FloTrak Experiment

Jon · by **Jon** » 13 May 2006, 02:08

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?

Guysmiley · by **Guysmiley** » 13 May 2006, 18:05

I'll have to search my library, one of my ooooold books has a black and white photo of that setup. It was the U shaped sections that end on looked triangular and wrapped around the wheels, correct?

Jon · by **Jon** » 16 May 2006, 01:09

Sounds right Guysmiley. Would really like to see such photo. I know there is a photo of it in an old ARCO book that is really old and not very good but is the only time I've ever seen a photo of it.

Jon · by **Jon** » 02 Feb 2007, 18:57

Found these photos at DVIC:

These were from 1985 but I'm also still looking for photos from the testing done at Wright-Patterson AFB and the above questions answered.

An F-16A of the 496th TFS is backed around moulage craters and into a hangar after being fitted with flow tracks during Exercise SALTY DEMO '85 on April 29th, 1985. SALTY DEMO '85 is an air base survivability exercise evaluating passive and active defenses, aircraft operation and generation, and base recovery systems. Note the older style 496th TFS badge. [USAF photo]

An F-16A of the 496th TFS is backed over rocks to demonstrate the protective resilience of the flow tracks fitted to its tires during an exercise on April 29th, 1985. [USAF photo]

A member of the 50th Equipment Maintenance Squadron sprays adhesive to a flow track that will be attached to the tire of an F-16 during Exercise SALTY DEMO'85 on April 29th. [USAF photo] A member of the 50th Equipment Maintenance Squadron sprays adhesive to a flow track that will be attached to the tire of F-16A #80-0601 of the 496th TFS during Exercise SALTY DEMO '85 on April 29th. [USAF photo]

Senior Airman Michael Rathman, 50th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, pins a flow track together on the tire of F-16A #80-0601 during Exercise SALTY DEMO '85 on April 29th. [USAF photo]

Senior Airman Michael Rathman, 50th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, positions a flow track in front of the tire of F-16A #80-0601 on April 29th, 1985 during Exercise SALTY DEMO '85. [USAF photo]

habu2 · by **habu2** » 02 Feb 2007, 23:18

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.

Scanor · by **Scanor** » 14 Feb 2008, 14:18

I'd hate to see what happend to the jet if this accedently came off during takeoff or landing..

Jon · by **Jon** » 14 Feb 2008, 14:50

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.

Scanor · by **Scanor** » 14 Feb 2008, 14:51

that's a relef

Guysmiley · by **Guysmiley** » 14 Feb 2008, 15:25

Great pics Jon! I never knew they were yellow, only pictures I saw were in b&w.

Jon · by **Jon** » 14 Feb 2008, 16:06

Yeah, I was thrilled to see those photos on the DVIC site. I am now looking for the photos during the experiments with the YF-16 at Wright-Patterson.

Only ever seen them once in a book.