Show Hill Minuteman Eal Earns ns Rest A change wont won't be as good goodas as a rest for Cor an inert Minuteman Minuteman Minuteman Minute- Minute man missile which has been sent to Calif after being test fired at Hill hundreds of oC times DURING ITS long stay at atHill atHill atHill Hill the ICBM helped save the Air Force 85 million million million mil mil- lion as well as improve the breed said Maj George As- As The major is chief of the and Test Engineering Branch Materiel M II Management Directorate The Minuteman I is now undergoing rigorous testing at The Air Force expects to bank more savings from Crom testing the missile before the ICBM is retired several years hence THE TilE Minuteman is like any other one except that it cant can't be fired and it lacks a warhead Its It's function at Hill said Major Asselanis was to undergo various engineering tests including simulated firings Tests included the bird itself and the ground support equipment that goes with it ONE TEST for Cor example became a major money saver when it was learned that the silo door ejection cartridge wears well with age Replacement can be postponed and money saved through reduced procure procure- ment Hill has a Minuteman Minuteman Minuteman Minute- Minute man I facility completed in early 1966 and an adjacent Minuteman II complex finished a year ago BOTH FACILITIES are complete with foot 90 deep silos launch control centers and supporting buildings They are just like the real thing except that all facilities facilities facilities ties but the silos are above ground The Minuteman I was in inand inand inand and out ut of the silo like a aJack aJack aJack Jack in the box Pulling the pound foot 60 long missile out of its hole is a sizeable task Air Force I know-how know has honed the procedure to an exact science FOR EXAMPLE take the ton 86 concrete and steel lid that covers the silo During an actual firing the lid would be blown clear in three seconds by means of oC a compressed compressed compressed com com- pressed gas actuator that forces it back on a rail In simulated tests this would be an expensive procedure A MORE practical way is isan an apparatus an called a pipe pusher mounted on the transport rail The pipe pusher push push- er pulls the lid off oU slowly taking about 20 minutes to do so Once the lid is removed the next operation is how to get the missile out of the silo IT CANT CAN'T BE fired so it has to be pulled out A missile transporter erector erector erector tor is needed The rig is a combination truck-trailer truck that pulls the missile out of the silo or puts it in and hauls it between the hole and the point of oC embarkation for Cor ship ship- ment THE TE RAISES to a 89 degree angle and gently or removes the ICBM An extensive system of oC pulleys and cables contained contained contained con con- in the TE are at attached attached attached at- at to the missile and hoists it into the trailer The TE is bolted to the silo to keep the rig in place ONCE THE missile is placed aboard it is fastened down securely the TE unbolted unbolted unbolted un un- un- un bolted and the rig which is temperature conditioned and environmentally controlled is driven away There are only two Minuteman Minuteman Minuteman Minute- Minute man I missiles in the Air Ah Force designed for this type of testing said Major Asselanis Asselanis Asselanis As As- and they are stationed station station- ed at Hill and occasionally ly Iy sent to for Cor testing the firing firing firing fir fir- ing facilities is headquarters headquarters headquarters head head- quarters for Cor the Air Force Western Test Range from Crom which actual test launches of oC Minuteman and other missiles are conducted Another Minuteman l I is undergoing rework in the Maintenance Directorate at atHill atHill atHill Hill awaiting a call to togo togo togo go to the silo TIlE THE AIR Force is pleased with the results to date from the Minuteman I complex said Major Asselanis The weapon system has been refined refined refined re re- re- re fined and the fleet of oC Minuteman Minuteman Minuteman Minute- Minute man I missies made more reliable The advanced Minuteman II is now getting the full treatment in the other engineering engineering engineering engi engi- test at Hill Air Force experts expect the then II n version to follow in the footsteps of its older brother |