SLIPPER TANK INSTALLATION ON U-2 AIRCRAFT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62B00844R000200070052-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 16, 2002
• Sequence Number: 52
• Publication Date: November 1, 1957
• Content Type: MEMO

-d
Approved For Release 2002/10/29 : CIA-RDP62600844R000200070052-9
UBJECT
T DIRECT
Upper
lipper Tank Installation on U.2
20918
-2_ of 4/
1 November 1937
1. It hap been determined from recent information from LAC that
it is feasible to install slipper tanks in the field. Each detachment
has the necessary people and equipment to make the modification, how.
ever, this would require the service of one LAC supplied engineer or
highly qualified factory mechanic to supervise the operation. The
installation requires eight days' shop time at Edwards AFB but at the
detachment at least two weeks for each aircraft is necessary. LAC
can supply the first tank kit six weeks from start in the shop and
can complete delivery of five kits in twelve weeks.
2. It has further been determined that jig drilling of the tanks
for interchangeability between aircraft is not feasible at this time as
tank attach bolts must pick up existing akin rivet hole patterns which
were hand layout at time of wing manufacture. After slipper tanks are
once instelled on a particular aircraft, it requires only some four
hours to detach or reinstall the tanks to the airplane. This feature
will lend a great amount of flexibility to the Unites operational
capacity as they can detach or instill the tanks to an aircraft as
late as receipt of the Mission Plan message.
3 ? Quoted price for five more sets of tanks would be on
3P1915 including 5.2 modification, installation and flight teat at
Edwards AFB. If only slipper tank kits are supplied for use in the
25X1 field the five sets would cost and if LAC supplied an engineer
to sunervlse installation on 3.-4 sets, the total cost would be
25X1 IThe *boys figures are based on clean aircraft only. 'natal-
lation and treatment of tanks and Phase I/ for THERMOS would cause
acme cost increase. U.2 344 is presently equipped with acceptable
RAINBOW and will need slipper tanks that have been RAINBOW covered
prior to shipment. LAC affirms this is feasible and practicable and
that RAINBOW representative at each detachment is capable of adapting
the RAINBOW installation to the slipper tanks.
4. Present U.2 and Slipper tank placement:
RAINBOW
Petechment "C"
342 - Clean
. Clean with slipper tanks 358 - Clean
352 - Clean
343 - Clean
*349 - RAINBOW &
Slipper tanks
355 - RAINBOW &
slipper twits
333 -CWrovedForRelease2002/10/29:CIA-RDP62B00844ROOMMOTOWEI8
36O .Clean
Approved For Release 20
CIA-RDP62B00840000200070052-9
When Amoy couple
no U-2 aircraft be
piper tank
U-2 Flow Chart be approved tor planning
amch as primaJAbble.
- Clear tanks
ns
APPROVSD
Iirjr. BISSELL, JR
P/DCIftIE Matt
MIA
110IPM1 For Release 2002/10/29 : CIA-RDP62600844R000200070052-9
25X1A
Approved For Release 2002/10/29 : CIA-RDP62600844R000200070052-9
U. FUN CHART
1. This ow Chart is based on following assumptions:
a. Each U-2 will require 15 to 30 dais work to complete mods
upon arrival EOM and prior to any other work being dons,
b. RAINBOW covered aircraft will require 14 dare testing after
application.
c. Each U-2 req se 60 days to complete initial RAINBOW
application.
d. Each U-2 r uires 30 dare to reinstall RAINBOW applica
If base coat is useable.
o. Slipper tanks require 14 days to install on U-2 at the
detachment and/Or 8 dare at NAM
2o Assigpment 1 May 19581
Detachment liBr
344 H & ST
349 R & ST
351 ST
359 R & ST
Detactimpnt
355 R & ST
358 ST
367 R & ST
378 R & ST
ion
MED
342 R & ST
343
352
353R & ST
360
Note that chart requires an exchange of aircraft between Edwards
APB and the detachments on 1 March 1958 and 1 April 1958. This appears
to be the minimum amount of ferry flights necessary to accomplish
scheduled mods and in well within project capability toaccompliah.
Approved For Release 2002/10/29 : CIA-RDP621300844R000200070052-9