PROGRAM PROGRESS REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00285R000200040019-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 20, 2003
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: April 15, 1971
• Content Type: MF

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15 APR 1971
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 1971 -
AROLD Y. KN WLES
Brigadier Genera , USAF
Director of Special Activities
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NRO review(s) completed.
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SAS/ O/ OSA:I
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 - R&D/OSA
12 - AMS/OSA
13 - RB/OSA
Apo
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IDEALIST
DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY AND PROGRESS
(1 JANUARY 1971 - 31 MARCH 1971)
A. Exploratory IRAN - Aircraft 058 was transferred from Detach-
ment H to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC), Palmdale, California
to undergo an exploratory IRAN on 5 February 1971. Results of this IRAN
indicate that other U-2R aircraft will not require IRAN until they reach
at least 2500 hours total time.
B. Transfer of Aircraft - Aircraft 053 was transferred from Detach-
ment G to Detachment H during SWAP SHOP XII in January 1971. Aircraft
051 was transferred from Detachment G to Detachment H during SWAP
SHOP XIII in March 1971. '
C. New Emergency AC Generator - Subject generator has been
flight tested, evaluated and accepted. LAC is fabricating kits for three
additional aircraft. The Project Depot is in process of procuring the
generators required for these kits.
D. HF Radio - Serious consideration is being given to a proposal
from Collins Radio for retrofit of the 718T-6 HF radio equipment with
lightweight 718U- 7 equipment. The Lockheed proposal for installation of
this equipment is under review. The following are the advantages of
using this off-the-shelf equipment:
1. Weight reduction is approximately 93 pounds of critical
forebody weight.
2. Installation is planned to be at base of vertical stabilizer,
thus vacating E-Bay.
3. There is no requirement for forced air cooling; eliminating
the need for cooling blower and present "overboard" pressurization
leak in E-Bay.
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4. Mean time between failure is increased from 750 to 1500
hours.
5. Sixty per cent of box components are plug-in circuit boards.
E.
U-ZR Flight Test and Operational Training Summary
1 JAN-31 MAR
FLTS.
1 JAN-31 MAR
TIME
TOTAL TOT
FLTS. TIM
AL
E
1-
051
26
101.8
272
91
6.4
2
- 053
37
110.5
246
94
2.8
3
- 054
27
77.7
291
94
4.9
4
- 055
44
109. 1
335
104
4. 1
5
- 057
(attrited 24 Nov 70)
355
121
1.4.
6
- 058
21
75.9
378
118
5.7
TOTAL 155
475.0
1877
624
5.3
II. PAYLOAD
A. B-2 Camera - Hycon has submitted an Engineering Change
Proposal (ECP) for modification of the B-2 Camera with a new f/8 lens
and associated shutter. Upon installation of this 8-element, 36 inch lens
and shutter, the camera will be designated B-3. Details of the ECP are
being worked out with R&D, Contracts, Materiel, and Hycon representatives.
B. "'H" Configuration - Two new 7-element, 66 inch, f/5.6 lenses
have been ordered from Hycon for installation in the "H" configuration
cameras. Flight testing of improved system is scheduled to begin in
August 1971.
C. Q-Bay Preconditioning - Seven Q-Bay preconditioning carts
have been ordered from Lockheed. Delivery of the first unit is expected
9 August 1971.
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On 29 January 1971 the EXCOM rejected the D/NRO's request
for approval to pursue the concept. No further effort is
anticipated on this program unless specifically requested.
D. Apochromatic 24" Focal Length Petzval Lens
During this time period the following major milestones were
achieved:
1. Mechanical fabrication of all parts was completed.
2. Optical fabrication of all optical elements was completed.
3. Procurement of all ancillary parts was completed.
4. Lens assembly was initiated.
V. AERO MEDICAL AND LIFE SUPPORT ACTIVITIES
A. Medical
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2. Considerable time has been spent in determining the physical
status of technical representatives in the field. Some problems in
this area were initially presented in the Office of Medical Services
(OMS) this past summer. We have worked with Contracts Manage-
ment Division in encouraging vendor companies to prepare their own
program of physical examinations, similar to the Agency, in an effort to
reduce potential medical problems when personnel are overseas.
