European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 1, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes saturday february 1, 1986page 2 the stars and stripes saturday february i i of army grounds its Fleet of ah-64 copters by Norman Black a p military writer Washington a the army has grounded All of its ah-64 Apache helicopters following the discovery of cracks in the main Rotor Blades of More than a dozen of the new attack helicopters the Pentagon said  service has also decided to suspend the acceptance of any More apaches from the manufacturer the Mcdonnell Douglas helicopter co., pending the results of an investigation. The Apache has been designed As the army s most deadly front line Aerial weapon for use in providing close combat support against enemy tanks. The Heli copter has been designed to navigate and attack in dark Ness and poor weather and carries hellfire missiles Hydra 70 rockets and a 30mm Chain gun. When fully deployed the a Che will be the army s primary attack helicopter the service said last year. In a Brief prepared statement thursday the Pentagon said the army issued the grounding order As a precautionary  there have been no accidents related to the main Rotor Blade the statement added. A spokesman for he army aviation systems Camil confirmed however that at least 13 of the advanced helicopter gunships had been found to have cracked Blades. Howard demure reached by phone at his St. Louis mo., office said the first instance of Blade cracking was discovered on Jan. 15 on an ah-64 that had been set aside for testing. Examinations were immediately or dered for All 68 apaches now in the inventory leading to the discovery of 12 More cracked Blades. That prompted the Fly twide grounding and delivery suspension orders which were issued to Field units on Jan. 27, he added. The Blades made of a combination of metals and composite material were designed to last for at least 4,500 night hours. The Blade in which the first crack was found had been flown for Only about 330 hours Demere although the army has so far acquired Only .68 i lie to Finy ii Cihua a us in " of engine copters by the end of the 1988 fiscal year at an Overall program Cost of about $9 billion. According to demure each of the copters Cost roughly $8.8 million excluding research and development sex  developmental testing the Mam Rotor Blades on the copters demonstrated a capability for continued Safe operations after tree strikes or ballistic Impact caused by enemy weapons thursday s statement said. The discovery of the cracks thus came As a Surprise 2 Dodds students to visit . Capital by Joe Mapother and Charlie Bowden staff writers two student Council presidents from far Flung Dodds schools in Europe will spend next week in Washington learning first hand How the . Government works. Jeff icky a 17-year-old senior at sons Turberg High school in the Netherlands and Holly Gross la a senior at Vicenza High school in Taly Are among 104 american High school students chosen to participate in the youth Senate program. Their selection followed an intensive screening process that included a three hour written examination on government and the Constitution an Oral interview an essay and completion of an extensive application form. Each of the five regions in the department of defense dependents schools was allowed two nominees. Icky and Grossetta each won a $2,000 scholarship in addition to the All expenses paid week in the capital. Their Agenda includes visits with president Reagan and members of Congress and the Cabinet. Crossetta s selection is the capstone to an Honor filled and Busy two years at Vincnza High school. In addition to being president of the student Council she is a cheerleader reporter photographer for the us Mio of Jot map Omer Jeff like school newspaper and member of the National Honor society. She was selected to represent the school last year at the Model Senate and this past week was in the the Hague Netherlands As a member of the Model United nations. Principal Leo Browne praises her accomplishments saying that in his 26 years with the school system. Holly is the Best All around person of school age that 1 be Ever known she s a real plus person a real  she is the top academic student in her class he said. Grossetta and Icke met last summer during a special science program. Icky is president of the National Honor society and Captain of the soc Sterberg football team. I be always been interested in current affairs said Icke who was looking for Ward to his first trip to the nation s Capi Tal. Organization is the word he chooses to explain How to do 101 things at once. It s hard during football season and soccer season but 1 be always been Able to keep ahead he said. Icky whose favorite subjects Are government and physics plans to study Aero nautical engineering in College and Hopes it will Lead toward a career As an Astro naut. Grossetta is the daughter of Gail Gros Salta and air Force it. Col. Bruce d. Grossetta the assistant to the Deputy chief of staff for plans and operations at the 5th Allied tactical air Force. Icke is the son of air Force col. Harold Icke and Betsy icky. Demure said and army safety investigators at this Point have no idea of the cause. The spokesman