Disclaimer: Truckin On is an unofficial newsletter published every month in the interest of serving Air Force active duty, civilian and retired vehicle operations and maintenance personnel. Articles submitted by its contributors are not to be considered official statements by the U.S. Air Force.

1 Jul 2015

Dedicated to the Men and Women of

AF Vehicle Operations & Maintenance Past, Present, and Future

Truckin on

Special Points of Interest:

Maintaining vehicles that move the mission: PG 1 - 2

Women In Trucking: PG 3

Inside this issue:

Vehicle Operator Joins Tops in Blue

PG 4

Breaking Defense: Boeings Phantom Works

PG 5 - 6

Defense News: US SOCOM PG 6

Yokota Airman Living a Dream PG 7

Government Fleet: USPS Drone Vehicle

PG 8

Auto Fleet: Cybersecurity PG 8

Misawa Ushers In New Era PG 9

NASAs SEV PG 10

The Human Hoist PG 10

Holmes Wrecker PG 11

Snuffys Corner PG 12

Maintaining the vehicles that move the mission By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Boitz, U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs Published June 01, 2015 Contributor: Randy Livermore, CMSgt (Ret/2T3)

Senior Airman Jacob drives a holding pin in place on a lift cylinder on a 60,000-pound aircraft loader during maintenance at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, May 24, 2015. The holding pin keeps the lift cylinder in place and allows it to lower and raise the aircraft loader. Jacob is a material handling equipment mechanic assigned to the expeditionary logistics readiness squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

To keep the mission moving, a handful of dedicated Airmen who specialize in

maintaining material handling equipment from the expeditionary logistics readiness

squadron are ready to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty working on some

of the largest equipment in the Air Forces arsenal.

We take care of all the maintenance for the air transportation operations center

(ATOC), which includes anything used to load and unload equipment and people

around the area of responsibility, said Staff Sgt. Jason, the NCO in charge of

material handling equipment.

We do it all, from repairs, adjustments and overhauls, including replacing major

assemblies and sub-assemblies like power and drivetrains.

Continued on PG 2

Maintaining the vehicles that move the mission

Staff Sgt. Jason and Senior Airman Jacob position an adverse terrain forklift vehicle underneath a 60,000-pound aircraft loader during maintenance at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, May 24, 2015. The forklift was used to relieve weight off of the lift cylinder. Jason is the NCO in charge of material handling equipment and Jacob is a MHE mechanic. Both are assigned to the expeditionary logistics readiness squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Material handling equipment comes in all shapes and sizes,

which include 60,000 and 25,000 aircraft cargo loaders, adverse

terrain forklifts and standard forklifts, and personnel moving

vehicles like buses.

Its this equipment that enables a continuous flow of cargo and

personnel for missions associated with Operation Inherent

Resolve. Its a prime example of how the Air Force is able to

achieve one of its distinct capabilities -- rapid global mobility.

The ops tempo affects our mission; it makes it difficult to pull a

vehicle out of rotation to work on it, said Senior Airman Jacob.

These vehicles are critical; if they arent running it could delay

missions which affect other people in the area of responsibility.

Keeping those assets readily available is challenging, especially

as operations continue against Islamic State of Iraq and the

Levant.

We do as much preventative maintenance as possible to keep

the vehicles in good operating order, Jason said. These

vehicles are used every day, so its important to keep them

running.

We try to limit it to one vehicle down at a time, so (ATOC) are

able to continue their mission. In order to keep these giant

assets operational they work as a team to expedite the process.

We try to take care of the most crucial thing first and then

prioritize the rest, Jason said. Some projects take three people

to work on, other times were able to split the workload and

tackle several jobs. The vehicles were working with are big and

heavy, so we usually need more than one person on one job.

The hydraulic fluid, oil, and sweat arent just scars on their

uniforms from the grueling work these Airmen do every day; its

badge of honor and their commitment to something bigger than

themselves.

