Bethpage-Tribune_1973-12-27

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Grumman Makes News Bethpage Rotary Club Plays Santa
Theresa Spellman
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Grumman Aerospace Cor­poration,
a subsidiary of
Grumman Corporation,
demonstrated a revolutionary,
electronically-controlled fire .
hose nozzle today at the New
York City Fire Department
Training School located on
Roosevelt Island. The new device
was developed by Grumman in
cooperation with Public
Technology, Inc., Washington, D.
C, and its affiliate member
cities.
Grumman, a long-time builder
of complex aerospace systems,
most recently the Apollo Lunar
Module, undertook development
of the unique fire nozzle about
two years ago when it became
apparent that present methods of
combating fires needed im­provement
in cost effectiveness,
fire attack capabilities and
primarily firefighter safety.
Presently, each fire pumper
truck requires the full-time
presence of a pump operator to
monitor all hoses leading from
The nozzleman, in direct control, starts, stops or regulates the
water supply by rotating a collar on the nozzle which relays elec­tronic'signals
to the pumper truck's. specially designed valve. A
master control panel on the pumper truck provides a constant visual
status of the entire system. The system was designed by Grumman
Aerospace Corporation in cooperation with Public Technology, Inc.
and its affiliate member cities. PHOTO CREDIT: GRUMMAN
the truck to the nozzle. Moreover,
this pump operator must start
and stop the flow of water and
make any required adjustments
necessitated by length, elevation,
depression or bends in the hose.
In addition, he must constantly
be on the alert to correct any
malfunction in the pumper truck
to prevent loss of water flow
which could endanger the
firefighter at the nozzle. In many
instances communication bet­ween
the two firefighters is
maintained through hand or
voice signals, which are con­siderably
hampered by the
background noise of fire fighting
equipment and smoke.
Now with Grumman's new
device a firefighter can control
the water flow by means of a
radio transmitter built into the
nozzle. Signals from the tran­smitter
are relayed to a specially
designed valve in the pumper
truck which, in turn, regulates
water flow to the nozzle. Not only
does the new nozzle provide in­creased
safety for the firefighter
at the nozzle but it releases a
trained firefighter from the task
of regulating water flow so that
he can assist in the actual fire
attack. The system can be in­stalled
on new and existing fire
pumper trucks.
Grumman will begin an ex­tensive
test and demonstration
program in the near future for
the system. Patents are pending
for the new equipment.
A few folks may not
realize it, but the members
of the Bethpage Rotary
Club have the biggest
hearts in the world - and
this past Christmas proved
it.
Santa Claus was very
busy preparing for
Christmas 1973 - so the
Rotariahs decided to be his
messengers (with the
cooperation of the Beth-page
Post Office).
Many children from the
local area sent letters to
Santa. A few of the
children just wanted to
greet Santa like this one:
DEIR SANTA,
HOPE YOU HAVE A
,". ..v.. .,.-^.,^..T..i..S MjA'iSiim -Htimx.t.!v in,
TONI
Other letters were in
childish scribble - ap­parently
from very young
tykes. Some of the
youngsters asked for gifts
that even Santa Claus
couldn't afford. Most of the
kids asked for the usual
bikes, dolls, footballs,
skates, etc.
Well, getting back to the
Rotarians - these won­derful
guys, with the help
of some of their wives went
out and purchased gifts for
all the children who sent
letters (except, un­fortunately,
for the ones
without return addresses).
The gifts were wrapped in
bright holiday paper and
ribbon. The Rotarians
delivered the gifts per­sonally
- telling the
children Santa had
received their letters and
they were acting as his
messengers.
The Rotary was only too
happy to help keep the
"Spirit of Christmas"
alive for these children.
The point though is - the
youngsters in the area - the
kids who receive very little
for Christmas. They would
like to think that if some of
the children who sent these
letters have more than
they need, perhaps, they
would donate a gift to a
less fortunate child. These
children could then learn
the real meaning of
Christmas. "It is better to
give, than to receive."
Grumman Implements Energy-Saving Measures
Grumman Aerospace Cor­poration's
Final Assembly and
Flight Test Facility located here
has instituted a number of new
energy- conservation measures
that will help alleviate the
current fuel shortage. The an­nouncement
was made by George
M. Skurla, Grumman Vice
President and Calverton
Manager.
Among the steps that will be
implemented immediately is the
reclamation of jet fuel that is
drained from aircraft engines
and fuel tanks prior to each
flight. Skurla said that this fuel,
which amounts to between 10,000
and 15,000 gallons per month, will
be reprocessed and used for other
applications, possibly heating the
facility.
In anothersfcejfcAdpsed circuit
TV system'will be utilized bet­ween
Bethpage a d Calverton to
minimize personnel travel bet­ween
the two sites. The TV,
system will allow conferences
and meetings to be conducted
which would otherwise
necessitate private automobile
trips which are approximately
100 miles roundtrip.
In the course of preparing
aircraft for test flights, it is often
necessary to "power up" various
systems for checkout. Electrical
power for such activities is now
supplied by gasoline or diesel
driven generators. Modifications
are being made that will permit
the necessary power to be drawn
from Calverton's normal elec­trical
power which is not only
more efficient but will alleviate
the need for the multiple
auxiliary driven devices.
Skurla's staff is continuing its
studies and hopes to institute
other energy-saving measures
shortly.
READY FOR 'PARK AND RIDE' POOL PROGRAM. Nassau
County Executive Ralph G. Caso inspects first of some 50 signs h«i»g-made
in the county sign shop which will direct motorists to three
parking centers where commuters can form car pools to save
gasoline and commuting expenses. At left is General Services
Commissioner Francis E. O'Connor. Each three-by-two feet, orange
and blue sign will be set up next week in areas surrounding the three
centers: Mitchet Field, north of Hempstead 'lumpike between Hof-stra
University and the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale;
Eisenhower Park, and Christopher Morely Park, north of the Long
Island Expressway in North Hills. Destinations of car pools will
include parts of Brooklyn, Bronx and Manhattan. The car pool
program and centers represent the county's efforts towards easing
the energy crisis.