Bogue Field, North Carolina
Richard CobbMarch 1995
These photos were taken while working for NKF Engineering in 1995. I was at Bogue Field, North Carolina to install accelerometers in a portable landing strip and record the data for multiple C-17 (Globemaster) landings. This data was to be used for analysis by another engineering firm to determine movement between the landing strip panels when a C-17 landed.
The portable landing strip is made up of interlocking metal panels which can be laid directly on a graded earth surface. A C-17 is larger than the planes that normally use this type of runway, and there was concern about the loads imposed on the runway by the braking forces of such a large aircraft.
The panels were hollow, and cabling was run inside of the panels. Holes had been drilled in the upper surface at selected locations through which small accelerometers could be installed. Approximately 30 channels of data was recorded to digital tape. Installing the accelerometers, connecting the cabling and calibrating each accel required between 3 and 4 days, followed by 2 days during which there were multiple C-17 landings and takeoffs
Harrier operations were being conducted during one of the days, and the Harrier photos were taken from a small, portable control tower that had a walkway around the outside. For some of the photos the Harriers were so close that the noise, heat, and kerosene (jet fuel) smell were almost overpowering. Even with double hearing protection (ear plugs + ear muffs) the sound levels were uncomfortably high.
