Mobile Outfit for Crash-landing Emergencies
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Specially Designed and Equipped Vehicles Which Are Kept in Attendance at Airfields to Cope with All Aspects of Aircraft Mishap
AREVIEW of aviation • progress shows, among other things, a steady trend towards the mechanization of airfields with a view to the more efficient. handling of aeroplanes and cargoes, and better upkeep of airport facilities. Where planes used to be pushed on to the field by hand, the large machines of to-day are towed. about by tractors. Air-conditioning equipment mounted on trucks is now run out to condition planes for the next leg of the journey, whereas they had no such treatment a few years ago.
Included in the mechanized equipment of the well-organized airport is a unit known as a crash truck, which is, designed to deal with emergencies such as forced or crash landings. So long as uncertainties in weather prevail and mechanical failures are possible, these trucks are considered a necessary adjunct to the safety and welfare of the up-to-date port and its users. Accordingly, such vehicles are now found at many army, navy and civilian airfields. The crash track is intended to stand by for action in order to lessen the dangers in the event of crash landings.' The unit is well equipped to put out dangerous conflagrations as well as for uescue work. Frequently, there is little or no injury to the occupants of a crash-landed plane, but it is imperative that they be released at once. It is also necessary to stop fast-spreading petrol fires.
Many crash trucks have been built by the White Motor Co. A typical machine, as used by the American Navy, employs the model 2,0434 White Super Power six-wheeled chassis. driving through four wheels. ' This unit provides ample power and speed and can travel over difficult terrain with the same facility as on the highway or airport. .Rugged construction is combined with streamlined features to make it both serviceable and attractive.
On the typical navy crash truck shown in an accompanying illustration, the principal fire-fighting equipment, supplied by the C-O-Two Fire Equipment Co., consists Of 10 100-1b. carbon. dioxide cylinders and two hose reels each carrying 200 ft. of high-pressure. flexible, reinforced rubber hose with large-size discharge horns. The cylinders are installed horizontally, with special holding clamps to permit quick removal and replacement. The hose reels, mounted on the top behind the cab, are of the gas-tight trunnix type, and are so placed that the ho may be conveniently unwound fro the side. This main C-O-Two system -supplemented by six 15-1b. capaci1 ortable extinguishers made by ti same company.
Under the seat in the body there is 100-gallon water tank with a pump an a hose reel carrying 200 ft. of i-ir water hose with nozzle. The crash true also carries a Phomaire "clay-pipe and 10 gallons of foam solution wine converts water into approximately 1 gallons of foam. In addition, there ax two 21 gallons Wintergarde water-typ extinguishers with cartridge for expe: ling the water, all made by the Pyren Manufacturing Co. The Wintergard extinguishers are mounted on each ski of the truck, directly to the rear of th rear-wheel housings.
The navy crash trucks carry ampI facilities for rescue work, including tw, 12-ft. ladders, two axes, two crowbars tiwo wrecking bars and a bolt clipper The trucks are equipped with a tripoc derrick of the pole-setting type for lift log and towing. This " knock-down ' unit is carried on brackets on the sich when not in use. A single drum windl is driven from a power take-off. nu body of the truck is fitted with seats, running lengthwise, for members of thc crew. Despite the amount of equipment carried, the units are compact and accessible.