timber
Chains connect the vehicles to the pallet. Straps then connect the vehicle to the aircraft. A primary purpose of the timber dunnage was revealed on a web site of the military unit that planned the tiedown procedures for these vehicles. The website items are no longer discoverable. If someone else can search and find this, please indicate on pprune. The unit claimed the timber was to prevent the join between the two pallets from bending upward during ground handling. There was no other statement about the purpose of the timber.
It does seem obvious that other purposes would include load distribution and the prevention of movement on the vehicle suspension.
If the timber moved sufficiently, there would be 3 consequences:
1 Ground handling at destination would need reconsideration
2 Load distribution would suffer
3 Tightness of straps and chains that were fitted against the support of the timber would be compromised by the absense of this support, allowing vertical movement of the vehicle on its suspension. If all or part the vehicle lowers by suspension compression, tiedowns tension will vary.
The restraint system seems inadequate, even if the timber does not move. Any unplanned movement can damage the restraint or make it less effective.
I have also carried very heavy equipment on roller equipped military aircraft. Unplanned movement of the load would have been of huge concern.
Last edited by autoflight; 20th Feb 2015 at 12:21.