ porate history. a daughter, and lives in San Diego. is a director of several corporations. o

22 ROHR Mai Summer, 1965 23

yjftyua F. E. McCREERY A. F. KITCHIN W. I. MATHEWS S. W. SHEPARD J. C. THOMPSON C. L. LIGHT R. D. HALL H. R. CLEMENTS

J. L. HOBEL, Vice President, Industrial Relations, joined C. E. CANTWELL, Vice President. Manager Riverside Rohr in 1940 as a clerk In the Controllers Office, but was Plant, joined Rohr in 1958, after a long connection with the Veterans live stability en Mahogany Row' soon promoted to Secretary to the Controller, then Office Man­ aircraft industry. He served as Plant Manager of the Font ager, Labor Relations Manager, Director of Personnel and Motor Company's Aircraft Engine Division in Chicago, and Industrial Relations Manager, and Vice President in 1963. He Chief Test Engineer at Ford's Dearborn plant. He was affili­ has served on school boards and chambers of commerce, and ated with the Federal Aviation Administration for four years, was Councilman and then Mayor of Chula Vista from 1950 and served during the war as an officer assigned to the Navy to 1954. He originated supervised Halloween programs for Bureau of Aeronautics. He started at Rohr as Assembly children, and the Rohr Halloween Carnival. He also has par­ Superintendent, was promoted to Assembly Manager in I960 ticipated in local and state welfare councils, and as chairman and to Plant Engineering Manager in 1962. In 1963 he be­ of San Diego's Committee for Employment of the Handi­ came Plant Manager at Riverside. He was elected Vice Presi­ capped. He is a golfer, loves to travel, and work in his car­ dent in December, 1963. He is a member of the board of di­ pentry shop. Three children and nine grandchildren provide rectors for the Riverside Chamber of Commerce and United Mr. and Mrs. Hobel with even more interests. Fund, and is on the District Council for Junior Achievement. The Cantwell's son, in the Army, is stationed in Germany but will return this year. They have two daughters, 9 and 12. Mr. K. W. GOEBEL, Vice President, Engineering, was born and CantweWs hobby is golf. educated in San Diego. While attending San Diego State Col­ lege, he worked at Solar Aircraft Company as draftsman, De­ C. L. LIGHT, Manager, Winder Plant, served in the Navy sign Engineer, and Eastern Engineering Representative. After and at Ryan Aeronautical Company before joining Rohr in war-time service in the Navy, he became Senior Designer at June, 1942, as an inspector. Since moving to Winder, Georgia, I. L. HOBEL K. W. GOEBEL F. H. ROHR, JR. C. E. CANTWELL Ryan Aeronautical Company. He joined Rohr in 1949, where he has been active in community affairs, is a member of the he moved up from Project Engineer, to Design Engineering Georgia State Chamber of Commerce Council on Business Manager, Engineering Manager, and Chief Engineer. He was and Industry, Chairman of the county Industrial Development elected to his present position in 1963. He has served on the Authority, member of the Airport Authority, and Vice-chair­ San Diego Industry Education Council, the Board of the San man of the Winder City Planning Commission. He served as Diego Science Fair, and is a member of the San Diego Yacht Chairman of the Barrow County Heart Fund and worked on F. E, McCREERY, Senior Vice President, received his W. I. MATHEWS, Vice President, Finance, came to Rohr Club and the Point Loma Civic Association. the Re-development Administration. The local Jaycees voted Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from with a background in accounting and banking. He received him Outstanding Boss of the year in 1964. He is a member of the California Institute of Technology. He worked as design his B.A. degree in Business at the University of California at the Elks Club, and enjoys hunting, golf and reading. Two and project engineer at Ryan Aeronautical Company, then Los Angeles, and obtained his Certified Public Accounting J. C. THOMPSON, Manager, Auburn Plant, a native Cali- step-sons live at home with Mr. and Mrs. Light, while a joined Rohr m August, 1940, as Assistant Chief Engineer. He Certificate in 1949. After six years at the Security First Na­ fornian, became a Tidewater Oil Company salesman upon daughter resides in New York. moved up to his present position in December, 1964, after tional Bank in Los Angeles, he became Senior Auditor for completion of his education. He joined Rohr in 1942 as a serving the company as Executive Chief Engineer, Vice Presi­ the John F. Forbes Company. In 1952 he joined Rohr as mechanic in the B-24 Engine Line, was promoted to Assistant dent of Engineering, and Vice President of Manufacturing. Accounting Manager at the Riverside plant, where he re­ Foreman, Foreman, and Assistant Factory Superintendent. In R. D. HALL, Engineering Manager, Antenna Division, has He is an officer in the Society of Automotive Engineers, and mained until 1959, when he was returned to Chula Vista as 1956 he was selected to open the Auburn, Washington, as­ been active in the development of the Antenna Field at Rohr is General Chairman of the 1965 National Aeronautic and Controller for the Corporation, and was elected Vice President sembly plant. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have one son, age 19, and in his previous positions at American Bridge Corporation Space Manufacturing Meeting. In the Aerospace Industries in 1963. Mr. and Mrs. Mathews and their family of six chil­ presently in Junior College. Mr. Thompson is first Vice Presi­ and Blaw-Knox Corporation in Pittsburgh, where he was re­ Association he serves on the Executive Committee of the dren reside in Chula Vista. He is a member of the governing dent of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce and will be Presi­ sponsible for design engineering, field coordination, and super­ Manufacturing Committee, and as Liaison Representative of body of his local church, and a member of the National Asso­ dent in 1966-67. He was President of Auburn Kiwanis Club vision during erection of antennas. He joined Rohr as Antenna the Manufacturing Committee, Liaison with Quality Control ciation of accountants. Working with amateur radio equip­ In 1963, and was Board member for his county's Y.M.CJI. Engineering Manager in I960, when the Company first en­ Committee. He is also a member of the American Institute of ment is his hobby. He is also board member for the Association of Washington tered the Antenna structures field, became head of the An­ Aeronautics. He is active in the Boy Scouts of America. The Industries. For recreation, he golfs, (in the low eighties), tenna Division when it was formed in 1963. He studied at the McCreerys have three sons, ages 8, 9, and 10. swims, bowls, and plays tennis. University of Maryland, University of California at Berkeley, and Carnegie Institute of Technology. He enjoys golf and swimming. The Halls' children are 18 and 9, both daughters. S. W. SHEPARD, Vice President, Corporate Secretary, F. H. ROHR, JR., Vice President, obtained his A.B. de­ and Legal Counsel, was born in Canada and received his B.A. gree in Engineering at San Diego State College in 1948, then and Law degrees from the University of Arizona, He was in did graduate work in the School of Business at the University H. R. CLEMENTS, Manager, Space Systems Division, had A. F. KITCHIN, Vice President-Administration, is a native private practice from 1938 to 1942. In September, 1942, he of Southern California. He worked during the summers for a varied career in the aircraft industry before joining Rohr in of San Diego County. He studied at University of California, entered the Planning Division of Rohr, and moved quickly to Rohr while still in school, starting as a draftsman in 1940, 1961. At Cessna Aircraft Company he became Chief of Aero­ Los Angeles, Balboa University, and University of California supervisor of Allocations. Within a year he was a Depart­ and made the drawings for the original Rohr drop-hammers. dynamics of the Military Division, then Chief Technical En­ Extension courses. After serving in the Navy four years, he ment Head, then became Staff Counsel and Corporate Secre­ In successive summers he worked in trim and drill and primary gineer. At the Wichita Division of the Boeing Airplane Com­ was employed by the San Diego County Water Company, the tary. In 1963 he was elected Vice President, while retaining fabrication, then on the B-24 Motor line assembly. He was in pany he worked on Advanced Design. At Rohr he has been Lake Henshaw Resort, and Nuttall-Styris Company, a San his work as Secretary and General Counsel. Mr. and Mrs. the U.S. Air Force from November, 1942, to January, 1946, Development Project Engineer, Chief of Technical Staff, and Diego wholesale hardware firm. He joined Rohr in December Shepard's first son is a Chemist for Southwest Radiological later became Staff Assistant, Patent Department Supervisor* Engineering Manager for Development, before assuming his 1940, as a buyer in the Purchasing Department, advancing to Laboratory, In Las Vegas, while the second son studies Me­ Budgets and Forecasts Supervisor, Assistant to the Vice Presi­ present position. He participates in a load flying club, sails, Production Coordinator, Assistant Production Manager, Pro­ chanical Engineering at the University of Arizona. Mr. Shepard dent, Assistant Vice President, and in 1963, Vice President. swims, and collects jazz records for the Hi Fi unit he assembled duction Manager, and In 1953 was elected Vice President. is a member of the Health Planning Commission of San Diego, Mr. and Mrs. Rohr have four daughters. He has been a mem­ himself, as well as raising his six children, who range from 5 Coif, fishing and Hi Fi are his hobbies. He and Mrs. Kitchin the United Community Services, and the Budget Committee ber of the Board of Directors of the Chula Vista Chamber of months to 10 years in age. He belongs to professional and have two daughters in college, and a son attends junior high of the San Diego Taxpayers Association. He is a member of Commerce, and is a member of the Society of Automotive En­ honorary societies, has published various articles and given school. the California and Arizona State Bar Associations. gineers and of Aerospace Museum, Incorporated. several presentations before professional conferences.

24 ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 25 te

Self-generated, company financed propjets, turbojets, turbofans and engine vectoring systems and still research and development efforts rockets has confronted Rohr re­ another involved the flow character­ 'Short Order' Engineering have resulted in design innovations search with an array of new prob­ istics of thrust reversal equipment and, in some cases, proprietary de­ lems involved in the progress to attached to the ejector nozzles of SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES CHANGE BUT PHILOSOPHY signs on such aircraft components supersonic aircraft applications. supersonic aircraft. as thrust reversers, brazed and REMAINS GEARED TO CUSTOMER Installation of a propulsion com­ Studies of structures for super­ bonded honeycomb structures, ponents test facility during the past sonic applications have been a ma­ welded structures and complete year illustrated such new research jor requirement, since the company power packages and pods. requirements. Rohr engineering intends to participate substantially By K. W. Goebel in forthcoming SST programs. Vice President-Engineering Among the studies have been appli­ cations of titanium alloys in struc­ tures for supersonic aircraft and the use of electron beam welding in the manufacture of such structures. Another timely -research effort in­ volves preliminary design and test­ ing of thrust reversal systems for high-by-pass-ratio, long range en­ gines for transport type aircraft. Since thrust generated by the fan is several times that of the tailpipe, reversing only the tailpipe air as in many present systems will not suf­ fice for these engines. Advancing requirements in pro­ pulsion components has resulted in demands upon Rohr engineering for increasing depth in the area of aero-thermodynamics, and sonic structural fatigue, high temperature structural materials, and others. In order to meet such demands, the company has developed — and re­ cruited — personnel in specialized technologies. This increase in tech­ nical talent, plus the supplementa­ tion of research and test facilities, A Propulsion Components Test Facility designed and built at the Chula Vista Plant, around Elaborate test setup on a DC-9 cowling. has produced a new level of capa­ a modern turbojet engine, makes possible a variety of "hot end" environmental studies. bility equal to the new problems. This means a generally greater scope of ability to handle the total LTHOUGH Rohr aerospace en­ technology of the industry as a tage of ever advancing manufactur­ In the main, however, research faced a whole new field of propul­ gineering efforts have made sub­ work has contributed to the scope sion components test applications. engineering package on the com­ A whole. Increasing engineering cap­ ing techniques. The demand for ponents Rohr builds. stantial technological strides and ability in the product design area such service is currently greater of customer research—supplement­ Some of the recent and current have broadened into many diverse For regardless of the technology has accompanied the growth in the than ever before. ing that research in the particular programs illustrate the nature and scientific disciplines, they are tied scope of manufacturing capabilities. areas of Rohr specialization. variety of studies required to main­ involved, Rohr's primary objective just as closely as ever in the past to Rohr engineering is working with tain a competitive position in this is to meet the needs of the custo­ Many current and forthcoming pro^ customers on several new aircraft Thus, despite the company's the task of meeting known or anti­ traditional role as a subcontractor, rapidly advancing field. mer, whether the program calls for grams involve engineering respon­ not yet off the drawing boards, such cipated customer requirements. sibility, it is no longer possible to confine Recent studies have involved manufacture to customer design, In the 25 years of Rohr's history as the American supersonic trans­ reearch efforts as closely as in years evaluation of high temperature bear­ structural design, or complete pack­ A majority of our production port and the Air Force Heavy age projects involving research, as a subcontract supplier of struc­ programs today involve Rohr engi­ past. The company's specialization ings and lubricants to determine tural components, the company's Logistics Transport, among others. in the manufacture of propulsion suitability for use at the "hot end" systems selection and other tech­ neers working closely with customer The company's advanced engineer­ nical services. engineering and research efforts engineering to produce sophisticated components, which has advanced of propulsion units. Another recent have grown with the mushrooming ing capabilities enhance Rohr's com­ from the piston engine through the program called for testing of jet products designed to take advan­ petitive position on such programs.

