European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 19, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday August 19, 1990 the stars and stripes a Page 5navy partly unveils a-12 stealth plane Washington apr the Navy on Friday partly lifted the veil of secrecy from its a-12 a Avenger Quot stealth air plane developed to he its main Carrier based attack bomber into the next Century. No details were provided on the exact dimensions and other features of the previously secret aircraft but an artists drawing showed a Manta Ray shaped Craft with two wide engine intakes on the  Avenger is the latest in a family of new generation aircraft built around radar evading technology. The air forces b-2 bombers and Al i 7a fighter bombers use composite materials and unorthodox shapes to sharply reduce radar reflections. The Avenger has been the subject of growing controversy since the Navy announced earlier this year that it was a year behind schedule. Both the defense department and the Navy Are investigating the delays which came to Light after the department had completed a months Iong review of its main aircraft programs. The problems reportedly involve the manufacture of stealth composite materials. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney announced in april that he was cutting the Avenger Purchase from a planned 858 planes to 620. The Navy has not released figures on the avengers full production Cost but it has been reported to total about $55 billion. The plane currently is in the full scale development phase under a $4.78 billion Navy contract held jointly by Mcdonnell Douglas corp. And Gen Cral dynamics corp. President Bush requested $1.1 billion in production funds for the Avenger for the 1991 budget year starting oct. I but both the House and Senate have eliminated production funds for the coming year leaving Only a smaller amount for research and development. The Avenger is designed to replace the a-6e intruder which has been the Navy a main attack aircraft for 27 years. The Avenger is designed to penetrate sophisticated missile defences to deliver bombs with exceptional accuracy against fixed and Mobile targets on land and sea. Its automated electronic cockpit includes a missile warning system for Early identification of enemy radars and guided missiles. The Pentagon released this drawing of the a-12 to reporters on Friday. Madd wins Battle of terms its a not an Tallahassee Fla. Apr it s no Accident when a Drunken Driver gets into a car wreck Florida officials have conceded in a War of words Victory for mothers against drunk driving. It s a crash. Florida state troopers and the department of Highway safety and motor vehicles will no longer refer to collisions Between vehicles As  partly because of pressure from Madd they re now known As  a a a a accidents implies that the vehicles Are out there acting independently through some unseen forces Quot said department spokesman de Birk. A a there a almost always a human Factor and a human reason behind the  the department has begun referring to All collisions As a crashes a not just those involving drunks Birk said. But he conceded that years of coaxing from Madd played a big part in the decision. The anti Drunken driving organization has Long sought to convince governments and news reporters that wrecks involving alcohol Arentt accidents. A it is important that people not think of it As something that could t be helped a said Betty Jane Spencer of Florida Madd. Quot some of them arc accidents but not drunk  Fla. Man gets life sentence for murder of 2-year-old the just published Book of statewide statistics on wrecks has been retitled a Florida traffic crash facts Quot and the former traffic Accident report forms used by police agencies across the state will soon be known As traffic crash report  a vast majority of crashes Are not accidents Quot Birk said. A a there a a human being behind the wheel that a got to be  the Only other state to adopt a crash Quot As the official word for a car wreck is Missouri said Madd National president Mickey Sadoff. A for 10 years we be fought for this word change because to Call it an Accident seems to absolve people of responsibility a she said a by calling it a crash you Are elevating it to show its a preventable violent  Spencer who lost four children in a Drunken driving wreck said Madd members often write letters to newspapers and to stations when reporters refer to such collisions As accidents. There were 36,312 alcohol related collisions in Florida in 1989, Down from 37,800 the year before according to the new a crash facts Book. Almost 1,500 people died in those collisions which represented 14.4 percent of total wrecks. Gas pump prices up another notch by United press International Oil companies battling charges of Price gouging said Friday that rising crude prices were testing the limits of their ability to restrain gasoline prices. Phillips Petroleum co. Raised its average wholesale gasoline Price by a Penny a gallon Friday on top of a Rise of 20.2 cents a gallon since the iraqi invasion of Kuwait on aug. 2. Chevron c Orp. Raised prices by a Penny a gallon for dealers in the san Francisco Bay area on top of increases of 5 cents to 10 cents a gallon since the invasion. Several major Oil companies agreed to freeze Gas prices last week after president Bush urged them not to Lake advantage of the turmoil in the Mideast. But crude Oil prices have continued to skyrocket since the presidents Call and Oil buyers Are concerned that prices could Rise further. Gas prices which have shot up As much As 20 cents a gallon in some parts of the country have not kept Pace with the Price of crude Oil companies said. A we Are under recovering our costs. Our margins Are less than they were in july Quot Phillips Petroleum spokesman Jere Smith said. Atlantic Richfield co. Said that since the freeze went into effect 270 Arco stations have run dry and the company s daily volume has risen 12 percent. To meet demand it has been forced to buy gasoline on the spot Market for $ 1 a gallon. Bartow Fla. Apr a Man convicted of murdering his 2-year-old Stepson by plunging him headfirst into a toilet was sentenced Friday to life in prison because a death penalty would Likely be overturned a judge said. Thomas Coe 23, must serve 25 years before being eligible Lor parole. Coe was convicted of first degree murder and aggravated child abuse in the death of Bradley Mcgee in an emotional Case that brought changes in stale Law and the prosecution of several social workers. Circuit judge Randall Mcdonald said that Only twice before in Florida Hao men been sentenced to death for killing their children during abuse and both sentences were overturned on Appeal Mcdonald also gave Coe 15 years for aggravated abuse to run consecutive to the life sentence. The jury that convicted Coe last month in fort Myers where the trial was moved because of extensive publicity recommended Coe be sentenced to life in prison however Mcdonald received about 40 letters and petitions urging him to Send Coe to the electric chair and was not bound to the jury a recommendation. Bradley died of massive head injuries july 28, 19s9, Only two months after he was ordered returned Home from state Foster care. Sands of time in the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. Aug. 19, 1950 a thousands of North korean troops fled from the Paktong River bulge and hundreds were killed As . Troops continued to Weir push northwards. 30 years ago today. Aug. I 9, 1960 a the . Come in the ongo moved swiftly to wrest control of the giant Leopold Ville Airport from congolese troopers. 20 years ago today aug. 19, 1970 a . Military base hospitals around the world must provide abortion and surgical sterilization services for All armed forces personnel and their family members regardless of state or local Laws the defense department announced. 10 years ago today aug. 19, 1980 a thousands of British holidaymakers marooned in France but a Fisherman a blockade of Channel ports received free  milk but no Promise of a speeds end to the labor dispute that had t rippled French shipping