Abstract: An improvement to a mass flow rate sensor which includes the provision of at least one mode selection plate at each of the inlet and outlet ends of the sensor. The plates are provided in addition to other tube end termination means and are configured to have predetermined stiffness characteristics (area moments of inertia) in the X, Y and Z axes. In one preferred embodiment, the mode selection plates are configured in a generally squashed H-shaped configuration in which the tube ends pass through the centers of the vertical legs of the H and the cross member of the H spans the space between the two tubes. In other embodiments, the plates are variously configured to alter the stiffness characteristics along the various axes of the mode selection plate.

Abstract: A fly trap for capturing umbilical plugs ejected radially outwardly from a missile during the initial portion of the launch, the fly trap comprises impact and retention arms and a ratchet and compression spring which cooperate with a housing to allow the arms to only rotate a limited amount to retain the plug within the arms and prevent it from rebounding into the missile as the missile accelerates in the launch tube.