Rogerson Aircraft Corp. in Irvine, builder of...

Rogerson Aircraft Corp. in Irvine, builder of Hiller helicopters and instruments and equipment for other aircraft, has been awarded a $7.6-million contract by the U.S Navy to design and manufacture fuel tanks that will extend the range of 12 of the Navy’s fleet of DC-9 aircraft. The contract, which will run through 1987, calls for Rogerson to build 24 gasoline tanks--two for each aircraft--that will add 2,250 gallons of fuel capacity to each plane. Company spokesman John McNeil said the contract would require hiring more employees at Rogerson’s Los Angeles and Port Angeles, Washington, facilities but he said it was too early to say how many new employees would be needed.