E-2 Question- Help Needed!

[Jerry O'Neill]

OK! Thanks guys! Jerry, I'm gonna sound like a Negative Nancy here... we can't pull the fence posts because the fence is part of an airport perimeter fence controlled by the airport security folks, and we sit right on the runway of Tulsa International Airport. S that kinda complicates things a bit, if we want to start pulling fenceposts. And we wanted to tug them in, but they said that their SOP is not to let anyone but Navy personnel do the tugging. Our new director is a former E-2 and F-18 pilot, but even that won't work. So it leaves us feeling like we're beating our heads against a brick wall. If it can't come, it can't come... but it's spring break, and the kids will find it to be a really fun, different aircraft to see. So we'd really like to make it happen.

I need to add that the real answer to all of this is that we need a bigger ramp and a much bigger gate. And those are on their way. But that's not gonna get done next week.

kevin

Kevin,
I don't see you being negative at all, as a matter of fact, you're being fairly pro-active about the problem. There is a lot of knowledge on this site and it's great that your are tapping that.

I've been involved in air show ground operations for about 18 years and though we have actually towed most aircraft in the current inventory, including the F-22, C-17 and an E-2, when we occasionally run into the SOP problem, we just have one of the aircraft's crew members (if qualified) tow the aircraft.
Can you make that request of them? Usually if there is one on board, a crew chief would be qualified to tow the aircraft.
Jerry

[Jerry O'Neill]

I was also just thinking that if you do get to tow and it's still close, you might be able to build-up two ramps for the main gear to get a few inches.
Sounds wierd, but it might work if you aren't taxing the aircraft under power.
Jerry

[Tailspin Turtle]

Prop disc edge to prop disc edge is 35' 5.122"; Indexed blades (shut down for minimum blade tip to blade tip distance) is 32' 4.46". Scaled distance from the ground to the bottom of wing at the edge of prop arc is about 9' 2" at "takeoff gross weight", plus or minus a couple of inches. Due to dihedral, however, if the opening is 54.5' wide for example, you gain 9". Of course that's for a level taxiway and no up slope of the fence...

If Plan B is a ramp under each main wheel, the raised portion needs to be at at least 10 feet long because the chord of the wing at the outboard edge of the prop disc is 113".

[Jerry O'Neill]

I hope you let us know how it all worked out!
Jerry

[dred]

I believe there are a couple of E-2 guys on airwarriors.com, a naval aviation forum. (Probably will need to register to post a question.)

[tulsaboy]

Thanks guys! THat answers exactly what we needed. If/when the E-2 comes by, I'll have photos to post. Thanks again!!!

kevin

[Jerry O'Neill]

BUMP!

How did everything turn out?
Jerry

[tulsaboy]

Turned out pretty well. Sorry I haven't posted pics!

There was no way he was going to fit through the gate, so we got permission from the airport director to have him park just outside our fence in the run-up area for a couple of hours, so that people could see the aircraft relatively up close, and the pilots came through the fence and went into our auditorium to give a talk about the E-2 and to meet/greet/sign autographs for the kids and other visitors. They were scheduled to do a few high-speed passes down our runway before landing, but ten miles out from the airport they had a chip light show up, and they had to shut down one engine and land immediately. It was just a bad breaker, and not metal in the engine, but it cut out the air show bit for us. It was a great day, though, and I appreciate everyone's help here! The top pole on our fence is 9'10", which with a 10'1" wing clearance was just cutting it too close. One of our immediate top priorities is to widen our gate from 80' to 130' so that it's not a problem in the future! Below is a link to a local news story/video on the arrival. I'll hopefully have photos up this evening. Thanks again!!!

kevin


http://www.newson6.com/global/video/fla ... d=44640629