All the ammo, bombs and other assets moving around theater,

were helping all that happen, Jacob said. Working outside in

the heat makes it 10 times harder, but being out here you can

see the impact; what we are doing is directly affecting OIR. It

gives me a sense of pride.

(Central Command editors note: Due to safety and security

reasons, last names and unit designators were removed.)

2

WIT History

Ellen Voie founded the organization and

developed the board of directors and the

structure of the program. Currently there

are over 2,500 members that include

corporate entities (carriers and industry

affiliates), industry professionals, drivers,

and students. Membership is not limited

to women, as approximately sixteen

percent of members are men who

support the goals of the program.

Although the trucking industry has made great strides to

accommodate women, there are still obstacles that might

cause some to avoid this career opportunity, and others who

choose to leave. As carriers advertise automated

transmissions, air ride seats, drop and hook freight, and

regional runs, the industry becomes more attractive for female

drivers as well as their male counterparts.

Outside of the truck, our focus is to bring more women into

leadership roles to create a more diverse environment and to

tap into unrealized potential. We represent women who design

the trucks, own the trucks, sell the trucks, fix the trucks and

drive the trucks!

In our short history, Women In Trucking has accomplished a

great deal since the association was formed (March 2007). In

2012 Women In Trucking Association was recognized by the

White House as a Transportation Innovator Champion of

Change!

What is WIT

WIT addresses obstacles to encourage women to enter careers in the trucking industry

Part of the mission of Women In Trucking is to address

obstacles that might keep women from entering the industry.

One of the first questions often asked is, What are these

obstacles?

While there are numerous things that might limit the number of

women who consider careers in trucking, the most crucial one

is about image. From the outside, we dont appear to be very

female focused.

Read more at: http://womenintrucking.org/. Click on

the About Us tab and What is WIT.

Mission

Women In Trucking was established to encourage the

employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their

accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women

working in the trucking industry.

Conference & Expo

A Unique Environment Join your transportation, logistics, and supply chain peers at

the inaugural Accelerate! Conference & Expo, sponsored by

the Women in Trucking Association. Learn about critical

transportation issues and trends, along with perspectives of

the positive impact women can have on the industry. Network

with your peers. Build business in this intimate, integrated

conference and exhibition setting. And, move transportation

forward!

Learn more about this upcoming conference/expo and register

at: http://womenintrucking.org/conference-expo/

Editors Note: We contacted Women In Trucking, Incorporated

(WIT) and asked if we could feature their organization in Truckin

On. Ellen Voie CAE, President/CEO, replied that they would be

honored to have an article about WIT in our newsletter.

Rather than tell you about this unique company, however, I will let

WIT speak for themselves in terms of their history, what theyre

about, and their mission.

Ellen Voie President/CEO

3

Vehicle Operator Joins

Langley Airman tours with Tops in Blue

Story by Senior Airman Kimberly Nagle - 4/29/2015

FORT EUSTIS, Va. - A child sits on the kitchen floor banging

pots and pans with various cooking utensils creating music to

his ears. Little did he know, this intimate, tableside performance

was only the initial indication of lifelong passion for music.

That child, now U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mark Roberts, a

vehicle operator assigned to the 633rd Logistics Readiness

Squadron, followed his musical desire and went on to play an

instrument in his high school marching band, but decided to put

his first love on hold to serve his country.

Roberts always had aspirations to see the world, so once he

settled into Air Force life, he looked into special duty

assignments that would fulfill his ambitions while maintaining his

commitment to the defend of the nation.

The minimal knowledge Roberts had of the Tops in Blue tour

group was enough to intrigue him so much he submitted an

application to the all-Airman performance group that would take

him away from his job for more than nine months, to drive their

tour buses and be close to what he loves, music.

For the next few weeks, Roberts persistently checked his email

in anticipation of an acceptance to travel with the group.

Once I found out I was accepted, I was ecstatic, he said.

Knowing I was going to get the opportunity to travel was one of

the best feelings in the world.

