Fri, Mar 21, 2003
AeroGo Moves 747-400 Within an Inch
SI Technologies, Inc. (which designs, manufactures
and markets high-performance, industrial sensors, weighing and
factory automation equipment and systems) just highlighted a
contract with Boeing as an example of the precise moving and
positioning capabilities of its AeroGo, Inc. subsidiary.
The recently-completed contract required AeroGo to move a
specially modified 747-400F airframe weighing 675,000 pounds
approximately 300 feet, from the tarmac into an existing hangar
facility at Edwards Air Force Base (CA). The hangar was marginally
large enough to handle the aircraft, but required very precise
positioning (to within +/- 1 inch) at the nose and 3-foot clearance
at each wingtip. To facilitate this relocation, the airframe needed
to be "side-shifted" at 45 degrees into the hangar.
Bumpy concrete was another obstacle...
The move was accomplished by the use of a unique
pallet and traction drive system designed by AeroGo engineers.
AeroGo's totally self-contained and battery-powered drives allowed
the operators to slowly move, rotate and position the aircraft
maintaining the tight clearances. In addition, due to the porous
and rutted nature of the tarmac, the entire relocation was
conducted on a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) overlay. This
overlay material provided a smooth, sealed surface for drive system
operation.
"This represented one of the most challenging assignments ever
received by AeroGo," noted Hal Williams, General Manager of the SI
Technologies subsidiary. "In light of the tight constraints
involved and the nature of the payload, it was truly amazing to
accomplish this move in a single day."
The project is being directed by the U.S. Missile Defense
Agency. The U.S. Air Force leads the prime contractor team,
consisting of Boeing, TRW and Lockheed Martin.
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