Date of Award

9-1997

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Abstract

The issue of mobility is vital to the Air Force as it faces the 2lst century. Operational units must be prepared to quickly deploy anywhere in the world. Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) is a large portion of any operational unit's mobility requirements. This thesis studies one portion of AGE mobility, the transportability characteristics of the Air Force's current powered AGE. Transportability is defined as the ability to quickly and efficiently prepare an item for transport, load the item on the transportation asset, remove the item from the transportation asset, and reconstitute the item for use. In order to determine AGE transportability characteristics, a Delphi study was conducted to solicit inputs from experts in the field. Study participants were three AGE technicians and three logistics planners from three fighter wings and two C-5 load masters and two KC-10 boom operators from three mobility wings. Factors that improved the transportability of AGE were the ability to be lifted by forklift, the ability to be rolled-on and rolled-off of transport aircraft, and high ground clearance. Factors that hindered mobility were large fuel capacities, large size (especially if pallet overhang occurred), heavy weight, and single axle designs.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GLM-LAL-97S-6

DTIC Accession Number

ADA329953

Comments

Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Logistics and Acquisition Management of the Air Force Institute of Technology

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