Shortly after receiving his acceptance, Roberts traveled to Joint

Base San Antonio, Texas, and trained not only in his job of

driving the tour buses, but also learning how to work a sound

board. It meant having to adjust to more than 13-hour workdays

and new responsibilities. Despite the amount of hard work

Roberts and the rest of the tour group had put into training, they

were ready to begin visiting bases all over the world, like Aviano

Air Base, Italy, and Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan.

With a mission to promote community relations, support

recruiting efforts and serve as ambassadors for the United

States of America and the Air Force, Roberts felt the Tops in

Blue team opened his eyes to the importance of always acting

with the Air Force core values in mind.

The people on the tour will mold you into a better Airman. We

held ourselves and each other to a high standard, he said. As

ambassadors for the U.S. Air Force and also the United States,

we were supposed to be the best of the best and make sure we

looked the part.

Throughout his time touring with the expeditionary ensemble,

Roberts saw that even small acts of kindness and appreciation,

like handing out candy during the holidays, brought smiles to

people defending their country while far away from home and

family.

We were constantly reminded that none of what we did was

ever for us. We were there for them. After every show in the

desert, we would walk around and thank everyone for coming

and pass out small gifts we brought, and I never saw a

frowning face in the crowd, said Roberts. Being able to bring

joy and smiling faces to those in harms way during the time

they probably missed home the most was humbling to say the

least.

Now back to operating vehicles, Roberts said he tries to find

productive things to do with his new active work ethic, such as

working on personal music, finding extra tasks to complete at

work and volunteering with the community.

I hope to take what I learned while on tour and continue to put

it toward my life now, said Roberts. I will always remember

the people I met and the memories I made along the way. It

was an experience I will never want to forget, and hope to

experience again.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mark Roberts, 633rd Logistics Readiness Squadron Vehicle Operations vehicle operator, took part in the most recent Tops in Blue tour as a bus driver and an audio technician. Roberts said this was the experience of a lifetime, creating lasting memories and friends. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kimberly Nagle/Released)

4

COURTESY OF:

Boeings Phantom Works Tries Its Hand at Trucks

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. on June 01, 2015

The people that built the X-37 unmanned spaceplane and the

X-51 Mach five missile now want to bring you an

ultra-lightweight truck. Can brains this big think that small?

The beautifully named Phantom Badger vehicle looks a little out

of place alongside other products of Boeings famous Phantom

Works division. In fact, Boeing itself looks a little out of place

compared to the other competitors for the Armys Ultra-Light

Combat Vehicle, which include scrappy startups like Vyper

Adamas and mid-sized truck makers like Polaris.

Even General Dynamics, the other traditional defense

contractor in the race, found a small-business partner whose

existing Flyer vehicle is the basis for its ULCV entry. Boeing has

a small-biz teammate as well, North Carolinas MSI, best known

for its work with NASCAR and off-road racing.

But Boeing came up with the design. In fact, the Badger was

born when undisclosed elements of Special Operations

Command specifically sought out Phantom Works to design a

vehicle that could fit inside the V-22 which (perhaps not

coincidentally) Boeing helps build.

Our customer came to us, our customer asked for this, [and] on

our own dime we designed and built the first Phantom Badger

according to our customers specifications, said Kim

McCamon, the retired Army colonel who heads the project for

Boeing. While not a special operator herself, McCamon spent

almost a decade doing logistics for Army Special Operations

Command at Fort Bragg.

Now Boeing is exploring a Big Army competition, the Ultra-Light

Combat Vehicle, which would equip not small special ops units

but the 82nd Airborne Division and potentially other light infantry

units as well. I say exploring because Boeing was much more

cautious than the other ULCV contenders Ive talked to.

We havent made the determination that were going to pursue

the ULCV, McCamon told me. Its going to depend on what

the Armys requirements are and what the business case is for

Boeing. The Phantom Badger participated in both a ULCV

demo last year and an expeditionary warfare event this year at

Fort Benning. And Boeing has responded to the Armys

Request For Information (RFI) on ULCV but until the formal

Request For Proposals (RFP) comes out, the final requirements

could change.