26 ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 27 Self-generated, company financed propjets, turbojets, turbofans and engine vectoring systems and still research and development efforts rockets has confronted Rohr re­ another involved the flow character­ Short order' Engineering have resulted in design innovations search with an array of new prob­ istics of thrust reversal equipment and, in some cases, proprietary de­ lems involved in the progress to attached to the ejector nozzles of SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES CHANGE BUT PHILOSOPHY signs on such aircraft components supersonic aircraft applications. supersonic aircraft. as thrust reversers, brazed and Installation of a propulsion com­ Studies of structures for super­ REMAINS GEARED TO CUSTOMER bonded honeycomb structures, ponents test facility during the past sonic applications have been a ma­ welded structures and complete year illustrated such new research jor requirement, since the company power packages and pods. requirements. Rohr engineering intends to participate substantially By K. W. Goebel in forthcoming SST programs. Among the studies have been appli­ Vice President-Engineering cations of titanium alloys in struc­ tures for supersonic aircraft and the use of electron beam welding in the manufacture of such structures. Another timely -research effort in­ volves preliminary design and test­ ing of thrust reversal systems for high-by-pass-ratio, long range en­ gines for transport type aircraft. Since thrust generated by the fan is several times that of the tailpipe, reversing only the tailpipe air as in many present systems will not suf­ fice for these engines. Advancing requirements in pro­ pulsion components has resulted in demands upon Rohr engineering for increasing depth in the area of aero-thermodynamics, and sonic structural fatigue, high temperature structural materials, and others. In order to meet such demands, the company has developed — and re­ cruited — personnel in specialized technologies. This increase in tech­ ^M nical talent, plus the supplementa­ tion of research and test facilities, A Propulsion Components Test Facility designed and built at the Chula Vista Plant, around Elaborate test setup on a DC-9 cowling. has produced a new level of capa­ a modern turbojet engine, makes possible a variety of "hot end" environmental studies. bility equal to the new problems. This means a generally greater scope of ability to handle the total LTHOUGH Rohr aerospace en­ technology of the industry as a tage of ever advancing manufactur­ In the main, however, research faced a whole new field of propul­ gineering efforts have made sub­ sion components test applications. engineering package on the com­ A whole. Increasing engineering cap­ ing techniques. The demand for work has contributed to the scope ponents Rohr builds. stantial technological strides and ability in the product design area such service is currently greater of customer research—supplement­ Some of the recent and current have broadened into many diverse has accompanied the growth in the than ever before. ing that research in the particular programs illustrate the nature and For regardless of the technology scientific disciplines, they are tied scope of manufacturing capabilities. Rohr engineering is working with areas of Rohr specialization. variety of studies required to main­ involved, Rohr's primary objective just as closely as ever in the past to Many current and forthcoming pro­ customers on several new aircraft Thus, despite the company's tain a competitive position in this is to meet the needs of the custo­ the task of meeting known or anti­ grams involve engineering respon­ not yet off the drawing boards, such traditional role as a subcontractor, rapidly advancing field. mer, whether the program calls for cipated customer requirements. sibility. as the American supersonic trans­ it is no longer possible to confine Recent studies have involved manufacture to customer design, In the 25 years of Rohr's history A majority of our production port and the Air Force Heavy reearch efforts as closely as in years evaluation of high temperature bear­ structural design, or complete pack­ age projects involving research, as a subcontract supplier of struc­ programs today involve Rohr engi­ Logistics Transport, among others. past. The company's specialization ings and lubricants to determine tural components, the company's neers working closely with customer in the manufacture of propulsion suitability for use at the "hot end" systems selection and other tech­ The company's advanced engineer­ nical services. engineering and research efforts engineering to produce sophisticated ing capabilities enhance Rohr's com­ components, which has advanced of propulsion units. Another recent have grown with the mushrooming products designed to take advan­ petitive position on such programs. from the piston engine through the program called for testing of jet D

26 ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 ITH rapidly increasing trends W towards automatic manufac­ turing methods, spearheaded by technical advancements in numeri­ The critical Eye cal manufacturing procedures and equipment, it is necessary for Qual­ QUALITY CONTROL TECHNIQUES KEEP ity Assurance to plan procedures and programs compatible with the PACE WITH CHANGING TECHNOLOGY manufacturing techniques. Close coordination with the man­ ufacturing program is being main­ tained to assure that the Quality Assurance program is developed properly to supplement the advances in manufacturing techniques, and to verify that a continuing high qual­ ity level is maintained. The mod­ ernization of Quality Assurance techniques applies to the fabrica­ tion of tooling as well as produc­ tion components. A recent and highly successful venture in this area involved the inspection of panels constructed to form the reflecting surface of a large antenna. All tools required to By I. Dagan produce these panels were manufac­ Director of Quality Control tured on numerical, tape-controlled machines, and the panel surfaces were required to maintain a high de­ gree of accuracy relative to the theoretical curvature required for efficient antenna operations. X-ray inspection techniques have been developed to a high level to make possible thorough inspection of such In order to verify this accuracy components as this large stainless steel honeycomb sandwich panel. the panels were positioned on a numerically controlled machine in the same manner that they would out system supplied automatic docu­ tive approach of recognizing ex­ In order to insure the high qual­ acteristics of the part being exam­ the braze pattern. later be installed on the antenna. mentation of product acceptability. ceptional performance with the in­ ity expected in our extensive manu­ ined. Many types of electronic equip­ The machine was then moved A Zero Defects program has tent of continuously improving facture of brazed honeycomb struc­ Ultrasonic Inspection: Method ment are in dairy use for checking numerically to predetermined posi­ been established to obtain the par­ craftsmanship. tures, nondestructive testing tech­ by which sound or energy is intro­ of material thickness, organic and tions on the panels and measure­ ticipation of all levels of plant In order to determine the results niques such as In-motion Radiog­ duced into a part, and the reflected metal coatings, as well as for the ments were taken and recorded activity in producing quality prod­ of this program throughout the fac­ raphy, Ultrasonic Inspection, and energy is measured. Dissimilarities examination of material for internal automatically through a print-out ucts in order to enhance our com­ tory, existing levels of quality were Thermographic Inspection are util­ within the structure are noted on an discontinuities and composition. An system. This printed data was then petitive position in the industry. established and improvement is ized, as follows: oscilloscope, or can be reproduced innovation followed by Quality As­ analyzed to determine the actual This program is pointed toward mo­ measured relative to those levels. In-motion Radiography: X-ray on a chart for evaluation. surance is the use of portable dic­ accuracy of the antenna reflecting tivating people to perform properly Thermographic Inspection: Part tating equipment for the recording surfaces. In addition to obtaining This measurement is displayed in units designed in such a manner the first time, and to develop pride the various areas in the form of that the x-ray head moves over the coated with a special material of defects on major assemblies, the accurate measurements neces­ and satisfaction in that accomplish­ which, when heated to a controlled which has resulted in reduced in­ sary, the data provided by the print- trend charts intended to advertise part, creating a radiograph that ment. The program takes the posi­ and recognize improved quality. clearly defines all the internal char- temperature, will clearly portray spection costs. D

28 IS 0## Magazine, Summer, 1965 29 has resulted in a more expeditious and continuous flow of parts within A Changing Scene In Manufacturing the Trim and Drill Department. Patterned after the sub-assembly conveyor system, this new system ESPITE the growing complexity of operations to be performed by the worker has enabled realization has produced substantial savings in D and technological advances of material handling, internal transpor­ the aerospace industry, Rohr of 15 to 20 percent reduction in man hours on suitable operations. tation and space utilization. Im­ Corporation's success today — as provements in housekeeping, effi­ throughout its history — it based Further increases in efficiency upon the company's ability to build may be expected through introduc­ ciency and cost are noteworthy. what the customer requires, on time tion of numerically controlled as­ A mechanized planning system and at a competitive price. sembly machines into "on-line" scheduled to go into operation later operations. Such a machine, a nu­ this year will be utilized in conjunc­ Within this basic philosophy, tion with the computer facilities for there is a constant and continuing merically controlled automatic riv­ eter, is under development and has ordering quantities of parts to sup­ effort to advance the "state of the port scheduled needs. Considered art" in manufacturing areas. Typi­ By E. A. WHITE shown a high degree of reliability— cal of this effort is the increasing both in its riveting operation and a highly advanced system, it will as­ General Superintendent of sure compatibility of tools, parts, emphasis on conveyorized assembly Production in its ability to make its own control and sub-assembly. Monorail engine tapes for future operations. material and, in most instances, will lines are the rule now on all of the guarantee methods of manufacture This six-axis machine is designed prior to trial. Installation of this major programs involving propjet, work station with work flowing to primarily for the numerically con­ turbojet and turbofan pod assembly. mechanized planning system is ex­ him in "kit" form still exists. How­ trolled riveting of skins to structure pected to reduce costs of planning The continued importance of ever, innovations such as automatic on complex, compound-contoured conveyorized sub-assembly is based by some 30 percent. riveting equipment have increased cowl panels and is one of Rohr's In another significant step toward upon significant cost reduction and efficiency on long-run sub-assembly first steps into the company's new improved work flow. Experience meeting anticipated demands of the operations. "auto-production" philosophy. industry with automated production with a variety of systems through Sequence of build has been re- Conveyorized handling also has the years has led to refinement of techniques, the company has studied emphasized, as well as scheduling been introduced into the detail fab­ and determined the feasibility of nu­ the conveyor systems. The philos­ required parts, tools and planning rication of parts. A recently in­ ophy of locating an employe at a merically controlled welding ma­ into the conveyor line. Positioning stalled in-line flow conveyor system chines. Basic design concepts were determined and it is anticipated that this concept of automatic, nu­ merically controlled welding will Details moving through extensive roller conveyor system minimize material handling. play an important part in the rap­ idly advancing horizons of the aero­ space industry. Advances have been made in the welding of exotic type metals in atmospheric controlled chambers, while introduction of electron beam welding facilities also has enhanced manufacturing capabilities. New equipment, both numerically controlled and conventional, and a steadily advancing technology keep the company's machine shop opera­ tions up with, and frequently ahead of, the demands of the industry. Machining titanium, columbium, beryllium, Hastelloy, maraging steel, Inconel, Rene'41 and even tungsten has become daily routine, and all of these are materials either unheard of or considered impossible a few years ago. D configuration of the finished product tine and repetitious material. The The use of ceramics in brazing fix­ is limited only by the ability to fab­ system also provides for rapidly ob­ tures has resulted in weight re­ ricate an electrode. taining past information from plan­ duction of production assemblies The precision and tracking ac­ ning such as engineering part num­ through use of stainless steel honey­ curacy of Rohr antennas have been bers, etc. Mechanized planning is comb panels. The latest advance it improved by the development of a also used in connection with the the use of urethane plastics in form­ coating system which inhibits de­ computer system in speeding the ing tools. flections due to temperature and ordering of parts. Quantities of Stretch dies for forming detail corrosion variations. parts can be ordered compatible parts are now being built in tooling Several programs for developing with the scheduling system. departments utilizing numerical con­ design data and manufacturing tech­ Rohr's ability to design and build trol techniques which will in many niques, nondestructive test methods tooling has required that we con­ cases eliminate the need for master utilizing ultrasonic test techniques, stantly keep abreast of new tech­ models, reference patterns, and BY H. C. EMERSON and research results of welding nology and in many cases develop Manufacturing Engineering and other tools. Tooling Manager heavy-gauge steel plate by sub­ our own techniques. Standard tools are being de­ merged arc, metallic arc, electro- The development of plastics and veloped for use on production ma­ slag, and metallic inert gas pro­ ceramics has brought changes in chined parts which will reduce the cesses provide the information and several ways. The use of this ma­ requirement for special tools in in­ techniques necessary to produce terial has replaced metals in many dividual parts. large rocket nozzle shells. applications, resulting in more ac­ The utilization of steel rule dies Mechanized planning, a system curate contours, savings in costs and in the production of large blank developed for writing planning into weight, and a substantial simplifi­ parts has resulted in substantial sav­ Largest bonded assemblies in the aircraft industry, the C-I41 cargo doors enter the symbolics, then processing through cation of tool fabrication. Rohr's ings over former methods of scrib­ IT x 35* autoclave for bonding on special-built tooling at the Rohr Space Products ability to manufacture tooling con­ ing, drilling, trimming and burring. Division plant in Riverside. a computer and high speed printer into a work sheet which can be used structed from ceramics allows the A new type punch, which is by production, practically eliminates production of honeycomb braze adaptable to our present tooling, has the planning time spent writing rou­ panels in almost any configuration. deleted the necessity for using drills Toiling lechiiques set the Pace NUMERICAL CONTROL, CONVEYORS, NEW PHILOSOPHIES MEAN COST REDUCTION

