Business: The Grand Slam

Streaking across the Air Force proving grounds at Muroc Lake, Calif., Northrop Aircraft's new fighter seemed for a moment to explode in the air. From the big pods at the wing tips, great puffs of smoke and flame shot out. The explosions were the blasts from showers of rockets shot from the pods. They gave the "Scorpion," said the Air Force, the heaviest firepower of any U.S. fighter. Although the big, heavy Scorpion is full of radar equipment, it can climb higher than 40,000 ft. Its radar eyes can search out an enemy plane...

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