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**Steve Hix**

In article mbGdnfJl5sivJ5bVnZ2dnUVZ_tGonZ2d@nuvoxcommunicati ons,
(Robert Bonomi) wrote:

In article
,
wrote:

Neither of them wrote about aviation, did they? Sci-fi was always
space.

Clarke wrote "Glidepath", about the early development of Ground
Controlled Approach systems, with which early development he was
involved. It wasn't wholly fiction, though, much less science fiction.

Not always 'space'. Some were set strictly on the surface of other planets.
or even on Earth (in the distant -- or not-so-distant -- future).

Also, there is one of the 'Robots' stories that involves aviation as a
primary plot theme.

Can't remember the name right now, but the plot-line involves a 'survey'
visit to the surface of a gas giant. descent by glider wing, with return-
to-orbit via gas-bag lift to moderate altitude, then JATO to build speed to
the point ramjets function, then at peak ramjet altitude, cut in the ion
drive.

The glider has an implanted 'brain' running everything in addition to the
one-man 'crew', and a malfunction develops in the JATO/ramjet controls --
loss of control functions detected after landing, but before the return attempt.
'Cure' involves dumping methane(?) ice into in-wing access panel. doesn't
last long enough to get to launch altitude -- crewman has to wing-walk to
replenish the cooling in flight before ramjets can be used.

That sounds very much like one of Larry Niven's early stories; "Becalmed
in Hell".