said the Blades Are 22 feet Long. The first crack was discovered about 10 feet from the lip Edge he continued and emanated from the trailing rear  the other cracks discovered were similar in nature in that they began on the rear Edge of the Blade he added. A comprehensive investigation has begun to deter mine if there is any possible design flaw in this Blade or if there arc other factors which contributed to the crack the statement added. According to Demere Mcdonnell Douglas helicopters has been producing Between nine and 12 of the new copters each month. The decision to suspend further acceptance of the apaches come at a time when Mcdonnell Douglas continues to receive reduced payments for its overhead expenses because of accounting  last May 17, the army suspended All overhead pay ments to Mcdonnell Douglas helicopters. That suspension was relaxed on aug. 29 after the army concluded the firm had made significant Progress in revising its accounting procedures according to the army Mcdonnell Douglas helicopters is currently receiving 75 percent payments on its overhead costs instead of the Normal 90 percent. Go held As suspect in $100,000 theft by he Stan and stripes authorities Friday apprehended a is. Soldier suspected of stealing $100,000 from the 11 5. Army finance and accounting Center Europe in Mannheim two military policemen stopped the suspect fleeing from the scene shortly after the 4 30 . Robbery at Funari Barracks. A .45-caliber pistol the Soldier was carrying was identified As the same weapon taken from a pay agent during an at tempted robbery in Hanau Friday morn ing. Officials said an armed Man wearing a Battle dress uniform forced his Way into a military vehicle at Pioneer Cavern in Hanau about 8 20 . Friday and threat ened the Driver who was waiting for a pay officer. When the pay officer returned be was threatened and forced to surrender his .45 Caliper pistol while still outside the vehicle a Hanau Public affairs spokesman said. However before the suspect could get the Money the Driver escaped from the car and shouted for help. The suspect fled the scene in the Mili tary vehicle which was found in a Hanau parking lot a Short time later. Spain schedules referendum on nato membership Madrid Spain a the govern ment plans to hold a referendum March 12 on whether Spain should continue its membership in nato vice prime minister Al Fonso Guerra said Friday. In May 1982, Spain joined the North Atlantic treaty organization under a centrist government although its armed forces have never been integrated into the Alliance s military Structure. At a news conference Guerra said the socialist government of prime minister Felipe Gonzalez approved the decision to hold the referendum at a Friday Cabinet meet ing. He said the government cavort continued nato membership but with the following conditions that Spain s armed forces re main outside the nato military command Structure that Spain maintain its prohibition of the storage or installation of nuclear arms on its Sou and there be a gradual reduction of 12,000 american troops stationed at four bases Here. Act Cable to by summer by Dave Diehl . Bureau no Raf Mildenhall England w Cable television will be installed at most . Military housing areas and bases in England by the summer. Air Force officials say. Raf Chicksands will be the first . Base to receive up to eight or nine channels in housing areas dorms clubs and some work areas Cape. Stephen Gonzales said. A second contract for the other bases is expected to be agreed on by May. Gonzales said subscribers probably will pay $25 to $30 per contract negotiations incl lower prices for subscribers such As residents he said. The air Force will pay the monthly Tab for places like dormitory Day rooms and 24-hour work centers he said. Chicksands residents May be watching pay to by May Gonzales said. The first service to the other bases will begin by june be said. The air bases in Britain will be among the first recipients of Cable television. Gonzales said. Parliament made Cable television Legal last year. The air Force is requiring each con or to provide at least one Channel for air Force. Gonzales said Public be in charge of programming of american Force Meta kor armed forces radio and television twice programming May be broadcast 1111 to incl Gonzales said. However probe eluding funding and sending them Over a pay to system must be worked out first. Guerra said a parliamentary debate on the government s foreign policies was scheduled for feb. 4, and political campaigns on the referendum would begin two weeks before the vote. A Call for the referendum was a key Plank in the socialist party s electoral plat form in october 1982 general elections when the socialists won a sweeping majority capturing 202 of the 350 seats in the lower House of parliament. The question of continued Spanish membership in nato has dogged Gonzalez Ever since he assumed office in december 1982. Shortly afterwards be announced that he favored remaining in nato but preferred keeping the armed forces outside nato s military command Structure. Apple names chairman Cupertino Calif. A Appl computer inc. President and chief executive officer John Sci key has been name chairman of the Board the company announced