ADVANCED AIRCRAFT PROGRAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B00170R000200310001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 29, 2008
• Sequence Number: 1
• Content Type: REPORT

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SECRET/RHEINBERRY
ADVANCED AIRCRAFT PROGRAM
1. Under consideration by the Office of Special Activities,
DD/S&T, is an Advanced Aircraft concept which features speeds
as high as Mach 20, altitudes of 200,000 feet, and. a reconnais-
sance range of 6700 nautical miles. The program (code name
Project RHEINBERRY) has not been funded, nor has it formally
been submitted for approval pending further preliminary
studies by OSA. These studies will be in conjunction with
the DDI relative to requirements and with DD/S&T/OSI on
vulnerability aspects. The General Dynamics Proposal (Project
Isinglass), which considered. a Mach 5-6 aircraft, flying at
110,000 feet, was considered infeasible because of vulnerability
to SA-2 and Griffon missiles.
2. The most promising concept is that proposed. by
McDonnell Aircraft of St. Louis, featuring a design which
draws on that company's experience in ASSET (Aerothermodynamic
Structural Systems Environmental Tests), MERCURY, GEMINI, and
the M122 Aeroballistic Missile. High temperature metals are
expected. to solve heat problems. These metals have previously
been tested by McDonnell in the above programs and. valuable
experience gained therein. The engine proposed would be a
Pratt-Whitney advanced rocket engine using liquid hydrogen/
oxygen fuel. The feasibility of engine concept has been
proven by subscale tests of major components and with extensive
experience on the RL-10.
3. The planned aircraft would be lifted. to a height of
25,000 feet by a B-52 mother ship, released, and, then boosted,
to an altitude of approximately 200,000 feet and attaining
a speed of Mach .s'??AA final horizontal range of 480 nautical
miles is used in the landing maneuver, which would be by
means of rear skids and a forward. nose wheel similar to the
X-15 system. Total range of the mission would be 7500 nautical
miles from start to finish, including boost and landing
maneuvers. Total elapsed mission time would. be I hcr,
15 minutes.
4. Projected camera resolution is one foot on the
ground and a 40 to 50 nautical mile swath. It would, be
capable of carrying film for 6000 nautical miles of photo-
graphy. Design concepts will also take into consideration
the addition of other sensory equipment as necessary.
5. There will be a briefing in mid-November after all
contractors concerned have had opportunity to present proposals
and to discuss concepts, objectives and hardware.
SECRET/RHEINBERRY
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ISINGLASS
The constantly improving Soviet radar and maximum intercept
capability pose a threat to the life span of current aircraft reconnaissance
programs such as the U-2 and the A-12. Project ISINGLASS has as
its objective the development of a sophisticated aircraft capability to
outdistance the possible Soviet intercept threat over the next five to
ten years. It is envisaged that an aircraft capability of Mach 20 and
altitudes of 200, 000 feet must be developed. With this in mind, limited
studies have been initiated and are proceeding.
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ISINGLASS
(Delivered by hand) June 28, 1965
Admiral W. F. Raborn, Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C.
Dear Admiral Raborn:
I understand that has recently talked to you about the proposed rocket
powered reconnaissance aircraft which our two companies have been investigating for
Dr. Whheelon's group. I have been impressed by the relative simplicity of the aircraft
and launch system as compared to other very high Hach number aircraft and the consider-
able,advantage it seems to enjoy in terms of very rapid reaction, low vulnerability and
wide choice of launch points and flight paths. Since orbital reconnaissance vehicles,
current and planned, are susceptible to destruction at their fixed launch bases at the
very time when hard intelligence is apt to be most urgently needed, this systeu which
could be operated from the many bases capable of handling B-52 aircraft, would appear
to offer a major advantage in terms of reduced vulnerability. I want to assure you,
that we at United Aircraft are convinced of the soundness of the proposed system and
have therefore offered to provide $17,000,000 in development and production facilities
in the event a firm full-scale engine development program were carried to completion
by the Government.