Locating tools for use in bagging an insulation segment for United Technology OHR has made many substan­ elevated temperatures, in aircraft ance heated adhesives, and develop­ Center's 120-inch rocket motor case. The case is completely insulated in the P5IS ""^SSS propellant area. R tial technological advances in and missiles. ment of methods for producing IRD^^MMS Tooling and manufacturing En­ Three 8' diameter by 22' long large bonded honeycomb structures W^^>^_. '•'•'-/% gineering within recent years in and one 15' diameter by 35' long has resulted in enhancing both order to keep pace with develop­ autoclaves with automatic recording Rohr's bonding capabilities reputa­ B'lllf •• '/- "i 4H9K ments in the aerospace industry. and programming controls are now tion, and has been instrumental in \) /flfl I Will MIUHBIIMll In the field of engineering re­ in use. Bonding pressures can be obtaining production contracts on mm/U search, the application of new ma­ infinitely varied to a maximum of aircraft, helicopters, missiles, and fAw wA Bfi terials to honeycomb configurations 250 pounds per square inch. An space vehicles. 1 iri If*) di^BR 'it vfSJs! has resulted in developing tech­ additional 15' x 35' autoclave is I^V^Sfc-^ i&^^^jXmS^' Electrical discharge machining ^ Ww" eAri.'m niques for brazing high temperature being added to our facility and is SWlfi^J ''Wlr _^^^^M&~' employs the erosion principle for aC^-^^BI Rene '41 and Haynes 25 honeycomb expected to be in operation by precision material removal, and is fl^B§»j£fl| for use in missiles. Development of early 1966. successfully used in the machining test data and improved design tech­ We are presently manufacturing of honeycomb core. niques has made possible produc­ approximately 500 different metal Essentially, EDM uses an inter­ tion of the first steel honeycomb jet bonded assemblies varying in size mittent high frequency spark to re­ engine exhaust nozzles, used on the and complexity from small two part move material, submerged in a non- Lockheed C-141 aircraft. assemblies to large bonded assem­ conductive or dielectric fluid. Additional studies in the use of blies, comprised of hundreds of de­ The primary advantages of elec­ an in-flight thrust reversers have tail parts. trical discharge machining of the The pentagon turret, located on a rotary table and capable of provided valuable experience. Successful bonding of the 9' x 28' honeycomb core lie in the following holding five large size tools, reduces down-time in connection Presently in development are new cargo doors for the C-141 has made areas: the electrode, or cutting tool with a numerically controlled milling machine, by allowing the methods for high temperature resis­ operator to simultaneously load or unload parts during the Rohr producer of the largest com­ does not touch the work piece, milling operation without having to move the spindle to park tant adhesive bonding of magnes­ pound contoured bonded honey­ hence, there is no danger of crush­ position. ium, aluminum, stainless steel, ti­ comb assembly yet manufactured. ing or other damage to the core, tanium and fiberglass to achieve Other research in bonding beryl­ metal removal is greater than for greater strength with less weight at lium and titanium, the use of resist­ more conventional methods, and the The use of electrical discharge machining in cutting stainless steel honeycomb core prevents crushing or damaging the deli­ cate .001" to .004" thick cell walls while maintaining the neces­ 32 sary close tolerances. i

Adaption of the monorail system to the engine build-up line for the Lockheed P3A Orion early this year should result in initial savings for the fiscal year of 2'.2 times the amount spent on initial installation costs.

in many of our detail parts. The Both crank and hydraulic presses customers or compiled by our own hardness of the newer exotic steels are located in the die shop for try- programming group. makes the punch method more eco­ out and development purposes. Numerical control machining has nomical to use than the older drill­ Other larger presses, and drop ham­ also proven useful for form blocks. ing methods necessitating consider­ mers, in use in the manufacturing It has resulted in more accurate and able re-sharpening of the drills. area, have been utilized in the economical stretch dies to produce We have expanded our horn manufacture of thousands of air­ detail parts. routers to five machines, resulting craft parts. Rohr personnel developed pro­ in accurate trimming without using A monorail system is employed grams to define mathematically and hand routers or router bucks. in the form block department to machine by N/C the header tem­ Machining with carbide cutting service the routers. plates and longitudinal bars for all tools has replaced high speed cut­ The use of the monorail concept master tooling containing airplane ting tools in the majority of appli­ in the engine build-up line in the contours as well as for many com­ cations and has made possible the manufacturing area, provides bet­ plex parts, difficult or impossible to use of heat resistant high strength ter accessibility for installations, re­ machine by the older method. materials where required in tooling. duces congestion and eliminates the The extended use of mathema­ Tracing equipment is now used on need to move mobile holding fix­ tically defined surfaces and the lathes and planer to machine con­ tures. With previous experience in technical ability to manipulate such toured and complex configurations the use of the system on the pure surfaces has contributed to a new that previously were impossible. jet type engines of the C-141, DC-9, manufacturing philosophy. The de­ Explosive forming through chem­ KC-135, 707, and 720B, Rohr re- sign of the product is no longer ical or electrical energy release has cently implemented monorail facili­ limited to conventional lines, points made complex shapes practical to ties to include the P3A turbo-prop and circles, but now can utilize the produce. Machining of these dies engine. Stabilizing outriggers were use of conies, paraboloids, and ma­ through numerical control process developed to overcome the new thematically defined surfaces. The THEY NEEDED TROPOS FOR THE TROPICS has reduced the handwork involved. problem in stability required in this production facility employs numeri­ In welding, the latest methods different type of engine. cal control equipment to produce erection and inspection, please have been adopted, including the Other advances come from the the desired part configuration with­ PROBLEM: International Tele­ and associated waveguide equip­ use of a plasmarc cutting machine use of numerical control machining out the requirement for highly phone and Telegraph Export Cor­ ment. Why? Rohr tropos are cost- write: Marketing Manager, An­ for aluminum and cres materials, for contour templates, which has in­ skilled production personnel. How­ poration needed on short delivery competitively designed for sta­ tenna Division, Dept. 37, Rohr while new optical tooling for accu­ creased the accuracy of model fabri­ ever, quality assurance was the one schedule a reliable, low-cost, bility, accuracy, and reliability, Corporation, Chula Vista, Calif. rate assembly of large tooling de­ cation. factor which was not computerized troposcatter antenna system for and Rohr delivers fast. Whether tails has been employed. Precision Four jig boring machines, vertical or automated. Usages of the nu­ it's tropos for the tropics, desert, merical control system in the area Philippine Islands communications measuring equipment such as gage and horizontal, are in use which can or Arctic, Rohr can design them blocks, optical comparators, large of quality assurance are now being that would withstand typhoons. ANTENNA hold two ten-thousandths accuracy. for you for less, because Rohr is granite surface tables, bore gauges, These have greatly increased our developed. Present usage includes SOLUTION: They chose Rohr a leader in the diversified fields DIVISION and optical equipment are in com­ workload capacity, which operating a "sweep-template" method on the * mon use. from numerical data supplied by 30' antenna. • Corporation Antenna Division to of deep space, tracking and com­ climate-design and fabricate munications antennas. For further twelve 60-foot troposcatter an­ information regarding Rohr's tenna systems complete with problem solving capabilities from ROHR 34 transmitting and receiving feeds design concept through on-site CO R PO R ATIOIM Electron beam welding titanium track fittings. Manufacturing Research efforts The Soni-Form, electrical discharge forming machine, is an outgrowth of have recently enlarged the capabilities of this and other electron beam equipment. Manufacturing Research efforts in the high energy forming area. No Ivory Towers 'SHOP PROBLEMS LEAD TO STATE OF ART PROGRESS

ANUFACTURING Research opment of mechanical sequencing ously had been made as a half material. for the submerged arc welding of M operations at Rohr are tied di­ systems for the Soni-Form ma­ stamping requiring five detail parts Research efforts also have en­ thick section maraging steel and In- rectly to the processes and prob­ chines. and much welding. Its fatigue life larged the capability of the com­ conel 718. In both cases little prac­ lems of the "shop." Since research With an eye to increasing water was short and was considered a pany's electron beam welding equip­ tical information on weldability was by its nature, however, tends some­ shortage problems around the major flight safety problem. Re­ ment. Under one sales order, available and research programs times to lead rather than follow, world, studies have been made on search conducted by Manufacturing special assemblies of tantalum and were necessary. Rohr Manufacturing Research fre­ the use of electrical discharge as a Research resulted in a one piece niobium were electron beam weld­ In the brazing field, the major quently reaches beyond immediate means of destroying bacteria in detail having one longitudinal weld. ed, illustrating the ability of this contribution has been development problems into accomplishments that water — thus making waste water The resultant assembly passed all process to weld dissimilar refrac­ of the Rohr Standard Retort (cold constitute general advancements in re-usable. Tests to date indicate engineering requirements and is tory metals. The welds were sound box) for use in vacuum brazing of the aerospace industry. essentially complete destruction of now in flight use — and is being and passed extensive gas spectro­ honeycomb panels. Through pro­ A major accomplishment of this bacteria by this method. adapted for use on other new air­ meter leak tests. cedures and parameters developed type has been the development of BY H. M. RUSH Considerable attention has been craft. Substantial progress has been through research, cost reductions the Soni-Form, a highly efficient Chief of Manufacturing Research given recently to forming problems Contributions also have been made in efforts to adapt electron and quality improvements were electrical discharge forming ma­ involving unusual materials and made through development of form­ beam welding for use outside the achieved on both aircraft and rocket chine. This machine, one of which configurations. ing techniques thin gauge corru­ presently required vacuum cham­ motor panels. has been sold, was the culmination of attracted interest throughout the The unique development of one gated panels of Rene1 41 for a su­ ber. Such a system would remove Investigation also led to success­ extensive research aimed at refining country. piece tapered tube of Hastelloy X personic transport application and present size limitations imposed by ful brazing of Rene* 41 honeycomb high energy forming processes to Improvements in electric dis­ now used in the DC-9 pneumatic in the forming of a sintered woven the chamber and would allow elec­ panels and to development of tech­ improve speed and eliminate or min­ charge forming were further ad­ system is another example of ex­ wire mesh material. tron beam welding on the assembly niques for brazing copper cooling imize environment problems. The vanced by such research programs plosive forming technique consti­ Intense research effort also led to line. A "walking seal" device has fins to stainless steel radiator con­ machines are now in regular use in as the use of magnetic coils for tuting a major contribution to the development of effective welding shown promising results. denser tubes for Atomics Inter­ the Rohr-Chula Vista plant and have pulsed field forming and the devel­ state of the art. This tube previ- techniques for this difficult mesh Techniques also were developed national.

36 ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 BOTTLENECK in the numeri­ the master part definition tape, to A cal control programming phase automatically define hole patterns, of fabricating tools and parts on to calculate flange angles, and to numerical control equipment has develop form block contours are been the process of transforming an among these. engineering drawing to numerical As described to this point, the data. NULO procedure depends on hav­ In the past, this task has fallen ing engineering data in numerical to the part programmer who, above form. Often, undimensioned draw­ all, must be knowledgeable about ings are received from our cus­ machining techniques and other tomers. These drawings must be machine shop practices. Thus, the transformed to numerical data as in special abilities required to trans­ By N. O. OLESTEN the past. The procedure differs in form a drawing into a mathematical Chief of Numerical Control that a specialist will do it, and he definition of surfaces to be machined will be aided by an output device on are necessarily secondary skills of a ately available to him. He does not the drafting machine. With this de­ part programmer. have to interpret a drawing, with vice, a drawing may be placed on Often, the complexity of a tool the chance of misinterpretation, nor the drafting machine table and by or part requires a specialist, such consult with a loft engineer for as­ means of a joy-stick control and as a loft engineer, to correctly de­ sistance in defining surfaces through closed circuit television, coordinate fine the surfaces forming it. Also, methods with which he is unfamil­ values may be "picked up" from the less complex parts could certainly iar. In short, the part programmer drawing and automatically punched be more efficiently defined by these can concentrate on his specialty- into paper tape. The data on the specialists. generating control media for nu­ paper tape may then be utilized by To realize the gains to be made merical control machine tools. the loft engineer to create a math­ through specialization, a procedure APTIII has been chosen as the ematical definition of the drawing, in which the engineering department programming language for this and finally a NULO to replace the will define their drawings numeri­ work because it is sophisticated and customer's drawing. cally has been established. Under available. APT was written for ma­ Eventually, a complete system, this system, loft engineers receive chining operations however, and is identical in purpose to the NULO preliminary drawings from the de­ not ideally suited for programming procedure, will be used throughout signers, as they have in the past, drawings. To adapt APT for this the aerospace industry. Our current for the purpose of making full scale purpose, several supplementary rou­ system will meet our needs until a undimensional drawings for use by tines are being prepared. Special programming language directed to tooling, fabrication, and assembly routines to write, read and update drafting needs is available. D departments. Instead of making a graphic drawing, the loft engineer now writes a program to define the surfaces of the parts on the drawing. Further, he writes the statements Numerical Lolling SPECIALIZATION necessary to operate a numerically controlled drafting machine which SPEEDS PROGRAMMING FUNCTION will produce the drawing to be used Rohr's numerical lofting techniques were developed and tested through use of this PRECISELY! A GREAT NEW ANTENNA FACILITY AT ROHR by the manufacturing departments. machine at Rocket dyne Division of North American Aviation. During the definition phase of Now iii operation, this massive radial arm mill is capable of machin­ For complete information re­ the loft engineer's task, the surface definitions have been preserved on ing 50-foot diameter workpieces while holding a tolerance of .002 garding Rohr's antenna design magnetic tape. This tape is a master &?\ rms. This new Rohr-designed mill was patterned from the original and manufacturing capabilities, part definition—an extension of the Rohr boring machine used to mill the famous 15-foot radio tele­ please write Marketing Man­ master dimensions concept which is scope for Aerospace Corporation ... the most precise of its kind ager, Rohr Corporation, An­ widely used today in the airframe "* * ***>», ever built, with reflector surface accuracy of .0018 rms achieved tenna Division, Dept. 56, Chula industry. The numerical layout Vista, California. (NULO) is identical in appearances over the required .004 rms. The new mill was especially designed to the ordinary undimensional draw­ for machining a 36-foot diameter solid face reflector for the ing. However, it is now only a National Radio Astronomy Observatory. graphic representation of the master Ultimate accuracy is achieved by utilizing ANTENNA part definition. laser beams for machine alignment and mon­ DIVISION A part programmer now has the itoring during milling operations. Future definition of the surfaces immedi- plans call for converting the machine into a 50-foot boring mill with seven motions, four ROHR numerically controlled. CORPORATION ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 Electronic Age Management NEW TECHNIQUES PROVIDE BETTER OPERATIONAL INFORMATION