Phantom Badger will require some modification to meet one of

the requirements that is already fixed: a curb weight of 4,500

pounds. (Thats the vehicle without cargo or passengers, but a

full tank of gas and generally ready to go). Its close to 4,500,

McCamon said. We believe we can meet the requirement.

Despite its weight, the Badger is actually one of the slimmest

competitors. The Army only requires the ULCV to fit inside a

CH-47 Chinook helicopter, but Badger was designed in the first

place to fit in the much tighter quarters of a V-22 Osprey

tilt-rotor.

Boeing - Phantom Badger Combat Support Vehicle for Special Forces

Boeings Phantom Badger can fit inside a V-22 tilt-rotor.

Boeing Phantom Badger

Continued on PG 6

Contributor: Dan Berlenbach, CMSgt (Ret/2T3)

5

(Continued from PG 5)

Boeings Phantom Works Tries Its Hand at Trucks

The price paid to fit on the V-22, however, is a much narrower

vehicle: a maximum of 60 inches wide. (By contrast, General

Dynamicss ULCV offering is the Flyer-72, a foot wider). Does

that long, thin body increase the risk of rollover?

We realize that could be a challenge with the narrow body,

[but] theres some intellectual property on our vehicle that

allows us to be more stable, McCamon said. (She wouldnt

disclose the proprietary secret sauce for stability). We are able

to take a significant side slope without rollover again, exact

figures are proprietary and if it does roll over, were certified

at 150 percent of the vehicle weight, so all the passengers

would be protected. To prove that performance, besides the

specific demonstrations for the Army, the Badgers done 5,000

miles at the Nevada Automotive Test Center.

The vehicles shock absorbers vital to cross-country

performance are a proprietary design by Boeings partner

MSI. Other than that, however, all of our major components are

commercial off-the-shelf items, McCamon told me. Thats an

Army objective for ULCV and something that dramatically

simplifies maintenance, the former logistician emphasized: If

something breaks on a Badger, she said, they can go to

AutoZone or Pep Boys or any auto store and pick up a part.

Thats very different from a space plane but sometimes

simplicity is the best kind of sophistication.

Related Article

US SOCOM Evaluates Vehicle for Osprey

By Joe Gould May 19, 2015

See story at: CV-22 Osprey Vehicle

DefenseNews A GANNETT COMPANY

A Malian soldier takes a defensive position while a US Air Force Special Operations Command CV-22 Osprey departs a landing zone in Bamako, Mali, as part of a drill for Exercise Flintlock. (Photo: US Air Force)

Contributor: Dan Berlenbach, CMSgt (Ret/2T3)

USAA survey: Ford F-150 flying high with Air Force vets

Mike W. Thomas Reporter- San Antonio Business Journal

The Ford F-150 pickup truck is the most popular vehicle among

active-duty and former Air Force members, according to a

recent study by USAA.

The Toyota Camry was the second most popular vehicle,

followed by the Honda Accord, Honda CR-V and Honda Civic.

The Ford F-150 was also popular with the other military

branches while the second place vehicle varied.

The Toyota Camry was also the second favorite of the Army,

while Navy vets preferred the Honda Accord and Marine Corps

veterans went with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 as their second

pick.

The Coast Guard veterans favored the Toyota Tacoma.

U.S. Air Force vets prefer the Ford F-150 to all others, a USAA survey shows.

Following is the list of most favored vehicles in all branches of

the military, according to USAA.

Ford Motor Co. photo

1. Ford F-150 6. Honda CR-V

2. Toyota Camry 7. Hyundai Sonata

3. Honda Accord 8. Nissan Altima

4. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 9. Ford Fusion

5. Honda Civic 10. Jeep Wrangler

6

Yokota Airman Living a Dream

Fixing things: A childhood dream

By Airman 1st Class David C. Danford, 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs / Published May 11, 2015

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) -- In a compound hidden

away from prying eyes, the men and women of the 374th

Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance shop don

their blue mechanics overalls and work to ensure that Yokota's

wheels on the ground can keep their birds in the sky.

