PROGRAM PROGRESS REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00159R000400150035-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 18, 2006
• Sequence Number: 35
• Publication Date: April 11, 1973
• Content Type: MF

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11 APR 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, CIA Reconnaissance Programs
SUBJECT: Program Progress Report
Forwarded herewith are three copies of the IDEALIST
Program Progress Report for the period 1 January 1973 -
31 March 1973.
Director of Special Activities
Brigadier General, U$F
WE NDELL`L. BE VAN,
Attachment
As stated 16413- 73)
Impossible to Determine
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age
C/SAS/O/OSA 9 April 1973)
Distribution:
1 - D/CRP
2 - D/CRP.
3 D/CRP
4- DDS&T Reg
5 - D/SA
6- SAS/O/OSA
7 - D/O/OSA
8 - IDEA/O/OSA
9 - INTEL/ O/ OSA
10 - D/M/OSA
11 - AMS/OSA
12 - RB/OSA
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 IDEALIST
OPERATIONAL SUMMARY AND STATUS
(1 January 1973 - 31 March 1973)
OPERATIONAL MISSION SUMMARY
IIDEALIST TACKLE operational missions were alerted
during this period. ere flown- two were cancelled by Proier- 25x1
Headauarters for weather,
All missions were planned to be flown no closer than 25x1
nautical miles to the China mainland coast. Following is a summary
of these missions:
1. Mission C013C was flown on 4 January 1973 along the
central China coast from Shanghai, south to Quemoy. This
was an island search mission using the "B" camera. Due to
95 percent cloud cover X
targets were covered.
COMIREX targets were covered.
2, Mission C043C, planned for island coverage along the
central China coast, was flown on 31 January 1973. Weather
again precluded coverage of all programmed targets; however,
16 programmed and six bonus COMIREX as well as nine non-
3. Mission C053C was flown in the Port Arthur area on
24 February 1973. Photo interpretability was fair and 54 targets
were covered, 15 of which were bonus.
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5. Mission C093C was flown in the Taiwan Straits area
on 22 March 1973. Photographic coverage obfiined of
42 tar ets 38 of whi h were proLyram~ 'd
"H" camera. These missions were planned to approach no closer
than 12 nautical miles from the mainland or offshore islands. Excessive
cloud cover and heavy haze conditions combined with some processing
anomalies resulted in less than anticipated coverage of this area.
to obtain standoff photography of coastal North Vietnam with the
B. Two missions were flown
. 6. Mission C103C was flown on 27 March 1973 along the
central China coast north from Quemoy to Shanghai. Photo-
graphic coverage was obtained of 107 ch
were COMIREX.
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1. Mission S013E was flown on 30 March 1973. Excessive
cloud cover and haze were encountered after three photo
flight lines and the mission was aborted.
2. Mission S023E, flown on 31 March 1973, was aborted
for weather after completing four photo flight lines.
II
A. F1 RED DOT - Eight sorties were flown in s-upport of contin-
uing film tests using various film types and.camera configurations.
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Pilot Training - The Detachment Commander
ompleted eight low altitude training sorties in the U-ZR.
25X1 E. II "B" Lens - Two qualification flights were flown with the
modified "B" configuration.
F. LJ COMPASS TRIP - Seven sorties were. flown to complete
the multi-sensor coverage of controlled poppy growth in Puerto Rico.
Two sorties were flown with black and white film, three with color,
and two used the multi-spectral system. McCoy AFB, Florida was
used as an operating location.
25X1
25X1
25X1
A. Detachment ' G" (Edwards AFB - North Base)
Aircraft 2 U-2R
Pilots
PILOT AND AIRCRAFT STATUS (AS OF 31 MARCH 1973)
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B. U-ZR Flight Test and Operational Training Summary
1. IDEALIST Program accomplishments in U-ZR aircraft
since introduction include 10, 681. 7 hours on 3, 290 sorties as of
31 March 1973.
2.
Flight test and operational data are depicted below:
1 JAN-31 MAR
FLIGHTS
1 JAN-31 MAR
TIME
1
- 051
50
127.8
2
- 053
52
134.8
3
- 054
62
168.4
4
- 055
44
155.3
25X1
TOTAL
208
586.3
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IDEALIST
DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY AND PROGRESS
(1 January 1973 - 31 March 1973)
A. J-75P13B Engine - The installation of improved third stage
turbine blades to increase engine life expectancy continued. During
.this quarter new blades were installed in nine engines, making a total
of 31 completed. Additionally, an improved first stage turbine blade
is available through commercial sources. This improved blade has
been installed in one engine. Action is in process to procure and
install two additional sets to test durability. It is anticipated that this
modification will permit the extension of Hot Section Inspection (HSI)
an additional 100 hours and Time Between Overhauls (TBO) an addi-
tional 200 hours. If this proves true, improved first stage blades
will be installed in the remaining engines.