The company's future competi­ how the part is to be manufactured. tive position depends, to a great ex­ With the entry of the part construc­ tent, on the progress that can be tion information, a computer pro­ made in developing a management gram will go to work to fitth e man­ information system that will assure ufacture of the part into the produc­ that the tools of production both in tion schedule in accordance with machines and manpower are used the date the part is required. Ma­ to their greatest potential. terial requirement data is then pro­ It is toward this end that the duced as a direct result of the part Data Processing Department has schedule. If the computer finds undertaken a long range total sys­ that the material is not in stock and tem plan. This system, utilizes By Harry Goodell not on order, it will be able to data collection units located in all Administrative Services Manager write a purchase order requisition manufacturing and materials handl­ which will be given to the Purchasing ing areas of the Chula Vista and engineering, manufacturing engi­ Department for their action. Riverside plants where data is first neering, scheduling, materiel, and The development of a realtime generated. It will feed a continuous production and later, in quality and system such as Rohr envisions is flow of new information directly financial controls so that the com­ extremely complex and will require into the central computer memory puter, with its access to over one- a great deal of coordination with bank in order that all levels of man­ half billion characters of on-line the departments involved. Most agement and operating personnel, memory, will be able to coordinate major companies are pursuing a with the use of visual display de­ a major portion of the information similar course, though, to date, no vices or typewriters hooked directly generated and required in these de­ one company has accomplished the to the computer, will have access partments. entire task. to pertinent information in its sim­ For example, as information With the implementation of such plest, most usable form. about new or changed parts is col­ a system at Rohr the benefits should Management reports will be gen­ lected from our customer's draw­ result in increased management con­ erated on an up-to-the-minute basis ings and fed into the computer, the trol and a shortening of the manu­ so that today's problems will be cor­ parts list along with other pertinent facturing cycle in order that we may rected today—not next week. information required will become improve our competitive position in This system will expand mechan­ immediately available to the manu­ a rapidly changing business en­ ical data processing in the areas of facturing engineers who determine vironment. D ROHR OPENS THE WIDEST WINDOW IN RADIO ASTRONOMY

Man's capability for pinpointing high frequency thermal radiation from island uni­ verses will be considerably greater in the summer of 1965 upon completion of this 36-foot diameter Rohr-built Az/El radio telescope near Tucson, Arizona. It will be the largest millimeter wave antenna in the Free World and features positive, gear less drive and absolute pointing accuracy with a design goal of two seconds of arc 36' DIAMETER ROHR-BUILT The electrically-driven 95-foot diameter Rohr Dome also is designed and built here AZ/EL RADIO TELESCOPE as an integral part of this advanced antenna unit for the National Radio Astronomy Surface accuracy: 0.002", 1 sigma Observatory. Rohr has the prime responsibility for this and other advanced optical rms, permitting operation at wave­ telescope dome installations now under construction, including a pair of 45-foot lengths to one millimeter with cor­ diameter domes for the new observatory on Mount Haleakaia, Maui, Hawaii, for the responding frequencies to 300 gc University of Michigan, which feature servo-driven apertures. And prime responsi­ Full sky coverage above 15° bility at Rohr has fuU meaning... elevation design, fabrication, coordination Tracking rates: with all subcontractors, erection and on-site performance check out. ANTENNA Azimuth: .052 to 1.5°/minute To get the facts on the economy DIVISION Elevation: .010 to 0.3°/minute and performance of large Rohr de­ Tracking accuracy: 2 seconds of arc signed and built antennas, towers Focal length to diameter ratio and Rohr Domes, write: Marketing 4-= 0.80 Manager, Antenna Division, Dept. ROHR 94, Rohr Corp., Chula Vista, Calif. CORPORATION

E» •?»••'• 9-xa Steelworkers place heavy girders high on the structure of the 210-foot diameter tracking antenna being built by Rohr for NASA at the Goldstone Deep Space Sta­ tion in the Mojave Desert. Microwave relay (horn) antennas being ship­ ped from the Chula Vista plant. Rohr builds these antennas under a contract from Western Electric Company.

Precision 85-foot steerable antenna built by Rohr for NASA and in­ stalled at Rosman, North Caro­ lina.

Scale model of the "210," which will stand as high as a 21-story building. A 30-foot diameter Az El antenna constructed by Rohr and erected at the Goldstone Deep Space Sta­ m tion. Antenna Division appear that the requirements for forts, our knowledge of optical tool­ contracts for six 85-foot diameter foundations. proven pointing accuracy of 7 accuracy were outstripping the ing, our advanced metal forming precision antennas and a 30-foot The division takes pride in being seconds of arc rms. For com­ "bridge-building" approach. To be techniques, and our welding tech­ diameter Az-El. ready to design and build any space parison— a dime subtends an sure, several aircraft firms had tried nology into the project—while at We consider ourselves antenna frame structure required by the angle of one second at a distance their hand at the antenna business the same time applying a quality structures experts. We do not de­ communications industry. To date of four miles. but their efforts applied exclusively level higher than most steel com­ sign or produce the radio frequency these have included: precision steer­ Three thirty-foot tracking an­ to aircraft technologies with little re­ panies regularly attain. or electronic equipment generally able antennas used to track, com­ tennas have been built for the gard for the inherent structural steel We have come a long way in the associated with the term "antenna." municate and command space Jet Propulsion Laboratory—one aspects of the product. past four years. Initially, our small Our contribution is the steel and probes; tropospheric scatter anten­ used for measurements on Venus As the first step in our program, group was sustained with a single aluminum structure. The Antenna nas used for communications be­ and the other two in conjunction Rohr management recruited a team contract for a 60-foot diameter Division is organized along extreme­ tween ground stations; microwave with NASA's Apollo program. of experienced antenna engineers. aluminum bonded reflector. During ly flexible lines, in that we will antennas and horns used for "line- We currently have in production This nucleus was supplemented with design, fabricate, or erect, either of-sight" transmissions; radar an­ a 36-foot diameter millimeter wave this period we studied new fabri­ separately or as a package. We tennas, both ground mounted and telescope which will be installed at talent from the aircraft side of the cation techniques for welded rather By R. D. Hall house—particularly in the areas of perform a number of engineering shipboard; steerable antennas for Kitt Peak, Arizona, for the Na­ than bolted structures; developed studies for the systems primes in the satellite communications; and final­ tional Radio Astronomy Observa­ Manager—Antenna Division aerodynamics, optical tooling, com­ coating systems to replace the tra­ puter analysis and dynamics. Con­ antenna business and for numerous ly, equatorially mounted radio tele­ tory. It will have surface accuracies ditional galvanized finish of steel government agencies. Due to the scopes for radio astronomy. comparable to the 15-foot telescope PPROXIMATELY four years currently, we began to analyze our antennas; designed, developed and steel fabricating needs. Following interdependence between a large A few highlights of our more in­ and even more accurate pointing A ago Rohr entered the antenna tested high accuracy surface panels; steerable antenna structure and its capabilities. To manufacture this structures field as one part of a cor­ analytically detailed studies, we de­ developed computer programs to teresting antennas are given below: cided to create our own steel fabri­ drive and servo system, Rohr stands A 15 foot millimeter wave tel­ reflector to such exacting tolerances, porate diversification program. Our streamline our engineering effort; ready today to accept full respon­ we designed and installed the largest decision was based upon the firm cating capability. and adapted proven optical tooling escope was installed about a year sibility for these elements of the and a half ago at the Aerospace and most precise radial arm milling belief that a genuine marriage of Our aim was to become competi­ methods to the needs of field align­ system. Our engineering staff in­ machine in the world. aircraft and steel technologies, both tive with the steel companies by ing antenna axes within seconds of Corporation in El Segundo, Cali­ cludes experts in both of these fields fornia. We are convinced that One of our 85-foot antennas in in the design and fabrication areas, installing a facility specifically de­ arc and setting thousands of square and as a service to our customers would be beneficial to the product. signed for the production of an­ this is the most accurate antenna California received the television feet of antenna surface to within a we are prepared to furnish all an­ ever purchased. The surface was signals of the Japanese Olympics Until that time, a majority of an­ tennas. Additionally, an in-house few thousandths of an inch of the tenna hardware including reflectors, tenna structures had been built by steel capability would allow us to machined to an accuracy of .0018 which were relayed by the Syncom true curve. mounts, drives, servo systems and inch rms and the antenna has a Satellite. steel fabricators and it had begun to infuse the results of our R & D ef- Within a year we had obtained

44 ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 45 THE DIVISIONS

BY G. F. GUERIN Manager, Architectural Division

FTER three years of experimen­ faced on the exterior with asbestos which has been the difficulty in A tal work in a small pilot plant, cement, and on the interior with competing, cost wise, with conven­ the Company last year created the a variety of finishes — wallboard, tional construction, due to the in­ Architectural Division and acquired vinyl, plywood, to name a few. herent high quality of the Rohr a manufacturing facility at Fuller- Completely finished in the factory, house. ton, California. the component parts of the house The Division is continuing pro­ Limited production got under are then erected on the building duction of those houses for which way in the new facility several site. The result is an attractive, contracts have been signed, after months ago, and included residen­ durable structure — a wide variety which for a time the plant, with tial houses for erection at Borrego of designs is available. They require limited personnel, will be devoted One of two 45-foot diameter tracking Springs Park, Eagle Mountain (near a minimum of maintenance, are largely to further research. astrodomes built by Rohr for use with Indio), Victorville, and other com­ impervious to termites and dry rot. By this policy we will reduce the large optical telescopes atop Mt. Halea- munities in Southern California, and They have proved popular with heavy write-offs of production costs Skeleton structure of an 85-foot Rohr- kala in Hawaii. at Las Vegas, Nevada. builders and customers. that have affected Company earn­ built antenna outlined against the clear The houses consist of a steel However, numerous problems ings for the last two years. Q skies of the Grand Bahamas. frame, walls of polystyrene that are have been encountered, chief of

Our 8 5-foot radio telescope which Our primary field of interest, of was installed at the Naval Research course, is to maintain a position of Laboratories, Maryland Point Ob­ leadership in the antenna industry. n? servatory, is operating successfully Unfortunately, this industry has a Architectural Division at a 2 cm wavelength with an aper­ history of feast or famine, so to fill ture efficiency of 40 per cent—a in a few of the valleys we have un­ SKS**^ Rohr home erected in San Diego by a builder-dealer as a display model drew large and interested crowds to open house events. real advance in the state of the art. dertaken several interesting projects A classified 150-foot diameter to diversify ourselves. We have tracking antenna we built for a supplied the University of Michigan government agency is the cheapest with two 45-foot diameter tracking \ astrodomes to protect their large *Wt *fck.. dollar per square foot antenna High precision millimeter wave radio- available. optical telescopes and tracking cam­ telescope built by Rohr for Aerospace The colossus of United States eras from the environment atop Corporation and seen in operation atop 10,000 foot Mt. Haleakala in the one of the Aerospace buildings at El antennas is the 210-foot diameter Segundo, Calif. tracking antenna which was de­ State of Hawaii and we are cur­ signed and fabricated by Rohr over rently fabricating a 95-foot diameter Polaris program. We are currently the past two years and is currently dome for our 36-foot antenna which starting fabrication for an aluminum undergoing final assembly at the Jet will be erected at the Kitt Peak hulled high speed 65-foot boat and Propulsion Laboratory's Goldstone Arizona Observatory of the Na­ hope to participate in the Mohole Tracking Station near Barstow, tional Science Foundation. program. Our highest flying effort California. It stands as tall as a To bolster the corporation's in­ to date has been a radar calibration 21 story building and has 86 per terest in oceanography we are fab­ sphere which has been orbited by cent of an acre of reflecting surface ricating several research buoys — M.I.T. as one portion of their Lin­ area. Its rotating mass of approxi­ one for General Dynamics — a 40- coln Satellite. * A-JU mately five million pounds floats on foot diameter deep ocean weather Our capabilities and achieve­ an oil film only 5 to 8 thousandths station capable of telemetering in­ ments in the field of precision con­ of an inch thick. This antenna will formation on weather and sea con­ struction presently range from the **JL be used to track spacecraft to the ditions back to land — the other a ocean depths to terrestrial environ­ vicinity of Mars and Venus and will deep submergible buoy for Woods ment to the edges of outer space, be able to receive signals from radio Hole Oceanographic Institution to and we expect to fully exploit the sources billions of light years away. be used in conjunction with the future markets in these areas. •

