Nestle into the cabin of a Galaxy and you might mistake it for a Gulf-stream II, if it weren't for the Galaxy's four-inch dropped aisle, plus the numerous and smaller cabin windows.

It may be months before there is a clear indication of just how hard the Boeing Co. and other aerospace contractors will be hit by the softening in Asia/Pacific air traffic.

Imagine flying with an instrument panel display system that produces a virtual VFR window to the outside world, one that provides a clear, daylight view of terrain and aircraft attitude in three-dimensional perspective.

Most executives have no idea how expensive it is to use the airlines. Ask them how many passengers it takes to make a business aircraft economically effective compared to the airlines and their responses range from three or more to it cannot be done. Their estimates are much too conservative.

With Iridium LLC's survival in doubt and ICO Global Communications Ltd. experiencing problems of its own--a recent public offering failed to raise the $600 million management had targeted--some observers might be questioning what the future holds for satellite operators in general.

Facing barriers to entry stiffer than management initially anticipated, Litton Industries Inc. plans to bow out of the commercial mainframe outsourcing and professional services businesses.

A privately held company since 1907, employee-owned United Parcel Service of America Inc. is proposing to offer stock to the public, but not for the usual reason of raising capital.

Speculation about possible transatlantic mergers between major European and U.S. aerospace/defense companies may have been responsible for propelling the price of Northrop Grumman Corp.'s stock to 745/16--an increase of 5 points--last Wednesday.