3. The question was raised with regard to discouraging owner-
ship and use of motorcycles at Detachment H in order to preserve
humans for mission purposes. It is believed this matter has been
resolved.
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6. A one day course was conducted at the Andrews AFB
physiological training facility to assist in preparing several OEL/
DDS&T personnel for TDY at high altitudes. In addition to lectures
on mountain survival and medical advice, they received altitude
chamber indoctrination flight training.
B. Life Support Equipment
1. Six-Line Release - The test program covering Engineering
Change Proposal U-2R-61 concerning control of personnel parachutes
was delayed in early January. However, the Pull tests are now
completed. The results were pessimistic. Because of the question-
able techniques used in these early tests, Lockheed is continuing the
evaluation and anticipates proceeding to El Centro, California for
whirl tower and live jumps in April.
2. Pressure Suit Data Bank - At a Life-Support Conference
held in Washington, D.C., the last week of February 1971, a pressure
suit data bank was started with inputs from Detachment G, Davis
Monthan AFB, and Beale AFB. This will be a compilation of unclassi-
fied information related to all full-pressure suits presently in service.
The data will be stored at Warner Robins AFB and will be available
to any interested agency.
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3. S-1010 Pilot Protective Assembly (PPA) Sizing Problems -
Sizing of the custom-fit S-1010 PPA has been a problem only in
isolated cases where pilot preference dictated a larger size than
that which was fabricated. With the inclusion of "J'I adjustments,
this slight irritation should be resolved. The only other difficult
area lies in the fitting of the booties. Future sizing of boots will
be by individual trial and error as well as measurement to confirm
the proper fit of the booties before installation onto the full-
pressure suit.
4. S-1010 Helmet - The present helmet was evaluated for the
possibility of design changes which would allow the use of the same
basic helmet for all full-pressure suits. The David Clark Company
will present a proposal on this subject and two flyable helmets will
be tested at Detachment G.
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5. Automatic Seat Kits - Automatically deployed survival kits
are in service in the Air Force in the F-4, A-7D, F-106, B-57, and
F-104. A design engineer from Global Systems Corporation presented
the state of the art briefing and made recommendations concernin
the retro-fit of an automatic device into the U-2R kit. 25X1
will perform some test jumps with this device in the spring
or early summer to establish its compatibility with the present system.
C. Training
Physiological Training - Physiological training, including full-
pressure suit chamber flights and ex-p .ve decompressions, was
accom-plished for and an LAC test pilot, 25X1
I A complete suit fitting preceded these flights with a
factory engineer in attendance.
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IDEALIST
OPERATIONAL SUMMARY AND STATUS
(1 JANUARY 1971 - 31 MARCH 1971)
Eight IDEALIST/TACKLE operational missions were alerted durin
this period.
wo were cancelled due to
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deteriorating weather. All missions were planned to be flown a minimum
of 20 nautical miles off the mainland China coast in compliance with 25X1
current restrictions. Following is a summary of accomplished missions:
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II. GENERAL
A. SWAP SHOP. Ten ferry sorties were flown during transfer of
Articles 053 and 051 to Detachment H and return for IRAN of Article 058.
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B. RED DOT. Five sorties were flown in support of continuing
film tests using various camera configurations in the U-2C/G and the U-ZR.
C. IRIS II. Twelve missions were flown with the modified optical
bar camera.
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H. HURRICANE BASE LINE. Two sorties were flown to obtain
photography of Gulf Coast areas for the Office- of Emergency Preparedness.
I. SNOW SURVEY. One sortie was flown to photograph Sierra
snowfields for the Department of Commerce. .
J. EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE SURVEY. Four sorties were flown
to obtain damage assessment photography of the Los Angeles earthquake
area.
III. PILOT AND AIRCRAFT STATUS (AS OF 31 MARCH 1971)
A. Detachment "G" (Edwards AFB - North Base)
Pilots
B. Detachment "H"
Aircraft
Pilot s
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3 U-ZR
I U-2C
2 U-ZG (Flyable Storage)
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