European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 14, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday february 14, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 5 army gives go ahead to surveillance drone by Norman Black a military writer Washington the army after a five month hiatus breathed new life wednesday into its Long run Ning Effort to develop a miniature drone air plane capable or flying surveillance missions Over a Battlefield. In a Brief statement the service announced it had authorized resumption of full scale development of the Aquila remotely piloted vehicle by the Lockheed mis Siles and space co., a division of the Lockheed corp. The Aquila under development for eight years has been plagued by technical and reliability problems and by what congressional critics have charged is an army Effort to Load up the drone with unnecessarily sophisticated surveillance equipment. The Aquila is a Small propeller driven plane that is remotely controlled from the ground and can carry Dif Ferent types of to cameras and laser equipment to guide missiles and anti Lank rounds to targets. Operators on the ground can use the cameras on a live basis to View enemy troop movements. The army suspended the program last september after the Aquila flunked a series of operational tests. Lockheed then agreed to continue work on the drone and to conduct a new series of demonstration tests at its own expense. The army said wednesday those tests had been con ducted by Lockheed last month at fort Hua Chuca ariz., under the close scrutiny of army  the contractor demonstration provided the necessary evidence that the Aquila program is ready to continue development testing the army said. Based on these results the army has decided that the Aquila program will resume full scale  however the army has also decided to trim its planned purchases of the Aquila said it. Col. Craig Macnab an army spokesman. Instead of buying 548 of the aircraft Over the next several years the service is now planning to buy 376. The Cost of the original program had ballooned in recent years from $563 million to j2.4 billion. Macnab was unable to immediately provide a precise estimate for the new scaled Back Purchase plan but he said the total would still exceed $2 billion. The Penta gon s fiscal 1987 budget requests $238 million for the program but that amount is primarily to Complete development and establish a production line the spokesman said. The Craft is launched from a flatbed truck and then recovered using a special net. Since development began the army has moved to include infrared vision equip ment for night flights and Jam resistant communications gear. Efforts to Contact Lockheed officials were unsuccessful. According to Trade press reports the company spent $50 million to conduct last month s demonstration for the army. Interior Secretary cites conflict of interest Iacocca loses spot on Liberty advisory commission Washington a Interior Secretary Donald Hodyl fired acc Luco Ccu wednesday from his unpaid position As chairman of the government s advisory commission on the restoration of the statue of Liberty. The Chr scr chairman called Hodyl s action off the  Hodyl announced his decision us a news conference in his office Hue wednesday. He Suid Iacocca could not serve without a conflict of interest As the chairman of both the private foundation that has raised $230 million for the restoration and As the head of the advisory panel that would help decide How the Money is spent. Iacocca was appointed As chairman of the statue of Liberty Ellis Island Centenni Al commission by James Watt when Watt was the Secretary of the Interior. Later he was reappointed by Hodyl. However Hodel said he came to the decision that Iacocca should not hold both places and asked him to resign. When la Cocca refused he decided to remove him. I Felt that it was important to Demon Strate the department would not be bul lied the Secretary said. Replied Iacocca in a statement issued in Detroit the Secretary s statement was off the Wall and in Clear contradiction of the facts. I resent any inference on his Purl of conflict of interest. The truth is that the Secretary is in conflict with his own charter. This is a grab for four years Worth of contributions by the american  Hodel said Iacocca s comment was obviously an agitated remark or a remark intended to mislead  the new chairman of the advisory com Mission Hodyl announced will be Armyn Avedisian 59, a retired construction com Pany executive from Inadale Iii. Iacocca As the chairman of the advisory commission would have had great influence on that commission s review of his own foundation s proposals for the restoration of Ellis Island. Hodyl said he recognized the potential problem when he reappoint cd Iacocca to the advisory commission last november but saw no Point in bringing it up at the time since matters were going Well. A Secretary for the foundation had writ ten to two people who were members of both the foundation Board and the advisory commission telling them that Iacocca wanted them to give up one position the Interior Secretary said. It was then Hodel said that he realized that Iacocca should relinquish one position or the other. Iacocca however rejected requests that he resign when he met Hodyl on feb. 4 and again on monday Hodyl said. Hodyl said he was not accusing Iacocca of any wrongdoing. I know it s going to get lost on the cutting room floor but the fact is. Or. Iacocca has done an extraordinary Job bringing to fruition one of the largest if not the largest Public Volunteer efforts in the history of this country Hodyl told re porters. Hodyl said Iacocca argued that he owed a responsibility to people who had Given Money to the foundation. Hodyl said he pointed out to Iacocca that the Auto executive was not being asked to leave the foun Dation but that Iacocca did not respond directly to his Point. I really hoped that or. Iacocca would Sec the concerns that i had. And would gracefully say i May not like what you re doing but i understand and Well go for Ward " Hodel said. Though Iacocca raised vast sums of ant Nina card for the president first lady Nancy Reagan accompanied by family and friends a card shop near the rating s Day Al their California ranch in the dog Rex wets Valentines for be president. White House. The reagans will spend Val Santa Rynex mountains. Money on the pattern of corporate giving and product licensing that financed the 1984 olympics his efforts have not been without criticism. The foundation feuded with other Money raising groups until it was designated the sole legitimate fund Raiser last year. Companies fought Over who had rights to use the Symbol. A $500.000 fee to French engineers was criticized by the u. S. Architect of the Capitol As excessive. Fire aboard Iowa hurts 3 crewmen Norfolk a. A a fire broke out on the battleship Iowa As it prepared to leave for sea trials injuring three crewmen the Navy said wednesday. The Iowa was at Anchor in the Hampton roads Harbor when the fire began tuesday afternoon in its storeroom said la. Cmdr. Ken Salter Field a spokesman for the Atlan tic Fleet surface come. Crewmen quickly extinguished the Blaze and the ship sustained minor damage he said. The injured men who had minor Burns were sent ashore by tugboat for medical treatment at a Navy facility he said. The cause of the fire has not been deter mined. Sauce Field said. The Iowa subsequently left for its scheduled sea trials off the Virginia coast. Sands of time in the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. Feb. 14. 1946 the United nations permanent Headquarters committee in Lon Don selected new York City for its interim site after san Francisco was narrowly Defeated. 30 years ago today. Feb. 14, 1956 avalanches and a plane crash sent Europe s death loll soaring in the Century s bitterest cold wave. Storms slowed Down a . Emergency Airlift for victims in Snow stricken Italy according to european press reports. 20 years ago today. Feb. 14. 1966 the slate department warned North Vietnam not to stage Crimi Nal trials of captured . Servicemen. 10 years ago today. Feb. 14, 1976 America s Dorothy Hamill dazzled a sellout House with four min utes of Brilliant free skating and won the women s Gold medal in figure skating at the Xii Winter olympics in Innsbruck Austria