Whether it's maintenance for emergency services conveyance

or buses for bilateral tours or vehicles on the flightline, they

bring technical expertise vital to mission success.

To some people, the blue overalls and Air Force boots covered

in grease and oil stains are just another uniform, but to Senior

Airman Brandon Higginbotham, a 374th LRS vehicle

maintenance journeyman, they are a source of pride

symbolizing the accomplishment of a lifelong dream.

"Vehicles have been a hobby for me since I was a little kid,"

Higginbotham said. "I get to do something I love for a job so it's

like I can do my hobby all day long."

At five years old, Higginbotham helped his father work on his

first car, a Malibu drag car, and was allowed to work solo by age

ten. After a successful career as a professional mechanic in the

civilian sector, Higginbotham enlisted in the Air Force looking for

new challenges at the age of 23.

The Air Force gave him the opportunity to broaden his skillset

working with military vehicles while stationed in countries across

the world like Japan.

"The thing I look forward to the most when I wake up in the

morning is coming to work and there's a hard job--something

that's going to make me think, make my gears turn,"

Higginbotham said. "Once I overcome that challenge, if it ever

comes up again, with a snap of my fingers I'll know how to fix it."

Working alongside a staff of highly experienced local national

mechanics, Higginbotham has performed maintenance on a

variety of vehicles, his favorite being the Humvee due to its

maintenance difficulty. Despite the language barrier, he has

learned from and developed bonds of friendship and respect

with his Japanese coworkers over a shared passion for vehicle

maintenance.

"I love working with them, most of these guys are over 50 years

old and have so much experience working with these vehicles,"

Higginbotham said about his mentors. "It's awesome, especially

for our new Airmen, to get the opportunity to learn from these

masters."

Higginbotham said that while completing the mission in a timely

manner is important, showing pride in your work and an atten-

tion to detail is vital.

"You've got to get the vehicle out, but you also want to deliver a

quality product," Higginbotham said. "You don't want to just

throw something together, throw it out the door and have it

come back the next day. That's not what we do at vehicle

maintenance, that's not who we are."

Higginbotham said he plans to continue working on vehicles for

many years to come.

Note: See two additional photos at: Fixing Things.

Senior Airman Brandon Higginbotham, a 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance journeyman, places jack stands under a government vehicle at Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 28, 2015. Stands are placed to ensure the safety of the mechanics working on vehicles. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class David C. Danford)

Senior Airman Brandon Higginbotham, a 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance journeyman, positions a jack under a government vehicle at Yokota Air Base, Japan, April 28, 2015. The truck was brought into the vehicle maintenance shop to assess the front brakes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class David C. Danford)

7

managing public sector

vehicles & equipment

USPS Considering Drone Delivery Vehicle

May 13, 2015, by Paul Clinton

The Workhorse Group with its electric truck and a drone

delivery system is among the 15 companies qualified by the

U.S. Postal Service as potential suppliers of its next-generation

delivery vehicle.

Whether the USPS will embrace innovative technology that's

poised to disrupt the "last mile" of traditional package delivery

remains an open question, but Workhorse CEO Steve Burns

believes an order for 180,000 vehicles that could reach $6.3

billion could play into his favor. The USPS has said it's seeking

a vehicle that will serve for two decades.

"When youve got a deal that big, its a chance to leapfrog" other

delivery methods, Burns said. "Thats a big enough bounty

where innovation can happen. It's going to cause a quantum

leap."

See full story at: USPS

The Car and Truck Fleet and Leasing Management Magazine

House Committee Probing Auto Cybersecurity

June 01, 2015

Members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce

Committee last week sent letters to 17 automakers,

requesting information about the auto industrys measures to

address cybersecurity challenges as vehicles become more

connected.

The May 28 letters express concerns about the potential for

hackers to assume control of vehicle systems over the

Internet. The letters also urge the industry and the National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration to work together to

develop strategies to mitigate any growing risks.

Committee members also sent a letter to NHTSA

Administrator Mark R. Rosekind, asking for details about the

agencys means for evaluating, testing and monitoring

potential cyber vulnerabilities.