46 ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 47

••• insulation for the three segments in Rohr's 15-foot by 35-foot auto­ pellant rocket motors without a of this motor is currently in pro­ clave. In each instance, the assem­ single failure. duction. Simultaneous to this task, bly is subsequently cleaned, in­ The Space Products Division has Rohr is producing a 156-inch mon­ spected and packaged for shipment an impressive capability in the area olithic maraging steel case for a 1.3 to the customer. of reinforced plastics and filament million pound thrust booster. In addition to the Titan III-C winding. More recent areas of par­ On the Titan III-C Program, Program, Rohr provided the rubber ticipation are: (1) deep submersi­ Rohr is providing rubber insulation insulation liner for the 156-inch, ble filament wound vehicles for un­ for 10 foot cylindrical center sec­ 1.2 million pound thrust motor suc­ derwater development programs; tions and the aft closure for the cessfully fired twice during 1964. (2) fiberglass laminate radar win­ 120-inch (1.2 million pound thrust) For the first firing, Rohr provided dows; and (3) filament wound com­ strap-on boosters. On this program, the insulation in the three segmented mercial applications in corrosive re­ the insulation for the center pound cases, including the forward and aft sistant structures and process equip­ section employs both the precured closures. These cases were refur­ ment for industry. and cured in-place techniques. The bished by Rohr for the second fir­ (1) A vehicle for sonar transducer aft closure insulation is fabricated ing. Only 125 days separated the calibration was recently placed in two stages to accommodate firings. These insulated compon­ in operation at the Navy, Point placement of a graphite nozzle mat­ ents, along with the Rohr manufac­ Loma facility. This unit is ing ring, which is precisely posi­ tured nozzle used in the second fir­ used to calibrate transducers tioned by the rubber material. In ing, were delivered on or ahead to a depth of 2,000 feet. All this case, the insulation is cured and of schedule. operations have been com­ bonded in place, simultaneously. Rohr has built nozzles of varying pletely successful. Reliability is assured by close sizes, and has provided insulation (2) The Horn Antenna Window, control of manufacturing processes, and other major components used manufactured for Western including curing under high pressure in the firings of 20 large solid pro­ Electric, is a large, flat, fiber- Rohr-rejurbished nozzle for Lockheed Propulsion solid fuel booster Loading huge Thiokol nozzle in the "Pregnant Guppy,' a Boeing ready for delivery at the Space Products Division. transport rebuilt for such use by the Air Force. Space Products Division

HE SHORT history of operations solid rocket motor demonstration Tat the Rohr Space Products Divi­ program also included the fabrica­ sion, is highlighted by many firsts tion of two 65-inch test assemblies. in the area of development and These nozzles were all fired success­ manufacture of major components fully. for large solid propellant rocket During mid-1963, Rohr fabri­ motors. cated a successfully fired nozzle ex­ Since producing the nozzle for tension for the F-l liquid propellant the first successfully fired 120-inch engine. This consisted of an abla­ diameter solid propellant rocket By H. R. CLEMENTS tive tape wrapped liner, honeycomb motor early in 1962, Space Prod­ Manager—Space Products Division sandwich structure with glass lami­ ucts Division manufactured rocket nate facings and filament wound nozzles for the 156^nch (1.2 mil­ formed and welded in the industry. glass reinforcement. lion pounds of thrust) motor and The nozzle's tape wrapped ablative Rohr, Space Products Division, is the world's largest (260") nozzle throat and liner sections consisted currently manufacturing the world's which was fired for the full sched­ of carbon, graphite and silica fabric largest submerged, liquid injection, uled 62 seconds duration at over impregnated with phenolic resins. thrust vector control nozzle for a 3 million pounds of thrust on a They were wrapped (on a mandrel) 156-inch (3 million pound thrust) 156-inch motor earlier this year. under precisely controlled tension, motor. This nozzle embodies the This nozzle was 19 feet high, 14 temperature, and pressure, then latest technology in tape wrapped feet in diameter at the exit cone, hydroclave cured at 350°F under a ablative throats and liners. Along and weighed 20,000 pounds. The pressure of 1000 psi. The four-ton with the tape wrapped ablative structural shell was formed of seg­ exit cone section alone, contained liner, the exit cone will utilize ments of 18 percent nickel maraging 21 miles of ablative tape. honeycomb and filament wound steel in the heaviest gauge yet The nozzles for the 260-inch glass for reinforcement. The rubber

48 glass laminate, the edges and corners of which are locally re­ inforced to facilitate load trans­ series of extremely accurate fer and rapid mounting under A and highly polished aluminum severe "field conditions." Its spheres being manufactured at purpose is to protect the very Rohr-Chula Vista is being put into SERVBS TO CAUBRATE AJ»«MWiMflnilflf*r accurately-formed paraboloid orbit around the earth to provide reflector (antenna) from the targets for the calibration of some environment, while permitting of the country's most powerful ra­ maximum transmission of un- dar and radio systems. distorted electromagnetic ra­ The first of these 44 Vi -inch diation to and from the an­ spheres rode into orbit on May 6 tenna surface. The window is as a "bonus payload" on a Titan tion about the shape of the earth's lathe. Sphere tolerance requirements fabricated with weather-resist­ III-A flight test at Cape Kennedy. gravitational field, according to the are extremely critical as were sur­ ant polyester resin and multiple It was injected into orbit to serve Lincoln Laboratory. face finish specifications. Inside surfaces of the spheres are anodized layers of fiberglass cloth to a as a test target to check the strength The useful life of the sphere in of radar signals from the ground. orbit is estimated at up to five years, black for better heat distribution very close thickness tolerance and the exteriors buffed and pol­ Giant 156-inch motor case entering the auto­ with virtually no voids or air due to an anticipated decline in Lay-up of rubber insulation on a 120- Designed by Massachusetts In­ efficiency resulting from surface de­ ished. inch solid fuel rocket motor end clo­ clave at Rohr Space Products Division for pockets which would tend to stitute of Technology's Lincoln Lab­ curing and bonding of the rubber insulation. gradation caused by collision with Accuracy of shape is required to sure for United Technology Center. alter the dielectric character­ oratory under the sponsorship of m icro-meteorites. the Advanced Research Projects produce steady radar echoes of uni­ istics of the window. form strength. The Lincoln Labora­ (3) The Division is presently de­ Agency of the Department of De­ As injected into orbit the alum­ inum sphere was as nearly perfect tory explained that other objects veloping filament wound pro­ fense the satellite sphere was one of two scientific satellites carried into in shape as modern manufacturing in orbit are non-spherical and thus cess tanks for handling and technology could make it. Spin- produce scintillating echoes fluc­ storage of corrosive fluids. The orbit on that same shot. The second t was an experimental communica­ formed hemispheres of .160 inch tuating widely in strength. first tanks for underground in­ aluminum were joined mechanically The initial order to Rohr called stallation will go into service tions satellite called the LES-2. The satellites were injected into orbit to a back-up ring and then ma­ for five of the spheres, with an in­ about August 1. These units chined on a tracer type vertical dication of further requirements. D are designed to store corrosive after the third burn of the Titan waste materials for reclamation transtage had placed it in a circular or safe disposal. orbit at an altitude of 1500 miles. The Space Products Division ex­ The LES-2 separated first and was cels in the areas of applied research, placed into a new orbit by its own development and application of ad­ small injection rocket. Then the vanced materials and processes in 75-pound polished metal sphere the successful solution of customer was ejected by a spring from a design and engineering problems. cylindrical container built into the Titan payload truss. The sphere Two recent examples include the moved away from the burned out development of a proprietary pro­ Titan at the rate of three feet per The highly polished surface will reflect cess for obtaining a controlled fiber second and into its own orbit. signals with sufficient accuracy to allow orientation within complex ablative calibration of radar and radio systems. configurations required for inlet ap­ Lincoln Laboratory's Mill Stone plications on submerged nozzles; Hill radar at Westford, Massachu­ and the adaptation to a production setts detected and tracked the environment of a new ablative ma­ sphere and reported fully satisfac­ terial and process (Snap Cure) cap­ tory results. In addition to its pri­ able of wrapping a cured compon­ mary mission in the calibration of ent without the use of a pressure radar and radio systems, the satel­ vessel. Both efforts were concluded lite sphere will be used in experi­ by furnishing actual hardware for ments to measure the influence of test firing. weather and atmospheric conditions on satellite radio relay communica­ New and unique applications of tions. the Space Products Division facili­ The calibration sphere is designed ties have been demonstrated in the to yield a variety of useful infor­ application of the 175-inch diameter mation, with applications seen in by 356-inch deep hydroclave to calibrating radar systems for re­ Motor cases for the United Technology Center's 120-inch solid fuel Titan lll-Cstrap-on test deep submergible vessels at sim­ Precise welding was boosters being insulated at the Rohr Space Products Division. entry studies, space communica­ required to join ulated ocean depths. This facil­ tions and radar astronomy. It may two hemispheres into a ity offers pressures to 1000 psi and also help obtain additional informa- perfect sphere. temperatures to 500°F. D

51 50 ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 Grumman Announces Thundering Success lur Titan m-c FOUR-STAGE VEHICLE PERFORMS PERFECTLY IN FIRST FIRING

HE NEWEST, most powerful Rohr's Space Products Division placed, the components are cured Trocket ever fired, the mighty Ti­ of Riverside, provided the Rohr- and bonded in a 15 by 35 foot tan III-C, scored a thundering suc­ built liner portion on the system's NNOUNCEMENT of a contract autoclave, one of the largest auto­ cess, June 18, on its maiden test booster engines. claves in the industry, and located A from the Grumman Aircraft flight at Cape Kennedy, Florida. Engineering Corporation will put The Space Products Division has at the Riverside plant Rohr-built pods and thrust reversers The giant, four-stage launch ve­ provided synthetic rubber insulation Five of the motor case segments on still another of the country's ad­ hicle, bearing insulation segments in the motor case segments and aft are used in each of the 90-foot tall vanced, high performance transport installed by Rohr in the strap-on closures throughout the program. booster motors. Motor case seg­ aircraft—this one a turbofan pow­ booster engines, roared aloft in per­ Thus far, the division has insulated ments and end closures insulated ered executive airplane. fect flight on its initial flight test, 80 of the 10-ft. diameter motor case by Rohr are used in the two solid carrying a 10V&-ton dummy pay- segments and 11 of the end closures. propellant, "strap-on" rockets which Grumman has awarded Rohr a load. It was the first time that the Each of the end closures contain constitute the booster stage of the contract, which should total in ex­ III-C configuration, with its strap-on some 2000 pounds of molded rub­ Titan III-C vehicle. cess of $15,000,000 through the solid rocket motors, and liquid- ber. One thousand pounds of syn­ course of the program, for the de­ In addition to the insulation work propelled core, had been launched. thetic rubber insulation goes into carried out by Rohr's Space Prod­ sign and manufacture of turbofan each of the motor case segments. engine pods and thrust reversers for Blazing into action and spewing ucts Division at Riverside, alumi­ ROHR RECEIVES CONTRACT ON PODS, twin jets of flame 400 to 500 feet Both prefabricated sections and num intertank structure for the the New York company's new Gulf- molded-in-place components are stream II. long, the 127 ft. high vehicle (that's Titan III-C are produced at the THRUST REVERSERS as tall as a 12-story building) devel­ used. main Chula Vista plant. Grumman announced production oped 2 Vi -million pounds of thrust After the insulation material is D plans early in May on this turbofan- from its UTC boosters, rose, and engine successor to the popular Grumman's Gulfstream II design incorporates aft-mounted pods and other disappeared into the Florida skies. propjet Gulfstream I. Rohr is man­ features associated with most recent, high performance jet transports. Successful first firing of the Titan III-C, the most powerful rocket ever fired. The ufacturing a variety of components Its first-stage engines took over 120-inch solid fuel first stage boosters were developed by United Technology Center for the Gulfstream I at the Com­ approximately 120 seconds after of Sunnyvale, California, with Rohr as one of the major subcontractors. pany's Winder, Georgia, plant and the launch. Small jets alongside in addition is producing major as­ range at 40,000-foot cruise altitude, The T-type empennage features a parted the spent booster engine semblies for die Grumman E2A. with 30-minute fuel reserve, will be swept vertical fin with a swept hori­ cases from the main vehicle, 28 miles above the earth. Assembly operations and mating 3010 nautical miles. zontal tail mounted atop the fin, of the pod and thrust reverser com­ The aircraft will be 80 feet long, well above the jet exhaust. At 67 miles the second stage ponents with the engines will take with a wingspread of approximately Range, operational versatility and engines cut in to give additional place at the Winder, Georgia, plant 69 feet and a wing sweep of 25 short-field capabilities will give boost to the payload. and from there the completed power degrees. The circular fuselage will Gulfstream II operators a wide va­ A third transtage, at 102 miles, plants will be shipped to Grum- offer possibilities for many different riety of options in corporate travel, blazed into action sending dummy man's plant at Bethpage, Long accommodation arrangements — according to Grumman. Long-range payload into orbit 115 miles above Island, New York. Design, tool from a walk-around cabin arranged multi-stop flights may be scheduled the earth, at 17,500 mph. manufacture and parts fabrication in "living room" fashion to an or many short hops may be accom­ The successfully fired vehicle is will be accomplished at Rohr's main airline type arrangement that will plished without refueling. a product of the Air Force Research plant in Chula Vista, California. handle up to 24 passengers. The and Development Program 624A, Selection of Rohr's Georgia fa­ conceived by the Space Systems Di­ Award of this contract with the pressurization system will provide cility as a subcontractor on this new Winder, Georgia, plant of Rohr rep­ sea-level cabin conditions up to vision of the Air Force Systems Grumman airplane means partici­ Command and developed by United resents a new major contract for 22,000 feet and an 8,000-foot cabin pation by the Company in virtually production of aircraft components. Technology Center and other major at 43,000 feet. The aft mounting every new transport aircraft pro­ aerospace firms as a standard space This new Gulfstream II is de­ of the power plants will result in gram now under way in this coun­ signed as the world's fastest corpo­ launch system for a variety of man­ very low cabin sound levels. try. In its traditional role as a ned and unmanned booster systems. rate transport and will operate in Power will be supplied by two subcontractor to the aerospace in­ I Rohr has been a major sub­ the transonic speed range — 585 Rolls-Royce "Spey" turbofan en­ dustry, Rohr has manufactured miles an hour. It will be certificated gines, each developing 11,400 contractor to United Technology more than 70,000 pods and power Center, division of United Aircraft for a maximum altitude capability pounds thrust. Engine pods will be packages through the 25 years of of 43,000 feet and will have a range Corp., Sunnyvale, contractor to SSD mounted on either side of the aft the Company's history. Rohr-built on the booster-stage. of 2640 nautical miles at 40,000 fuselage well above wing level and pods are in service on most of the feet with ten passengers, baggage Rohr-designed Thrust Reversers will multi-engine commercial and mili­ and a three-man crew. Maximum insure short field landing capability. tary aircraft now flying. D

