41chevy Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 (edited) https://www.aeronewstv.com/en/industry/commercial-aviation/3764-whats-this-bizarre-road-machine-used-by-boeing.html Many of us have seen fire departments utilize tillers to move ladder truck operations down tight streets. The steerable rear axle allows the truck to take sharper turns and navigate otherwise impassable streets with relative ease. This technology is used in other applications—like oversized load transportation. With production facilities scattered across the state of Washington, Boeing relies on a modified version of a tiller to transport 100+ foot plane parts for 777s, 767s and 747s. Rather than having the steer car driver perched up above the part being transported, the driver is actually housed in a small cabin within the rear chassis. Equipped with everything a normal vehicle has (except a throttle and a brake), the steer car driver carefully communicates with the primary driver and pilot car to navigate the multi-million dollar parts down Washington’s highways and side streets. In order to safely transport each part, all three crew members stay in constant contact at all times. If one team member makes a wrong move, it can damage the part and ruin everyone's day. Boeing Long Load Crews spend a good portion of their day on the road, making upwards of five 70 mile round trips a shift to ensure timely aircraft production. Now all I can think about is how the steer car driver has to reconfigure his brain every time he hops between his personal vehicle and steer car, Edited March 16, 2019 by 41chevy 2 Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h67st Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 That's a crazy looking truck under there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlotpilot Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 steer car does have brakes just not controlled by the guy steering it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobert62 Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 Looks like fun. Would be a neat truck to make a "rat rod" out of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post j hancock Posted March 18, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted March 18, 2019 That is one hell of a ride!!! Reminds me of the Strick Cab Under tractors that were tried years ago. 3 Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h67st Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 On 3/18/2019 at 8:49 AM, j hancock said: That is one hell of a ride!!! Reminds me of the Strick Cab Under tractors that were tried years ago. I think the last place I'd want to be in a wreck is underneath a loaded trailer...that just looks scary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j hancock Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 24 minutes ago, h67st said: I think the last place I'd want to be in a wreck is underneath a loaded trailer...that just looks scary. Same here! There was supposedly lots of strength and safety built into the product but.... Lack of good visibility for the driver was a detriment. Nothing is more exciting than maneuvering a trailer when you are sitting as low as a sports car. Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james j neiweem Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 I saw one of those years ago on the interstate. Afterwards I had no idea what I had just seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlotpilot Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 abf actually ran a few of those things. I was able to look one over closely in texas . no desire to drive at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gxbxc Posted March 20, 2019 Share Posted March 20, 2019 What no sleeper on that Strick ?How is a driver going to live . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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