Engineer Design Test of Rough Terrain Tactical Air Cargo Loader.

An engineer design test of the Rough Terrain Tactical Air Cargo Loader was conducted at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, to determine the operating characteristics of the air cargo loader when subjected to sand and dust conditions. The Tactical Air Cargo Loader TACL will be assigned to designated USAF Aerial Port Units for the primary purpose of supporting contingency air terminal operations. The loader will be used for the purpose of aircraft onoff loading operations and transporting of cargo over adverse terrain to and from the aircraft. Sand and dust testing consisted of 100 miles of opertion with the 25,000-pound payload. After each 4 miles of operation, the hydraulic system was cycled twice in the lift, lowering, pitch and roll modes. In addition to the sand and dust test, the cargo loader was subjected to 330 miles of secondary road operation with a 25,000-pound payload, and 154 miles on secondary road without payload. Author