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A. "H" Configuration - The new lens installed in "H" Serial.
Number 002 produced unsatisfactory results during flight test for
qualification. The configuration was returned to the contractor's
facility for engineering evaluation in early December. At the end of
the quarter it was still in the plant.
B. 01B" Configuration - The first B-3 system incorporating the
new apochromatic f/8 lens was delivered on 23 March 1973. This
lens satisfied the bench specification testing requirements prior to
installation in the camera system. The first test flight of the B-3
was 27 March 1973.
C. Delta Research Camera - OSA is providing technical and 25X1
contractual support to OSP and the NRO for the acquisition of a second
f/3. 5 apochromatic lens and variab t modifications to the scan
heads of the Delta camera. A fixed price contract has been 25X1
accepted for the lens. OSA involvement is expected to continue until
the fourth quarter of FY 1974.
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AERO MEDICAL AND LIFE SUPPORT ACTIVITIES
Medical Activities
the USAF Surgeon General's Office for analysis. Reports have
not yet been received.
1. COMPASS TRIP - In February
C/AMS , served as Detachment Flight Surgeon at McCoy AFB,
Florida for the final COMPASS TRIP deployment. He was also
able to visit the SAC Life Support facilities during this period.
2. Alcohol Stud Far East - Based on information that 25X1
had been found to contain wood alcohol,
U1 1U popularly consume alcoholic 25X1
beverages were obtained from the field and su ml e o TSD and
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6.
a. Ihas been nominated by
the USAF for a desirable overseas assignment prior to
completion of his tour with OSA. Gen. Bevan had indicated
his approval providing certain requirements were met. The
Air Force nominee for replacement has been interviewed.
is resigning to enter a "Physician's Assistant"
Course at the University of Oklahoma.
c. I Detachment "G" graduated from
the first class of a new USAF Senior NCO Staff College at
Gunter AFB,. Alabama.
B. I Life Support Activities
1. "Survival Weapon - The first of 26 new 22-caliber
survival weapons was delivered to Headquarters on 1 March.
This weapon has been test fired at Ft. Meade, Maryland, and
appears to be completely acceptable as a survival aid for packing
in the U-ZR seat kit.
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Agency Medical Technician
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2. Automatic Seat Kit - The terrain radar
sensing device feasibility study is present y 40 percent complete.
The design engineering section indicates that the concept is sound
and the only major constraint to date is in the area of miniatur-
ization and packaging. Test flights from a helicopter will begin
during the next quarter.
3. " S1010 Pilot Protective Assembly (PPA) Prototype
Helmet - The first flyable model of the 51010 pressure suit helmet
was delivered during March 1973 along with a modified pressure
suit to mate with it. This suit was from bonded stock and sized
to accommodate at least a portion of the current pilots for short
flights. Test flying will begin during the fourth quarter of FY 1973
to determine pilot acceptability.
4. II RQ-225 Parachute Repack - Headquarters Life
Support is considering a personal parachute repack capability
for Detachment "H". At the present time five parachutes are
kept operationally ready at the detachment and when due repack,
which is every 90 days, they are shipped via commercial air to
Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, California. A Protective
Equipment Technician who is a Master Parachutist and has previous
experience in parachute repacking, has recently been assigned
to Detachment "G" for further assignment to Detachment "H".
If his packing technique proves to be acceptable, a considerable
savings in transportation costs would be gained. Additionally, the
10 days of-transit and customs delays would be eliminated.
Training Activities
1. Water Survival Trainin - Water trainin was conducted 25X1
at th indoor swimming pool for
raining was accomplished in the standard low flight
equipment and the PPA full pressure suit, survival kit, and
one man liferaft. ilots also received initial training in
drown-proofing.
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2. Physiological Training at Detachment "G" - Physio-
logical training, pressure suit chambe
decomi)ressions were accomplished byrLli2l
Both suits required some factory rework for proper fit.
This has been completed and the suits are now in place at
Detachment "G".
25X1
3. Arctic Survival Training - The
Officer accompanied the Detachment "G'
on his initial Arctic survival training exercise conducted in
January 1973 in the Sierra Mountains of California. 25X1
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