As a result of a discussion in May of 1964 between your Mr. John Parangosky and our
people, and prior to the joint study effort with 11cDonnell Aircraft, we undertook a
study to investigate the various possible successors to the Oxcart aircraft for the
time when the forecast improvement in defense missiles would require a quick reaction
system with less vulnerability than either the Oxcart or satellite systems. As a re-
sult of this study, our engineers became convinced that ranges of over 7000 miles
could be achieved with a boost glide aircraft powered by a high pressure hydrogen
rocket engine. Our experience with the hydrogen fueled RL10 rocket engine includes
individual thrust chambers which have been fired some 11 hours and 350 times, 6 high
time engines which have accumulated an average of three hours on a single build, and
36 engines which have been fired in space without a single m J..function. This back-
ground has proved to us that, by application of the design and development techniques
evolved through the years in the development of turbojet and piston engines, the dur-
ability and reliability characteristics required for manned aircraft can be achieved
in rocket engines.
The high pressure rocket engine concept, which makes this vehicle performance pos-
siblo by providing very high specific impulse (455 seconds) with a small engine
cross section, has been under study at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft since 1960. Only
by employing high pressure combustion (3000. psi) can the engine provide the required
thrust and specific impulse and yet be made small enough to make this type of vehicle
possible. Over the past five years component test results have proved to'us the com-
plete feasibility of this concept and we have become solidly convinced that this is
a major ?unp in the state-of-the-art. Back in the late 1940's we were similarly en-
thusod over the (for then) high compression twin-spool turbojet cycle and at that
time too, we had a very difficult time getting support, but when we did, the J57
turned out to be a big jump ahead - both through much lower fuel consumption and
for afterburner efficiency, giving augmentation in excess of 60% over basic thrust.
TOP. SECRET
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In mid-1961. the Air Force gave us some funds for further work or. the high proseuro
concept - and later NASA also gave us some support. As of now we feel we havo
demonstrated the feasibility of all major engine components. Some 13.1 million
dollars have boon invested in this development.
The distribution of program costs between sponsors is:
Pratt & Whitney Aircraft $7.7 million
USAF 4.1 million
NASA 1.3 million
TOTAL $13.1 million
In addition, an investment of more than $4.3 million has been made by the Corporation
for facilities capable of high pressure research type work.
We are ;,ow to the point where we can proceed with confidence with a full-scale engine
develo;x:;cnt program and have submitted a proposal for such a program. If, howehror,
it is act possible to mount such an effort at the preseut time, I strongly reconrnlend
that -.:e be authorized to proceed with an engine demonstrator program which could be
accc:. :)iish:od in nine months for a cost of approximately $12.5 million and would pro-
vide the best possible answer as to the feasibility of the overall system. At the
request of your people, we have also submitted a proposal for running the turbopumps
in con~urction with the preburner but without the main chamber. This feasibility
demonstration could be accomplished in six months for $9.5 million.
In tiny humble opinion we are already late in getting this new intriguing concept
really undor wny.
TOR SECRET
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Project CHIVE
This is a new concept for Agency-wide information service. Intended
to replace most of the present OCR information systems. CHIVE is
expected to include advanced hardware elements, including ultra large
capacity electronic random storage and automated document image
retrieval devices.
Project CHIVE is the task charged to the Development Division/OCS
to investigate the application of EDP to the central (positive intelligence)
information storage and retrieval activities of the Agency, and to design
an improved information retrieval system. This developmental program cuts
across all Agency organizational lines in that the information needs of all
components are being considered. Contractor assistance is being
provided by IBM.
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PROJECT ALP -- Automatic Language Processor
This includes special purpose hardware being built by IBM to
translate natural languages (Russian-to-English initially) and Stenowriter
symbolic language (Stenocode-to-English). The ALP system will include
a high capacity, random access, electro-optical storage device (not
a standard IBM product) developed by IBM Research.
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