Only in California
In 1985, the comedy movie Real Genius starring Val Kilmer presented the scenario
of a college age undergraduate studying at "Pacific Tech," a fictitious technical university
based on Caltech. Chris Knight (Kilmer) is a genius and in his senior year working on the
development of a chemical laser. The story weaves through a variety of trials and tribulations
of this collegian’s life who is seemingly bored with his studies.  However, the story takes a
turn when the CIA defines that they want a laser based system mounted on an aircraft. 
Kilmer’s professor embellishes the request - demand for the laser and pressures the young
genius to find a solution for more power or suffer the consequences of not graduating and
loosing an unknown future career making millions.  Suffice it to say the genius succumbs
to the pressure and finds a solution to the demand. Even the genius comes up with the
solution he also uncovers its subsequent use. The plot turns through a variety of humorous
outcomes. But last week at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California, this apparently
became a serious reality.


Reagan's Star Wars Redux
An aircraft-mounted laser designed to shoot down missiles was fired for the first time in a
ground test aboard a 747 located at Edwards Air Force Base. The test of the high-energy
chemical laser was conducted by the contractors and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency,
The laser is in the back half of a Boeing 747-400F jumbo jet. Subsequent tests will increase
duration and power before the beam is sent through a fire control system to a turret mounted
in the nose of the aircraft. Ground firings will be followed by flight tests of the system, which
is intended to be capable of destroying all classes of ballistic missiles in the boost phase of
flight. The laser was designed and built by Northrop Grumman Corp. Lockheed Martin Corp.
developed the beam control-fire control system, and Boeing provided the battle management
system. The program remains on track to reach the missile shoot-down demonstration planned
for 2009.

                               

Of interest
I was sitting in my then office in Yuba City when a member of the Beale Military Liaison
Committee returned from a trip to Washington DC where apparently he had met with
Air Force officials that identified to him two unclassified military aircraft – the Global Hawk and
the laser armed 747. A community request was made to acquire the Global Hawk mission(Unmanned
Aerial Vehicle, ‘Jet Powered’).  I always wondered what happened to the airborne laser aircraft. 
Well, to para-phrase the radio commentator Paul Harvey, ‘Now you know the rest of the story.’
Now, let's see what's playing at the movies.



Tim Johnson
www.CaliforniaBusinessMinute.com