This is a description and analysis of the diffusion of publicly-funded (US government performed and sponsored) aeronautical research and development based on studies conducted under the NASA/DoD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. The first section describes how our technology and information policies interact to influence the US aerospace industry. The second section presents the findings of the authors' empirical research. The final section offers comparisons with other national systems, analyzes the STI models used by selected federal agencies and presents a revised technology policy and STI model.

Table of Contents:
Perspectives; the evolution of large commercial aircraft in the U.S. - an overview; U.S. public policy and large commercial aircraft-politics, market dynamics, and innovation; U.S. public policy and the diffusion of government funded aeronautical research and technology. Findings: distinguishing engineers from scientists - the case for an engineering knowledge community; the NASA: DoD aerospace knowledge diffusion research project; the production and use of information by U.S. aerospace engineers and scientists - a cross-industry analysis; the relationship between technical uncertainty and information by U.S. aerospace engineers and scientists; the differential effects of workspace experience on information production and use - a comparison of new and established U.S. aerospace engineers and scientists; the production and use of information by U.S. aerospace engineering and science students - a comparison of graduate and undergraduate students; the production and use of information among aerospace engineering professionals and students - a cross-national analysis; the influence of uncertainty, equivocality, and analyzability on communications in small, medium and large organizations; computer networks and communications in the U.S. aerospace workplace; information intermediaries and aerospace knowledge diffusion - the role of U.S. academic and industry libraries and librarians; the role of the U.S. government technical report in aerospace knowledge diffusion. Strategies for improvement: western European and Asian public policies and aerospace knowledge diffusion; a comparative analysis of U.S. policies and practices and western European and Asian public policies or knowledge diffusion; improved strategies for diffusing the results of federally funded aerospace R & D to the U.S. aircraft industry.