BAK-14/F32 Retractable Cable Support System
Abstract
The report presents the result of a development and test program to evaluate the BAK-14/F32 Retractable Cable Support System and all of its components. A total of nine rollovers and twenty successful engagements were accomplished using the F-100, F-101, F-106, and A-4D aircraft. The objectives of the program were to: (a) Determine the engaging reliability with aircraft arresting hooks. (b) Analyze the restraint characteristics of the support blocks when aircraft touch down on the cable. (c) Prevent damage to private and commercial aircraft during rollover. The test results demonstrated that the BAK-14 was compatible with the BAK-9 arrestor and that the BAK-14 concept was compatible with all arrestors which utilize cross-runway cables. The test results also indicated that the system could be engaged bidirectionally with equal reliability. The installation was comprised of 24 identical cable support boxes, each separated by eight feet. In operation, when the system was retracted, the control tower or runway edge operator actuated an electrical valve which permitted high pressure air to be ducted into the air cylinder of each support box forcing the special forked arm, linking the spring-arm assembly and the air cylinder, to twist the torsion spring such that it retracted the cable into a cross-runway slot in approximately eight seconds. When the system was raised, the three-way valve was opened and air was released to the atmosphere causing the fork fitting to withdraw into the air cylinder, and the torsional spring returned the spring-arm assembly to the raised position in approximately five seconds.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0695473
Entities
People
- Alex V. Wolfe