52 ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 CUSTOMERS

Delta (TAD) was used to place the Aircraft Order Boosts Backlog Early Bird television satellite into synchronous orbit. Like the thrust augmented Thor, TAD is equipped OHR CORPORATION has received from Douglas terior and new, slimmer pods for the four turbofan engines. It will carry up to 251 passengers, and first with strap-on solid motors which Aircraft Company a contract for the manufacture supplement the lift-off thrust of the oHf Jet engine pods for models 62 and 63 of the ad­ deliveries of model 62 will be in the Spring of 1967. The DC-8 contract, plus the contract for jet pods basic liquid propellant system. vanced version of the DC-8. The contract, over the Latest addition to the long list of next three or four years, is expected to total approxi­ for the Grumman Gulfstream (described in more de­ tail on another page) places Rohr on all the major 1 military aircraft built by Douglas mately $35,000,000, including spares. multi-engine aircraft programs now in production, both during its 43»year history is the Not all of the total amount of the contract is in­ TA-4E advanced jet trainer. The cluded in the Company backlog, which now stands at military and civilian. TA-4E is a modification of the $221,800,000. Most orders on long run contracts, al­ In addition, the Company is negotiating several A-4E Skyhawk attack bomber, though for a specified number of ship sets, are received other contracts, both in aircraft and aerospace, con­ newest of the A-4 series which has in increments. It is Company policy to include in the tinuing the policy of diversification both as to customers served the Navy and Marine Corps backlog only amounts represented by work orders. and products. with maximum efficiency tor nearly The advanced version of the DC-8 will include a The tabulation at the bottom of the page shows Douglas Aircraft Company's newest a decade. the wide range of manufacturing activities. model, the twinjet DC-9, has been or­ three foot addition into each wing tip, a restyled in­ dered by 17 airlines for a total of 142 Major contributions by Douglas announced sales and leases, 19 sold with to the nation's missile arsenal are purchasing airlines not identified and 122 Engine build-up for the DC-9. the Zeus missile and the Nike Her­ DIVERSIFICATION OF CUSTOMERS AND PRODUCTS on option. cules Army anti-aircraft defense weapon. Douglas is associate con­ tractor to Western Electric in both AIRCRAFT CUSTOMERS NASA, Langley Research Center these programs. The Boeing Company NASA, MSFC, Huntsville Douglas employs some 50,000 Douglas Aircraft Company Rocketdyne (Div. of North American) Douglas Aircraft Company persons at locations from California to Cape Kennedy, Florida. Corpo­ Lockheed-Georgia Company AIRCRAFT PRODUCTS rate and Missile and Space Systems Lockheed-California Company ISSILE, space and aviation carrying as many as 251 passengers. headquarters are located in Santa Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp. Jet engine pods, fuselage sections, stabi­ M projects of the Douglas Air­ Designated as the Series 60, these Monica, and the Aircraft Group is lizers, elevators, thrust reversers, struts, craft Company combine to place new models of the DC-8 are en­ situated in Long Beach. SPACE PRODUCTS DIVISION ailerons, landing gear pods and doors, the Southern California-based firm larged by extending the fuselage. The Douglas Space Systems Cen­ Thiokol Chemical Corp. cargo petal doors, wing-to-body fairings, in the forefront of the nation's aero­ In the space field, Douglas is a ter, Huntington Beach, Calif., is one Lockheed Propulsion Company flight and ground spoilers, wing joint space companies. major contractor in the National of the world's most technically ad­ United Technology Center fittings. Founded by Donald W. Douglas Aeronautics and Space Administra­ vanced space research and assembly in 1921, the company has expanded tion's Saturn-Apollo program. The facilities. ANTENNA DIVISION SPACE PRODUCTS DIVISION PRODUCTS its initial role of commercial air­ company is producing the C-IVB, Additionally, Douglas is now Western Electric Company Submerged liquid injection and vector con­ craft builder into a wide range of an upper stage for different versions building an Advanced Research Jet Propulsion Laboratory trol nozzle for 156-inch filament wound associated fields. of the huge Saturn launch vehicle. Laboratory on the Huntington Gilfillan solid booster motor, insulation for case Douglas is chairman of the board, The S-IVB, a larger and more Beach site which is scheduled to for 3-million pound thrust nozzle, insula­ and Donald W. Douglas, Jr., presi­ powerful vehicle than the earlier open early next year and be staffed Bristol Iron & Steel tion of aft closure and center sections. dent of the company. Currently the Douglas-built S-IV, will be the top with more than 40 of the nation's Westinghouse Electric Corp. firm's backlog of business is more stage of the Saturn IB, assigned to top basic science researchers. Raytheon ANTENNA DIVISION PRODUCTS than $1.4 billion and consists of boost manned Apollo spacecraft into Other Douglas facilities include a commercial aviation, defense, atom­ earth orbit, and for the giant Saturn rocket engine static test installation National Radio Astronomy Observatory Microwave relay horn antennas, 210-foot tracking antennas, shipboard antennas, ic energy and space contracts. V which will propel the three-man in Sacramento; production facilities Massachusetts Institute of Technology radar antennas, 30, 60, and 85-foot track­ A sizeable portion of this backlog Apollo toward the moon. in Tulsa, Oklau, and Charlotte, I modcor U.SA. ing antennas, radio telescopes, radar includes orders for the Douglas Since the company entered the N.C., and the Aircomb Division, Reeves Instrument Co. calibration spheres. DC-9, the world's newest commer­ missile business in 1941 with the Cudahy, Calif., where high-strength, low-weight paper honeycomb struc­ Naval Research Laboratory cial short-to-medium-range jetliner development of an experimental MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS in production. The twinjet DC-9 is guided bomb, more than 45,000 tural core material is manufactured. CUSTOMERS Oxidizer pump manifold, engine and base undergoing an intensive flight test missiles and rockets have been built Newest company operation is at Aerojet General Corp. heat shield (Saturn V), service panels program preliminary to entering by Douglas. Hanford, Wash., where Douglas and Chrysler Corp. vector nozzle for J65 engine, honeycomb commercial service next year. Among these is the famed Thor the United Nuclear Company jointly will manage plutonium reactors and core, invar honeycomb rings, digimatic With sales of the reliable DC-8 rocket—the nation's most reliable Curtiss-Wright Corp. fuel fabrication facilities at the service, sheet metal cone, brazed honey­ four-engine commercial jet trans­ space booster—which Douglas pro­ DeHaviland Aircraft of Canada port continuing to climb, Douglas duces as prime contractor to the Atomic Energy Commission's plant comb assemblies, bonded bulkhead, F-l Douglas also is building a research Eastman Kodak Co. skirt Saturn V engine, intertank structures. has announced three "stretched" Air Force. versions of this airliner capable of The Douglas Thrust Augmented laboratory there. D

54 55 ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 THE CUSTOMERS

Lockheed's sub-hunting Orion, this time over a friendly US. submarine. Lockheed C-141 StarlAfter with Rohr-built pods, cargo doors and other components.

Installation of Rohr designed and built thrust reversers on PSA Orion propjet power packs on the monorail engine line JetStar pods. at Rohr-Chula Vista.

Lockheed's JetStar military-executive transport, with Rohr-built pods and thrust reversers. cargo transports now in U. S. and high altitude research plane. foreign military service, the C-141 Established Lockheed Electronics StarLifter, and is competing for the Company and Lockheed Aircraft C-5 military transport. International to strengthen elec­ Formed a division, now Lock­ tronics and overseas programs. heed Missiles & Space Company, Built the YF-12A interceptor, that builds the Polaris fleet ballistic holder of nine world speed records. HALF CENTURY ago Allan With Europe near war in 1938, planes. It started producing P-2 missile and Agena space vehicles Gained shipbuilding-heavy con­ A and Malcolm Lockheed de­ Lockheed won a huge order to Neptune patrol bombers for the used for numerous military and struction skills by acquiring Puget signed, built, and flew the first build the rugged Hudson bomber U. S. Navy and nine foreign na­ civilian space missions. The new Sound Bridge & Dry Dock Com­ Lockheed plane, then manufac­ to protect die vulnerable British tions — a record 17-year produc­ Poseidon fleet ballistic missile also pany, now renamed Lockheed Ship­ tured a 10-passenger flying boat, Isles and ultimately delivered 3000 tion of 1051 planes continuing is an LMSC program. building and Construction Com­ two Navy seaplanes, and a sport to Britain, the U.S., and allied na­ through 1962. Another postwar Introduced the 1500-mph F-104 pany. biplane. In the late 1920s came the tions. After Pearl Harbor its P-38 program, Constellation transports, Starfighter to U. S. and foreign Entered the rocket motor-propel- famous Vega monoplanes, a dis­ Lightning fighter hit a 15-a-day advanced global air travel to new service and became international lant field with Lockheed Propulsion tinguished line of record-setting peak. Employment climbed above heights of luxury, speed, and effi­ system manager on a vast over­ Company, builder of the rocket aircraft flown by famed pilots of 94,000. From Lockheed factories ciency. seas program in which seven nations escape systems for Mercury and that era. poured more than 19,000 military Diversification, growth, and new are manufacturing hundreds of Apollo, and developer of the first planes. Functional test on compressor section of in depression years the earlier product lines have accelerated in these versatile aircraft under license. 156-inch-diameter solid propellant Lockheed C-141 assembly on Rohr- Lockheed company went bankrupt. As peace neared, Lockheed be­ recent years as Lockheed: Developed the P-3A Orion as rocket motor in the national large Winder engine line. Robert E. Gross and a group of in­ gan building the F-80 Shooting Began operating the large govern­ the latest antisubmarine warfare booster rocket program. vestors in 1932 purchased its as­ Star, first U. S. operational jet ment aircraft factory in Marietta, plane. Launched ocean systems and un- sets, formed the present corpora­ fighter, forerunner of the T-33 and now Lockheed-Georgia Company, Entered the helicopter field with derseas research programs. tion, and built and marketed the T-1A trainer and F-94 interceptor to build bombers, the versatile its XH-51A rigidrotor vehicle. Lockheed facilities today cover successful Electra transport series. — a series totaling some 8400 C-130 Hercules family of troop- Built the U-2 reconnaissance and more than 21 million square feet. D