Connected cars and advancements in vehicle technology

present a tremendous opportunity for economic innovation,

consumer convenience, and public health and safety, the

letters state. These benefits, however, depend on consumer

confidence in the safety and reliability of these technologies.

While threats to vehicle

technology currently appear

isolated and disparate, as the

technology becomes more

prevalent, so too will the risks

associated with it.

Threats and vulnerabilities in

vehicle systems may be

inevitable, but we cannot

allow this to undermine the

potential benefits of these

technologies.

The letters to automakers and NHTSA pose a series of

questions and request responses by June 11. Rep. Fred

Upton (R-Mich.) chairs the House Energy and Commerce

Committee.

See full story at: Cybersecurity

UPTON

8

Misawa unveils new refueling system

by Airman 1st Class Jordyn Fetter

35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

5/12/2015 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- After a two-year

process, the installation of a Type III hydrant system was

officially recognized during a ribbon cutting ceremony here May

11. The system upgrade allows R-12 fuel servicing vehicles to

refuel aircraft at Misawa via an underground constant pressure

fuel system that transfers fuel directly from an underground

tank to the aircraft -- a massive improvement from the previous

system.

Lt. Gen. Sam Angelella, U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force

commander, conducted the ribbon cutting ceremony alongside

base leadership to unveil the new system.

Before the construction of the Type III hydrant system was

completed, the aircraft refueling process here involved driving

four to six R-11 fuel servicing vehicles back and forth from fuel

tanks to the aircraft. It was time consuming and largely

inefficient for operational demands.

"The R-11s can only issue so much fuel before they have to be

disconnected and replaced with another vehicle," said Staff

Sgt. Derek Schmidt, 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron field

hydrant supervisor. Since only a handful of R-11 trucks are

kept on base, Misawa's ability to refuel aircraft was limited by

the number of trucks and the time needed to drive back and

forth to refill them. For 70 years, this was the only way Misawa

refueled aircraft.

The system, which was previously approved by Angelella

during his time as the 35th Fighter Wing commander from

2005-2007, was first used in February 2015. Angelella was

able to see it come into fruition in front of a crowd of Airmen

involved with the hydrant system.

Compared to an R-11, the R-12s can continually fill an aircraft

without stopping, said Schmidt.

Comparable to pumps at a gas station, hydrants were placed at

strategic parking stations on the flight line, bypassing the need

to ferry the fuel in trucks. Because of the efficiency created by

this system, Misawa is now able to serve as a high-volume and

high-speed pit stop for transport aircraft moving people and

cargo through the Pacific theater.

"We're now able to support heavier aircraft so they don't have

to fly to other bases," Schmidt added.

Additionally, the new system saves both time and manpower

because it only requires one Airman to refuel aircraft in almost

one-third of the time, whereas the previous system required up

to four Airmen and took up to four hours to refuel.

"Despite personnel and budget cuts, we'll still be able to refuel

five to seven big airplanes with half the people and probably

half the time," said Angelella. "The money and efficiency to be

able to do our contingency missions will really pay off."

Note: See three additional photos at: Misawa.

U.S Air Force Airman 1st Class David Works, 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution operator, hooks up a fuel hose to the newly installed Type III hydrant system at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 11, 2015. Misawa hosted a ceremony recognizing the installation of the new system, which feeds fuel to aircraft from an underground tank. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Derek VanHorn/Released)

An R-12 fuel servicing truck approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker to conduct aircraft refueling at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 11, 2015. The R-12 vehicles hook up to a newly installed Type III hydrant system and feeds fuel from underground tanks straight into the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Derek VanHorn)

9

See more articles and videos on this vehicle at the

following websites:

NASA.Gov

Smithsonian Channel

NASAs Lunar RV

NASAs Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV)

Editors Comments: I saw this vehicle on an episode of

the Travel Channels Extreme RVs a few weeks ago

and thought it would make an interesting feature.

My first permanent duty assignment was Patrick AFB

during the Apollo program in the 1960s. Exciting times.

