GEN John P. Jumper, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, escorts President William Jefferson Clinton upon his arrival to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 5, 1999. The president visited several European air bases to thank the troops (not shown) for their support of NATO Operations Allied Force and Shining Hope.

Clinton Vows Support for New Air Force Fighter

WASHINGTON – President Clinton threw his support behind the F-22 Raptor yesterday, saying it would be a mistake for the United States to abandon plans to produce the next-generation stealth fighter, which has become a target of House budget-cutters.

Fort Worth-based American Airlines also urges parents to use child safety seats on its flights, but it guarantees a seat for a passenger younger than 2 only if a ticket is purchased. American will offer a free extra seat to travelers with children if a seat is vacant.

Buckle Up Baby on Flights, FAA Urges

WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration warned yesterday that children flying without assigned seats on airliners are especially prone to injury during periods of air turbulence.

The string of accidents began Oct. 22, when two F-16s collided in flight. One of the Fighting Falcons, flown by a student pilot, crashed and burned in the desert about 10 miles north of Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The pilot ejected safely. The pilot of the other F-16 involved landed his plane and was not injured.

Faltering Falcon: F-16 Accident Rate Rises as Air Force Seeks Cause

WASHINGTON – The F-16 fighter has spent most of the decade flying difficult missions in the Persian Gulf and Bosnia, while compiling a solid safety record. But Air Force officials have become concerned that the F-16 or the engines are showing their age.

At stake is the Air Force's 21st-century strategy, which was to combine the supercharged and highly capable F-22 with the emerging joint strike fighter, an aircraft now in development that is expected to replace the F-16 as the Air Force's primary air-to-ground workhorse.

F-22 Overruns Create Odd Blend of Opponents

WASHINGTON – It used to be easy to tell the hawks from the doves on Capitol Hill, but the dogfight over Lockheed Martin’s prized F-22 Raptor has left even veteran budget watchers wondering where the battle lines are drawn.

The V-22, being produced by Bell and Boeing Helicopters of Ridley Township, Pa., can fly twice as fast and twice as far as conventional helicopters. It will cut in half the time Marines need to reach the shore from a ship and allow the dispatch of troops from a greater distance.

Marines Roll Out Newest Vehicles, Including V-22

QUANTICO, VA – Before a hangar full of Pentagon brass, politicians and defense industry executives, the Marine Corps showed off three of its newest vehicles yesterday, including Bell Helicopter Textron’s V-22 Osprey.

If GD sells all the assets it has put on the block, it will go from an $8.75 billion company (by 1991 sales) to a $6 billion company - if its remaining businesses continue at their current sales rate, which is unlikely in today's defense spending climate.

A Giant Holds on by Going to Pieces

FORT WORTH – When there was a Soviet Union, General Dynamics F-16s, Trident submarines, Abrams tanks and cruise missiles were major players in America’s defensive strategy against its superpower foe. Now that the Berlin Wall has crumbled, the Soviet Union is shattered and U.S. defense spending is being pared, GD is shrinking.

In November 1989, GD acknowledged that F-16 production had fallen as many as 20 planes behind schedule because of production problems. The problems cost GD millions of dollars in delayed government payments, contract adjustments and overtime pay.

Air Force Blasts GD for F-16 Production Woes

FORT WORTH – In a harshly worded letter to top management, the Air Force has asked General Dynamics Corp. to correct problems in F-16 production in Fort Worth that the government says could hinder the company’s efforts to keep building its primary jet fighter on schedule.

Yesterday's event in Texas Stadium drew more than 140 dealers from the Southwest region, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico.

Cadillac Sales Team has Touchdown Fever

IRVING – Joe Fetzer is no Jerry Jones, but the Cadillac executive stood on the 50-yard line at Texas Stadium yesterday hoping that the Dallas Cowboys’ recent success might rub off on the all-new 1993 Fleetwood.

GM Unveils Brougham at New York Auto Show

NEW YORK – General Motors’ Cadillac division introduced its new Brougham at the New York International Auto Show yesterday. The Arlington-built car is a longer, more powerful luxury sedan than the 1992 model.

