DEAR MAJOR(Sanitized):

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP67B00511R000100100098-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 22, 2009
• Sequence Number: 98
• Publication Date: May 12, 1959
• Content Type: LETTER

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/22: CIA-RDP67B00511 R000100100098-3
M
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CII MERR RND INSTRUMENT
/I CORPORATION
Headquarters
United States Air Force
Washington 25, D. C.
Attention: Major Watson
Dear Major Watson:
12 May 1959
Reference our verbal discussion the morning of 12 May
1959, I am pleased to enclose prints of the two camera
sketches which we discussed.
Fig. 1 shows a 12" focal length, 90? panoramic camera in
a very compact configuration. The scan angle, as you will
note, has been arbitrarily shown at 90 degrees. It can be
greater than this depending upon the window space available.
Fig. 2 shows two of the cameras placed in a convergent
arrangement for stereo photography. The half angle shown
in Fig. 2 is 19? with 5" film. This means that the picture
from the rearward facing camera will completely overlap the
picture area which was previously seen by the forward looking
camera. If 70 mm. film is used, this half angle can be in-
creased to 24+? which will give a stereo capability wherein
vertical heights can be measured to approximately the same
degree of accuracy as the planimetric dimensions.
The location of the film spools as shown in both sketches
is entirely arbitrary. They can be located side by side
across the vehicle, in an over and under arrangement, or
they can be extended along the flight axis either vertically
or horizontally.
For the lightest weight configuration both cameras would be
operated by the same drive, use the same supply spool, and
be built in an integral structure. If completely independent
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I.
Hq USAF Attn: Major Watson Page 2.
cameras are used to secure redundancy and the increase in
reliability that this affords, there is an additional weight
penalty of about 20 pounds over the nominal 100 pounds gross
weight (including film for a 2000 mile flight; for 4000 mile
flight add 15 pounds).
There are three possible lenses for this camera, to wit:
the Pacific Optical 12" f:3.8 modified to a resolution of
140 1/mm, the Fecker 12" f:5.6 at 140 1/mm, or a 12" version
of the lens used on a current program. The latter lens will
permit some reduction--perhaps as much as 2 inches in over-
all camera height. The use of this lens, however, also will
result in some loss of acuity and it is slower. Further, even
though this lens is of inherent lightweight structure, the
nature of its construction and location of the rear nodal
point calls for extra counterbalancing weights.
At the moment I favor the Pacific Optical lens which weighs
51 pounds for an f:3.8 aperture. This larger opening permits
exposures of 1/1000 sec. on S.O. 1213 in good light and 1/500
sec. for most usage in winter. If Kodak goes into coating
their higher speed version of S.O. 1213 type emulsion, then
shutter speeds up to 1/4000 sec. can be used. These higher
shutter speeds materially reduce stability requirements.
Our calculated estimates for stability are as follows:
Stabilization Required
Roll & Pitch Max. Permissible Azimuth Ac- Max. Permissible
Verticality Roll & Pitch curacy to Azimuth Rate
(per axis) Rates Grd. Track
50 /,2~'/sec. 30 30'/sec.
50 !Q`9'/sec. J 10 30'/sec.
Note: Based on 1/500 sec. exposure.
These stability figures are based on a very conservative per-
missible value for image degradation. If the Itek formula is
used, the figures shown can be opened up to a major degree.
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Hq USAF Attn: Major Watson Page 3-
I will have complete detailed specifications on the camera
by 25 May 1959 and will forward them to you. The camera
structure will be very rugged due to frame construction
of stainless steel spacemetal and will withstand 20G ac-
celerations.
Sincerely,
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/22: CIA-RDP67B00511 R000100100098-3
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/22: CIA-RDP67B00511 R000100100098-3 jjjj
FAIRCHILD CAMERA - CCj"TIAL
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FAIRCHILD CAMERA - CONFIDENTIAL
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/22: CIA-RDP67B00511 R000100100098-3