In 1971 I was touring Kennedy Space Center with my

wife and saw astronauts John Young and Charles Duke

training on the lunar rover, or moon buggy.

It paled in comparison to this SEV, both functionally

and in cost. The price tag for the lunar rover was

$38,000,000 and the SEV is priced at $100,000,000, but

perhaps not a bad deal when considering inflation.

After I retired from active duty, I was privileged to work

at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Kennedy

Space Center for 8 years, so I have a long association.

This is my salute to the transporters who support the

space program.then and now.

NASAs SEV (click the arrow to activate video)

The Human Hoist... SR. ENGINEERING PRESENTS

HUMAN HOIST Website: http://www.humanhoist.com/home.html

Contributor: Reade Holbaur, WS-12 (Ret/2T3)

The Human Hoist was originally designed for mechanics. It is

a mechanical, robotic, fully automated adjustable chair. It is

powered by an 18 volt rechargeable battery, and has a

hydraulic and spring torsion powered frame.

The chair is uniquely designed for lifting and lowering, as well

as reclining.

The frame sits on 3 castor wheels for full mobility. It was

originally designed for mechanics as they work on vehicles but

may have many applications.

Watch the video in the bottom right column for a demo of

the Human Hoist.

Human Hoist Video

10

It was 1916 in Chattanoo-

ga, Tennessee. Mechanic Ernest

Holmes got a call from his old

Business School professor, John

Wiley. Wiley and his son had been

driving when their Model T veered

off the road and was flipped upside

down in a creek bed. Holmes came

to help. It took him eight hours and

six men to retrieve the car from the

creek bed.

Holmes decided there had to be a better solution, and he was

determined to find it.

He modified a 1913 Cadillac, adding a crane and pulley

system. The idea was that this modified vehicle could rescue

other distressed vehicles and tow them to a mechanics shop

for repair.

It didnt work. Holmes needed something to stabilize the tow

truck. He added a pair of outriggers to brace the tow truck

while it was lifting and pulling other vehicles. This time, it

worked, and the first tow truck was born.

Holmes did more than invent a product. He invented an

industry. Consider the brilliance of the tow truck: a way to

capture customer business by capturing the vehicle.

Mechanics could fish distressed vehicles from danger and

bring them to their shop. There they could work on these

captive vehicles without any interference from competitors. The

tow truck gave any mechanic or garage a competitive

advantage over those who would just sit and wait for

customers to come by.

As for Holmes, he began making his tow truckscalled Holmes

Wreckersfull time, selling them to repair shops. It didnt take

long for towing to become an industry all its own.

Source: Why Didnt I think of That?

RED BALL EXPRESS WRECKER

A Diamond T chassis

and a Holmes W45

twin-boom wrecker were

matched to create this

workhorse of Patton's

Red Ball Express, a

wrecker rated to pull 15

tons.

This Red Ball Express

Wrecker was designated

as the Diamond-T 969A 4-ton 6x6 wrecker.

See full story by Jim Buck Sorrenti - AT Field Editor - at:

Tow Industry Week/American Towman Magazine

Hell on the Highway Facts

International Towing & Recovery Museum

Recovery Vehicles History

Editors Comments: As operators and mechanics, we all

know the importance of a wrecker. Whether its employed

as a trail vehicle in a convoy, used to remove a disabled

vehicle from the flightline, or simply for day-to-day recovery

operations, its an essential asset.

However, do you know the interesting story behind the

wrecker?

The reason I chose to feature Holmes over Jerr-Dan or

some other manufacturer is because Holmes built the first

wrecker.

The information in this article comes from several sources

which I will reference next to each paragraph along with the

website.

Ernest Holmes

A modified 1913 Locomobile, one of the first tow trucks Holmes made.