Steady Steering for Cadillac

ARLINGTON – The turmoil in General Motors’ executive ranks won’t hurt the launch or lifespan of the all-new, Arlington-made Cadillac Fleetwood, the general manager of GM’s luxury division said yesterday.

George Banke's bikes are being ridden by some of the top cyclists in Texas and elsewhere, including several female riders who compete with Natalie Banke.

Wheels of Fortune

FORT WORTH – George Banke and wife, Betty, founded Banke Racing Works, a little Fort Worth company that is quickly building one of the biggest names in custom-made bicycles in Texas and the Southwest. Their clients have included enthusiasts to competitive world class athletes.

The prospect of Supreme Court vacancies is worrying some conservatives, legal experts say, because Republican presidents appointed the three jurists who are considered most likely to retire - Rehnquist, 72; Stevens, 76; and O'Connor, 66.

Election Will Steer Nation’s Judicial Direction

WASHINGTON – The outcome of tomorrow’s presidential election could affect the nation’s judicial system well into the next century. Legal experts believe that as many as three Supreme Court justices could retire in the next four years, allowing the next president to give an ideological tilt to the nation’s highest court.

During his trial, Arthur Brown's attorneys, Tom Moran of Houston and Patricia Nasworthy of Menard, had asked the judge to let them inform the jury that a life sentence would keep Brown behind bars for at least 35 years. They also wanted to show evidence that convicted murderers, after such an extensive prison term, are unlikely to kill again.

4 Supreme Court Dissenters Pan Texas Death Sentencing Law

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court let stand a Texas death sentencing law, but four dissenting justices said it “unquestionably tips the scales” against defendants.

Satellite service providers such as DirecTV and EchoStar, the biggest satellite broadcasters, have tens of millions of subscribers across America.

To equal or surpass the F-22, the Russians would have had to have made significant advances in their fighter technology.

Even the youngest of the U-2s is expected to have reached the end of its structural lifespan around 2020.

The prospect of Supreme Court vacancies is worrying some conservatives, legal experts say, because Republican presidents appointed the three jurists who are considered most likely to retire – Rehnquist, 72; Stevens, 76; and O’Connor, 66.

While Ford, Chevy and GMC once ruled in full-size trucks, entries from Dodge and Toyota will fuel competition and maybe even force other companies to enter the battle. Photo: Chrysler/FCA

The Air Force has begun to give all its personnel more time off after lengthy assignments abroad. For example, a 90-day stay in Bosnia will now earn a two-week vacation upon return. A 45-day deployment will result in a week off.

In November 1989, GD acknowledged that F-16 production had fallen as many as 20 planes behind schedule because of production problems. The problems cost GD millions of dollars in delayed government payments, contract adjustments and overtime pay. Photo: U.S. Air Force

The two defense companies said the Justice Department had informed them that it was “fundamentally opposed” to the merger.

The controversy is rooted in part in the high cost of launching multimillion-dollar satellites.

If GD sells all the assets it has put on the block, it will go from an $8.75 billion company (by 1991 sales) to a $6 billion company – if its remaining businesses continue at their current sales rate, which is unlikely in today’s defense spending climate.

Emmitt Smith

Acme Brick Co.

The Arlington and Willow Run plants, GM sources and analysts say, are the subject of an internal review at GM to find out which facility could end up producing the company’s full-size, rear-wheel-drive cars. Photo: General Motors Corp.

Chevy Volt

Texans bought more than 621,000 light trucks in 1997, tops in the nation. Photo: Ford Motor Co.

Joint Strike Fighter. Photo: U.S. Air Force

Lawmakers have been searching for ways to deal with the bills the Pentagon will face just after 2000 when it will attempt to produce three fighters at the same time, the Joint Strike Fighter, the F-22 stealth fighter and the F/A-18E/F. The combined cost of producing the Joint Strike Fighter and the other two planes has been estimated at $400 billion.

Yesterday’s event in Texas Stadium drew more than 140 dealers from the Southwest region, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico. Photo: General Motors Corp.

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