Already badly buffeted in the battle for the commercial jet market (TIME, Aug. 18), giant General Dynamics Corp. last week conceded that it may have to ground its Convair 990 before the plane ever goes into production. Reason: the 990 has developed a mysterious "drag" that keeps it from hitting the promised 640-m.p.h. cruising speed that would make it the world's fastest jet transport. Wind-tunnel tests to be completed next month will provide the data to determine whether the time and expense of eliminating the drag will be too great to bear.
The 990 has already hit General Dynamics with an...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