MORE INTERESTING WEBSITES

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Snuffys Corner

Breaking Red!

by John Fig Newton, Col, USAF (Ret)

The Snuffy flightline driving story in your April newsletter

reminded me of my own. Heres a Lt. Figleus von Neutronium

(aka, Snuffy) story:

I was VOO at my first duty station, Carswell AFB, Ft Worth,

TX, 1974-76. It was a busy base. How busy? We had 3 B-52

line squadrons, 3 KC-135 squadrons, and a Combat Crew

Training Squadron of each. We could not land an aircraft and

park it unless another one was moved first.

I got a call from the Security Police investigations NCOIC, TSgt

Wages, as I recall, about a flight line accident involving a

step-van. The Maintenance driver pulled up under the rear wing,

jumped out, ran to chock the B-52, and then started doing

post-flight stuff with the crew.

About 30 minutes later, he came out and looked for his van. It

wasnt there. He had apparently left it running and didnt chock

it, or he left it in reverse (auto) and thought he had gotten park;

it backed itself around the tail of the B-52 in an arc and hit the

back side of the wing on the OTHER side of the plane.

So, off we go to investigate. As the VOO, I was constantly

yelling at my drivers about breaking red on the flightline and

not going through the entry control points, line badge or

not. Here I am, in the back of a strata blue police car, with two

skycops in the front, on the way to the accident site. All of a

sudden, TSgt Wages pulls a right and cuts diagonally across the

parking area going to the accident spot.

I screamed, What are you doing??? He said, Dont worry

about it; its an SP investigation and we have clearance. We

get to the site and are surveying, interviewing, etc., when all of

the sudden were surrounded with M-16s aimed at our heads,

and they didnt want to have any discussion about it.

After being spread eagled across the hood of the police car,

(115 in the shade, and on a blue car that had been patrolling

the flightline all day) I had what I thought were 3rd degree burns.

They handcuffed us, and put us in the back of a pickup and

drove us slowly down the flightline, out onto the main base, and

to the lock-up. Heres Figgie, a TSgt and a SSgt with our hands

behind our heads being paraded. When we got to the lock-up

they put us in a detention area and the Trans Sq First Sergeant

had to come sign for my release.

When I got back to Ops, it seemed like the day shift and night

shift guys coming on were all lined up to greet me, and they

never let me forget it. :>)

K-car Catastrophe.

by David A. Burger, MSgt (Ret/2T3)

I was in charge of the GP Shop at Howard AFB, Panama

when one of my workers (Mr. Snuffy) came to me with a

problem he was having with a car on the dyno.

He told me that after backing the car onto the dyno and

releasing the dyno brakes, the car would come right off the

dyno.

We went to the dyno room; then I asked Mr. Snuffy how he

was going to do a dyno test on a front wheel drive,

Plymouth K-car?

RIP Mr. Snuffy.

Lesson Learned

by Roger Storman, SMSgt (Ret/2T3)

The article on the previous page about wreckers took me back

to my days at Clark Air Base following the eruption of Mt.

Pinatubo. Transportation was charged with the daunting task of

moving thousands of abandoned POVs, scattered throughout

the base, to the flightline area. It was far more than we could

possibly handle ourselves, so our first thought upon receiving

the order was to contract it.

Yours truly, SMSgt Snuffy, went to contracting and explained

what we needed and why. No problem; all I had to do was write

a statement of work (SOW), give it to contracting, and they

would put it out for bid.

Well, how hard could it be to write a SOW for wrecker service?

I just needed to specify type of service, dates, where the work

was to be performed, what was required, work hours, etc.

The type of vehicle needed for this service was obvious, right?

So, I simply described it as a wrecker. What else do you need to

know? I was expecting maybe a 5-ton wrecker with a hydraulic

boom, lift attachments, etc. Thats NOT what we got.

The company showed up with a vintage 1940s model, flatbed

truck with no doors. The boom was mounted on the flatbed at

an angle and it was equipped with a block and tackle. One guy

drove the truck and another, wearing rubber flip-flops, rode on

the flatbed. When they arrived at the scene, the guy on the

flatbed would hop off, hook the vehicle, and manually lift it with

the block and tackle.

As archaic as their operation was, however, it worked. All the

cars were moved. On the other hand, I learned not to assume

anything when writing a SOW.

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