Abstract: An improved aerial gunnery target and reel system is provided which includes an aerial target, a housing affixable to an airframe, a cable spool secured for rotation in the housing, with cable wound therearound and connected to the target, a reel powering and control mechanism in the housing and a target launcher assembly in the housing. The launcher assembly includes a launcher arm extending from the housing, releasably secured to the target and movable with the target between a compact, protected target stored position and a target launch position where the target is exposed to the air slipstream during operation of an aircraft to which the system is connected. The arm rotates or telescopes between the two positions. The launcher assembly also includes a powering mechanism such as a pneumatic or hydraulic ram or an electric motor which moves the arm and attached target between the two positions. Such powering mechanism also operates a locking device to lock the arm to and unlock it from the target.

Abstract: A brake disc has a hat section tapered frusto-conically and receives a viscoelastic damping material between the tapered hat section and the mating outer periphery of the disc mounting flange. The damping material may be rubber coated steel shim stock.

Abstract: Gas carburizing is carried out in a subsantially closed furnace in an atmosphere initially containing hydrogen with just enough methane (or other suitable hydrocarbon gas) to provide sufficient carbon for carburization at a temperature above the austenitic transformation temperature of a ferrous metal workpiece. For each volume of methane that decomposes at the surface of the workpiece in the carburization process, two volumes of hydrogen are generated. A small amount of natural gas is fed into the furnace to maintain the carbon content of the atmosphere, and a small quantity of the predominantly hydrogen carburizing mixture is bled from the furnace to maintain a desired pressure.