56 ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 57

: THg CUSTOMERS

were the first four-engine bombers. Its own target seeker pinpoints the mafic*, and totid-statc physics. The B-l7 became a major weapon enemy and attacks. Lunar Orbiter spacecraft da- in World War II, nearly 7,000 being The Turbine Division has pio­ signed to fly within 2ft miles of the built by Boeing alone. neered the majority of small gas- moon and take sharp, detailed pho­ The next bomber, the B-29, was turbine applications in the aircraft, tographs are being built for the the first pressurized heavy bomber marine, vehicular and industrial National Aeronautics and Space produced in quantity, the first with fields, while the Vertol Division. Administration. The company is a complete remote-controlled gun- acquired as the Vertol Aircraft the weapon system Integrator for firing system. Corporation in 1960, manufactures the Minuteman ICBM, the nation's Boeing's B-47 six-cngined Strato- helicopters and tilt-wing aircraft. major strategic mis&tic force, with jet and spectacular eight-jet B-52 The CH-46A Sea Knight deploys responsibility for assembly, test, bombers form the principal striking combat equipped troops to remote launch control and ground support force for the Strategic Air Com­ areas, and the CH-47A Chinook is systems. mand today. The B-52 set new the Army's standard medium-trans­ Boeing will produce the first speed and distance records, ex­ port helicopter, with a capacity of stage of the three-stage launch vehi­ tended unrefueled range, and could 33 fully equipped troops. cle Saturn V, which will boost the be used to launch supersonic North Boeing formed its Scientific Re­ Apollo spacecraft Boeing's booster American GAM-77 "Hound Dog" search Laboratories in 1958 for will be so large that transportation missiles. pure research in gas dynamics, by highway, rail, or air will be im­ More than 380 jet transports in flight mechanics, plasma physics, possible. Barges will move the units the 707/720 series of commercial geoastrophysics, advanced mathe- to Cape Kennedy. O airliners have been delivered to 26 airlines since 1952. The 707 can The Boeing 707, first of the ktrge jet transports, is in service in a variety of configura­ fly New York-to-London schedules tions throughout the world. in less than seven hours, carrying up to 189 passengers. The 707, 707- 120, 707-320, and 720 are all four- engine jet transports with 35-degree swept-back wings. The next model, iMttit of the Boeing )et transports to go into service is this short-to-medium range Trifet 727. the 727, which had its initial flight in February, 1963, is designed to operate on short-to-medium range HE Boeing Company has pio­ it became the Boeing Airplane Com­ included Boeing Airplane Company, routes, and is powered by three T neered new concepts in air trans­ pany in 1917. Fifty Model C train­ Pratt & Whitney, Chance Vought, turbofan engines mounted at the portation since its founding in 1916, ers from Boeing went into war serv­ Hamilton Propeller Company, Pa­ rear of the fuselage. A still newer, and has been active ill missile, ice. cific Air Transport and Boeing Air and smaller, Boeing 737 is now in space, and rocket development since The first contract international Transport In 1931 Boeing Air the design stages. 1946. Now the world's largest pro­ air mail route, linking Seattle and Transport joined National Air A new era started for Boeing in ducer of multi-engine aircraft, Boe­ Victoria, British Columbia, in 1920, Transport, Pacific Air Transport, 1958 when Bomarc went into full- ing is also active in the Minuteman used the Boeing B-l flying boat, and and Varney Air Lines to form scale production and the company Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, when the United States government, United Air Lines. was awarded contracts on the Dyna- Saturn V, and Lunar Orbiter pro­ under President Coolidge's economy Government hearings in 1933 Soar and Minuteman programs, grams, commercial and military program, stopped flying the mail in and 1934 led to a law prohibiting even though the Dyna-Soar con­ helicopters, and gas turbine engine 1926, Boeing received the contract air mail contractors from being as­ tract was later cancelled. No longer Power plant build-up for Boeing jet transports on the long monorail lines at Rohr*s production. for carrying transcontinental air­ sociated with aviation manufac­ was the production of airplanes the Auburn, Washington plant, only a few miles from Boeing Commercial Aircraft Division About 90.000 employees work mail. Boeing Transport, Incor­ turers. United Air Lines took over company's only major concern. In facility at Renton, Washington. in four Boeing divisions: Aero­ porated, was organized to build air transport, United Aircraft Cor­ 1961, the company's name was space and Turbine Divisions in planes for the mail route. Model poration was formed to control changed to The Boeing Company. Seattle, the Airplane Division in 40-A and B planes signaled the be­ eastern manufacturing firms, and The supersonic Bomarc missile is Ronton, Washington, and Vertol ginning of regular commercial pas­ Boeing Airplane Company took a United States Air Force area de­ Division in Morton, Pennsylvania. senger service over long distances over western manufacturing. fense weapon designed to destroy Boeing of Canada, Ltd., in Ontario and were the first to use voice radio Boeing products marked several enemy aircraft and airborne mis­ and the Boeing International Cor­ communication with the ground. firsts in aircraft design. The 247, siles before they come near target poration are subsidiaries. Boeing offered company stock to delivered in 1933, was the first all- areas. Its takeoff is vertical, and Founded as Pacific Aero Prod­ the public in November, 1928, and metal, twin-engine transport, and it is guided from the ground by ra­ ucts Company when William E. shortly afterwards the United Air­ could climb on one engine with a dio signals generated automatically Boeing saw the prospects of Amer­ craft and Transport Corporation full load. The 299 and its suc­ by an electronic computer reading ican participation in World War I, was founded. The new company cessor, the B-l7 Flying Fortress, radar tracks of the invading enemy.

ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 .

Thiokoi Chemical Corporation

N 1927, a medical doctor, turned motors, including Falcon, Pershing, I research chemist, was attempting Nike-Hercules, Nike-Zeus, Sergeant, to create antifreeze in his private Genie, Bomarc, Mace, and Minute- Insulating motor case segments for the laboratory. During the process he man, as well as retro-rockets for the Titan lll-C solid fuel boosters in the stumbled upon a material that Mercury and Gemini programs. Rohr Space Products Division plant at proved to be the world's first syn­ The nation's largest and most Riverside. thetic rubber. powerful solid propellant space Dubbed Thiokoi (from the Greek booster demonstration motors have et propellants, and development of thia—sulfer and kol—glue) the foul been developed by Thiokoi. The improved thrust chambers and smelling material exhibited tena­ largest, measuring 100 feet in throttling techniques for outer-space cious bonding and sealing qualities length, weighing 900,000 pounds liquid rockets. and was impervious to most solvents and producing 3 million pounds of These efforts are directed from and corrosive agents. thrust, employed a Rohr nozzle. the division's administrative, re­ In 1929, Thiokoi Chemical Cor­ During its growth, Thiokoi ex­ search, and engineering headquar­ poration was formed as a pioneer panded into the fieldo f liquid-fueled ters which occupies more than 300,- developer of synthetic rubber and rocket motors. The most famous of 000 square feet of floor space in a supplier of chemicals for such these, the XLR-99 engine, propels Sunnyvale, Calif. UTC's Develop­ items as sealants, binders, gasoline the X-15 rocket plane. ment, Production, and Test Center hoses, and printing press rollers. Even though rocket operations is at Coyote, Calif., 28 miles south­ A method of producing the syn­ have over-shadowed its other activi­ east of Sunnyvale, where an ambi­ thetic rubber as a liquid polymer ties, Thiokol's chemical operations was developed in 1943. This was The nations largest and most powerful tious corporate-funded construction are continually growing and ex­ space booster demonstration motor, de­ program has provided some of the followed in 1946 by the discovery panding as are Thiokol's diversifi­ veloped and test fired by Thiokoi, gen­ Lay-up of rubber insulation on Titan Ill-C motor case end closure. Rohfs Space largest and most modern facilities that the liquid polymer, combined cations into glass-epoxy laminates, erated three million pounds of thrust. Products Division serves as a major subcontractor to UTC on the solid fuel first stagei n the industry. with an oxidizer, produced a re­ tracked vehicles, and electronic and boosters for the Titan lll-C. markably efficient solid propellant, ordnance devcies. D UTC was established in 1958. ideal for use as a rocket fuel. Barnet R. Adelman is division Thiokoi elected to enter the mxm president. D rocket business. The firm's only operation at that time was the WW* chemical plant in Trenton, New NITED Technology Center, a UTC's Titan III work is being Jersey. A government contract for United Aircraft Corporation The U.S. Air Force scored a complete i m U carried out under Air Force con­ success on June 18 when it fired the solid fuel research and development division, is engaged in research, de­ tracts totaling about $175 million giant Titan III-C four-stage launch vehi­ was obtained and a plant was es­ 9 I velopment, and production of space and continuing into 1967. The Ti­ cle at Cape Kennedy. Rohr served as a tablished at Elkton, Maryland, in propulsion systems ranging from tan III-C will be a work horse mili­ subcontractor to United Technology Cen­ 1948. A year later a second solid small hybrid and space-storable, tary space booster, capable of or­ ter on the two solid fuel "strap-on" liquid-fuel rockets to huge multimil- boosters for this most powerful rocket fuel rocket motor plant was created » ^ biting a variety of manned and un­ yet developed. at Huntsville, Alabama. lion-pound thrust, solid-propellant manned payloads of up to 25,000 booster motors. Since that time Thiokoi Chemical pounds. Corporation has grown to 15 oper­ UTC's biggest single assignment In addition to its pioneering work ating facilities and 24 offices staffed is production and testing of the with big solids, including the de­ by more than 9500 employees. This booster stage of the Air Force Titan velopment of mechanical joints to is evidence that Thiokoi has proved III-C standard space launcher. Pairs hold segmented motors together and conclusively the value of solid pro­ of the five-segment, solid-propellant a thrust vector (steering) control motors which UTC has developed pellant motors. The inventory of system, UTC is actively pursuing America's missile and space systems and is producing give the Titan a number of other major advanced III-C a liftoff thrust of nearly 2Vi lists dozens propelled by Thiokoi propulsion programs. v million pounds. The 120-inch di­ Among these are the fabrication •*l; - ameter motors weigh 250 tons and of glass filament-wound rocket cases stand 85 feet tall, the largest solid- up to 156 inches in diameter, de­ ( m propellant motors yet committed for Final wrapping operations at Rohr's Space Products Di­ velopment of hybrid rocket motors, vision on the nozzle for Thiokol's huge motor. flight. formulation of more powerful rock-

60 ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 THE CUSTOMERS THE CUSTOMERS missile and space propulsion pro­ grams are conducted at Sacramento, rocket casings, and could itself be where its separate Liquid Rocket used as an insulator. The "internal Operations and Solid Rocket Op­ burning star" design, developed erations divisions are located, as simultaneously in England and at AerojeiGenerai corporation well as the largest rocket-testing JPL, maintained a steady burning complex in the Free World. It is rate, constant pressure, and constant at Sacramento that the powerful thrust by keeping the inner surface liquid rocket engines for the Titan area constant. In a 1947 report, EROJET-GENERAL Corpora­ 000. Today, the company's annual missile and space booster series are JPL advocated the consideration of A tion, a pioneer in rocket propul­ sales are in excess of a half billion made, as well as the solid rocket solid fuels for high performance, sion, has long since moved into dollars and it employs approximate­ motors for Polaris and Minuteman. Construction proceeds steadily with the long range missiles. broader technological areas of the ly 22,000 persons. The company's REON Division installation of radial rib back-up struc­ During this program to reduce (Rocket Engine Operations-Nuc­ ture on the giant 210-foot tracking an­ some of the inherent difficulties of aerospace world. Today, it is in­ The General Tire & Rubber Com­ tenna, largest of its type in the free volved as a major participant in pany obtained a controlling interest lear) also is at Sacramento. world, designed and being built by Rohr solid fuel rockets, JPL engineers major missile and space programs in the company in 1944, and in At Von Karman Center in Azusa, Corporation for the Jet Propulsion La­ made important contributions to such as Polaris, Titan, Minuteman, 1953 the firm was reorganized un­ the company's major projects are boratory. rocketry. To eliminate the mechan­ Gemini, Apollo, NERVA (nuclear der its present name of Aerojet- the Mark 46 Torpedo and the ical support or "trap" that was used rocket engine) and the Mark 46 General Corporation. Principal offi­ SNAP-8 program. Other divisions to hold the charge inside the rocket Torpedo, as well as a wide spectrum cers are Dan A. Kimball, chairman there are involved in such diverse casing, a bonding material was in­ of advanced programs. of the board, and W. E. Zisch, fields as developing a water desali­ serted on the inner wall of the chamber. The molded charge was The company was organized In president, both of whom have been nation technique based on reverse- associated with the company since osmosis and infra-red detection sys­ inserted into the rocket and secured Pasadena in March 1942, by the by this material. The method was late Dr. Theodore von Karman and its earliest years. Corporate head­ tems. Jet Propulsion Laboratory The company also operates a called case-bonding. The next step a group of associates from Califor­ quarters is located at El Monte, was to pour the rubber-base propel- nia Institute of Technology as the California. large plant at Downey, California, HE JET Propulsion Laboratory, devoted to ultra-precision fabrica­ to the development of a liquid fuel lant directly into the rocket cham­ Aerojet Engineering Corporation. From 1943 to 1951, the com­ America's first government-spon­ rocket engine using the spontane­ tion of missile components and ord­ T ber. By inserting the star-shaped Its first interest was in the develop­ pany's principal operations were lo­ sored research group devoted to the ously igniting combination of red mandril into the casing while the ment and production of war-time cated in Azusa, California. In the nance items. In Dade County (near study of rockets, in 1936 started the fuming nitric acid and aniline in Miami), Florida, Aerojet is build­ propellant was in a liquid state, the JATO (take-off assist) rockets for latter year, development of the com­ basic research in rocketry and jet 1942. "cast-in case-bonding" method was military aircraft under an original pany's larger plant at Sacramento ing super size solid rockets for the propulsion which was to culminate In January, 1944, Army Ord­ successfully developed. Army Air Corps contract of $10,- was begun. Today, Aerojet's major National Aeronautics and Space in the nation's present multi-faceted nance asked the Laboratory to be­ Administration. Its Atlantic Divi­ JPL's contribution to solid fuel defense network and space explora­ gin research and development of rockets was matched by research sion, at Frederick, Maryland, spec­ tion programs. long-range guided missiles. New The Rohr Space Products Division's numerically controlled filament winding ializes in automated sorting and de­ on liquid fuels, injectors, cooling Now a research and development propellants, better metals and re­ systems, and precision valves. machine has been used on a variety of pressure vessel projects for livery systems. Aerojet-General mote control devices were required. Aerojet-General Corporation. facility operated for the National The long-range rocket, Corporal Shipyards in Jacksonville, Florida, Aeronautics and Space Administra­ With this stimulus, JPL's facilities and Aerojet-General Nucleonics in E, was developed into a tactical tion by the California Institute of and staff increased. A family of test weapon when international tensions San Ramon, California, are respon­ Technology, the Laboratory directs vehicles grew up which used a solid sible for the firm's activities in auto­ increased in 1949. By April, 1954, programs for the unmanned ex­ fuel. JPL pioneered in telemetry, it was released to the Army, as mated oceangoing research vessels ploration of the moon, the planets, the transmission of instrument re­ and advanced nuclear techniques. America's first operational surface- and inter-planetary space. cordings via a radio link, when it to-surface radio guided missile. Its With total physical assets of more A small group of interested scien­ became increasingly difficult to more flexible successor, the Ser­ than $125,000,000 and a highly- tists and students gathered in 1936 gather data from the high-flying geant, developed in cooperation experienced staff of scientists and to experiment with rocket engines, rockets. with Sperry Gyroscope, was a solid technological specialists, Aerojet- with the encouragement of Dr. Eventually radio guidance meth­ propellant inertially guided missile, General is one of the oldest com­ Theodore von Karman, aerody- ods were developed, and then iner- America's first "second generation" panies in the aerospace field. While namicist and director of the Gug­ tial guidance systems which were missile. it continues as a leader in its spec­ genheim Aeronautical Laboratory invulnerable to countermeasures be­ A cluster of Sergeants was used ialized areas of rocket propulsion, at GALCIT. Not until July 1, 1939, cause they could automatically ad­ in September, 1956, in the Jupiter nucleonics and space electronics, did the group receive financial as­ just to a predetermined flight path. C, and again in January, 1958, Aerojet has for several years been sistance from the National Academy Solid fuels were improved by the when the Jupiter was used to launch broadening the base of its opera­ of Sciences to develop rockets to substitution of a polysulphide man­ the U.S.'s first earth satellite, Ex­ tions through application of space- assist Army Air Corps planes at ufactured by Thiokol, for asphalt. plorer I, which discovered the Van age techniques to such everyday takeoff. The first units (JATO) Thiokol has since grown to giant Allen Radiation Belt. Explorer II problems as waste disposal studies, were functional by August, 1941, size in the missile business. The failed, but Explorers III and IV, life sciences, water and air pollu­ and they cut in half the time and new fuel bore extreme tempera­ orbited in March and July, 1958, tion, and promising commercial distance required for takeoff. tures well, burned with a lower brought new information on cosmic products. D The need for new propellants led chamber pressure, permitted lighter ray intensities. Continued Overleaf

