FloTrak Experiment
In 1982 one of the YF-16's was tested at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio with the FloTrak design. The design was something like a tank track wrapped around the wheels of the F-16 so it could be towed across soft ground. Reason for wanting to do so came from the concern of the taxiway being bombed out trapping the aircraft in a bomb shelter. The testing was successful but never used.
Questions:
1) What ever came of these tests?
2) Which YF-16 was used in the testing?
3) Anybody have any photos of the aircraft with the FloTrack?
Questions:
1) What ever came of these tests?
2) Which YF-16 was used in the testing?
3) Anybody have any photos of the aircraft with the FloTrack?
- Elite 2K
- Posts: 2809
- Joined: 05 Sep 2003, 20:36
from Jay Miller's 1982 Aerograph on the F-16:
Perhaps the least known of the many test programs that have been conducted utilizing the F-16 is the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory's jointed. hard plastic tire shells which are designed to lighten the landing gear imprint on soft and rough surfaces by as much as 65%. Called Flotrak, the idea was tested in September of 1981 on the #1 YF-16, and earlier on an operational F-16A. The system was tested by towing the airplanes over grass, random debris, and pavement. The tire footprint, which is normally 275 psi, dropped to 80 psi when the Flotrak device was used.
Flotrak was made of a polyester elastomeric material that is high-temperature resistant. The system was designed and fabricated by Vehice Systems Development Corporation, Upland, California and molded by Stevens, Inc., East Hampton, Mass.
Reality Is For People Who Can't Handle Simulation
Scanor wrote:I'd hate to see what happened to the jet if this accidentally came off during takeoff or landing..
Wouldn't happen because not meant for flight, was for towing only. Even if you tried to fly with it it wouldn't fit in the wheel well when the gear was retracted.
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