PROGRAM PROGRESS REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00285R000200050035-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 23, 2004
• Sequence Number: 35
• Publication Date: January 17, 1972
• Content Type: MF

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'17 JAN 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, CIA Reconnaissance Programs
SUBJECT: Program Progress Report
Forwarded herewith are three copies of the IDEALIST
Program Progress Report for the period 1 October 1971 -
31 December 1971.
e .
Brigadier General, SAF
Director of Special Activities
Attachment -
As stated
NRO review(s) completed.
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(10 January 1972)
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IDEALIST 1..
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DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY AND PROCr.RESS
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(1 OCTOBER 1971 - 31 DECEN[BER 1971)
I. AIRFRAME
A. Light Weight HF Radio -Production of the new Light Weight
HF Radio, 718U-7, is on schedule. The first unitshould be delivered
to Detachment G by 2 February 1972. Installation, in all IDEALIST
aircraft, will be completed during the Fourth Quarter FY-.1972.
B. U-2R Flight Test and Operational Training Summary
0
1. IDEALIST Program accomplishments in U-2R aircraft,
since introduction were 7821.5 hours on 2369 sorties, , as of
31 December 1971.
2. Flight test and operational data are depicted below:
1 OCT-31 DEC 1 OCT-31 DEC
FLIGHTS TIME
1 - 051 30 106. 5
2 - 053 33 97. 1
3 - 054 45 166.4
4 - 055 40 136. 5
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TOTAL 148
506. 5
Sealed Crossover Tubes -The 6(~0 hour hot section inspection
of the improved engine combustion chamber sealed crossover tube
has been completed, with excellent results. This engineering change
will be incorporated in all J-75-P-13 engines being overhauled
subsequent to March 1972.
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g cart was
A. Q-Ba Preconditionin - A reconditioni
operationally field tested on The temperature regulator
was inoperative due to a bro en wire, consequently temperature
remained at the high level of optimum setting during operation. All
carts have been delivered by Lockheed and actual test data is being
collected for a variety of ambient temperature and humidity conditions
occurring for test and training flights.
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B. "H" Configuration
1. Camera, serial number 002, was transferred to
Detachment H on 20 November 1971. 'This unit has the new gyro
package, light weight mount, and RFI modifications incorporated
which results in a total weight reduction of 56 pounds. Camera,
serial number 003, was returned to Detachment G on 7 December
19 71.
2. First delivery of the new apachromatic lens for the "H"
sensor is anticipated late February 1972. The new lens along
with the new gyro package, light weight mount, and R,FI modifi-
cation will then be incorporated into 003. Flight test of the new
lens is anticipated mid-March 1972.
C. "B" Configuration -Delivery and installation of the new
apochromatic lens for the "B" camera is anticipated rnid-April 1972.
Flight test of the new lens will follow.
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5. A contract employee sustained a fractured spinal
vertebrae in an auto accident 22 December 1971. It is~not of
a serious nature. ~
B. Life Support Activities
1. One-Man Life Raft Modification - A Service Bulletin
has been issued to provide instructions and materials to paint
the bottom of the one-man life rafts flat black. This action is
being taken in response to the published results of a thorough
research project on shark attack. It appears now that brightly
colored materials unquestionably attract the killer shark, By
changing the color on the bottom of the raft to black, some
margin of protection against this threat may be afforded a
downed crew member.
2. S1010 Flotation Modification -Anew flotation cell has
been water tested during this reporting period which appears
to provide a more efficient floating profile than the existing
preserver. A Work Order has been issued to mount one flight-
acceptable preserver in a separate outer cover to the 51010
Pilot Protective Assembly and request pilot comments on its
new characteristics and comfort. This effort along with previous
life-support-system changes will make the SR-71 and U-2R
flight gear more similar.
3. Automatically Deployed Survival Kit -The, survival kit
presently used with the U-2R aircraft has anon-automatic
deployment system.
A survival kit was delivered to
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~to determine if the device can be ada ted to deploy the
i . ngineers were of the opinion that the- could
be ada ted to the survival kit to meet our requirements.
~is modifying one survival kit for tests and. evaluation.
Estimate delivery in January 1972.
4. NASA Trip _ Houston, Texas - The project Life-
Support Officer visited the NASA mani.ied Spacecraft Center,
Houston, Texas, to compare and contrast the Apollo and Sky
Lab Life Support systems with the IDI~~ALIST system. The
NASA approach to Life Support can generally be stated as one
pressure suit for one space mission. With this philosophy,
service life is of no consequence and suits are fabricated to
provide the very best in pressurization, mobility, and comfort
with no consideration directed toward repeated use. Mobility
is provided by means of molded rubber convolutions and the
crew member operates in a 100%-oxygen environment through-
out the mission. Although the NASA full pressure suit is ideal
for its intended use, the same approach to the IDEALIST program
would be unacceptable. This comparison between the NASA
effort in crew equipment and the U-2 equipment was felt to be
quite productive.
C. Training
1. Parasail Winch Modification -Anew power winch
was installed in the tow boat and used during parasail training
at Lake Mead, Nevada in June 1971. `the winch is gasoline driven
with an automatic transmission. This transmission was proved
unsatisfactory, and modifications were explored. It has been
concluded that a standard four-speed transmission with a clutch
would be most desirable. This modification will be completed
during January 1972,
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IDEALIST
OPERATIONAL SUMMARY AND STATUS
(1 OCTOBER 1971 - 31 DECEMBER 1971)
I. OPERATIONAL MISSION SUMMARY
A. ~DEALIST TACKLE operational missions were alerted
during t is period. ere flown, anc'~ one was cancelled due to
deteriorating weather. missions were planned to be flown no
closer than 25 nautical miles to the China mainland coast. Following
is a summary of missions completed:
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B. U-2 Special Mission Summary
1. SCOPE SAINT V
a. During the period 18 - 28 October 1971, Detach-
ment Gconducted a de loyment training exercise
The purpose was .to exercise t e
capability to ep oy to and operate from a forward
location. ~
A. RED DOT -Three sorties were f~.own in support of continuing
film tests using various camera configurations in the U-2R.
B. New "H" Mounts - Three sorties were flown to qualify new
light weight mounts for the "H" camera.
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15 training sorties.
E. Preconditioner Test -Five sorties were ;used to gather
data and qualify the Q-Bay preconditioner units. . ~
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F. Lens Tests -Three sorties were :flown to obtain base line
data with the ''B" and Delta III cameras. The imagery obtained.
with new apochromatic lenses in these cameras will be cox~4lpared
to this data. !
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G. Pilot Trainin -Twenty-seven initial qua~.ification sorties
were flown. flew the final 12 sorties required to successfully
complete all training requirements. completed
III. PILOT AND AIRCRAFT STATUS (AS OF 31 DECEMBER 1971}
A. Detachment '"G" (Edwards AFB -North Base}
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