\ VI I U S AND I RANSPORTATION 



783 



The subcommittee was pleased to see construction finally proceed 

 in 1977 on the trans-sonic wind tunnel facility at Langley, as well as 

 the modification of the 40- by 80-foot subsonic wind tunnel at Ames, 

 projects strongly supported by the subcommittee 



SUPERSONIC TECHNOLOGY 



Although happy with an increase of over 11 percent requested in 

 NASA's budget in 1977 for aeronautics, Milford labeled it still "a kind 

 of drop in the bucket" compared to what the Nation should be invest- 

 ing in aeronautical research. He also called attention to the subcom- 

 mittee report on "The Future of Aviation", noting that with three 

 nations flying supersonic transports in commercial service the subcom- 

 mittee "was somewhat shocked to find that we did not even have one 

 on the drawing board." Milford stated to NASA that he was still 

 wondering "whether you really read our subcommittee report." A 

 NASA witness subsequently answered: 



In preparing NASA's proposed fiscal 1978 aeronautics program, we have had the 

 benefit of the October, 1976 report of this subcommittee on its review of the future 

 of aviation. I think it is safe to predict that aviation will be materially improved by 

 that report. 



The subcommittee put in a new line-item for "agricultural aircraft 

 systems technology", a special interest of Goldwater, along with a 

 $2.5 million increased authorization in that category. This item plus 

 a $3 million increase in what was termed "the extremely promising 

 materials work in superplastic forming and diffusion bonding" both 

 passed the House. But the conference committee eliminated the line 

 item and settled on an across-the-board $3 million increase. 



The subcommittee also tackled the FAA R. & D. authorization 

 in February 1977. Milford seemed more kindly disposed toward FAA 

 than NASA, saying they had been criticized, "but we often tend to 

 overlook the fine accomplishments of this agency" which he noted 

 had helped the U.S. airlines "achieve in 1976 their best safety record 

 in 50 years." When Rudd asked a few questions about total personnel, 

 Milford interjected: 



My experience has always been, in dealing with the agency, that whatever 

 detail you would like to delve into, I believe you could simply notify them by tele- 

 phone at the time and they will come forward with whatever information you want 

 for your own personal satisfaction. 



In its hearings, the subcommittee shared with the Interstate and 

 Foreign Commerce Committee a negative feeling toward Aerosat, 

 an air traffic control satellite planned by Canada, the European Space 

 Agency and the United States. Noting that Aerosat would eat up 