63 THE CUSTOMERS

ORTH AMERICAN Aviation, N Incorporated, in just 31 years of mencan Aviation Grumman Aircraft Engineering operation has grown from a single small plant with 75 employees and terns such as radio, radar, guidance, one contract to comprise seven di­ RUMMAN AIRCRAFT Engi­ visions employing 103,000 workers, neering Corporation, under the control, and power systems. The G largest radio frequency Anecohic who produce major components of direction of Lcroy Randle Grum­ the nation's weapons and space sys­ man, as President from 1929 to Chamber in the United States is housed here. A new research wing tems. 1946, and as Chairman of the Board Its concern has spread to aircraft, of Directors of the Bethpage, Long houses nuclear and physics labora­ tories, including a $200,000 Van aerospace systems, oceanographic Island company since 1946, has de­ research, guidance and advanced veloped into an important produ­ der Graaf accelerator. The three cer of aircraft, space, and hydrofoil million electron volt accelerator, electronic equipment, communica­ products — as well as into a major complete with positive and negative tions systems, rocket propulsion and research facility. ion capabilities, is used for pure nuclear energy, and its sales have exceeded one billion dollars in four Among its current projects are nuclear research in addition to in­ The Gulfstream I marked the re-entry of the Grumman Aircraft Engineering of the past five years. / the Orbiting Astronomical Observ­ vestigating such space craft con­ Corporation into the commercial air­ tingencies as secondary state radia­ After six years as a holding cor­ North American Aviation's 2000-mile-per-hour XB-70 Valkyrie has pushed the state atory, L.E.M. Lunar Excursion craft field. The Gulfstream has proved poration for investments in air of the art in aircraft design, construction techniques and materials to impressive Module, Echo Canisters, HU-16 Al­ tion properties in matter (space an extremely popular executive transport new levels. craft shielding) and the effect of and Rohr builds components for it at transportation and manufacturing batross, S-20 Tracker, E-2A Hawk- companies, North American was re­ eye, A-6A Intruder, O-VI Mohawk, Van Allen Belt electrons on solar Winder, Georgia. been launched into orbit by engines turers of nuclear reactors for cen­ and Grumman Gulfstream. cells. organized to produce aircraft in developed at the Rocketdyne Di­ tral power stations, medical, bio­ 1934. Its first Army Air Corps con­ Grumman temporarily abandoned Of its major aircraft in produc­ vision, the leading producer of logical, and industrial research, and tion, the Hawkeye represents a new livered in June, 1959, as a propjet tract for 42 BT-9 trainers was the liquid-fueled rocket engines. The for education and training. The di­ the commercial aviation market at beginning; the company was to be­ the outset of the Korean conflict, generation of early warning and in­ designed specifically for executive Rocketdyne engine powered the vision is affiliated with companies and has had military and space tercept control aircraft for the U.S. operation. Plans for a more ad­ come the largest builder of military first American satellite, Explorer I. in West Germany, France, Sweden, projects as its major contracts. Navy. Like the WF-2 Tracer, its vanced turbofan powered model, airplanes in the world. The Autonetics Division produces and England for the development Trainers and fighter planes for Research and development facil­ radome houses long-range detection the Gulfstream II, were announced inertial instruments and navigation and sale of power and research re­ equipment. in May, 1965. It is designed as World War II were dominant in the systems, data processing equipment, actors. ities have expanded with the addi­ company's first years. tion of a $5 million Electronic The Gulfstream marks Grum- the world's fastest corporate trans­ radars, flight control, automatic Aircraft production continues at Systems Center in 1961, used to man's return to the commercial port and will operate in the tran­ The company's first space con­ checkout and armament control the Los Angeles and Columbus Di­ ground test space and aircraft sys- aviation market. It was first de- sonic speed range. Q tract was a feasibility study for systems, and microelectronic cir­ visions. The X-15, XB-70, and T- guided missiles, awarded in 1946, cuitry. The USS Nautilus and USS 39 Sabreliner (a jet utility trainer) and was followed by an Air Force Skate used Autonetics' autonaviga- are built in Los Angeles. contract for the Navajo interconti­ tion systems on their historic trips Operations Facility at JPL, and a used in sending a telephone message The largest contract for the Co­ On December 3, 1958, shortly nental weapon system. Expanded under the Polar ice cap. lumbus Division is for the super­ after the creation of NASA, JPL ground communication system link­ from the United States to Australia operations required division of the The Space and Information Sys­ via the moon. sonic RA5C Vigilante attack and was transferred from Army jurisdic­ ing all locations make up NASA's massive company into separate oper­ tems Division (S&ID) is the com­ reconnaissance weapon system, a tion to the civilian agency. New Deep Space Network. The Goldstone facility was used ating components in 1955. The pany's prime organization for re­ multi-mission aircraft that can at­ experiments, including deep space On August 4, 1960, JPL used again on March 10, 1961, to company then consisted of two air­ search and development of manned tack targets at Mach 2 speeds from probes, were planned. On Decem­ the Goldstone antennas to conduct bounce radar signals off the planet craft divisions and four new ones: and unmanned space exploration high or low altitudes. Counter-in­ ber 6, 1958, Pioneer in, a conical the first two-way transcontinental Venus. This experiment refined the Atomics International, Rocketdyne, vehicles, anti-missile projects, and surgency aircraft are in process of fiberglass payload, was launched. It telephone conversation via the Astronomical Unit (AU), the scale Missile Development (now Space management of information sys­ development failed to escape the Earth's gravita­ moon. Voice and continuous-wave factor of the universe, to 92,956,- and Information Systems), and tems. It is the prime contractor for The Science Center is located in tional pull, but did discover a sec­ transmission were sent from Gold­ 000 miles plus or minus 1000 miles. Autonetics. A seventh, the Science Apollo, the three-man spacecraft ond radiation belt 10,000 miles Conejo Valley, California. It con­ stone to the Bell Telephone Labora­ Prior to this time, the AU was Center, was established later, in for exploration of the moon, and sists of a nucleus of scientists and above the Earth. The next Pioneer tory's station at Holmdel, New known only within an accuracy of 1962. for the second stage of the Saturn orbited the sun. technicians dedicated to pure re­ Jersey. 60,000 miles. In addition, the ex­ Cancellation of the Navajo pro­ V launch vehicle that will carry the search and to broadening the scope A space vehicle tracking facility A week later, with the launching periment produced data that indi­ gram in 1957 involved a loss of Apollo. of the corporation's technical activi­ was set up in the Mohave desert, of Project Echo, two-way conver­ cated that Venus rotates about once one-seventh of the company's back­ Atomics International Division ties. The Center's efforts are direc­ where the Goldstone Antenna with sations were held between JPL and every 225 days, which is the length log of business, but work continued will build SNAP (Systems for Nu­ ted toward the fundamental sciences its 85-foot-diameter receiving dish BTL via a 100-foot-diameter radio of the Venusian year. on the XB-70 triplesonic plane and clear Auxiliary Power) reactor sys­ of physics, chemistry, metallurgy, was built. Two new antennas were reflective balloon. The Echo bal­ JPL currently directs a number the X-15 research plane. Both have tems, for generating electrical power and mathematics. These programs added by the end of 1964, and loon, in an orbit around the earth of NASA's unmanned lunar and been responsible for technological for extended periods in space vehi­ supplement activities in labs of another, the 210-foot-antenna being at an altitude of 1000 miles, was planetary projects. These include advancements in every phase of air­ cles, at lunar bases, on the ground other North American Divisions, built by Rohr is due to be com­ visible to millions of people during the Ranger and Surveyor series of plane development. and under the sea. which are directed toward advanc­ pleted by January, 1966. The Gold- its first fifteen days in sunlight. spacecraft for lunar exploration and Atomics International is also one ing product technologies to meet stone complex, together with four Most of the nation's successful On February 10, 1961, the Gold­ the Mariner and Voyager missions satellites and space probes have of the nation's leading manufac­ specific developmental goals. overseas stations, the Space Flight stone and Woomera dishes were to the planets. D

64 ROHR Magazine, Summer, 1965 65 THE CUSTOMERS

Lockheed Propulsion Company

OR more than 12 years Lock­ Lockheed Propulsion Company IWfflJ Fheed Propulsion Company has is presently working on important been specializing in the research, research and development programs 156" rocket engine case insulated by Rohr for Lockheed Propulsion Company in 12 days. development, and manufacture of under various government contracts. solid propellant rockets for military Under the executive management and civilian space use. During this of the Air Force Space Systems Di­ period, Lockheed has developed vision, LPC designed, built and and successfully fired rocket motors test fired two giant 156-inch-diam­ ranging in size from a few inches eter segmented solid motors in long and a little over an inch in 1964. These firings marked the diameter to the Free World's first first time motors of this size had 156-inch-diameter solid rocket. been test fired. The tests were de­ Lockheed Propulsion Company has signed to demonstrate the feasibil­ about 650 employees, many with advanced technical degrees. It oc­ cupies three separate sites: Red- lands, Beaumont (inactive), and Potrero. It is a division of Lock­ wi! " _*• '^jj heed Aircraft Corporation with the Lockheed Propulsion Company 156-inch full support of that organization, solid fuel booster in successful test fir­ and it has a history of success which ing as a part of the U.S. Air Force large has earned LPC a place in the fore­ solid booster feasibility program. front of its field. In 1952 Grand Central Rocket Co. was founded, operating out of rented facilities in Pacoima, Calif., as the rocket division of Grand Motor case section for 156-inch Lockheed Propulsion booster leaving Rohr Space Central Aircraft. In June, 1954, Products Division at Riverside. Rohr in­ the company moved its facilities and stalled rubber insulation in the steel case. 60 employees to the present Red- lands site, organized as a partner­ ity of large booster motors and to the propulsion system for the ship, and later incorporated. In demonstrate in full scale a jet tab MAULER Army battlefield air de­ 1958, Tennessee Gas Transmission system for thrust vector control. fense guided missile. It is also de­ Co. acquired the majority interest Today LPC is working on a second veloping a solid rocket motor for in GCR and transferred its con­ Air Force contract to build and an advanced air-to-air missile for trolling interest to Petro-Tex Chem­ test-fire two more of these giant Hughes Aircraft. In the field of ical Corp., jointly owned by Ten­ 156-inch-diameter rockets, one of propellant research, LPC has de­ nessee Gas and Food Machinery which will develop more than 3 mil­ veloped an advanced high burn rate, We have the facility for major missile components and Chemical Corp. Lockheed Air­ lion pounds of thrust. low cost propellant that will pro­ craft Corporation purchased a half In the field of thrust vector con­ vide for uniquely improved poten­ interest in GCR in early 1960 and This new, highly-specialized manufacturing facility is in operation now at the Space Products Division of Rohr trol, LPC built and tested the first tial for large solid motor ballistic Corporation. Here you wilt find concentrated management control, advanced technology, and efficient organ­ assumed full ownership in mid- large-scale thrust vector control 1961. Shortly after this, GCR be­ capabilities. Company funded re­ ization backed up by broad associated skills, facilities, experience and financial support of the parent company. came Lockheed Propulsion Com­ system using hot gas bled from the search projects are continually in­ This unique manufacturing complex has been assembled to fill a need for customers involved in advanced space pany. Early in 1963 LPC became combustion chamber of the motor vestigating possible break-through programs ... by producing high quality space components faster and at lower cost Technical competence and an operating division of the Lock­ itself. areas and intensively accumulating eagerness to accept challenge typify the carefully selected personnel heed Corporation to climax a de­ In a program for the Navy, LPC data regarding fundamental science now staffing this new Division. Unusual capabilities are available is harnessing rocket technology to in the comparatively new fields of based on important experience with such products as Insulation for SPACE cade of achievement and launch a PRODUCTS new decade in an even stronger po­ provide emergency ballast expul­ solid propellant and hybrid (com­ solid propellant rocket motor cases, nozzles for solid propellant rocket sition in the aerospace industry. sion for nuclear submarines. In ad­ bined solid-liquid propellant) rock­ motors including the ablative tape wrapped liner, ablative nozzle DIVISION dition, the company is developing et propulsion. extensions for liquid propellant engines, filament wound glass fiber structures, and a variety of fiber-glass laminate products for space vehicles, helicopters, etc. For specific information, write Marketing Manager, Dept. 75, Space Products Division, Rohr Corporation, ROHR 66 Riverside, California. COR PO RATI O IM