More defense money sought in Poland
     WARSAW, Poland - March 3, 1998 3:30 p.m. EST - Poland's defense
 and industry ministers teamed up Tuesday to seek double the funds
 now proposed by the finance ministry for long-term modernization
 of the armed forces and for buying multi-purpose fighter jets.
     They also said in a joint statement that Poland should quickly
 pick a foreign fighter to replace its aging Soviet-era aircraft and
 ensure the deal involved extensive contracts for its own aerospace
 industry.
     "Given the very difficult situation regarding equipment of
 Poland's air force and the state of Polish industry, notably the
 defense sector, it appears a decision on a multi-purpose fighter
 aircraft should be taken as fast as possible," the joint statement
 said.
     A Saab /British Aerospace Plc consortium is offering its JAS 39
 Gripen while U.S. giants Lockheed Martin Corp and McDonnell Douglas
 Corp, with the F16/C and F18 Hornet, and France's Dassault Aviation,
 with the Mirage 2000-5, are in the race.
     The statement said Poland should negotiate a deal that ensures
 at least 100 percent of the contract's value is covered by work
 ordered in Polish factories.
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 Altimeter was reportedly working on jet that sliced cable in Italy
     ROME - March 3, 1998 6:12 p.m. EST -- The altimeter of a Marine
 jet that severed a ski gondola cable in the Alps last month appeared
 to be functioning properly, according to tests Tuesday, the ANSA
 news agency reported.
     The tests were requested by a lawyer for the four-man crew of
 the EA-6B Prowler who said the altimeter may not have been working
 when the jet severed the cable Feb.3.
     The ANSA report cited a source who participated in the tests on
 the altimeter, but did not identify that person. Additional tests
 would be carried out Wednesday, according to ANSA.
     The tests were carried out at Aviano, the U.S. air base in
 northern Italy, where the crew is on temporary duty. It was part of
 the Italian civil investigation into the tragedy.
     A U.S. military panel also is investigating. The Italian air
 force has blamed pilot error, saying the jet was too low and off
 course.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
      Two adults, four children killed in Idaho plane crash
     BOISE, Idaho - March 3, 1998 3:42 p.m. EST -- A small plane on
 a sightseeing trip crashed in a remote, rugged section of southwest
 Idaho, killing two adults and four children.
     Rescue workers Tuesday trekked to the scene of Monday night's
 crash after helicopters spotted the wreckage of the twin-engine
 Cessna 303.
     There was no immediate indication of what caused the crash. The
 weather was good at the time, with scattered clouds.
     "We have an eyewitness who saw a plane ... go straight down in
 a spiral," said state Division of Aeronautics spokesman Jeff
 Stratten.
     The adults were identified as Jeffrey Johnson and William
 Zenahlik, both helicopter pilots and chief warrant officers with
 the Idaho National Guard.
     The identities of the children could not be confirmed.
     The plane belonged to Dr. Dean Sorensen, a Boise plastic
 surgeon, former state legislator and candidate for lieutenant
 governor.
     The crash occurred northwest of Crane Creek Reservoir, about
 60 miles northwest of Boise.
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